Effect of anelastic patchy saturated sand layers on the reflection and transmission responses of a periodically layered medium

Based on analytic relations, we compute the reflection and transmission responses of a periodically layered medium with a stack of elastic shales and partially saturated sands. The sand layers are considered anelastic (using patchy saturation theory) or elastic (with effective velocity). Using the patchy saturation theory, we introduce a velocity dispersion due to mesoscale attenuation in the sand layer. This intrinsic anelasticity is creating frequency dependence, which is added to the one coming from the layering (macroscale). We choose several configurations of the periodically layered medium to enhance more or less the effect of anelasticity. The worst case to see the effect of intrinsic anelasticity is obtained with low dispersion in the sand layer, strong contrast between shales and sands, and a low value of the net‐to‐gross ratio (sand proportion divided by the sand + shale proportion), whereas the best case is constituted by high dispersion, weak contrast, and high net‐to‐gross ratio. We then compare the results to show which dispersion effect is dominating in reflection and transmission responses. In frequency domain, the influence of the intrinsic anelasticity is not negligible compared with the layering effect. Even if the main resonance patterns are the same, the resonance peaks for anelastic cases are shifted towards high frequencies and have a slightly lower amplitude than for elastic cases. These observations are more emphasized when we combine all effects and when the net‐to‐gross ratio increases, whereas the differences between anelastic and elastic results are less affected by the level of intrinsic dispersion and by the contrast between the layers. In the time domain, the amplitude of the responses is significantly lower when we consider intrinsic anelastic layers. Even if the phase response has the same features for elastic and anelastic cases, the anelastic model responses are clearly more attenuated than the elastic ones. We conclude that the frequency dependence due to the layering is not always dominating the responses. The frequency dependence coming from intrinsic visco‐elastic phenomena affects the amplitude of the responses in the frequency and time domains. Considering intrinsic attenuation and velocity dispersion of some layers should be analyzed while looking at seismic and log data in thin layered reservoirs.     

On anelliptic approximations for qP velocities in VTI media

A unified approach to approximating phase and group velocities of qP seismic waves in a transversely isotropic medium with vertical axis of symmetry (VTI) is developed. While the exact phase‐velocity expressions involve four independent parameters to characterize the elastic medium, the proposed approximate expressions use only three parameters. This makes them more convenient for use in surface seismic experiments, where the estimation of all four parameters is problematic. The three‐parameter phase‐velocity approximation coincides with the previously published ‘acoustic’ approximation of Alkhalifah. The group‐velocity approximation is new and noticeably more accurate than some of the previously published approximations. An application of the group‐velocity approximation for finite‐difference computation of traveltimes is shown.     

二阶Born近似有限频率走时敏感核

有限频率层析成像考虑了非均匀介质中波的散射、衍射、波前愈合等物理性质,使得其对速度异常体的分辨能力远大于射线层析成像.推导和计算有限频率敏感核是进行有限频率层析成像的关键,当前推导有限频率敏感核多借助一阶Born近似,但这只适用于弱散射介质的情况.本文基于二阶Born近似并利用傅里叶变换推导了三维均匀介质情况下有限频率敏感核的解析表达式,并将其推广到非均匀介质中得到了三维非均匀介质中有限频率敏感核.研究表明:当介质中速度扰动小于2%时,基于二阶Born近似的有限频率敏感核与基于一阶Born近似的有限频率敏感核差别很小,可近似认为相同;当介质中速度扰动大于5%时,基于二阶Born近似的有限频率敏感核与基于一阶Born近似的有限频率敏感核有较大不同,表明此时已不能忽略二次散射.     

Low‐frequency wave propagation in periodically layered media

In this paper, we consider wave propagation in a layered medium. Using the Baker‐Campbell‐Hausdorff series, we expand the logarithm of a propagator matrix in series of frequency. The series coefficients allow us to extend the effective Backus medium for low frequencies. The proposed technique is applied to vertical propagation in a periodically layered and binary medium as well as for a gradient medium. The velocity dispersion equations are derived for these media. We also consider the layered medium with monoclinic anisotropy. We illustrate the accuracy of the proposed method on synthetic and well‐log data.     

