Abstract: A method of processing geophysical data on a parallel processor. The method involves decomposition of an analysis cube into depth slices, a second decomposition of a data acquisition cube into traveltime slices, and determination of a variably dimensioned analysis aperture. Precomputed traveltimes are stored in packed format to minimize storage volume and data bandwidths. The method relies on staged access of traveltime fields from high speed mass storage to disk storage and via input/output processors to analysis processor memory. The input/output processors monitor analysis processor memory to optimize the direct scatter download of traveltime fields to the analysis processors. The seismic trace data download is also staged, preferably from tape storage to disk storage to processor memory. A control processor preprocesses the trace data while downloading the trace data from disk storage to processor memory.

Abstract: A method of processing geophysical data on a parallel processor. The method involves decomposition of an analysis cube into depth slices, a second decomposition of a data acquisition cube into traveltime slices, and determination of a variably dimensioned analysis aperture. Precomputed traveltimes are stored in packed format to minimize storage volume and data bandwidths. A processing simulation is performed to optimize the stored sequence of the seismic trace data and to minimize traveltime field input/output demands. The method preferably assigns input/output, analysis, or control tasks to each processor, with depth and traveltime slices assigned to each analysis processor. The method relies on staged access of traveltime fields from high speed mass storage to disk storage and via the input/output processors to analysis processor memory. Seismic trace data are also staged, preferably from tape storage to disk storage to processor memory, and preferably are broadcast under the control of a host computer.