1. n. [Geophysics]

A type of vertical seismic profile in which the source is a shear-wave source rather than a compressional-wave source. Shear waves travel through the Earth at about half the speed of compressional waves and respond differently to fluid-filled rock, and so can provide different additional information about lithology and fluid content of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs.

See related terms: P-wave,  S-wave,  source,  vertical seismic profile,  wave