Velocity / Acceleration Relationship

®
The VectorSeis SVSM™ 3-component digital sensor module uses micro-machined accelerometers as
sensing elements providing an output proportional to the acceleration of the ground motion. In contrast,
traditional seismic geophones, comprised of moving coil sensors, provide an output proportional to the
velocity of the ground motion above their natural frequency, and an output reducing in amplitude below their
natural frequency:

An illustration of the relationship between velocity and acceleration is shown in Figure 1. The blue line
indicates the velocity transducer response and the red line indicates the acceleration transducer response to
a constant-amplitude velocity (multi-frequency) input excitation signal. The velocity transducer response is
representative of a single element SM-24 moving coil geophone and System Four™. The acceleration
transducer response is a VectorSeis SVSM sensor and System Four.

0
10
Vibration is a 0.5 mm/sec RMS
Constant Velocity-Amplitude
Magnitude Response, Relative to full scale

-1
10 Signal. Curves do not include
anti-alias filtering.

-2
10

-3
10

-4
10

-5
10

-6
10
System FourTM, G2, with SM-24 (10Hz 0.7 damping)
System FourTM with VectorSeis®
TGR
05/06/2004
-7
10
-1 0 1 2 3
10 10 10 10 10
Figure 1 Frequency, Hz

The blue line above 10 Hz, the geophone’s natural frequency, is flat. This represents the zone of velocity
proportional output. By comparison, the red line represents the acceleration response, which is increasing in
amplitude proportional with frequency. The acceleration amplitude is rising at a rate of 6 dB per octave, or
20 dB per decade.

Both curves have an inflection point at approximately 1.5 Hz that is due to the effect of a DC blocking filter.
The red line does not exhibit any other points of inflection prior to the application of the anti-alias filters (not
shown).
 These responses, when unconstrained by self-noise, channel filter effects, or distortion artifacts, represent
the same ground motion, but in different units of measure. The true ground motion, including that for the
geophone, can be recovered (within limitations set by signal-to-noise) from the transducer output
measurement by applying the inverse of the transfer functions of the sensor-channels to the measured data.

Comparing responses of conventional geophone sensors to VectorSeis sensors

Ground motion can be expressed in three ways: displacement, velocity, or acceleration. Each represents a
unique mathematical expression of the same ground motion. Velocity is the time derivative (rate of change
in time) of the displacement. Acceleration is the time derivative (rate of change in time) of velocity.
Mathematical integration can similarly apply, translating the data from acceleration to velocity or to
displacement domains. It is possible to translate the data from velocity to acceleration or vice versa in
processing.

This mathematical translation allows us to compare our recorded data sets in either domain. The accuracy
of these translations has been well demonstrated. It is now routine to perform this translation where
comparison of legacy geophone data is compared to new VectorSeis data.

Figure 2 shows shot data from collocated receivers, 6 geophone arrays and VectorSeis accelerometers. The
data are displayed in native units (velocity and acceleration, a, d) and in translated units (b, c). Note how the
acceleration data can be translated to look like the velocity data and vice versa.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

a) 6 geophone array (native velocity)

b) VectorSeis (native acceleration translated to velocity)
c) 6 geophone array (native velocity translated to acceleration)
d) VectorSeis (native acceleration)
(Source: 20 lb SeisGel at 120’)

Where VectorSeis data alone is acquired, it is usually simplest to process this data in the native
acceleration domain. One of the primary goals for data processing is to achieve a zero phase
wavelet. From this perspective processing data in the acceleration domain rather that the velocity
domain is not a concern

© 2004 Input/Output Inc. All rights reserved. Information subject to change without notice.