Statistical Analysis of the Depth-Velocity Trade-off in Reflection Seismology

TL;DR

This paper investigates the depth-velocity trade-off in reflection seismology using statistical simulations, revealing significant ambiguity regions where different models produce similar seismic responses.

Contribution

It introduces a Monte Carlo simulation approach to quantify the extent of the depth-velocity trade-off in seismic interpretation.

Findings

Multiple parameter combinations produce nearly identical travel times.

Broad ambiguity regions exist in the depth-velocity parameter space.

A two-layer model illustrates the relationship between structure and velocity.

Abstract

Seismic interpretation is strongly influenced by the relationship between subsurface layer depth and velocity. Small variations in these parameters can produce almost identical responses, characterizing the depth-velocity trade-off phenomenon. This work proposes a statistical and computational approach to evaluate the extent of this effect through Monte Carlo simulations involving thousands of synthetic models. The analysis consists of generating random depth-velocity pairs, computing travel times, and calculating the root mean square error (RMSE) relative to a reference model. The results show that multiple parameter combinations yield nearly indistinguishable travel times, confirming the existence of broad ambiguity regions. Finally, a two-layer geological velocity model is presented to illustrate the relationship between structure and velocity.