Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way
  NJ Home | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQs
NJDEP
NJGWS Home | DWSG Home | DEP Home  
New Jersey Geological and Water Survey
What's New at NJGS About NJGS NJGS Programs Publications Digital Geodata Environmental Education Links Contact NJGS

Seismic Methods

The seismic methods measure the travel-time of acoustic waves propagating through the subsurface. The shot point is the location of the source wave and the acoustic receivers are called geophones. Source waves are generally generated by percussion mechanisms located near the ground or water surface (for example dropped weights or dynamite). Data are collected, stored, and processed in a seismograph.


Seismic Refraction

Seismic refraction is defined as the travel path of sound wave through an upper medium and along an interface (at a critical angle) and then back to the surface as shown in the figure below. The acoustic waves, like light waves, follow Snells's Laws of Refraction.

SEISMIC REFRACTION

Seismic refraction surveys are commonly used to determine the thickness of unconsolidated materials overlying bedrock (overburden thickness) and depth to the water table. They are used for characterizing the geological framework of ground-water contamination studies and for assessing geologic hazards and archaeologic studies.

INTERPRETED DATA

An example of seismic refraction data and interpreted model.


Seismic Reflection

The seismic reflection method records acoutic waves at the surface that are reflected off of subsurface stratigrphic interfaces where changes in the material density and conductive velocity of the acoustic waves are significant. The reflection patterns are described by Snell's Laws of Reflection.

SEISMIC REFLECTION

Seismic reflection surveys are used for determining the thickness and structure of subsurface geology and are commonly applied in hydrocarbon and mineral exploration, earthquake and tectonic studies, and in the marine enviromant for resolving stratigraphic details (for example, the location and thickness of beach-sand deposits).

SEISMIC REFLECTION DATA

Digital marine seismic profile data traversing a sand ridge approximately 6 miles off of Avalon, New Jersey. The S2 reflector marks the sequence boundary between Holocene sediments and older Tertiary deposits. These depositional features are primary sources for beach sand replenishment.


For more information on geophysical techniques, please refer to

Chapter 8 of the NJDEP's Field Sampling Procedures Manual, 2005.


NJGS HOME contact us privacy notice legal statement accessibility statement

Geological and Water Survey: Home | Directions | NJ-GeoWeb
Department: NJDEP Home | About DEP | Index by topic | Programs/Units | DEP Online
Statewide: NJHome | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQ's

Copyright © State of New Jersey, 1996-
Department of Environmental Protection
Geological and Water Survey
P. O. Box 420
Mail Code:29-01
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

Phone: (609) 292-1185
FAX: (609) 633-1004