We still tend to view the subsurface impedance as white and Gaussian.

We are just beginning to recognize that the earth is a solid-the next generation can recognize its anisotropy.

We have not yet nailed down the nature and magnitude of high-frequency loss-the only fundamental limitation of the seismic method.

Our quantitative estimates of subsurface elastic properties are still very crude and incomplete.

“Direct” hydrocarbon detection is still generally limited to only the most blatant fluid content anomalies.

3D seismic imaging is still in its infancy.

Our ability to deal with the effects of lateral heterogeneity on seismic transmission is very crude.Our current seismic image of the subsurface is most imperfect.

I don't have the original paper (anyone?), but the problems themselves are quoted in Lines, 2005: These were published in 1980, when Milo Backus was president of SEG. Addressing Milo's challenges with 25 years of seismic advances - Larry Lines, 2005.Five outstanding questions in earth science - Earth Magazine, 2012Īnd in applied geophysics and reflection seismology:.On some unsolved problems in geology - by John Dawson, 1883.Unfolding the Labyrinth: Open Problems in Physics, Mathematics, Astrophysics and Other Areas of Science - Florentin Smarandache, et al.Quo Vadimus: Geophysics for the Next Generation - G.Some unsolved problems of geophysics - Leason Adams, 1947.There have been a few papers on this topic, mostly on the broader questions of geophysics. List of unsolved problems - in all sorts of fields, collected on Wikipedia.The Millenium Prize - in mathematics, from the Clay Institute.There have been other, similar efforts in various fields: Originally appeared in Göttinger Nachrichten, 1900, pp. Mathematical Problems, Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 8 (10), p 437–479. Who of us would not be glad to lift the veil behind which the future lies hidden to cast a glance at the next advances of our science and at the secrets of its development during future centuries? What particular goals will there be toward which the leading spirits of coming generations will strive? What new methods and new facts in the wide and rich field of thought will the new centuries disclose? The most famous list of unsolved problems came from the mathematician David Hilbert in 1902.

The short link to the page is /unsolvedproblems

Unsolved wiki links