Acknowledgement

Definition

Refraction Seismology - A program to map geologic structure by using head waves. Head waves involve energy that enters a high-velocity medium (refractor) near the critical angle and travels in the high-velocity medium nearly parallel to the refractor surface. Head wave arrivals are identified in terms of time after the shot and distance from the shot. The objective is to determine the arrival times of the head waves in order to map the depth to the refractors in which they traveled*.

Useful References

• Burger, H. R., Exploration Geophysics of the Shallow Subsurface, Prentice Hall P T R, 1992.
• Robinson, E. S., and C. Coruh, Basic Exploration Geophysics, John Wiley, 1988.
• Telford, W. M., L. P. Geldart, and R. E. Sheriff, Applied Geophysics, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 1990.

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*Definition from the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Exploration Geophysics by R. E. Sheriff, published by the Society of Exploration Geophysics.