Easiest way to understand seismic data processing?

Question

This is on reflection seismic.

Answer 1

It's all based on the simple idea of wave velocities. If you have a network of instruments to detect seismic waves (e.g., accelerometers, geophones, etc.) and you know the dynamic properties of the soil/rock on which the instruments are founded (i.e., the rate at which the soil/rock transmits seismic waves), then you can calculate the exact location of either the source of the seismic energy or a hard object or layer that is reflecting the seismic waves. You do this timing the arrivals at the various instruments in your network, and then back-calculating the distance to the source by using the known wave velocities. It's similar in a way to sonar.  

Answer 2

Probably by looking at waves in a quiet pond or pool when single rocks are thrown into the water.   Ordinary seismic location is comparable to timing the waves from three locations around the water, but reflection is like looking at the echos as the waves hit the wall and rebound, so you observe big waves coming directly from the bang and smaller waves later as a function of the distance of the obstacle. If you have a log or heavy board you can float in the water,  you might be able to detect tertiary waves as well as secondary.