
Computation, Optimization, and Machine Learning in Seismology
Paperback | 2 October 2025 | Edition Number 1
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416 Pages
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Computational Seismology is defined as theoretically simulating seismic wave propagations on computer for various subsurface earth models and matching the computed responses with the field observations to find the actual subsurface rock properties. As the computations advanced from serial to vector with eventually parallel computing technology emerging between 1980 and 2000, this manual matching procedure was automated on the computer, leading to a new field to what is called Seismic Inversion or Optimization, which is since a routine practice in almost every field of geophysics. From the beginning of this millenium, a new computing technology based on artificial intelligence has been developed, which involves, starting from the artificial neural networks, a variety of intelligent methods which are now broadly classified as Machine-learning (ML). Application of ML in geophysics is broad, such as geological interpretation of seismic sections via pattern recognition, signal-to-noise-ratio enhancement on data, seismic depth imaging, and much more.
Computational Seismology, Optimization, and Machine Learning encompasses proper use of seismic data that requires (1) thorough understanding of the seismic wave theory and how they can be efficiently implemented on the computer, (2) how the seismic theory can be combined with the optimization theory to estimate subsurface geological structure, lithology, and fluid properties and (3) how recent developments of machine learning can aid in efficient implementations of these optimization methods in high-performance computing environments. While there are some excellent textbooks available separately covering each of these topics, a single textbook integrating them into a comprehensive framework is necessary. Thus this will be a primary textbook for seismic inversion/optimization courses taught at different Universities around the world. In addition, this book will also serve as an excellent reference book to the professionals at the academic, research, and industry communities.
Volume highlights include:
- A comprehensive account of the seismic wave-theory, different optimization, and machine learning methods in an integrated and unified framework
- Provides language-independent pseudo-codes for each method with detailed discussion that will allow developing group projects for the class, and these pseudo-codes will allow researchers to easily implement the methods in practice
- Discussions on multi-objective optimization method in geophysics, which is a unique inclusion in this textbook
- Although machine learning is, in theory, an optimization, a unified treatment of classical optimization theory and machine learning tools will be discussed in the book, this is not currently available in any textbook
- Well thought out exercises to reinforce the concepts and methods developed in every chapter
Preface xiii
Availability Statement xv
About the Companion Website xvii
1 Introduction to Key Concepts in Seismic Inversion and Elastic Wave Theory 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Seismology—A Historical Perspective 1
1.2.1 Earthquake Seismology 1
1.2.2 Exploration Seismology 2
1.3 Mathematical Foundations of Seismology 3
1.4 Seismic Inversion 3
1.4.1 The Meaning of Inversion 3
1.4.2 Seismic Problems 4
1.4.3 Operator-Based and Model-Based Inversions—The Concept of Optimization 9
1.4.4 Fundamental Concepts of the Optimization Method (Model-Based Inversion) 10
1.5 Model, Data, and Objective Spaces 11
1.6 Different Flavors of Optimization 11
1.6.1 Local (Gradient-Based) Optimization 12
1.6.2 Global Optimization 12
1.6.3 Machine-Learning-Based Optimization 14
1.6.4 Single and Multi-objective Optimization 15
1.7 Bayesian Approach to Inversion/Optimization 16
1.8 Summary and Organization of the Book 16
1.9 Exercises 17
References 18
2 Mathematical Background 23
2.1 Fourier Series and Fourier Integrals 23
2.1.1 Fourier Series 23
2.1.2 Fourier Integrals 26
2.1.3 Fourier Transforms 27
2.2 Partial Differential Equations 33
2.2.1 How Do the Simplest Partial Differential Equations Arise? 33
2.2.2 Elliptic, Hyperbolic, and Parabolic Partial Differential Equations: Theory of Characteristics 35
2.2.3 Simple Examples of the Partial Differential Equations 36
