GEOPHYSICS, VOL. 46, NO. 8 (AUGUST 1981); P.
I lOf-1107, 7 FIGS
A method for calculating synthetic seismograms which include
the effects of absorption and dispersion
D. C. Ganley*
ABSTRACT
A method is outlined for the calculation of synthetic seis-
mograms which include the effects of absorption and dis-
persion. The absorption model used is the usual model of
exponential decay of amplitude with distance given by
A = AOemUz,where a is a linear function of frequency. This
attenuationis accountedfor mathematically by allowing the
elastic modulus to be a complex function of frequency.
This results in a complex velocity and wavenumber, and
the reflection and transmission coefficients also become
complex functions of frequency. The method is based upon
the communication theory approach and is applicable to
plane waves in a flat layered model. The source can be
placed at an arbitrary depth. The equations are outlined in
detail for a particular absorption-dispersionpair taken from
Futterman (1962). An example with a surface synthetic seis-
mogram and synthetic traces at several depths is presented.
INTRODUCTION
In the past, the majority of synthetic seismograms were calcu-
lated for elastic models of the earth’s crust, which ignored the
effects of absorption and dispersion. More recently, there has been
increased consideration given to the problems of absorption and
dispersion. In order to understandthese problems better, it is use-
ful to be able to generate synthetic seismogramswhich incorporate
these effects. My purpose is to outline a technique by which syn-
thetic seismogramsthat include the effects of absorption and dis-
persion can be calculated. The absorption model used is the ex-
ponential decay of, amplitude with distance as given by A =
AgC=, where cxis a linear function of frequency. This technique
can be usedto produce normal incidence, plane-wave seismograms
for a flat layered model; it is essentially a modification of the
communication theory approachto synthetic seismograms. Details
of this method can be found in Baranov and Kunetz (1960),
Wuenschel (1960), Goupillaud (1961), Kunetz and d’Erceville
(1962), Trorey (1962), Kunetz (1964), Sherwood and Trorey
(1965), Darby and Neidell (1966), Treitel and Robinson (1966),
Robinson (1967, 1968), Claerbout (1968), Kanasewich (1975),
and Robinson and Treitel (1977).
Manuscriptreceived by the Editor November 20, 1979; revised manuscript received December 23, 1979.
*Formerly Amoco Production Research Center, Tulsa; presently Union Oil Co. of Canada Limited, 335-8th Avenue S.W., P.O. Box 999, Calgary, Alta.,
Canada T2P 2K6.
0016.8033/81/0801--1100$03.00. 0 1981 Society of Exploration Geophysicists. All rights reserved.
1100
ATTENUATION MODEL
In order to make any synthetic seismogramincluding absorption,
it is first necessary to propose a model for the absorption mech-
anism. The model used here is the familiar model of exponential
decay of amplitude with distance given by
A = Age?=. (1)
The spatial attenuation factor for a wave propagating in the z-
direction is written as exp (-az) where a is the absorption coeffi-
cient. (Y is frequency dependent, usually written
(J4
2cQ ’
where 101 is the absolute value of the angular frequency and c is
the phase velocity. Q is the quality factor which is sometimes
written as
2~
_=- AE
Q E’
where AE is the energy dissipated per cycle and E is the peak
energy stored in the cycle. Strictly speaking, equations (2) and (3)
are not exact but are expressions which are valid for large Q
(Zener, 1948, p. 62-63). For many solid substances, Q is es-
sentially independent of frequency (Knopoff, 1964).
Futterman (1962) showed that if a linear theory of wave propa-
gation is assumed, then the presence of absorption is a necessary
and sufficient condition for the presence of dispersion. He gave
an excellent discussion of absorption-dispersionpairs. Using the
condition of causality, he derived a Kramers-Kronig relation which
allows one to calculate the dispersion for a given absorption
function.
Lomnitz (1957) derived a dispersion equation for a medium
with nearly constant Q over a wide range of frequencies. He re-
lated the fact that Q is nearly constantover a wide frequency range
to the behavior of the material in creep, and he showed that a
logarithmic creep law can be used to explain this form of attenua-
tion. Savage and O’Neill (1975) showed the similarity between
the theories of Lomnitz and Futterman.
I will use as a model the third absorption-dispersion pair of
Futterman ( 1962).
 Synthetic Seismograms Including Absorption and Dispersion 1101

