Dependence of velocity on depth determined from travel-time curves of refracted waves in randomly inhomogeneous media

The influence of local velocity inhomogeneities on the travel-times of refracted waves and the dependence of velocity on depth determined from them was investigated. A clarification of the principal laws of wave propagation in media containing local velocity inhomogeneities is sought using a stochastic model of the medium in which the velocity values are separated into deterministic and random components. The dependence of apparent velocity on distance determined from the mean travel-time curve, differs from the similar dependence of the deterministic travel-time curve: near the source the apparent velocities are exaggerated by a value a little less than the contrast of the velocity inhomogeneities, whereas at greater distances the apparent velocities are understated.