This luncheon talk will be a 2-part presentation. First, we will take a few minutes to summarize some interesting science that appears will be important to the future of multicomponent seismic technology. We will then take even less time to review a movement within the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) that will restructure how our professional society is governed.

An Emerging Science

We at the Exploration Geophysics Laboratory (EGL) champion the development and application of multicomponent seismic technology. Presently we are focused on expanding the use of vertical-force sources in multicomponent seismic applications. There are three basic types of vertical-force sources – vertical vibrators, vertical impact weights, and shot-hole explosives. These sources are traditionally considered to be only P-wave sources. Actually, vertical-force sources produce more S-wave energy than P-wave energy. We will review test data that show the rich amount of S-wave energy produced by vibrator, impacts, and explosives. The science involves S-wave energy produced directly at a source station, not converted-shear (P-SV) modes produced at deep interfaces remote from a source station.

The Governance Issue

A topic that has dominated the attention and action of SEG Executive Committees for the past four years is the restructuring of the governance of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. This restructuring MUST be done. The reason will be explained. The challenge is to create a revised Constitution and Bylaws that the membership will accept. It is essential that the Dallas Geophysical Society understands the reasons why new governance must be implemented and assist in achieving the goal of adopting a new SEG Constitution and Bylaws.