EXPONENTIALLY DAMPED ELASTIC WAVES ,l(ot-K,z) R,w)e l(wt+K,z)

Consider a plane compressional wave propagating in the posi-
tive z-direction. The elastic (loss free) wave equation can be INCIDENT REFLECTED
URVE WRVE
written as

a2u m a2u 2a2u

-=--=c (4)
at2 p az2 az2 ’ ,,,,,/ MEDIUW 1
““” HEDIUM 2
where p is the density, m is an elastic modulus relating stress to
strain, c is the phase velocity, and U is the displacement in the
z-direction.
TRANSt’lITTElJ
In the case of elastic wave motion with no attenuation, the solu- WRVE
tion to equation (4) has the form
U = Ulei(wt-kz) + uZei(wt+k)
(5)
where the U1 term represents a wave propagating in the positive FIG. 1. Reflection and transmission at a boundary.
z-direction, and the U2 term representsa wave propagating in the
negative z-direction. k is the wavenumber, equal to the angular
frequency w divided by the phase velocity c. Thus,

k = w/c. (6)

In the case of exponential attenuation with distance, a solution to where sgn(w) = 1 for o > 0 and - 1 for w < 0, and
the wave equation will be written
u = Ule-azei(wt~kz) + U2eazeiW+kz)
M, = pV2, (I -“2)
(7) (14)
k2
Note that equation (7) has been arbitrarily selected as a solution in
the presence of absorption, and it has not been derived from any
basic principles of physics which explain the absorption mech-
anism. A simple mathematical modification can be made to v$[l+(l+$)j1’2J, (15)
equation (4) which will allow equation (7) to be a solution. This
modification is to let the elastic modulus m be complex. The com- with
plex propagation constant will be a 1 -
-=-= d/e2 + 1 - Q. (16)
K = k - ia. (8) k 2Q’
Note that Q’ = Q for large Q. Also the complex propagation
constant is
Then equation (7) becomes
U = ulei(wt-Kz) + uaei(wt+Kz)
(9) K(o) = k(w) - ia = f [I - e], (17)
The fact that the propagation constant is complex leads to a com-
plex velocity given by and the complex velocity is

i sgn (0)

In addition,
V = w/K. (10)
V(w) = v,
L
1+ ~
2Q’
1 (18)

v2 = M/p, (11) REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION AT A BOUNDARY

where M is the complex modulus relating stressto strain, and equa- Having introduced the mathematical representation which will
tion (4) is now written as be used for the absorption model, now it is necessary to consider
the reflection and transmission of normal incidence plane waves
a2u
p= kf a2u
-- (12) at a boundary. Consider a plane boundary as shown in Figure 1.
at2 p az2 Let a wave of unit displacement amplitude given by ei(wt-Klr) be
The fact that M is now complex implies that there is a phasediffer- incident from medium 1. Then the reflected wave in medium 1
ence between stress and strain. This phase difference leads to an will be Rei(Wf+KIZ) and the transmitted wave in medium 2 will
be Tei(wf-K2Z)
elliptical stress-straincurve where the area of the ellipse will be
proportionalto the energy loss per cycle (White, 1965, p. 96). Note The boundary conditions will require the continuity of displace-
that M will be thought of as a complex function of frequency and ment and of normal stress. The normal stress in terms of the
will have the requirement that M(w) = M*(-w) (where * complex modulus is
denotes the complex conjugate). This will ensure that the time
domain expression of M is real. uzz =Mz. (19)
Since Q is defined as the ratio of the imaginary part of the com-
plex elastic constant to the real part, the elastic constant can be Letting the boundary be at z = 0, then continuity of displacement
written as gives

l+R=T,
M(w) = M,(w) [I +yq, (13)
(20)
and continuity of normal stress gives
1102 Ganley

MIKl(l - R) = TM2K2, (21)

where the subscriptsrefer to the medium.
Equations (30) and (21) can be solved for R and T, giving

