Acoustic velocity varies in deep-water environments, and the variable-velocity seawater can affect the dispersion characteristics of Scholte wave. To improve the accuracy of inversion, a horizontal layered-seawater and layered-seabed (HLSLS) model is established with continuously varying velocities for seabed S-wave velocity inversion using Scholte wave. First, we deduced the Scholte wave dispersion equation and the amplitude-depth equation of the HLSLS model based on wave theory. Then, with the real acoustic velocity of the seawater and submarine sediments parameters of the Shenhu area in the South China Sea, we analyzed the influence of variable-velocity seawater on the dispersion characteristics of Scholte wave. Finally, we performed two-dimensional (2D) S-wave velocity inversion on the field OBS multi-component data in the South China Sea. The results showed that the variation of seawater acoustic velocity had a certain influence on the dispersion characteristics of Scholte wave in deep water. The accuracy and practicality of our method were verified through numerical and filed data experiments.

深水环境中声速发生变化，海水变速会影响Scholte波的色散特性。为了提高反演精度，建立了连续变速的水平分层海水和分层海底（HLSLS）模型，利用Scholte波进行海底横波速度反演。首先，基于波动理论推导了HLSLS模型的Scholte波色散方程和幅深方程。然后，结合南海神狐海域的真实海水声速和海底沉积物参数，分析了变速海水对Scholte波频散特性的影响。最后，我们对南海现场OBS多分量数据进行了二维（2D）横波速度反演。结果表明，海水声速的变化对Scholte波在深水中的色散特性有一定的影响。通过数值和现场数据实验验证了该方法的准确性和实用性。