seismic velocity

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | 474 words | Copyright

seismic velocity The speed with which an elastic wave propagates through a medium. For non-dispersive body waves, the seismic velocity is equal to both the phase and group velocities; for dispersive surface waves, the seismic velocity is usually taken to be the phase velocity. Seismic velocity is assumed usually to increase with increasing depth and when measured in a vertical direction it may be 10–15% lower than when measured parallel to strata. See ANISOTROPY.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "seismic velocity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "seismic velocity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-seismicvelocity.html

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