Coda wave analysis for distinguishing attenuation due to isotropic scattering from attenuation due to absorption

When the quality factorQ is taken into account in attenuation studies, it is necessary to know the relative losses of wave energy due to scattering and to anelastic absorption. The coda is the most important phenomenon now known which is related to elastic scattering of seismic waves. Utilizing coda, this study presents relationships which give theQ factors of the medium around the recording station and discriminate between attenuations arising from elastic scattering (under the assumption of isotropic scattering) and those arising from anelastic absorption. This work proposes a technique for separately determining the attenuation due to isotropic scattering and that due to absorption from the observed envelope of coda waves.