Double-square-root one-way wave equation prestack tau migration in heterogeneous media

In this paper, source‐receiver migration based on the double‐square‐root one‐way wave equation is modified to operate in the two‐way vertical traveltime (τ) domain. This tau migration method includes reasonable treatment for media with lateral inhomogeneity. It is implemented by recursive wavefield extrapolation with a frequency‐wavenumber domain phase shift in a constant background medium, followed by a phase correction in the frequency‐space domain, which accommodates moderate lateral velocity variations. More advanced τ‐domain double‐square‐root wave propagators have been conceptually discussed in this paper for migration in media with stronger lateral velocity variations. To address the problems that the full 3D double‐square‐root equation prestack tau migration could meet in practical applications, we present a method for downward continuing common‐azimuth data, which is based on a stationary‐phase approximation of the full 3D migration operator in the theoretical frame of prestack tau migration of cross‐line constant offset data. Migrations of synthetic data sets show that our tau migration approach has good performance in strong contrast media. The real data example demonstrates that common‐azimuth prestack tau migration has improved the delineation of the geological structures and stratigraphic configurations in a complex fault area. Prestack tau migration has some inherent robust characteristics usually associated with prestack time migration. It follows a velocity‐independent anti‐aliasing criterion that generally leads to reduction of the computation cost for typical vertical velocity variations. Moreover, this τ‐domain source‐receiver migration method has features that could be of help to speed up the convergence of the velocity estimation.     

HTI煤层介质槽波波场与频散特征初步研究

煤层内裂隙较为发育,具有明显的各向异性.目前槽波理论研究以各向同性介质为主,对HTI介质中槽波及其频散性质研究很少.本文以弱各向异性、含垂直裂隙HTI煤层介质为研究对象,研究了HTI煤层介质中的三维槽波波场,采用交错网格高阶有限差分法模拟槽波,推导了三层水平层状HTI煤层介质的Love型槽波理论频散公式和振幅深度分布,分析了HTI各弹性参数对频散曲线的影响.HTI介质和各向同性介质基阶Love槽波频散曲线差异较小,高阶较大;煤厚主要影响Airy相频率,而Airy相速度不变;煤层vs对Airy相速度影响很大;煤层γ对基阶Love槽波影响很小,高阶稍大.各波偏振方向不再与波的传播方向平行或垂直,而是呈一定夹角.利用基阶Love槽波频散曲线推测裂隙发育较为困难,可利用高阶频散曲线.     

The influence of mesoscopic flow on the P-wave attenuation and dispersion in a porous media permeated by aligned fractures

In sedimentary rocks attenuation/dispersion is dominated by fluid-rock interactions. Wave-induced fluid flow in the pores causes energy loss through several mechanisms, and as a result attenuation is strongly frequency dependent. However, the fluid motion process governing the frequency dependent attenuation and velocity remains unclear. We propose a new approach to obtain the analytical expressions of pore pressure, relative fluxes distribution and frame displacement within the double-layer porous media based on quasi-static poroelastic theory. The dispersion equation for a P-wave propagating in a porous medium permeated by aligned fractures is given by considering fractures as thin and highly compliant layers. The influence of mesoscopic fluid flow on phase velocity dispersion and attenuation is discussed under the condition of varying fracture weakness. In this model conversion of the compression wave energy into Biot slow wave diffusion at the facture surface can result in apparent attenuation and dispersion within the usual seismic frequency band. The magnitude of velocity dispersion and attenuation of P-wave increases with increasing fracture weakness, and the relaxation peak and maximum attenuation shift towards lower frequency. Because of its periodic structure, the fractured porous media can be considered as a phononic crystal with several pass and stop bands in the high frequency band. Therefore, the velocity and attenuation of the P-wave show an oscillatory behavior with increasing frequency when resonance occurs. The evolutions of the pore pressure and the relative fluxes as a function of frequency are presented, giving more physical insight into the behavior of P-wave velocity dispersion and the attenuation of fractured porous medium due to the wave-induced mesoscopic flow. We show that the specific behavior of attenuation as function of frequency is mainly controlled by the energy dissipated per wave cycle in the background layer.     

