Is It Time To Modernize Near-Surface Refraction Seismology With Full Waveform Methods?

Derecke Palmer

doi:10.1071/ASEG2015ab035

24th International Geophysical Conference and Exhibition – Geophysics and Geology Together for Discovery

ISSN: 2202-0586
E-ISSN:

oa Is It Time To Modernize Near-Surface Refraction Seismology With Full Waveform Methods?
Authors Derecke Palmer^a
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^a The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, , Australia, [email protected]
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: ASEG Extended Abstracts, Volume 2015, Issue 24th International Geophysical Conference and Exhibition – Geophysics and Geology Together for Discovery, Dec 2015, p. 1 - 5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/ASEG2015ab035
- Published online: 01 Dec 2015

Abstract

Historically, near surface refraction seismology has focused almost exclusively on inverting first arrival traveltimes to generate spatially varying models of the seismic velocities in the weathered and sub-weathered regions. This study describes two approaches to full waveform near surface refraction seismology, using common offset gathers (COG) and the refraction convolution section (RCS). Full waveform refraction methods can improve the resolution and characterization of the routine mapping of the base of the weathering, through stacking, flattening and spectral analysis.

Full waveform refraction methods can usually reveal first and later events wherever reflection events are recorded within the refraction Fresnel zone. In most cases, full waveform refraction methods can provide more detailed images of the sub-surface structure than can be obtained with low resolution 1D refraction traveltime tomography.

The amplitudes of first and later events are related to the head coefficient, which in turn, is a simple ratio of the specific acoustic impedances. Both the density and the P-wave modulus models of the near surface, which are derived from the head coefficient and the seismic velocities, can be employed for more comprehensive characterization of the regolith for geotechnical and groundwater investigations, as well as for starting models for full waveform inversion.

Full waveform methods represent a new frontier for the modernization of near surface refraction seismology. They offer the opportunity for more effective implementation of exploration refraction seismology through extracting greater value from the data.

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2015-12-01

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References

Barton, P. J., and Jones, L. E. A., 2003, Tau-p velocity imaging of regolith structure. 16th ASEG Geophysical Conference and Exhibition, Adelaide (Extended Abstract).
Palmer, D., 2001a, Imaging refractors with the convolution section. Geophysics66, 1582-1589.
Palmer, D, 2001b, Resolving refractor ambiguities with amplitudes, Geophysics66, 1590-1593.
Palmer, D, 2001c, A new direction for shallow refraction seismology: integrating amplitudes and traveltimes with the refraction convolution section. Geophysical Prospecting49,
657-673.
Palmer, D., 2008. Is it time to re-engineer geotechnical seismic refraction methods? First Break26(8), 69-77.
Palmer, D., 2009, Integrating short and long wavelength time and amplitude statics: First Break27(6) 57-65.
Palmer, D, 2010a, Are refraction attributes more useful than refraction tomography? First Break28(7), 43-52.
Palmer, D., 2010b, Characterizing the near surface with detailed refraction attributes. in R. D Miller, J. H. Bradford and K. Hollinger, eds., Advances in near-surface seismology and ground-penetrating radar: SEG Geophysical Development Series No. 15, Chapter 14, 233-250.
Palmer, D., 2010c, Imaging the base of the weathering by stacking shot records. 21st ASEG Conference & Exhibition, Sydney, (Extended Abstract).
Palmer, D., 2010d, Non-uniqueness with refraction inversion -the Mt Bulga shear zone. Geophysical Prospecting58, 561575.
Palmer, D., 2012, Generating starting models for seismic refraction tomography with common offset stacks: Exploration Geophysics43, 242-254.
Palmer, D., 2013, Resolving complex structure in near-surface refraction seismology with common-offset gathers: The Leading Edge32, 680-690.

/content/journals/10.1071/ASEG2015ab035

Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): common offset gathers; full waveform methods; near-surface refraction seismology; refraction convolution stacks

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