Can near-surface velocity structure be improved via dispersion analysis of conventional reflection data?

Abstract

A recent ultra-shallow 3C survey provides an attractive dataset for evaluation of surface-wave dispersion analysis, for improving knowledge of the near-surface. The primary motivation is for S-wave reflection processing, but with potential for P-wave static control. Finite-difference modelling and real data analysis suggests maximum-offset should be set at several times the investigation depth. This study suggests the geophone interval should be less than 10m, and single phones are preferred. An inverted near-surface S-wave section provides structural information complementary to that available from P-wave refraction.