Theory
Tomography is solved as an inverse problem. First measurements are made of seismic waves passing through a material. The character of these measurements is then analyzed to make inferences on the material such waves have passed through (velocity, density, etc.). The velocity of p and s waves depends on the rheology of the material that they travel through (density and elasticity). In short, variations in chemical compositions and thermal structure result in a change of velocity. Such waves can travel faster through relatively colder material. It is observed that wave velocity increases with increasing depth from 2–8 km/s in the crust up to 13 km/s in the mantle. Current research is based on this premise.
Read more about this topic: Seismic Tomography
Famous quotes containing the word theory:
“The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)
“We commonly say that the rich man can speak the truth, can afford honesty, can afford independence of opinion and action;—and that is the theory of nobility. But it is the rich man in a true sense, that is to say, not the man of large income and large expenditure, but solely the man whose outlay is less than his income and is steadily kept so.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“If my theory of relativity is proven correct, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.”
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955)