pure and applied geophysics

, Volume 114, Issue 4, pp 647–652 | Cite as

The influence of lateral variations on seismic refraction interpretation

  • B. L. N. Kennett
Article

Abstract

The effects of unsuspected lateral variation in seismic velocities at depth on the interpretation of a seismic refraction profile are discussed with the aid of a numerical experiment. The results show that there will be bias in any velocity depth models derived by travel time analysis based on the assumption of horizontally layered media. This bias is examined for a lithospheric profile using both extremal and linearised travel time inversion. In addition quite mild subsurvace topography can have an appreciable effect on the amplitude distribution along the profile.

Keywords

Travel Time Numerical Experiment Refraction Lateral Variation Time Analysis 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. E. N. Bessonova, V. M. Fishman, V. Z. Ryaboyi andG. A. Sitnikova (1974),The tau method for the inversion of travel times—I. Deep seismic sounding data, Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc.36, 377–398.Google Scholar
  2. A. Hirn, L. Steinmetz, R. Kind andK. Fuchs (1973),Long range profiles in western Europe II: Fine structure of the lithosphere in France (Southern Bretagne), Z. Geophys.39, 363–384.Google Scholar
  3. A. Hirn, C. Prodehl andL. Steinmetz (1975),An experimental test of models of the lower lithosphere in Bretagne (France), Ann. Géophys.31, 517–530.Google Scholar
  4. L. E. Johnson andF. Gilbert,Inversion and inference for teleseismic ray data inMethods in Computational Physics (ed. B. A. Bolt), Vol. 12, pp. 231–266 (1972).Google Scholar
  5. B. L. N. Kennett (1976),A comparison of travel time inversions, Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc.44, 517–536.Google Scholar
  6. N. I. Pavlenkova (1973),Interpretation of refracted waves by the reduced travel time curve methods, Izv. ANSSSR, Earth Sci., Engl. Trans., 544–550.Google Scholar
  7. G. Perrier andJ. C. Ruegg (1973),Structure profond du Massif Central français, Ann. Géophys.29, 435–502.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Birkhäuser Verlag 1976

Authors and Affiliations

  • B. L. N. Kennett
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Geodesy and GeophysicsUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeEngland

Personalised recommendations