MOZAIC Time-Term Analysis
David Bamford · Geophysical Journal International · 1976
The time-term approach to the interpretation of refraction travel-time data is extended to deal with observation systems which are not, at first sight, suitable for time-term analysis. This so-called MOZAIC method is based on the premise that there exist areas of equal delay time to any refractor and that the distribution of such areas can be intelligently estimated using ancillary information such as geological or gravity maps. It is then possible to construct, from an essentially heterogeneous observation scheme, a MOZAIC network to which more or less conventional time-term analysis can be applied. The MOZAIC method is applied to Pn, data from the quarry-blast recording network in western Germany and is shown to offer several real advantages over the Delay-Time-Function Method. In particular the improved interpretation strengthens the hypothesis that the data requires a considerable anisotropy of upper mantle P wave velocity. Future uses of the MOZAIC method are discussed.