2.2.4 Adjoint Differential Forms 40
2.3 Fundamentals of Tensor Algebra and Tensor Calculus 40
2.3.1 System of Coordinates 41
2.3.2 What Are Tensors? 41
2.3.3 Basis Vectors 42
2.3.4 The Gradient Operator and the Covariant and Contravariant Basis Vectors 43
2.3.5 Concept of Tensors 44
2.3.6 The Identity Tensor 44
2.3.7 Elements of Tensor Algebra 45
2.3.8 Elements of Tensor Calculus 49
2.3.9 Useful Theorems in Tensor Calculus 55
2.4 Chapter Summary 56
2.5 Exercises 56
References 57
3 Fundamentals of the Linearized Elastic Wave Theory 59
3.1 Introduction 59
3.2 The Stress Tensor and Traction 59
3.3 Strain (Deformation) Tensor 60
3.4 Static Relation—The First Fundamental Equation in Elasticity 62
3.4.1 Orthogonal Transformation of the Elastic Stiffness Matrix 63
3.4.2 Elastic Symmetries 68
3.4.3 Geological Interpretation of the Elastic Symmetries—The Concept of an Equivalent Medium 71
3.5 Strain Energy Function and the Positive-Definite Conditions 74
3.6 Dynamic Relation—Second Fundamental Equation in Elasticity 75
3.7 Elastodynamic Equation 75
3.8 Solution of the Elastodynamic Equation in Homogeneous Elastic Medium 76
3.8.1 Solution of the Christoffel Equation for a Hexagonally Symmetric Medium 77
3.8.2 Solution of the Christoffel Equation for an Orthorhombically Symmetric Medium 80
3.9 Ray (Group) Angle and Ray (Group) Velocity 83
3.9.1 Mathematical Formulation of the Group and Phase Directions for an Elastic Medium with Arbitrary Anisotropy 83
3.9.2 Analytical Expressions for Group Velocity and Angle for Specific Symmetries 85
3.9.3 Importance of the Group and Phase—An Optimization Problem of Practical Importance 88
3.10 Radiation Patterns from Seismic Sources 92
3.10.1 The Laplacian Operator and Its Inverse 92
3.10.2 Helmholtz Representation Theorem 93
3.10.3 Momentum Equation for Isotropic Elastic System 94
3.10.4 Green’s Function for Hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations 94
3.10.5 Radiation Patterns from a Uniform (Explosive) Point Source 95
3.10.6 Radiation Patterns from a Point Double Couple or a Moment-Tensor Source 97
3.10.7 Radiation Patterns from a Point Force 104
3.10.8 Summary of Radiation Patterns 105
3.11 Chapter Summary 106
3.12 Exercises 106
References 108
4 Computation of Synthetic Seismograms in Inhomogeneous Medium: Approximate (Partial) Solutions 111
4.1 Introduction 111
4.2 Fundamentals of Ray Theory and Computation of Partial Synthetic Seismic Response 111
4.2.1 Snell’s Law 112
4.2.2 Sign Convention for the Fourier Transforms in Seismology 114
4.2.3 Ray Tracing in a Smoothly Varying Laterally Homogeneous Medium 115
4.2.4 Travel Time and Distance 120
4.2.5 A Practical Example—Linearly Varying Velocity with Depth 123
4.2.6 Reflection and Transmission Problem 123
4.2.7 Ray-Theoretical Seismogram Computations 131
4.2.8 Ray Tracing in an Anisotropic Medium 132
4.2.9 Other Methods for Computing Partial Seismic Response 132
4.3 Amplitude-Variation-With-Angle Synthetic Seismograms 133
4.4 Chapter Summary 134
4.5 Exercises 134
References 135
5 Computation of Synthetic Seismograms in Inhomogeneous Medium: Exact Solutions 137
5.1 Introduction 137
5.2 Motivations Behind Computing a Complete Synthetic Seismic Response 137
5.3 Analytical Computation of Exact Synthetic Seismograms for a Horizontally Stratified Earth Model 140
5.3.1 Conventions and Notations 140
5.3.2 The Elastic System in 1D 141
5.3.3 Solution of the Elastic System: A Homogeneous Region 142
5.3.4 Reflection and Transmission 144
5.3.5 The Eigenvalue and Eigenvector Matrices and the Inverse of the Eigenvector Matrix 148
5.3.6 Reflection and Transmission in a Homogeneous Medium 151
5.3.7 Reflection and Transmission in a Stack of Layers 152
5.3.8 Reflection and Transmission in a Homogeneous Layer and an Interface 153
5.3.9 Iteration Equations 153
5.3.10 The Source Term 156
5.3.11 Computation of the Source Wavefield 159
5.3.12 Computation of the Receiver Wavefield 160
5.3.13 Response Computation in Different Domains 161
5.3.14 Inelastic Attenuation 162
5.4 Synthetic Seismograms for Vertically and Laterally Varying Media 165
5.4.1 Governing Equations 165
5.4.2 Spatial Discretization 167
5.4.3 Temporal Discretization 168
5.4.4 Overview of Different Numerical Methods 169
5.4.5 Boundary Conditions 170
5.4.6 Summary of Different Methods for Computing Synthetic Seismic Responses for Heterogeneous Media 171
5.5 Chapter Summary 171
5.6 Exercises 171
References 173
6 Optimization of Functions 179
6.1 Introduction 179
6.2 One-Dimensional Optimization 179