MlKl - MzKz
R= e-4
MIKI + MzKz
and

~MIKI
T= (23)
MIKI + MzK, FIG. 2. Relationship of waves at the top of a layer to waves at the
Now, using equations (10) and (11) in equations (22) and (23) bottom of the same layer. D is the downgoing wave and U is the
upgoing wave. primed quantities are measured at the bottom of
gives the layer and unprimed quantities at the top of the layer.
R = PlVl - P2V2
(24)
PlVl + P2V2’

and
frequency-dependent loss. However, there is also the frequency
2Pl VI dependence of the reflection coefficient to be taken into account.
T= (25)
PlVl + P2V2’ Now consider an interface as shown in Figure 3 in the same manner
as in Treitel and Robinson (1966). The upgoing wave Ui is made
Thus, the formulas for the reflection and transmissioncoefficients
up of two parts, that due to the transmissionof V, + 1 and that due
are the same as in the elastic case except that the phase velocity is
to the reflection of Dt Thus
replaced with the complex velocity. Note that R and T are now
complex functions of frequency. Equation (24) is the same as the Ui = RiDi + Tt Ui+ 1, (30)
equation for the reflection coefficient given by Averbukh and
where Ri is the reflection coefficient at interface i for waves in-
Trapeznikova (1972) or by Crowe and Alhilali (1975), although
cident from above and Ti is the transmission coefficient at inter-
their equationsare written explicitly in terms of the phasevelocity.
face i for waves incident from below. As shown in Figure 3, we
It is interesting to observe what happensto the reflection coeffi-
also have Di+ 1 made up of the reflected portion of 7Ji+ r and the
cient if Q is constant at a boundary. In this case, equations (24)
transmitted portion of 0: so that
and (25) can be shown to reduce to
Di+i = TiDj + RjU,+ly (31)
R = PlCl - P2C2
(26) where RI is the reflection coefficient at interface i for waves
PlCl + P2C2’
incident from below, and Ti is the transmission coefficient for
and waves incident from above.
From equations (20), (24), (30), and (31) it follows that
2PlCl
T= (27)
PlCl + P2C2’
0: = + [Di+r + RiU,+lIt (32)
Thus for P constant-Q interface, the reflection coefficient is a real 1
constant and the formula is the same formula as in the case of no and
absorption. The same is true for the transmission coefficient.
Ui = $ (RiDi+ + ui+l). (33)
2
SYNTHETIC SEISMOGRAM EQUATIONS
Combining equations (32) and (33) with equations (28) and (29)
In this section, the synthetic seismogram equations for a flat
gives
layered model are considered. If Di (w) is the spectrumof the down-
eadieiodi/ci
going’wave at the top of layer i, then the downgoing wave at the
Di = (Di+l + RiUi+l), (34)
bottom of layer i is given by Ti
D{(&)) = ~i(0)e~~~ie~~~~L’ci, (28) and
where di is the thickness of the ith layer and ci is the phase e~adie-‘wdi/c,

velocity in the ith layer. The term eeadi represents the energy (R,Di+ 1 + vi+l). (35)
loss due to absorption as the wave propagatesfrom the top to the
bottom of the ith layer. The term e -iwdi’ci represents the time In the matrix form,
delay in traveling from the top of the ith layer to the bottom. Since
the presence of absorption requires dispersion, then ci will be a
function of frequency. In a similar manner, C/t (w), the upgoing
(36)
wave at the bottom of layer i, is related to Ui (o), the upgoing wave
at the top of layer i, by where
u; (w) = ui (o) eadieiwdi’ci. eo’dielwdllci R eudieiwd,ici
(29) I

Figure 2 shows the relationship between the waves at the top and
bottom of layer i.
The exponential loss in the medium is the major form of
 Synthetic Seismograms Including Absorption and Dispersion 1103

