What is seismic velocity?

Question

Christopher Ales · Accepted Answer

The velocity of a seismic wave.

The term is assigned to the velocity in which a seismic wave travels (through the medium: earth's crust). We can glance this rate with this: #v = d/t# , being 'v' its velocity; 'd', distance and 't', traveltime. Seismic velocity is a vector magnitude which varies laterally, vertically and azimuthally in an anisotropic (property dependable of the direction in which it is measured) medium. It is directly proportional to depth in the Earth. Why? Due to the increasing compaction or density as one travels deep down Earth; porosity will lessen as well. This means seismic waves have more terrain or surface to travel through

Luke Allen · Answer

undefined Seismic velocity refers to the speed at which seismic waves travel through different materials in the Earth's subsurface. It is measured in meters per second (m/s) and varies depending on the density and elasticity of the material through which the waves propagate.