Seismic inversion with generalized Radon transform based on local second-order approximation of scattered field in acoustic media

Sound velocity inversion problem based on scattering theory is formulated in terms of a nonlinear integral equation associated with scattered field. Because of its nonlinearity, in practice, linearization algorisms (Born/single scattering approximation) are widely used to obtain an approximate inversion solution. However, the linearized strategy is not congruent with seismic wave propagation mechanics in strong perturbation (heterogeneous) medium. In order to partially dispense with the weak perturbation assumption of the Born approximation, we present a new approach from the following two steps: firstly, to handle the forward scattering by taking into account the second-order Born approximation, which is related to generalized Radon transform (GRT) about quadratic scattering potential; then to derive a nonlinear quadratic inversion formula by resorting to inverse GRT. In our formulation, there is a significant quadratic term regarding scattering potential, and it can provide an amplitude correction for inversion results beyond standard linear inversion. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the linear single scattering inversion is only good in amplitude for relative velocity perturbation ( \( \delta_{c}/c_{0} \) ) of background media up to 10 %, and its inversion errors are unacceptable for the perturbation beyond 10 %. In contrast, the quadratic inversion can give more accurate amplitude-preserved recovery for the perturbation up to 40 %. Our inversion scheme is able to manage double scattering effects by estimating a transmission factor from an integral over a small area, and therefore, only a small portion of computational time is added to the original linear migration/inversion process.     

2.5D modelling, inversion and angle migration in anisotropic elastic media

2.5D modelling approximates 3D wave propagation in the dip‐direction of a 2D geological model. Attention is restricted to raypaths for waves propagating in a plane. In this way, fast inversion or migration can be performed. For velocity analysis, this reduction of the problem is particularly useful. We review 2.5D modelling for Born volume scattering and Born–Helmholtz surface scattering. The amplitudes are corrected for 3D wave propagation, taking into account both in‐plane and out‐of‐plane geometrical spreading. We also derive some new inversion/migration results. An AVA‐compensated migration routine is presented that is simplified compared with earlier results. This formula can be used to create common‐image gathers for use in velocity analysis by studying the residual moveout. We also give a migration formula for the energy‐flux‐normalized plane‐wave reflection coefficient that models large contrast in the medium parameters not treated by the Born and the Born–Helmholtz equation results. All results are derived using the generalized Radon transform (GRT) directly in the natural coordinate system characterized by scattering angle and migration dip. Consequently, no Jacobians are needed in their calculation. Inversion and migration in an orthorhombic medium or a transversely isotropic (TI) medium with tilted symmetry axis are the lowest symmetries for practical purposes (symmetry axis is in the plane). We give an analysis, using derived methods, of the parameters for these two types of media used in velocity analysis, inversion and migration. The kinematics of the two media involve the same parameters, hence there is no distinction when carrying out velocity analysis. The in‐plane scattering coefficient, used in the inversion and migration, also depends on the same parameters for both media. The out‐of‐plane geometrical spreading, necessary for amplitude‐preserving computations, for the TI medium is dependent on the same parameters that govern in‐plane kinematics. For orthorhombic media, information on additional parameters is required that is not needed for in‐plane kinematics and the scattering coefficients. Resolution analysis of the scattering coefficient suggests that direct inversion by GRT yields unreliable parameter estimates. A more practical approach to inversion is amplitude‐preserving migration followed by AVA analysis. SYMBOLS AND NOTATION A list of symbols and notation is given in Appendix D .     

Generalized non‐hyperbolic approximation for qP‐wave relative geometrical spreading in a layered transversely isotropic medium with a vertical symmetry axis

Compensation for geometrical spreading along the ray‐path is important in amplitude variation with offset analysis especially for not strongly attenuative media since it contributes to the seismic amplitude preservation. The P‐wave geometrical spreading factor is described by a non‐hyperbolic moveout approximation using the traveltime parameters that can be estimated from the velocity analysis. We extend the P‐wave relative geometrical spreading approximation from the rational form to the generalized non‐hyperbolic form in a transversely isotropic medium with a vertical symmetry axis. The acoustic approximation is used to reduce the number of parameters. The proposed generalized non‐hyperbolic approximation is developed with parameters defined by two rays: vertical and a reference rays. For numerical examples, we consider two choices for parameter selection by using two specific orientations for reference ray. We observe from the numerical tests that the proposed generalized non‐hyperbolic approximation gives more accurate results in both homogeneous and multi‐layered models than the rational counterpart.     

