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Do seismic reflections necessarily have chronostratigraphic significance?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

John C. Tipper
John C. Tipper
Affiliation:
Geologisches Institut der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Albertstraβe 23B, D-7800 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Abstract

Many seismic reflections from within sedimentary successions are thought to be generated along stratal surfaces because those surfaces are laterally continuous and have marked acoustic impedance contrasts. As stratal surfaces are isochronous, those reflections are then also taken as being chronostratigraphically significant. In contrast, seismic reflections are thought not to be generated along the boundaries of lithostratigraphic units because those boundaries are discontinuous and gradational. Nevertheless, synthetic seismic analysis shows that seismic reflections should in many circumstances be expected to follow lithostratigraphic unit boundaries, not stratal surfaces. As these lithostratigraphic unit boundaries will generally be diachronous, seismic reflections from within sedimentary successions should evidently not be treated as necessarily having chronostratigraphic significance.

Type
Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 130 , Issue 1 , January 1993 , pp. 47 - 55
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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