Di(o) U~kd) from 0 to T,. This is analogous to sampling in the time domain
LAYER i / ,,,,, ,, \/ ,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,/
where the requirement is that the amplitude be negligible beyond
,,,,,
1, \\,,, the Nyquist frequency (fn = 1/2A t). The spacing of points in
LAYER i+l \\\\\=--.\ \\.x\-..\‘\‘\‘\’ I\
the time domain is determined by the maximum frequency used in
JI&+1(w) Ui+1(0) the frequency domain. There is no a priori way to decide how
small A f should be chosen so that aliasing will be avoided. As
FIG. 3. Relationship of upgoing and downgoing waves at an inter-
mentioned above, the requirement is that A f be small enough that
face.
for times greater than T,,, the amplitude of the synthetic seis-
mogram is negligible. For large models with many reflection
coefficients, such as might be derived from well logs, T, can be
as large as 16 set or possibly even more. In practice it is necessary
to examine the calculated time responseto make certain that ampli-
tudes at the end of the time window (near T,) or prior to the first
Sherwood and Trorey (1965) derived an analogous expression arrival on the synthetic seismogram (near T = 0) are negligible.
with different notations. Their expression is in terms of z trans- As a rule of thumb, I have found that choosing T, to be 4 to 8
forms and their attenuation is written as F,(z). times the total two-way time of the model is usually adequate.
For a model of n layers, the upgoing and downgoing waves in It must be stressedthat one must take care to avoid aliasing.
the first, or top layer, can be related to those in a half-space below The matrix formulation of equation (38) has the advantage that
the nth layer by successively applying equation (36) to yield it can be used to generate the responsein any layer. If we are inter-
ested in a surface seismogram only, a different approach can be
(g::::l_~i~a.. .&[;:;;;I;]. (38) used. Dividing equation (35) by equation (34) gives

If the input is a downgoing spike at time zero at the surface, then y = e~2udie-2iwdiIci R, + Y,+l
I (431
the total downgoing wave in the first layer will be made up of this 1 + R,Y,+l ’
spike plus the reflection of the upgoing wave off the surface. If
where
R. is the reflection coefficient of the surface as seen from above,
then -R. is the reflection coefficient of the surface for upgoing Y, = Ui/Di. (44)
waves in the first layer, and
Yi is the ratio of the spectrum of the upgoing wave in layer i to the
Di(o) = 1 - RoU1(o). (39) spectrum of the downgoing wave in layer i. Equation (43) is a
modified form of an equation given by Berryman et al (1958).
Equation (39) is the..total downgoing wave in the top layer since
The modification is the inclusion of absorption. For an n-layer
no energy is input from above the model. If the bottom or n + 1th
model, U,+ 1 = 0 and therefore Y,+ i = 0. Equation (43) can be
layer is a half-space, then there can be no upgoing wave m this
successively applied from the bottom layer to the surface until
layer since there is no source in this layer and nothing to reflect
Yi is determined. Again, we use D1 = 1 - RoUl as before and
the downgoing wave. Thus
solve for U1. Equation (43) is a continuousfunction of frequency,
I/ n+l(W) = 0. (40) and the previous comments about sampling still apply. In the

1-RoUI(~)
Substituting equations (39) and (40) into equation (38) gives Appendix, a method is given for calculating synthetic seis-
mograms for a buried source. It is important to note that equa-
D n+l(~)

1 [ 1
tions (38) and (43) have not been written as z transforms, but,
= A1A2A3. A, (41) rather, they have been left as functions of frequency for layers of
[ Ul (0) 0 thickness di. This is because the presence of absorption also re-
Equation (41) is two equations in two unknowns. One unknown quires the presence of dispersion, and hence the traveltime
is U,(W) which is the Fourier transform of the upgoing wave in through a layer of thickness di will not be constant at all fre-
layer 1, and the other unknown is D,, 1 (w) which is the Fourier quencies. It is also important to note that even in the case where
transform of the downgoing wave in layer n + 1. X(W), the there is no absorption, the fnrmulation of equations (38) and (43)
Fourier transform of the synthetic seismogram at the surface, is could be used to calculate synthetic seismograms for models
given by Ur (0) + D1 (w) and thus where all layer thicknessesare not integral multiples of the sample
interval.
X(w) = (1 - Ro)Ul(w) + 1. (421 For the purposes of a model, Futterman’s (1962) third
Therefore, given an n-layer model, it is possible to calculate the absorption-dispersionpair is used. In this model, the absorption
Fourier transform of the surface synthetic seismogram for an coefficient a is
initial downgoing spike at the surface. This Fourier transform W W
a(w) = - = -
can then be multiplied by the Fourier transform of the wavelet if
2cQ’ 2coQo'
we wish to use a wavelet different from a spike as the input
wavelet. Also,
It must be noted that equation (41) is a continuous frequency -1
function. If a discrete Fourier transform is going to be used, it is
necessaryto sample this function at some frequency spacing A f. 1' (46)

