Seismic waveform tomography with multicomponent data at a groundwater contamination site

This thesis develops an SH-wave version of frequency-domain, full waveform tomography, and applies it, together with traditional acoustic waveform tomography, to a multicomponent seismic data set acquired over a shallow contaminated aquifer at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The study combines the high resolution provided by waveform tomography with inherent advantages of SH-wave imaging, such as reduced seismic velocity and independence of pore fluid content. Presented are synthetic tests of the method, its application to the field data, and interpretation of the resulting P- and S-wave velocity models. Synthetic tests reveal fundamental differences between acoustic and SH waveform tomography, and demonstrate, together with the field data inversions, improved resolution for SH-wave imaging due to smaller velocities. High-resolution velocity models from inversion of the field data are interpreted in terms of lithology and water saturation, which are better constrained by the availability of both P- and S-wave velocity.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Sciences

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Chambers, Geoffrey

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Levander, Alan R.

• Geology
• Geophysics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/61941

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/61941