Estimating Attenuation by Using Marine Seismic Reflection Data

The attenuation structure, inverse of quality factor (Q), in the sediments is estimated from the multi-channel seismic reflection data by using the wavelet modeling technique based on the constant-Q model. The estimated parameter is the effective-Q which is the sum of the anelastic absorption and the apparent attenuation. The aim is to investigate the existence of fault zones in the sediments by using the estimated effective-Q values. Two intersecting profiles of marine seismic shot data collected in Cinarcik Basin of eastern Marmara Sea, Turkey is used for Q estimation. In the time-migrated section of the N-S profile a local fault zone is observed while at the same location of the NW-SE profile it is not clearly visible. However the estimated effective-Q values of both profiles show local minima at the same location. It is seen that there is a correlation between the local minima of the effective-Q values and the faults and the effective-Q parameter can be used as possible indicator in determining the fault zones.