This spacing must be small enough that for times greater than and
T, = 1/A f = 21r/A w, the amplitude of the synthetic seismogram
is negligibly small. If such is not the case, the amplitudes at times
greater than T, will be aliased back into the principal time band
Q’(w) = Q. [l - -&lnz],
1104 Ganley

Kaiser (1963), these undesirable effects can be minimized by

multiplying the frequency domain synthetic by the transfer func-
tion of an appropriate antialias filter so that the amplitudes beyond
this high-frequency cut-off are negligible. The time domain
synthetic can then be used to approximate the synthetic that would
be recorded through this antialias filter.
The important point is that the equations for the calculation of
the synthetic seismogram in the frequency domain, including
application of an antialias filter, can be written using the angular
frequency o as a continuous variable. However, if we wish to
perform the calculation of a synthetic seismogram on a digital
computer, it is necessary to discretize these equations. This can
0 p3 = 3.0 gm/cc be done by evaluating the frequency domain version of the syn-
c3 = 6 km/aec thetic seismogram equation at discrete angular frequencies
0
03 - loo separatedby A w. A o must be chosen sufficiently small enough to
minimize the effects of time domain aliasing. This approach leads
f
RECEIVERS to satisfactory results on a digital computer.

EXAMPLE SYNTHETIC SEISMOGRAM

FIG. 4. Three-layer depth model used in constructing example
synthetic seismograms. The source is at a depth of 50 m and re-
ceivers are spacedat 25-m intervals. Q and c values are at 100 Hz.
where
In y = .5772157
w. is an arbitrary low-frequency cut-off, usually chosen much
less than Ao (the angular frequency spacing). This makes equa-
tion (46) valid at all frequencies except zero frequency. In the
limit as one approacheszero frequency, there is no dispersion and
the phase velocity approachescu. Q. is the reduced quality factor
given by Qu = cQ’/co. The reflection and transmission coeffi-
cients are real at zero frequency and will be defined as
In this section, several synthetic traces calculated for a simple
test model will be presented as an illustration of the method. The
theoretical depth model which has been used is a three-layer case
as shown by Figure 4. The top layer has thickness of I10 m, a
density of 2 g/cm3, a phase velocity of 3 kmisec, and a Q value
of 30. For the second layer, the thickness is 90 m, density is 2.5
g/cm3, phase velocity is 4 kmisec, and Q is 60. The third layer is
a half-space having a density of 3 g/cm3, a phase velocity of
6 km/set, and a Q of 100. The Q values and phasevelocities above
are the values at 100 Hz. The low-frequency cut-off w. required
by equations (46) and (47) is set to .Ol I190808 radiansisec.
This correspondsto a linear frequency of .0017810724 Hz which
equals y/1000. The reflection coefficient of the surface from
below is 1.0. The depth of the source in this model was 50 m,

R = PlCOl - PZCOZ
(48) 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25
I 1
PlCOl + P2Co2 ’

and

2PlCOl
T= (49)
PlCOl + P2Co2

Also note that I have used Q’ in equation (45) and not Q. This is
because Q is defined by equation (13), and thus (Y is given by
equation (17) with Q’ defined by equation (16). Note that for
large Q, Q’ = Q.
Expressions (45) to (47) now allow calculation of cx, c, and Q’
as functions of frequency. At zero frequency, equations (48) and
(49) are used for R and T, and at higher frequencies equations (24)
and (25) are used with the complex velocity as a function of fre-
quency given by equations (15) and (18). With this information
and equations (37), (41). and (42), or (39), (42), (43), and (44), it
is possible to calculate a synthetic seismogram in the frequency
domain. This can be Fourier transformed into the time domain,
but consideration must be given to selecting Af appropriately so
as to avoid aliasing in the time domain as discussedbefore.
Another point to consider is that in order to perform the discrete _-- ”

