f Accurate and efficient seismic modelling in random media

Numerical modelling techniques are increasingly applied to study scattering phenomena of wave propagation in random media. Frankel and Clayton (1984) and other authors (see Frankel, A., 1989) successfully used explicit finite difference (FD) schemes solving the heterogeneous wave equation with second or fourth order approximations of the differentlal operator. In this paper the potential of using higher order FD schemes in random media problems is investigated. Increasing the order leads in the limit to the pseudospectral method (Fornberg, B., 1987). The various FD schemes and the pseudospectral method are compared with respect to accuracy and efficiency.