Finite difference modeling of seismic wave propagation in monoclinic media

Reported in the present paper are the results of the study of propagation of SH waves in the plane of mirror symmetry of a monoclinic multilayered medium with displacement normal to the plane. Dispersion equation has been obtained analytically ussing Haskell’s matrix method, while the finite-difference method has been employed to model the SH-wave propagation to study its phase and group velocities. The stability analysis has been carried out to minimize the exponential growth of the error of finite difference approximation in order to make the finite difference method stable and convergent. Further, variations of phase velocity with respect to both wave number and dispersion parameter for different stability ratios in monoclinic media have been examined and shown graphically. The effect of change of stability ratio on the group velocity of the wave propagation has been also investigated. Likewise, the effects of change of dispersion parameter on phase velocity and the variation of frequency with increase of wave number have been graphically represented and discussed.     

黏弹介质中勒夫波频散问题的统一解及其动态特征分析

目前完全弹性介质中面波频散特征的研究已较为完善,多道面波分析技术(MASW)在近地表勘探领域也取得了较好的效果,但黏弹介质中面波的频散特征研究依然较少.本文基于解析函数零点求解技术,给出了完全弹性、常Q黏弹和Kelvin-Voigt黏弹层状介质中勒夫波频散特征方程的统一求解方法.对于每个待计算频率,首先根据传递矩阵理论得到勒夫波复频散函数及其偏导的解析递推式,然后在复相速度平面上利用矩形围道积分和牛顿恒等式将勒夫波频散特征复数方程的求根问题转化为等价的连带多项式求解问题,最后通过求解该连带多项式的零点得到多模式勒夫波频散曲线与衰减系数曲线.总结了地层速度随深度递增和夹低速层条件下勒夫波频散特征根在复相速度平面上的运动规律和差异.证明了频散曲线交叉现象在复相速度平面上表现为:随频率增加,某个模式特征根的移动轨迹跨越了另一个模式特征根所在的圆,并给出了这个圆的解析表达式.研究还表明,常Q黏弹地层中的基阶模式勒夫波衰减程度随频率近似线性增加,而Kelvin-Voigt黏弹地层中的基阶模式勒夫波衰减程度随频率近似指数增加,且所有模式总体衰减程度强于常Q黏弹地层中的情况.     

Effective wavefield extrapolation in anisotropic media: accounting for resolvable anisotropy

Spectral methods provide artefact‐free and generally dispersion‐free wavefield extrapolation in anisotropic media. Their apparent weakness is in accessing the medium‐inhomogeneity information in an efficient manner. This is usually handled through a velocity‐weighted summation (interpolation) of representative constant‐velocity extrapolated wavefields, with the number of these extrapolations controlled by the effective rank of the original mixed‐domain operator or, more specifically, by the complexity of the velocity model. Conversely, with pseudo‐spectral methods, because only the space derivatives are handled in the wavenumber domain, we obtain relatively efficient access to the inhomogeneity in isotropic media, but we often resort to weak approximations to handle the anisotropy efficiently. Utilizing perturbation theory, I isolate the contribution of anisotropy to the wavefield extrapolation process. This allows us to factorize as much of the inhomogeneity in the anisotropic parameters as possible out of the spectral implementation, yielding effectively a pseudo‐spectral formulation. This is particularly true if the inhomogeneity of the dimensionless anisotropic parameters are mild compared with the velocity (i.e., factorized anisotropic media). I improve on the accuracy by using the Shanks transformation to incorporate a denominator in the expansion that predicts the higher‐order omitted terms; thus, we deal with fewer terms for a high level of accuracy. In fact, when we use this new separation‐based implementation, the anisotropy correction to the extrapolation can be applied separately as a residual operation, which provides a tool for anisotropic parameter sensitivity analysis. The accuracy of the approximation is high, as demonstrated in a complex tilted transversely isotropic model.     

Scattering and attenuation of elastic waves in random media

In seismic exploration, elastic waves are sent to investigate subsurface geology. However, the transmission and interpretation of the elastic wave propagation is complicated by various factors. One major reason is that the earth can be a very complex medium. Nevertheless, in this paper, we model some terrestrial material as an elastic medium consisting of randomly distributed inclusions with a considerable concentration. The waves incident on such an inhomogeneous medium undergo multiple scattering due to the presence of inclusions. Consequently, the wave energy is redistributed thereby reducing the amplitude of the coherent wave.The coherent or average wave is assumed to be propagating in a homogeneous continuum characterized by a bulk complex wavenumber. This wavenumber depends on the frequency of the probing waves; and on the physical properties and the concentration of discrete scatterers, causing the effective medium to be dispersive. With the help of multiple scattering theory, we are able to analytically predict the attenuation of the transmitted wave intensity as well as the dispersion of the phase velocity. These two sets of data are valuable to the study of the inverse scattering problems in seismology. Some numerical results are presented and also compared, if possible, with experimental measurements.     

