Refraction Seismology Method
Refraction Seismology Method - The mapping of geologic structures using the travel times of head waves. Head waves are elastic waves that enter a high-velocity medium (refractor) near the critical angle and travel in the high-velocity medium nearly parallel to the refractor surface before returning to the surface of the Earth. The objective in refraction surveys is to measure the arrival times of head waves as a function of source-receiver distance so that the depth to the refractors in which they traveled can be determined*.
Seismology Notes ❯❯Useful References
- Burger, H. R., Exploration Geophysics of the Shallow Subsurface, Prentice Hall P T R, 1992.
- Robinson, E. S., and C. Coruh, Basic Exploration Geophysics, John Wiley, 1988.
- Telford, W. M., L. P. Geldart, and R. E. Sheriff, Applied Geophysics, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 1990.
- An introduction to refraction and reflection seismology. Notes on describing refraction and reflection seismology.
*Definition from the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Exploration Geophysics by R. E. Sheriff, published by the Society of Exploration Geophysics.
Note Outline - Seismology
- Simple Earth Model: Low-Velocity Layer Over a Halfspacepg 11
- Head Wavespg 12
- Records of Ground Motionpg 13
- Travel-time Curves for a Simple Earth Modelpg 14
- First Arrivalspg 15
- Determining Earth Structure from Travel Timespg 16
- Derivation of Travel Time Equationspg 17
- High-Velocity Layer Over a Halfspace: Reprisepg 18
- Picking Times of Arrivalspg 25
- Wave Propagation with Multiple Horizontal Layerspg 26
- Travel Time Curves from Multiple Horizontalpg 27
- Hidden Layerspg 28
- Head Waves from a Dipping Layer: Shooting Down Dippg 29
- Head Waves from a Dipping Layer: Shooting Up Dippg 30
- A Field Procedure for Recognizing Dipping Bedspg 31
- Estimating Dips and Depths from Travelpg 32