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A backward look at four decades of geophysics

Coldspring, Texas, USA

Editor's note: In keeping with our endeavor to bring to our members not just the technical information, but human-interest articles as well, we are starting a new column in TLE that will feature memoirs of successful geophysicists, i.e., geophysicists who were able to contribute significantly to our profession. These contributions and experiences could inspire many of us, especially our younger friends in the industry, to take on bigger challenges. These articles will be included in TLE issues as they become available, and we hope that the membership finds them interesting and informative.
In this issue, we feature memoirs of Pat Lindsey, a geophysicist who made many outstanding scientific and professional contributions to exploration geophysics, the most noteworthy being the introduction of wavelet processing in the late 1970s and the many interpretive techniques he talked about during the 1980s and after for seismic stratigraphic interpretation. His article titled "The Fresnel zone and its interpretative significance" published in TLE in 1990 still remains one of the well-referenced articles on the subject. Holder of more than 20 patents, Pat has been a member of SEG since 1960, has published papers in various journals, served SEG as Editor, Distinguished Lecturer, and TLE Editorial Board Member, and is the recipient of the 1997 SEG Life Membership Award.

Abstract

I seriously question the usefulness of reciting what has happened to me during my 44 years as a geophysicist. It might be interesting to a few, but boring use of these pages to many others. There is one compelling reason that justifies it in my mind: how the story can shed light on the history of the science that drives our profession. We have a unique scientific story. It astounded me as I contemplated writing this document how much innovation and scientific development has taken place in the past four decades. And it is continuing even as I write. I could never cover it all. But the part which I personally experienced can be fitted into a mosaic of others' professional experiences to provide an exciting and informative picture of geophysics and its scientific development in the latter half of last century. It is my hope that some readers will document those scientific events which they experienced so that together we can provide a history of our endeavors. I would call this a worthy service to all geophysicists that follow us.