Frequency-dependent PP and PS reflection coefficients in fractured media

When a porous layer is permeated by mesoscale fractures, wave-induced fluid flow between pores and fractures can cause significant attenuation and dispersion of velocities and anisotropy parameters in the seismic frequency band. This intrinsic dispersion due to fracturing can create frequency-dependent reflection coefficients in the layered medium. In this study, we derive the frequency-dependent PP and PS reflection coefficients versus incidence angle in the fractured medium. We consider a two-layer vertical transverse isotropy model constituted by an elastic shale layer and an anelastic sand layer. Using Chapman's theory, we introduce the intrinsic dispersion due to fracturing in the sand layer. Based on the series coefficients that control the behaviour of velocity and anisotropy parameters in the fractured medium at low frequencies, we extend the conventional amplitude-versus-offset equations into frequency domain and derive frequency-dependent amplitude-versus-offset equations at the elastic–anelastic surface. Increase in fracture length or fracture density can enlarge the frequency dependence of amplitude-versus-offset attributes of PP and PS waves. Also, the frequency dependence of magnitude and phase angle of PP and PS reflection coefficients increases as fracture length or fracture density increases. Amplitude-versus-offset type of PP and PS reflection varies with fracture parameters and frequency. What is more, fracture length shows little impact on the frequency-dependent critical phase angle, while the frequency dependence of the critical phase angle increases with fracture density.     

Anisotropic attenuation of stratified viscoelastic media

An important cause of seismic anisotropic attenuation is the interbedding of thin viscoelastic layers. However, much less attention has been devoted to layer‐induced anisotropic attenuation. Here, we derive a group of unified weighted average forms for effective attenuation from a binary isotropic, transversely isotropic‐ and orthorhombic‐layered medium in the zero‐frequency limit by using the Backus averaging/upscaling method and analyse the influence of interval parameters on effective attenuation. Besides the corresponding interval attenuation and the real part of stiffness, the contrast in the real part of the complex stiffness is also a key factor influencing effective attenuation. A simple linear approximation can be obtained to calculate effective attenuation if the contrast in the real part of stiffness is very small. In a viscoelastic medium, attenuation anisotropy and velocity anisotropy may have different orientations of symmetry planes, and the symmetry class of the former is not lower than that of the latter. We define a group of more general attenuation‐anisotropy parameters to characterize not only the anisotropic attenuation with different symmetry classes from the anisotropic velocity but also the elastic case. Numerical tests reveal the influence of interval attenuation anisotropy, interval velocity anisotropy and the contrast in the real part of stiffness on effective attenuation anisotropy. Types of effective attenuation anisotropy for interval orthorhombic attenuation and interval transversely isotropic attenuation with a vertical symmetry (vertical transversely isotropic attenuation) are controlled only by the interval attenuation anisotropy. A type of effective attenuation anisotropy for interval TI attenuation with a horizontal symmetry (horizontal transversely isotropic attenuation) is controlled by the interval attenuation anisotropy and the contrast in the real part of stiffness. The type of effective attenuation anisotropy for interval isotropic attenuation is controlled by all three factors. The magnitude of effective attenuation anisotropy is positively correlated with the contrast in the real part of the stiffness. Effective attenuation even in isotropic layers with identical isotropic attenuation is anisotropic if the contrast in the real part of stiffness is non‐zero. In addition, if the contrast in the real part of stiffness is very small, a simple linear approximation also can be performed to calculate effective attenuation‐anisotropy parameters for interval anisotropic attenuation.     

Broadband constant-coefficient propagators

The phase error between the real phase shift and the Gazdag background phase shift, due to lateral velocity variations about a reference velocity, can be decomposed into axial and paraxial phase errors. The axial phase error depends only on velocity perturbations and hence can be completely removed by the split‐step Fourier method. The paraxial phase error is a cross function of velocity perturbations and propagation angles. The cross function can be approximated with various differential operators by allowing the coefficients to vary with velocity perturbations and propagation angles. These variable‐coefficient operators require finite‐difference numerical implementation. Broadband constant‐coefficient operators may provide an efficient alternative that approximates the cross function within the split‐step framework and allows implementation using Fourier transforms alone. The resulting migration accuracy depends on the localization of the constant‐coefficient operators. A simple broadband constant‐coefficient operator has been designed and is tested with the SEG/EAEG salt model. Compared with the split‐step Fourier method that applies to either weak‐contrast media or at small propagation angles, this operator improves wavefield extrapolation for large to strong lateral heterogeneities, except within the weak‐contrast region. Incorporating the split‐step Fourier operator into a hybrid implementation can eliminate the poor performance of the broadband constant‐coefficient operator in the weak‐contrast region. This study may indicate a direction of improving the split‐step Fourier method, with little loss of efficiency, while allowing it to remain faster than more precise methods such as the Fourier finite‐difference method.     

