Abstract
HITHERTO, wave velocities V in the earth's interior have been calculated from the travel times t of earthquake waves in shallow shocks computed as a function of the epicentral distances Δ. This procedure fails if at any depth the velocity V decreases with depth at a rate in excess of dV/dr = V/r, where r is distance from the centre. In this case a portion of the travel-time curve is formed by the arrival of diffracted waves; if these are misinterpreted as direct waves, incorrect velocities are found not only for the low-velocity layer, but also (with decreasing errors) for all deeper layers. Moreover, discontinuities may be inferred when none actually exists.
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References
Mohorovičić, S., Gerlands Beitr. z. Geophys., 13, 225 (1914).
Gutenberg, B., Bull. Seis. Soc. Amer., 38, 121 (1948).
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GUTENBERG, B. Wave Velocities in the Outer Part of the Earth's Mantle. Nature 170, 289 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/170289a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/170289a0
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