A simplification of the Zoeppritz equations

The compressional wave reflection coefficient R(θ) given by the Zoeppritz equations is simplified to the following: [Formula: see text] The first term gives the amplitude at normal incidence (θ = 0), the second term characterizes R(θ) at intermediate angles, and the third term describes the approach to critical angle. The coefficient of the second term is that combination of elastic properties which can be determined by analyzing the offset dependence of event amplitude in conventional multichannel reflection data. If the event amplitude is normalized to its value for normal incidence, then the quantity determined is [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] specifies the normal, gradual decrease of amplitude with offset; its value is constrained well enough that the main information conveyed is [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is the contrast in Poisson’s ratio at the reflecting interface and [Formula: see text] is the amplitude at normal incidence. This simplified formula for R(θ) accounts for all of the relations between R(θ) and elastic properties first described by Koefoed in 1955.