Underlying Physics and Concepts

The list of available marine seismic sources is extensive. Many have stood the test of time, whilst others have fallen by the wayside, then there are the countless variations on a theme. Technical details of the sources which are currently used most are given in the appendix. This will be updated periodically to keep it in line with the times. The methods used to generate acoustic waves in marine seismic sources can be grouped into four broad categories. These primary divisions are — chemical, mechanical, pneumatic/hydraulic, and electrical.