Fourier transform, it is necessary to cut off the data at some high

frequency. This is equivalent to multiplication by a box car func- I I I 1 I
0 .oo 0.06 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.26
tion in the frequency domain, which is the same as convolution
time (SEC1
with a sine function in the time domain. This can have undesirable
effects since we have, in effect, ignored the contributions of fre- FIG. 5. Synthetic seismogramsfor the model shown in Figure A- 1.
quencies beyond some maximum frequency. As suggested by Dashed lines indicate particular rays.
 Synthetic Seismograms Including Absorption
and synthetic traces were calculated at the surface and at 10 depths
from 25 to 2.50 m with a depth spacing of 25 m.
The Fourier transforms of the upgoing and downgoing waves
in each layer were evaluated at 257 discrete frequency values be-
tween 0 and 500 Hz, inclusive. Thus Af = 500/256 = 1.953125
Hz. Since an FFT was used, this means Ar was 1 msec and 512
time points were calculated. A Butterworth low-pass filter was
used to simulate an antialias filter. The order of the Butterworth
polynomial was 12, and the amplitude responsewas 3 dB down at
250 Hz and 72 dB down at 500 Hz.
Figure 5 is a plot of the synthetic traces generatedfor this model.
The top trace is the surface synthetic seismogram and the next 10
traces are synthetic traces at the indicated depths. Note that on the
trace at 50-m depth, there is no direct wave from the source be-
cause this depth is exactly equal to the depth of the source. The
net displacement at the center of the point source is 0 since it is the
sum of the upgoing spike of amplitude -1 and the downgoing
spike of amplitude 1. The opposite polarity of the upgoing and
downgoing waves on opposite sides of the source is apparent from
the figure. Note also the reflections at the various interfaces and
the upgoing and downgoing waves in the different layers as in-
dicated by the dashed lines. The absorption causes a decrease in
amplitude and broadening of the wavelet with time as seen in the
figure.
CONCLUSIONS
A method has been outlined which allows the calculation of
one-dimensional theoretical seismograms which include the
effects of absorption and dispersion. The parameters which must
be specified for the model are layer thicknessesand density, phase
velocity, and specific attenuation factor (Q) in each layer. In addi-
tion, it is necessaryto have equations defining the absorption and
dispersion relations. I have used the third absorption-dispersion
pair of Futterman (1962) for purposes of illustration; however,
some other absorption-dispersionpair could have been used. The
equations presented can be programmed and used on a digital
computer with proper care given to selection of A o so as to make
the effects of aliasing in the time domain negligible. It is also a
good idea to apply a filter in the frequency domain which simulates
an antialias filter since this will prevent errors due to band-limiting
of the process. A method of placing the source at depth is given in
the Appendix. An example synthetic seismogram has been calcu-
lated at the surface and at several depths for a simple test model.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
‘Most of the work in this paper was done while the author was
employed at Amoco Production Co. Research Center, and the
author wishes to express his appreciation for permission to include
this work as a part of his Ph.D. thesis and to publish it. He also
wishes to thank Dr. E. R. Kanasewich, his thesis adviser at the
University of Alberta, for his comments and suggestions.
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APPENDIX
BURIAL OF THE SOURCE
Equations(38) or (43) and (44), along with equations(39). (40),
and (42), can be used to generate a synthetic seismogram for a
downgoing spike as a source at the top of layer one. It is often de-
sirable to be able to simulate a buried source. This can be done by
first solving equation (41) or (43) for CT1(w) when the source is at
the surface. It is then necessary to subtract the reflections off the
layers above the source from U1 (0) since these reflections would
not appear for a buried source. Let R,(w) be the Fourier transform
of these reflections. The next step is to replace the spike source at
the surface by a source which will simulate a spike at time zero at
the requested depth. This is done by multiplying U1 (w) - R, (co)
by [ 1 - R~(w)]/T,(o) where T,(o) is the Fourier transform of
the wave transmitted from the surface to the source and R;(w) is
the Fourier transform of the wave reflected off the layers between
the sourceand the surface as seen from the source. This calculation
will simulate a downgoing pulse equal to 1 - R;(o) at the
source. The 1 in the preceding expression represents the input
spike, and the R,‘(o) term represents the ghost reflections off the
layers above the source. The reason for using a minus sign on the
Rd(w) term is that the upgoing spike which is reflected is a - 1 in
our coordinate system, and R;(o) will be solved for as if a
spike of + 1 is reflected. The final step is to include the direct
wave from the source to the surface. This is done by adding
-ri((w) which is the negative of the Fourier transform of the
wave transmitted from the source to the surface. Again, the minus
sign appears because the upgoing spike is - 1 in our coordinate
1106 Ganley

