Open AccessBody Wave Amplitude Calculations
Author(s) -
Wiggins Ralph A.,
Madrid Juan A.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1974.tb04094.x
Subject(s) - classification of discontinuities , seismogram , amplitude , simple (philosophy) , computation , interference (communication) , mathematical analysis , simplicity , mathematics , physics , geology , optics , algorithm , seismology , computer science , quantum mechanics , telecommunications , philosophy , channel (broadcasting) , epistemology
Summary The exact wave‐theory response for a radially heterogeneous sphere has been used to find approximate formulae for treating seismic body wave amplitudes. A simple approximate formula has been found which preserves the simplicity of ray theory computations and the accuracy of exact wave solutions for band‐limited signals. The new formula reduces to asymptotic ray theory predictions for simple velocity structures, but describes the effects of caustics far more accurately. In addition, the predicted amplitudes are not sensitive to small discontinuities in the first or second derivative of the velocity. The implementation of this formula requires the construction of synthetic seismograms. Thus the interference properties of various arrivals can be studied directly.