1. n. [Geophysics]

The variation of elastic properties with direction. For example, elastic anisotropy occurs when seismic, or elastic, waves travel through rock at differing velocities in various directions. Elastic anisotropy occurs if there is a preferred alignment of a material’s fabric elements—crystals, grains, cracks, bedding planes, joints or fractures—on a scale smaller than the length of the wave. This alignment causes waves to propagate fastest in its direction.

Elastic anisotropy is sometimes called seismic anisotropy, velocity anisotropy, traveltime anisotropy, acoustic anisotropy or slowness anisotropy.