Undergraduate courses in Geophysics

(F,Dial) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to sophomores. The physics and chemistry of volcanic processes and modern methods of volcano monitoring. Volcanoes as manifestations of the Earth's internal energy and hazards to society. How earth scientists better forecast eruptive activity by monitoring seismic activity, bulging of the ground surface, and the discharge of volcanic gases, and by studying deposits from past eruptions. Focus is on the interface between scientists and policy makers and the challenges of decision making with incomplete information. Field trip to Mt. St. Helens, site of the 1980 eruption.

3 units, Spr (Segall, P), alternate years, not given next year

GEOPHYS 25. Hands-on Introduction to Astrobiology

Are human beings alone; are microbes common in the universe? Historical development and modern status of topics such as: the vastness of space and time; star evolution; planetary climate; effects of geological processes and asteroid impacts on life; other habitable places in the solar system with updates on Mars; the Earth as a biological organism; maintenance of society for a geologically long time; and the search for intelligent extraterrestrials. Outdoor lab exercises designed to work in K-12 science classes. Non-science majors welcome.

3 units, Aut (Sleep, N)

GEOPHYS 60N. Man versus Nature: Coping with Disasters Using Space Technology

(F,Sem) (Same as EE 60N.) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to freshman. Natural hazards, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, and fires, and how they affect people and society; great disasters such as asteroid impacts that periodically obliterate many species of life. Scientific issues, political and social consequences, costs of disaster mitigation, and how scientific knowledge affects policy. How spaceborne imaging technology makes it possible to respond quickly and mitigate consequences; how it is applied to natural disasters; and remote sensing data manipulation and analysis. GER:DB-EngrAppSci

4 units, Aut (Zebker, H)

GEOPHYS 100. Directed Reading

1-2 units, Aut (Staff), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff), Sum (Staff)

GEOPHYS 101. Research Preparation

Structured mentoring of students enrolled in Geophysics Summer Research Program. Development of research proposals and preliminary readings. May be repeated for credit.

1 unit, Spr (Klemperer, S; Egger, A)

GEOPHYS 101B. Research Presentation

Student participants from the Geophysics Summer Research Program prepare oral and poster presentations, culminating in formal presentations to the department and community.

1 unit, not given this year

GEOPHYS 104. The Water Course

(Same as EARTHSYS 104.) The pathway that water takes from rainfall to the tap using student home towns as an example. How the geological environment controls the quantity and quality of water; taste tests of water from around the world. Current U.S. and world water supply issues. GER: DB-NatSci

3 units, not given this year

GEOPHYS 107. Journey to the Center of the Earth

(Same as GES 107, GES 207, GEOPHYS 207.) The interconnected set of dynamic systems that make up the Earth. Focus is on fundamental geophysical observations of the Earth and the laboratory experiments to understand and interpret them. What earthquakes, volcanoes, gravity, magnetic fields, and rocks reveal about the Earth's formation and evolution.

3 units, Win (Lawrence, J; Mao, W)

GEOPHYS 112. Exploring Geosciences with MATLAB

How to use MATLAB as a tool for research and technical computing, including 2-D and 3-D visualization features, numerical capabilities, and toolboxes. Practical skills in areas such as data analysis, regressions, optimization, spectral analysis, differential equations, image analysis, computational statistics, and Monte Carlo simulations. Emphasis is on scientific and engineering applications.

1-3 units, Aut (Mukerji, T; Arogunmati, A)

GEOPHYS 113. Earthquakes and Volcanoes

(Same as EARTHSYS 113.) Earthquake location, magnitude and intensity scales, seismic waves, styles of eruptions and volcanic hazards, tsunami waves, types and global distribution of volcanoes, volcano forecasting. Plate tectonics as a framework for understanding earthquake and volcanic processes. Forecasting; earthquake resistant design; building codes; and probabilistic hazard assessment. For non-majors and potential earth scientists. GER:DB-EngrAppSci

3 units, Spr (Beroza, G; Segall, P)

GEOPHYS 140. The Earth From Space: Introduction to Remote Sensing

(Same as EE 140.) Global change science as viewed using space remote sensing technology. Global warming, ozone depletion, the hydrologic and carbon cycles, topographic mapping, and surface deformation. Physical concepts in remote sensing. EM waves and geophysical information. Sensors studied: optical, near and thermal IR, active and passive microwave. GER:DB-EngrAppSci

