Seismic Refraction Services

Seismic refraction is a geophysical method used to determine the seismic compression-wave (P-wave) velocity structure of the subsurface. Seismic P-waves are generated on the surface, propagate through the soil and rock, and are recorded by geophones at known distances from the source. Since P-waves are the fastest portion of the seismic wave, they represent the first arriving energy at each geophone (either direct or refracted). A seismograph is used to record the travel-times of the first arriving energy, after which subsurface seismic P-wave velocities can be derived. A tomographic inversion is used to develop a 2D P-wave velocity cross-section from the data. Seismic refraction data may be acquired on land or in water covered areas.