6.2.1 Golden Section Search in One Dimension 180
6.2.2 Inverse Parabolic Interpolation and Brent’s Method in One Dimension 183
6.2.3 Van Wijngaarden–Dekker–Brent Method 184
6.2.4 One-Dimensional Optimization Using First Derivatives 186
6.2.5 Practical Examples of One-Dimensional Optimization 187
6.3 Multidimensional Optimization 192
6.3.1 Fundamental Concepts 192
6.3.2 Conjugate Directions 194
6.3.3 Steepest Descent (Gradient Descent) Method 195
6.3.4 Conjugate Gradient Method 196
6.3.5 Variable Metric Method 198
6.3.6 Other Popular Methods 201
6.3.7 A Final Note to Multidimensional Optimization Problems 202
6.4 Chapter Summary 202
6.5 Exercises 202
References 203
7 Local Optimization Methods in Seismology 205
7.1 Introduction 205
7.2 Frechet Derivative (Jacobi) Matrix and the Computation of the Gradient of the Objective Function 206
7.3 Regularization of the Objective 207
7.3.1 Variance of the Model Parameter Estimates 208
7.3.2 Variance and Prediction Error of the Least-Squares Solutions 208
7.3.3 Data Resolution Matrix 209
7.3.4 Model Resolution Matrix 209
7.3.5 Objective Regularization 210
7.4 Implementation of Local Optimization Methods 210
7.4.1 Steepest Descent (Gradient Descent) and Conjugate-Gradient Methods 211
7.4.2 Gauss–Newton Method 215
7.4.3 Other Methods 216
7.5 Computation of the Jacobi (Frechet Derivative) Matrix 217
7.5.1 Amplitude-Variation-With-Angle Inversion 217
7.5.2 Full Waveform Inversion 218
7.6 Examples 228
7.6.1 Poststack Inversion 228
7.6.2 Prestack Inversion 229
7.7 Chapter Summary 238
7.8 Exercises 238
References 239
8 Global Optimization Methods in Seismology 243
8.1 Introduction 243
8.2 Bayesian Approach to Optimization Problems 246
8.2.1 Simple Monte Carlo Integration 251
8.3 Global Optimization Methods 253
8.3.1 Markov Chain Monte Carlo Optimization 255
8.3.2 Simulated Annealing Optimization 261
8.3.3 Genetic Algorithm Optimization 264
8.4 Multi-Objective Optimization 287
8.4.1 The Concepts of Pareto-Optimality, Pareto-Optimal Solution Sets, and Dominance 287
8.4.2 Why Multi-Objective Methods Are Necessary? 289
8.4.3 Multi-Objective Optimization: A General Overview 290
8.4.4 Geophysical Applications of Multi-Objective Optimization 292
8.5 Examples 295
8.6 Chapter Summary 302
8.7 Exercises 302
References 304
9 Artificial Intelligence for Seismic Inverse Problems 311
9.1 Introduction 311
9.2 Artificial Neural Network 311
9.2.1 Anatomy of a Biological Neuron 312
9.2.2 An Equivalent Artificial Neuron 312
9.2.3 The Activation and Bias 312
9.2.4 From a Single Neuron to Multiple Neurons: A Simple Neural Network 316
9.3 Deep Neural Networks 323
9.3.1 Number of Hidden Layers 324
9.3.2 Number of Neurons in Each Hidden Layer 324
9.3.3 Stopping Criteria for Training 325
9.3.4 Optimum Number of Training (and Validation) Data 326
9.3.5 Revisiting the Network Design 326
9.3.6 Different Flavors of DNNs 332
9.4 Other Machine-Learning Methods 344
9.4.1 Support Vector Machine 344
9.4.2 Gradient Boosting 353
9.5 Physics-Informed Machine Learning 354
9.6 Multi-task Learning 355
9.7 Machine Learning in a Bayesian Framework 355
9.8 Examples 355
9.9 Chapter Summary 356
9.10 Exercises 356
References 358
10 The Future of Seismic Inversion and Machine Learning 367
10.1 Introduction 367
10.2 The Road Ahead 367
10.2.1 Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage 368
10.2.2 Hydrogen Storage Systems 373
10.2.3 Geohazards and Related Environmental Impacts 373
10.2.4 Use of Seismology for Weather Prediction, Climate Modeling, and Marine Biology Research 374
10.2.5 The Overall Picture for Future Developments and Applications 377
10.3 Few Aspects of Practical Importance 378
10.4 Conclusions 383
References 384
Index 389
ISBN: 9781119654469
ISBN-10: 1119654467
Series: AGU Advanced Textbooks
Published: 2nd October 2025
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 416
Audience: Professional and Scholarly
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc (US)
Country of Publication: GB
Edition Number: 1
Dimensions (cm): 24.89 x 17.53 x 2.03
Weight (kg): 0.76
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- Non-FictionEarth Sciences, Geography, Environment, PlanningEarth SciencesGeology & The Lithosphere
- Non-FictionEarth Sciences, Geography, Environment, PlanningEarth SciencesVolcanology Seismology
- Non-FictionComputing & I.T.Computer ScienceArtificial IntelligenceMachine Learning
- Non-FictionSciencePhysicsApplied PhysicsGeophysics
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