Reflection and refraction seismics in areas of complex geology. An example in the Northern Apennines

An experimental survey, employing refraction wide‐angle reflection seismic techniques (DSS: deep seismic soundings) was carried out in the Northern Apennines (North Italy). The main objective of the experiment was the application of DSS to better‐define the structure of the upper crust, down to about 15 km depth, in the crucial Alps–Apennines boundary zone. A second objective was to understand the potential of DSS as a complementary tool in areas of complex geology, where the results of near vertical reflection (NVR) are generally poor. The results of the experiment show that DSS, if properly planned, can continuously follow deep markers, and therefore impart a greater significance to faint and discontinuous NVR, as well as data on the P – wave velocity of the seismic units.