Abstract: A space-frequency domain prestack migration method to compensating absorption is pre-sented. Wavefield extrapolation operators in wavenumber-frequency domain with absorption compensation based on Maxwell Equation for forward propagations with attenuation are obtained. For the purpose of processing the data from laterally variable velocity media, the operators are transformed back to space domain and migration is complemented by convolution. Some synthetic migration examples are given to investigate the ability to resist random noise on migration results. A field data example is depicted to illustrate the difference between the results of prestack migration with and without compensation of absorption. It shows that reflection events of the migration profile with compensation are more continuous than that without compensation.

Key words: ground-penetrating radar, prestack migration, absorption compensation