f Attenuation in random medial amplitude effects from phase fluctuations

Two main approaches have been used to describe the attenuation due to scattering by random inhomogeneities. One approach describes the attenuation as the fractional energy 1055 due to scattering (Chernov 1960, Wu 1989). The other approach derives the attenuation of the mean field by ensemble-averaging of stochastic wavefield realizations (Keller 1964). In this paper, we will concentrate on the latter approach. We discuss some conceptional differences to the energy approach and point out important consequences for its application in an exploration seismic environment.