The frequency content and attenuation of seismic wavelets along the surface of different types of soil

Summary An experimental investigation was conducted over 6 widely different types of soil in order to gain some reliable information on the wave propagation properties relevant to seismic prospecting. The elastic constants of the surface layers were also found from the compressional and Rayleigh wave velocities. While the predominant frequencies of the compressional and Rayleigh waves both decrease with distance from the source, they are in most cases of the same order of magnitude. The amplitude of the particle velocity for the compressional wave was found to decrease inversely as the square of the distance, while that for the Rayleigh wave decreased more slowly; wide variations occur between different localities. The significance of these results to seismic prospecting instrumentation is discussed.