Geophysics GOPH
Instruction offered by members of the Department of Geoscience in the Faculty of Science.
Department Head - D. W. Eaton
Senior Courses
Geophysics 355 H(3-3)
Exploration Geophysics
An introduction to refraction seismic, reflection seismic, gravity and magnetic methods applied to exploration for hydrocarbons, and their use in engineering studies.
Prerequisites: Geology 203; Mathematics 251 or 249 or 281 or Applied Mathematics 217; Physics 211 or 221.
Corequisites: Physics 223.
Note: Credit for both Geophysics 355 and 365 will not be allowed.
Geophysics 359 H(3-3)
Global Geophysics
Earthquake seismology, gravity, the geoid, geomagnetism, paleomagnetism and geodynamics, heat flow, radioactivity and geochronology. Applications to global tectonics and deep structural investigations.
Prerequisites: Geology 201; Mathematics 251 or 249 or 281 or Applied Mathematics 217; Mathematics 253 or 263 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219; Physics 223.
Geophysics 375 H(3-0)
Natural Disasters and Critical Earth Phenomena
Causes of disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, landslides, avalanches, flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes, and other critical phenomena such as sinkholes, ozone depletion and radiation, carbon dioxide and global warming, El Nino, toxic natural materials and pollution, and extraterrestrial impacts. Surveys of historic disasters and their effects on life on Earth. Methods of prediction and prevention of disasters and precautions for the mitigation of their effects.
Note: A non-major course for students in all faculties. Not available as a course in the Field of Geophysics.
Geophysics 449 H(3-3)
(Geology 449)
Petrophysical Techniques
Principles of petrophysical well logs as related to cores, cuttings, fluids and seismograms and application to petroleum exploration and exploitation.
Geophysics 453 H(3-3)
Mining Geophysics
Electromagnetic, resistivity, induced polarization, self potential, radiometric and gravity methods applied to problems in the search for metallic mineral deposits.
Prerequisites: Geology 201; Physics 223; Mathematics 253 or 263 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219; Mathematics 221 or 211 or Applied Mathematics 309 or Mathematics 353.
Geophysics 457 H(3-3)
Physical Properties of Rocks
Physical properties of minerals and rocks, their relationship to geophysical measurements and surveys.
Prerequisites: Geophysics 355, 359, Mathematics 331, Physics 321.
Geophysics 465 H(3-3)
Environmental Applications of Geophysics
Application of geophysical methods such as resistivity, electromagnetics, and ground penetrating radar to investigations of geological, geotechnical, hydrological, and environmental problems. Small-scale high resolution applications of other geophysical methods (seismic, gravity, magnetics).
Prerequisites: Mathematics 249 or 251 or 281 or Applied Mathematics 217.
Note: Credit for both Geophysics 365 and 465 will not be allowed.
Geophysics 509 H(0-9)
Independent Study
Senior thesis. A written report based on independent study. Originality is emphasized, laboratory and field studies are encouraged. Published material may be included.
Prerequisites: Consent of the Department and of a Departmental faculty member who will act as a supervisor.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
Geophysics 547 H(3-3)
Gravity and Magnetics
The nature of the magnetic and gravitational fields of the earth. Theory and applications of the gravity and magnetic methods of geophysical exploration.
Prerequisites: Geophysics 355, 359, Mathematics 331, Applied Mathematics 415.
Geophysics 549 H(1T-96 hours)
Field School
Seismic, gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, resistivity, induced polarization and topographic surveys will be conducted for about 10-12 days prior to the Fall Session. Data collected will be processed during Fall Session tutorials.
Prerequisites: Geophysics 355 and 453.
Note: This course occurs in rugged field conditions and varying weather, for which participants must be prepared and equipped.
Geophysics 551 H(3-3)
Seismic Theory and Methods
Seismic wave propagation theory; various techniques of exploration seismology.
Prerequisites: Geophysics 355, Physics 321, 323, Applied Mathematics 415, and Mathematics 331.
Geophysics 557 H(3-3)
Geophysical Data Processing
Geophysical signal analysis, digital processing methods applied to seismic and other geophysical data.
Geophysics 559 H(3-3)
Geophysical Interpretation
Analysis and integration of geophysical and geological data. Qualitative and quantitative interpretation. Industrial case studies.
Prerequisites: Geophysics 355.
Corequisites: Prerequisite or Corequisite: Geophysics 457 or Geology 461 or 597.
Graduate Courses
Graduate students are urged to read the Geoscience Department section in the Graduate Studies calendar. Only where appropriate to a student's program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599. Courses numbered 600 are available to fourth-year students who obtain Departmental approval and who have credit for the prerequisite courses.
Geophysics 645 H(3-0)
Seismic Wave Propagation
Seismic body and surface waves, reflection, refraction, diffraction, anelasticity, anisotropy, ray methods, point and line source solutions to the equation of motion, finite-difference methods for seismic waves, additional topics depending on current research interests.
Prerequisites: Geophysics 551 or consent of the Department.
Geophysics 649 H(3-3)
(Geology 649)
Advanced Petrophysical Techniques
Application of petrophysical well logs and their relation to cores, cuttings, fluids and seismograms. Case studies applied to petroleum exploration and exploitation.
Prerequisites: Consent of the Department.
Geophysics 653 H(3-0)
Electromagnetic and Induced Polarization Topics
Topics in electromagnetic and induced polarization exploration as applied to the search for metallic minerals.
Geophysics 657 H(3-0)
Seismic Signal Analysis
Advanced methods of seismic data analysis in exploration and production geophysics. Topics include velocity analysis, polarization filtering, median filtering, migration, inversion and tomography.
Geophysics 659 H(3-3/2)
Practical Seismic Modeling, Migration, and Inversion
Concepts and techniques of seismic imaging (migration) are explored. Practical considerations such as algorithm characteristics and data geometry are emphasized; poststack and prestack migration and DMO methods are examined from the Kirchhoff, Fourier, and downward continuation perspectives.
Note: Some familiarity with seismic data and computer programming is assumed.
Geophysics 665 H(3-0)
Theoretical Seismology
Seismic ray theory, inverse theory, full-wave methods, matrix methods, numerical methods, additional topics depending on current research interests.
Prerequisites: Geophysics 551 or consent of the Department.
Geophysics 681 H(3-0)
(Geomatics Engineering 681)
Advanced Global Geophysics and Geodynamics
Elasticity, figure of the Earth, Earth structure and seismology, gravity and its temporal variations, isostasy, tides, Earth rotation and orientation, time, plate flexure, glacial rebound, continental drift, geodetic observation methods for geodynamics.
Geophysics 683 H(3-0)
Dynamics of the Earth
Fluid mechanics and Earth rheology, heat flow and mantle convection, magneto hydrodynamics and core dynamics, stresses, folding and diapirism, faulting and earthquake mechanism.
Geophysics 687 H(3-3)
Theory of Seismic Imaging
The theories of wave propagation in acoustic and elastic media are used to develop the major algorithms used in seismic imaging (migration). Green's theorem, Huygen's principle, Kirchhoff diffraction theory, raytracing, wavetracking, multidimensional Fourier analysis, and Radon transforms are explored.
Note: Elementary knowledge of vector calculus and partial differential equations is assumed.
Geophysics 699 H(3-3)
Selected Topics in Geophysics
Courses are offered in specific topics in areas such as seismology, environmental geophysics, potential methods, integrated geophysical studies, and geodynamics.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
Geophysics 701 H(0-6)
Advanced Independent Study
A written report based on laboratory and field studies is required.
Note: Open only to graduate students in the Department of Geoscience.