Wave theoretic seismic processing.

Abstract

The goal of seismic processing is to determine the character of the subsurface of the earth from wave-field measurements on the surface. In this inversion problem, both the target and the propagating medium are unknown. Also, the character of the energy source is not typically known. In this paper, the evolution of methods which address various aspects of the problem is described. Approximate linear inverse scattering approaches often can produce useful results. Nonlinear inversion approaches have the potential of providing certain important practical benefits not provided by linear approaches, although the former are typically less robust than the latter. Examples of linear and nonlinear inversion methods illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of each. Real data quality issues such as aperture, spatial sampling, and noise will impact what algorithm is appropriate and what goal level can be achieved with confidence. A recent wavelet estimation method [A. B. Weglein and B. G. Secrest, Geophysics 55, No. 7 (1990)] provides an approach for identifying the source signature and radiation pattern.