Transverse waves in the ocean

[pinguthepengu]

Hi, a search on google will reveal that an ocean wave is both transverse, and longitudinal. Another search will also reveal that a transverse wave cannot propagate through a liquid.
One of these statements is not quite right, is it that water is a special case liquid that can propagate tranverse waves because of hydrogen bonding?

thanks

[Bob_for_short]

There are surface transverse waves (due to gravity). Their amplitude A(z) fades out with depth: A(z)=A(0)e-z/L.

In a volume the transverse (due to viscosity) waves are highly dissipative - formally their wave vector has a huge imaginary part so they do not propagate too far. One even does not speak of transverse waves in volume.

[pinguthepengu]

Thanks for explaining bob.