Open AccessRay Tracing for Seismic Surface Waves
Author(s) -
Gjevik B.
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.tb05437.x
Subject(s) - geology , ray tracing (physics) , surface wave , seismology , crust , great circle , ridge , seismic wave , wave propagation , perturbation (astronomy) , mid atlantic ridge , mantle (geology) , geophysics , geodesy , geometry , physics , optics , mathematics , paleontology , quantum mechanics , hydrothermal circulation
Summary Hamilton's wave theory is used to study the effect on seismic surface wave propagation of lateral variations in the composition of the crust and mantle. For cases with small lateral variations the distortion of the propagation paths from the great circle paths is determined by a perturbation method. Moreover, surface wave paths from the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge toward the NORSAR and LASA arrays are computed by numerical integration of the ray equations. The computed wave paths agree well with existing observations. The model of the surface wave velocity distribution used in this study cannot, however, explain all the observed multipathing effects.