THE USE OF A LEAST SQUARES METHOD FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF DATA FROM SEISMIC SURVEYS

Abstract

During large‐scale seismic surveys it is often impossible to arrange shot points and seismometers in a simple pattern, so that the data cannot be treated as simply as those of small‐scale prospecting arrays. It is shown that the problem of reducing seismic observations from m shot points and n seismometers (where there is no simple pattern of arranging these) is equivalent to solving (m+n) normal equations with (m+n) unknowns. These normal equations are linear, the matrix of their coefficients is symmetric. The problem of inverting that matrix is solved here by the calculus of “Cracovians,” mathematical entities similar to matrices. When all the shots have been observed at all the seismometers, the solution can even be given generally. Otherwise, a certain amount of computation is necessary. An example is given.