Seismic Anatomy
Reflections and refractions
The seismic waves that make the image are those produced by our seismic source. These travel from the source down through the earth and are changed by the earth as they go. The speed at which the wave travels depends on the properties of the material it is travelling through. This speed is measured as the seismic velocity. Because each rock is different, its seismic velocity will be different, and it is where the velocity changes that a reflection or refraction will take place.
Animation showing
how there are many different paths the seismic
energy can take.
