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Conclusions

I have presented a review of two ray tracing methods. I have implemented both of them in a combined version. The method computes first arrival travel-times and amplitudes of seismic waves in complex 2-D velocity structures. The method uses a wavefront construction technique that produces a complete coverage of the medium by a fairly constant density of wavefronts and rays. Wavefronts are propagated using a wavelength-dependent smoothing ray tracing technique, called the waveray method, which leads to an increased stability of the ray paths relative to high frequency rays. Also, it gives a sensitivity to the rays to larger velocity anomalies that lay within a fraction of a wavelength of the ray path. The data (traveltimes and amplitudes) is computed on an irregular grid. As the wavefronts are constructed the data is interpolated into a regular grid.

The result is a very robust ray tracing method that is able to illuminate areas of large geometrical spreading zones where conventional ray tracing methods produce shadow zones. Portions of the diffracted energy is produced in these shadow zones.

Further work should be done on calibrating and testing the results produced by the combined method against other methods. Future work should be done on a formal derivation of the waveray method. Production of seismograms and a 3-D version are also sources of future work.


next up previous [pdf]

Next: Bibliography Up: Urdaneta: Waverays and wavefronts Previous: Travel-times and amplitudes in

2013-03-03