TOPOGRAPHIC SLOPE AS AN ESTIMATOR OF ACOUSTIC-IMPEDANCE

Seismic models of large outcrops have provided important insights into the nature of seismic unconformities and other elements of sequence s tratigraphy. Further advances in outcrop modelling critically depend o n more detailed acoustic impedance functions as a basis for the seismi c models. This is difficult because continuous logs of sonic velocity and density are lacking and the impedance function has to be generated from spot samples combined with proxy indicators that can be observed continuously. Hill slope angle has been identified as a possible prox y of impedance in the past. We have tested and largely confirmed this notion in a case study using laser technology to quantify topography. This opens the possibility to extrapolate the impedance function to ot her areas within the same outcrop and thus make a prediction for the t otal acoustic impedance distribution.