A NONLINEAR LEAST‐SQUARES METHOD FOR SEISMIC REFRACTION MAPPING—PART II: MODEL STUDIES AND PERFORMANCE OF REFRAMAP METHOD

Abstract

The Reframap Method performance is tested along with Profile and Time‐Term Methods through numerical models which simulate problems that frequently arise in crustal seismic refraction studies and partially investigate configurations poorly resolved by standard methods. The Reframap Method is found as accurate as the Profile Method for depth and velocity estimation and as flexible as the Time‐Term Method in the layout of sources and detectors. This method does not require the constraints of nearly planar interfaces, in‐line elements, and reversed traveltimes of the Profile Method. The Reframap Method suppresses the small slope and curvature restrictions imposed upon the refracting interfaces by the Time‐Term Method and eliminates the undetermined constant of the time terms (delay times).