In-situ, high-frequency P-Wave velocity measurements within 1 m of the Earth’s surface
Issue Date
1999-03-01Author
Baker, Gregory S.
Steeples, Don W.
Schmeissner, Chris M.
Publisher
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Seismic P-wave velocities in near‐surface materials can be much slower than the speed of sound waves in air (normally 335 m/s or 1100 ft/s). Difficulties often arise when measuring these low‐velocity P-waves because of interference by the air wave and the air‐coupled waves near the seismic source, at least when gathering data with the more commonly used shallow P-wave sources. Additional problems in separating the direct and refracted arrivals within ∼2 m of the source arise from source‐generated nonlinear displacement, even when small energy sources such as sledgehammers, small‐caliber rifles, and seismic blasting caps are used. Using an automotive spark plug as an energy source allowed us to measure seismic P-wave velocities accurately, in situ, from a few decimeters to a few meters from the shotpoint. We were able to observe three distinct P-wave velocities at our test site: ∼130m/s, 180m/s, and 300m/s. Even the third layer, which would normally constitute the first detected layer in a shallow‐seismic‐refraction survey, had a P-wave velocity lower than the speed of sound in air.
Description
This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://library.seg.org".
ISSN
0016-8033Collections
- Geology Scholarly Works [247]
Citation
Baker. G.S., Steeples, D.W. & Schmeissner, C.M. (1999). ”In‐situ, high‐frequency P-wave velocity measurements within 1 m of the earth’s surface.” In‐situ, high‐frequency P-wave velocity measurements within 1 m of the earth’s surface, 64(2), 323-325. http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1444537
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