Field investigation of Love waves in near-surface seismology

We examine subsurface conditions and survey parameters suitable for successful exploitation of Love waves in nearsurface investigations. Love-wave generation requires the existence of a low shear-velocity surface layer. We examined the minimum thickness of the near-surface layer necessary to generate and record usable Love-wave data sets in the frequency range of 5–50 Hz. We acquired field data on a hillside with flat-lying limestone and shale layers that allowed for the direct testing of varying overburden thicknesses as well as varying acquisition geometry. The resulting seismic records and dispersion images were analyzed, and the Love-wave dispersion relation for two layers was examined analytically. We concluded through theoretical and field data analysis that a minimum thickness of 1 m of low-velocity material is needed to record usable data in the frequency range of interest in near-surface Love-wave surveys. The results of this study indicate that existing guidelines for Rayleigh-wave data acquisition, such as receiver interval and line length, are also applicable to Love-wave data acquisition.