Head Waves, Normal Waves, and the Shapes of Transition Layers

Abstract

Summary In this paper we examine head waves and normally-reflected (normal) waves from transition layers, and see what information they can give about the shapes of these layers. Examination of the waves’ spectra show that their low- and high-frequency regions do not give the necessary information for determining the general shape of the layers. We suggest that this information may be obtained from the intermediate-frequency (i - f) regions. To test this we plot amplitude and phase spectra of head and normal waves from two different transition layers. The i-f regions show certain features, which may be connected with the transition layers’ shapes. In order to reach a definite conclusion, further work needs to be done.