Process / pipelineGeophysical inversion

Seismic Full-Waveform Inversion

Seismic Full-Waveform Inversion (FWI) is a computational technique that reconstructs detailed subsurface velocity and impedance models by iteratively fitting synthetic seismic waveforms to observed data. Introduced by Albert Tarantola in 1984, FWI has become the leading method for high-resolution imaging in exploration geophysics, engineering seismology, and subsurface characterization.

Open in MethodMindSoonVideoSoon

Read the full method

Members only

Sign in with a free account to read this section.

Sign in

Sources

  1. Tarantola, A. (1984). Inversion of seismic reflection data in the acoustic approximation. Geophysics, 49(8), 1259-1266. DOI: 10.1190/1.1441754
  2. Virieux, J., & Operto, S. (2009). An overview of full waveform inversion in exploration geophysics. Geophysics, 74(6), WCC1-WCC26. DOI: 10.1190/1.3238367

Related methods

Referenced by

ScholarGateSeismic Full-Waveform Inversion (Seismic Full-Waveform Inversion). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/geophysics/seismic-full-waveform-inversion