Derecke Palmer

Derecke Palmer is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences. He is a leading international authority on near-surface seismic refraction methods, notably pioneering the Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) and the Refraction Convolution Section (RCS), for which he has received awards from Australian and international geophysics societies.

His research focuses on advancing full waveform seismic refraction data processing using tools like Seismic Unix, aiming to generate detailed compressional and shear wave models of near-surface structures. Applications include statics corrections for seismic reflection data, geotechnical analysis, and natural resource management. His work addresses complex environments such as sand dunes and infrastructure-adjacent areas with low signal-to-noise ratios.

Palmer’s publications span over three decades, emphasizing methodological advancements in refraction tomography, amplitude analysis, and inversion strategies. His articles highlight challenges like non-uniqueness in inversion, uncertainty quantification, and the integration of multi-fold data. He has contributed to both theoretical frameworks and practical field applications, including case studies like the Mt Bulga Shear Zone and syncline models.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Awards from Australian Exploration Geophysics Societies
  • International Exploration Geophysics Society Recognition
• Advising & Grants: While specific student advisees are not listed, his extensive publications indicate collaborative research efforts in geophysical exploration and environmental geoscience.
• Labs/Teams: His work is closely tied to the development and application of Seismic Unix tools for near-surface analysis.