Inversion of controlled-source seismic tomography and gravity data with the self-adaptive wavelet parametrization of velocities and interfaces

• Published in: Geophysical journal international Vol. 172; no. 2; pp. 619 - 630
• Main Authors: Tikhotsky, S., Achauer, U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2008
• Subjects: Algorithms; Gravitation; Gravity anomalies and Earth Structure; Inverse theory; Inversions; Mathematical models; Parametrization; Seismic surveys; Seismic tomography; Tomography; Wavelet; Wavelet transform
• ISSN: 0956-540X; 1365-246X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03648.x

A self-adaptive automated parametrization approach is suggested for the sequential inversion of controlled-source seismic tomography and gravity data. The velocities and interfaces are parametrized by their Haar wavelet expansion coefficients. Only those coefficients that are well constrained by the data, as measured by the number of rays that cross the corresponding wavelet function support area and their angular coverage, are inverted for, others are set to zero. This approach results in a reasonable distribution of resolution throughout the model even in cases of irregular ray coverage and does overcome the trade-off between different types of model parameters. A modified sequential inversion approach is suggested to join the traveltimes and gravity anomalies inversion. An algorithm is developed that inverts for smooth velocity and density variations inside the seismic layer, the position of its bottom interface as well as for optimal values of the velocity-to-density regression coefficients. The algorithm makes use of direct (diving), reflected and head (critically refracted) wave traveltimes. The algorithm workflow is demonstrated on a synthetic data example.