STATIC CORRECTIONS FOR SHEAR WAVE SECTIONS*

The computation of static corrections requires information about subsurface velocities. This information can be obtained by different methods: surface wave analysis, short refraction lines, downhole times, uphole times and first arrivals from seismograms.

For pure shear waves generated by SH sources the analysis of first arrivals from seismograms combined, if necessary, with short refraction lines has proved to be most accurate and economic.

A comparison of first‐arrival plots from P‐ and S‐wave surveys of the same line measured in areas of unconsolidated sediments in northern Germany illustrates the characteristic differences between the two velocity models. P‐waves show a marked velocity increase at the water table from about 600 to 1800 m/s. S‐wave velocities of the same strata increase gradually from about 100 to 400 m/s. As a consequence, S‐wave models are vertically and laterally more complex and, in general, show no significant velocity increase at a defined boundary as P‐wave models do. Therefore, other suitable correction levels with specific velocities must be chosen.

A comparison of “tgd‐corrections” (correction time between geophone position and datum level) for P‐ and S‐waves in areas of unconsolidated sediments shows that their ratio is different from the P‐/S‐velocity ratio for the respective correction level because of the greater depth of the S‐wave refractor. Therefore, P‐ and S‐waves are influenced by different near‐surface anomalies, and time corrections calculated for both wave types are largely independent.