Analysing the wave propagation in heterogeneous media with internal reflections is central to geophysics. Recently however new observations and theoretical concepts were introduced that point out to the limitations of the traditional
concept. These are:

1. The existence of non-reflective waves in the atmosphere and the ocean and the theoretical existence of continuously inhomogeneous media capable of transmitting elastic waves without reflection.

2. The evidence of slow transmission of disturbances with velocities in the neighborhood of 1000 km/year

3. The presence and propagation of rotational waves in geomaterials.
4. The effect of negative stiffness associated with rotation of non-spherical constituents.

It is anticipated that studying these and related phenomena and their interactions can lead to a breakthrough in understanding of the stress transfer and multi-scale failure processes in the Earth's crust, oceans and atmosphere and facilitate developing better prediction and monitoring methods. The session is designed as a forum for discussing these and relevant topics.