© John F.

Hermance
September 05, 2002
04. Seismic Refraction
Interpretation
Geofisika Dasar
Kuliah hari ini...
• DEFINITIONS
• INTERPRETATION MODELS
• Single Horizontal Interface
• Crustal Thickness
• Depth to Bedrock
• Several Horizontal Interfaces
• Refraction Surveys of Oceanic Crust
• Problem Situations
• Reduced Travel-Time Plots
• Single Dipping Interface
• TECTONIC INTERPRETATION OF SEISMIC REFRACTION
PROFILES
• Maps of Crustal Thickness and Uppermost Mantle Velocity
• Crustal-Scale Cross Sections
DEFINITIONS
 Crustal thickness Depth to bedrock

The refraction method is most useful where there is an abrupt increase in velocity with depth,
because critically refracted P-waves eventually arrive ahead of other waves.
• In order to see a critical
refraction clearly as a first
arrival, the spread length
should be at about twice
the crossover distance.
• Unlike reflection
experiments, where the
spread length is about
equal to the depth of the
deepest retlector, seismic
refraction spread lengths
are about five to ten times
the depth of the deepest
refractor.
 Crustal thickness Depth to bedrock

seismic refraction spread lengths are about five to ten times the depth of the deepest refractor.
 INTERPRETATION MODELS

Equations developed from the models can be used in two ways:

1) forward modeling gives anticipated travel-time graphs; and
2) inversion yields velocities, thicknesses, and dips of interfaces from actual refraction profiles.
Single Horizontal Interface

This equation can be forward modeling equations

 yield predicted travel-time graph
 Inversion equations that can be derived:

RUMUS PENTING!!!
 • Crustal Thickness

-The T-axis intercept (t1) can be thought of as a "delay time"; the critically refracted arrival from a deep Moho is delayed.
-Thin crust  small t1; Thick crust  large t1
 • Depth to Bedrock

-same as crustal scale, but shallower

 Several Horizontal Interfaces

- (V4 > V3 > V2 > V1)

- Rays refracted along a higher-velocity interface at depth emerge at higher angles than
those from shallow, lower-velocity refractors.
• Refraction Surveys of Oceanic Crust

The character of a typical ophiolite sequence was

first recognized through seismic refraction
observations in ocean basins
• Refraction Surveys of
Oceanic Crust
 • Problem Situations
1. Low Velocity Layer (V2<V1<V3)
2. Thin Layer (V3>V2>V1, but with h2 very small)

1
2
 1. Problem Situations:
Low Velocity Layer
(V2<V1<V3)

- there is no critical refraction from the layer with

velocity V2
- V2 won’t observed, thus h2 won’t too
- h1 model is thicker than h1 reality
 2. Problem Situations:
Thin Layer
(V3>V2>V1, but with
h2 very small)

- It may be difficult to identify the first refraction of

thin layer
- h1 model is thicker than h1 reality
• Reduced Travel-Time Plots
Single Dipping Interface
Single Dipping Interface
When the source...
• Shoots downdip  the apparent velocity is lower than the
true velocity;
• Shoots updip  the apparent velocity is faster than the true
velocity
Before continue, check that reciprocal times are the same (TAB = TBA). If not, the analysis later won’t correct.
Apparent velocities:
 TECTONIC INTERPRETATION OF SEISMIC
REFRACTION PROFILES

- Uppermost Mantle Velocity, United States

- Countour in km/s
Composite cross sections based on seismic refraction studies in oceanic regions.
Refraction studies from regions of continental lithosphere
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