Numerical Investigations of Seismic Wave Scattering in Complex Media
Improving our understanding of seismic wave scattering is essential for accurately monitoring temporal variations in the elastic and scattering properties of the propagation medium. Variations in these parameters may be related to the presence of damaged areas, fracture density, and, in many cases, the presence of fluids. In this framework, numerical simulations of wave propagation represent an essential tool for linking observable signal properties to medium properties and for testing theoretical descriptions of the scattering process.
Wave propagation will be analyzed in statistically uniform heterogeneous media and in a strongly non-uniform medium representative of a volcanic plumbing system. The discussion will show how seismic scattering can provide constraints not only on the elastic and scattering properties of the propagation medium, but also how it can influence our interpretation of key characteristics of the seismic source, particularly in volcanoes. The implications of these results will be considered from both observational and theoretical seismology perspectives, with particular attention to the interplay between source, path, and structural complexity in shaping recorded wavefields.