TTI介质的交错网格伪P波正演方法

研究了三维弱各向异性近似下,利用伪P波(伪纵波)模拟弹性波场P分量在倾斜对称轴的横向各向同性(TTI)介质中的传播过程,并对比了分别基于弹性Hooke定律、弹性波投影和运动学色散方程所建立的三种二阶差分伪P波方程的正演特点.目前这些伪P波方程数值计算主要采用规则网格差分,但是规则网格在TTI模拟中有低效率、低精度以及不稳定的缺点.为了提高计算的精度,本文构建出相应方程的交错网格有限差分格式.通过对比伪P波方程在三维TTI介质中不同的数值模拟的表达形式,本文认为基于色散方程所建立的伪P波方程在模拟弹性波中P波传播的过程中具有最小的噪声.本文分析不同的各向同性对称轴空间角度的频散特征,并引入适当的横波速度维持计算的稳定.二维模型算例表明,本文提出的交错网格正演算法可以得到稳定光滑的伪P波正演波场.使用本文交错网格算法对二维BP TTI模型的逆时偏移也具有较稳定的偏移结果.     

Caustics in a periodically layered transversely isotropic medium with vertical symmetry axis

Wave propagation in a finely layered medium is a very important topic in seismic modelling and inversion. Here we analyse non‐vertical wave propagation in a periodically layered transversely isotropic (VTI) medium and show that the evanescent (attenuation) zones in the frequency‐horizontal slowness domain result in caustics in the group velocity domain. These caustics, which may appear for both the quasi‐compressional (qP) and quasi‐shear (qSV) wave surfaces are frequency dependent but display weak dependence at low frequencies. The caustics computed for a specific frequency differ from those observed at the low‐ and high‐frequency limits. We illustrate these caustics with a few numerical examples and snapshots computed for both qP‐ and qSV‐wave types.     

Modelling of GPR waves for lossy media obeying a complex power law of frequency for dielectric permittivity

The attenuation of ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) energy in the subsurface decreases and shifts the amplitude spectrum of the radar pulse to lower frequencies (absorption) with increasing traveltime and causes also a distortion of wavelet phase (dispersion). The attenuation is often expressed by the quality factor Q. For GPR studies, Q can be estimated from the ratio of the real part to the imaginary part of the dielectric permittivity. We consider a complex power function of frequency for the dielectric permittivity, and show that this dielectric response corresponds to a frequency‐independent‐Q or simply a constant‐Q model. The phase velocity (dispersion relationship) and the absorption coefficient of electromagnetic waves also obey a frequency power law. This approach is easy to use in the frequency domain and the wave propagation can be described by two parameters only, for example Q and the phase velocity at an arbitrary reference frequency. This simplicity makes it practical for any inversion technique. Furthermore, by using the Hilbert transform relating the velocity and the absorption coefficient (which obeys a frequency power law), we find the same dispersion relationship for the phase velocity. Both approaches are valid for a constant value of Q over a restricted frequency‐bandwidth, and are applicable in a material that is assumed to have no instantaneous dielectric response. Many GPR profiles acquired in a dry aeolian environment have shown a strong reflectivity inside dunes. Changes in water content are believed to be the origin of this reflectivity. We model the radar reflections from the bottom of a dry aeolian dune using the 1D wavelet modelling method. We discuss the choice of the reference wavelet in this modelling approach. A trial‐and‐error match of modelled and observed data was performed to estimate the optimum set of parameters characterizing the materials composing the site. Additionally, by combining the complex refractive index method (CRIM) and/or Topp equations for the bulk permittivity (dielectric constant) of moist sandy soils with a frequency power law for the dielectric response, we introduce them into the expression for the reflection coefficient. Using this method, we can estimate the water content and explain its effect on the reflection coefficient and on wavelet modelling.