Refraction (sound) a downward bending of the sound rays towards the ground. The same holds if the temperature is decreasing with height. If the temperature is increasing with height (inversion) and the wind speed is low, sound rays are bend upwards. Refraction (sound) Refraction, in acoustics, comparable to the refraction of electromagnetic radiation, is the bending of sound propagation trajectories (rays) in inhomogeneous elastic media (gases, liquids, and solids) in which the wave velocity is a function of spatial coordinates. Bending of acoustic rays in layered inhomogeneous media occurs towards a layer with a smaller sound velocity. This effect is responsible for
Seismic refraction velocity of the first layer V - velocity of the second layer h - thickness of the first layer T0 - intercept Seismic refraction Seismic refraction is a geophysical principle (see refraction) governed by Snell's Law. Used in the fields of engineering geology, geotechnical engineering and exploration geophysics, seismic refraction traverses (seismic lines) are performed using a seismograph(s) and/or geophone(s), in an array and an energy source. The seismic refraction method utilizes the refraction of seismic waves on geologic layers and rock/soil units in order to characterize the subsurface geologic conditions and geologic structure. The methods depend on the fact