Indirect-approach method for specified-end points seismic ray tracing in three dimensional inhomogeneous media

Generally speaking, the factors of both medium and tectonic that give rise to heterogeneity of the earth crust and mantle structures should be taken into account simultaneously in three-dimensional seismic ray tracing. In this paper, the three-dimensional structure models are constructed with the model similar to generation system in computer-aid design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM). Based on the algorithm proposed by Cerveny et al. for complete seismic ray tracing in complex three-dimensional structures, a new technique called the indirect-approach method for two-point seismic ray tracing in three-dimensional laterally heterogeneous media has been put forward, and its numerical computing examples were given.