U,kd=R,W LAYER 1 Cl,k~)=-R~T;kd U,kd=T;kd LAYER 1

LRYER 2 LAYER 2

* SOURCE 1 Ih = SOURCE 1 in

FIG. A- 1. Reflection and transmission of layers between the sur- FIG. A-2. Reflection and transmission of layers between the
face and the source as viewed from the surface. source and the surface as viewed from the source.

system. If UT(o) is the Fourier transform of the upgoing wave in or

layer one for a buried spike source, then
-B12(w) - RoB22Cw)
R;(w) = (A-9)
U?(o) = Wi(O) - ~,(~)l&l(~) - C(o), (A-1) BII(W) + RoB21tw)

where and
Do(o) = 11 - K(w)llT,(w). (A-2) T;(w) = Bll(W)B22(W) - B12(W)BZl(W)
(A-10)
It is now necessary only to define the quantities R,(w), T,(w), Bii(w) + RoB21(w)
R;(w), and T,(w). Let the buried source be in the top of layer
L as shown in Figures A- 1 and A-2. Equation (38) then becomes Thus, it is possible to solve for all the quantities needed to simulate
a buried source in terms of the model parameters. The result is
[;:;I;] = B(w) [;I;:;] 3 (A-3) DO(W) = Bri(w) + B12(w) + Ro[Bzl(w) + B22(w)1, (A-11)

and
where B(w) is a 2 x 2 matrix given by
U:G-4 = U~(wlDo(w) - B2lCw) - Bzz(w). (A-12)
B = AlAO. AL_1. (A-4)
The Fourier transform of the surface synthetic seismogram for a
For a spike at the surface, D1 (w) = 1 - R. U 1 (w), and if layer buried source is, of course, just (1 - Ro) U r(w).
L is treated as a half-space, then Ui (0) = R,(w) and DL(w) = It should be pointed out that in the case of the surface source,
T,(w). UL (w) will be zero. This case is shown by Figure A- 1 and the total source is a single downgoing spike and there is no up-
we have going energy originating at the source. For the buried source this
is not the case, and both downgoing and upgoing energy originate
1 - RoRs(w) -T,(0)

or
4 R, (0) 1 = B (0)
0 1. (A-5) from the source. The downgoing wave is a unit spike of positive
amplitude. Since we are dealing with displacement which is a
vector quantity, the upgoing wave originating from the source
will be a unit spike which will have negative amplitude.
1 It was mentioned earlier that it is possible to use the matrix
T,(w) = (‘4-6) formulation of equation (38) to solve for the upgoing and down-
going waves in any layer. For the case of a buried source, this is
and still true. If we wish to solve for the upgoing and downgoing waves
in a layer K below the source (for K > L), we have the 2 X 2
B21(o)
R,(w) = (A-7) matrix C defined as
B11(w) + RoB21tw)
C = AlAP. AK_1, (A-13)
The situation shown in Figure A-2 can also be considered similarly
and solved for Ri and Tl. In this case, D 1 (w) = -R. U1 (w) and
and U,(w) = T:(w). DL(w) = R;(w) and U,(w) = 1 as the
source is in layer L. Equation (A-3) becomes Do(w) r -u:;r;(w)] = C(w) [:I;:;]. (A-14)

[;S+l;w)] = B(w,[ “;I, (A-8) Since U,(w) has been solved for and Do(w) is given by equa-
tion (A- 1 1), then equation (A-14) consists of two equations in
 Synthetic Seismograms lncludlng Absorptlon and Dispersion 1107

two unknowns [DK(m) and U,(O)] and is easily solved. The
Fourier transform of the synthetic seismogram in layer K is
DK(O) + U,(o).
If we wish to solve for upgoing and downgoing waves in a
layer K above the source (K < L), we have C given by equation
(A- 13) and
With UT(w) defined by equation (A-12), equation (A-15) is two
equations in two unknowns and is easily solved for DK(w) and
UK(W).
In solving for DK and UK right at the source (K = L), it is best
to average the results of equations (A-14) and (A-l 5). This en-
sures that the direct upgoing wave and direct downgoing wave at
the source will cancel each other to give zero displacement right
at the point source at time zero.