A one-way wave equation for modelling seismic waveform variations due to elastic heterogeneity

Abstract

The application of a new one-way narrow-angle elastic wave equation to isotropic heterogeneous media is described. This narrow-angle finite-difference propagator should provide an efficient and accurate method of simulating primary body wave(s) passing through smoothly varying heterogeneous media. Although computationally slower than ray theory, the narrow-angle propagator can model frequency-dependent forward diffraction and scattering as well as the averaging effects due to smooth variations in medium parameters that vary on the sub-Fresnel zone level. Example waveforms are presented for the propagation of body waves in deterministic as well as stochastic heterogeneous 3-D Earth models. Extrapolation within deterministic media will highlight various familiar wave-diffraction and pulse-distortion effects associated with large-scale inhomogeneities, such as geometrical spreading, wavefront folding and creeping-wave diffraction by a compact object. Simulation within stochastic media will examine the effects of varying the correlation lengths of random heterogeneities on wave propagation. In particular, wave phenomena such as frequency-dependent forward scattering, the appearance of random caustics and the generation of seismic coda will be shown.