3 units, not given this year

GEOPHYS 150. General Geophysics and Physics of the Earth

Elementary study of gravitational, magnetic, seismic, and thermal properties of the Earth. Earth's crust, mantle, core. Plate tectonics and mantle convection. Probing Earth structure with seismic waves. Measurements, interpretation, and applications to Earth structure and exploration. Prerequisites: calculus, first-year college physics. GER: DB-NatSci

3 units, Win (Klemperer, S; Sleep, N)

GEOPHYS 160. Waves

Topics: derivations of wave equations and their solutions in 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D; amplitude, polarization, phase and group velocities, attenuation, and dispersion; reflection and transmission at single and multiple interfaces; ray theory. Applications from acoustics, elastodynamics, and electromagnetics. Prerequisites: differential/integral calculus and complex functions. GER: DB-NatSci

3 units, not given this year

GEOPHYS 162. Laboratory Methods in Geophysics

Lab. Types of equipment used in experimental rock physics. Principles and measurements of geophysical properties such as porosity, permeability, acoustic wave velocity, and resistivity through lectures and laboratory experiments. Training in analytical project writing skills and understanding errors for assessing accuracy and variability of measured data. Students may investigate a scientific problem to support their own research.

2-3 units, Win (Vanorio, T)

GEOPHYS 170. Global Tectonics

(Formerly 220.) The architecture of the Earth's crust; regional assembling of structural or deformational features and their relationship, origin and evolution. The plate-tectonic cycle: rifting, passive margins, sea-floor spreading, subduction zones, and collisions. Case studies.

3 units, not given this year

GEOPHYS 171. Tectonics Field Trip

Long weekend field trip to examine large-scale features in the crust. Destinations may include the San Andreas fault, Mendocino Triple Junction, Sierra Nevada, and western Basin and Range province.

3 units, Spr (Klemperer, S)

GEOPHYS 180. Geophysical Inverse Problems

Concepts of inverse theory, with application to geophysics. Inverses with discrete and continuous models, generalized matrix inverses, resolving kernels, regularization, use of prior information, singular value decomposition, nonlinear inverse problems, back-projection techniques, and linear programming. Application to seismic tomography, earthquake location, migration, and fault-slip estimation. Prerequisite: MATH 103. GER:DB-Math

3 units, Aut (Beroza, G; Segall, P), alternate years, not given next year

GEOPHYS 185A. Reflection Seismology

(Same as GEOPHYS 385A.) Research in reflection seismology and petroleum prospecting. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Biondi, B; Clapp, R), Win (Biondi, B; Clapp, R), Spr (Biondi, B; Clapp, R), Sum (Staff)

GEOPHYS 185B. Environmental Geophysics

(Same as GEOPHYS 385B.) Research on the use of geophysical methods for near-surface environmental problems. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Knight, R), Win (Knight, R), Spr (Knight, R), Sum (Staff)

GEOPHYS 185E. Tectonics

(Same as GEOPHYS 385E.) Research on the origin, major structures, and tectonic processes of the Earth's crust. Emphasis is on use of deep seismic reflection and refraction data. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Klemperer, S; Sleep, N; Thompson, G), Win (Klemperer, S; Sleep, N; Thompson, G), Spr (Klemperer, S; Sleep, N; Thompson, G), Sum (Staff)

GEOPHYS 185J. Global Seismic Techniques, Theory, and Application

(Same as GEOPHYS 385J.) Topics chosen from surface wave dispersion measurement, 1D inversion techniques, regional tomographic inversion, receiver functions, ray theory in spherical geometry, seismic attenuation, seismic anisotropy, seismic focusing, reflected phases, stacking, and interpretations of seismic results in light of other geophysical constraints. May be repeated for credit.

1-3 units, Aut (Lawrence, J), Win (Lawrence, J), Spr (Lawrence, J), Sum (Lawrence, J)

GEOPHYS 185K. Crustal Mechanics

(Same as GEOPHYS 385K.) Research in areas of petrophysics, seismology, in situ stress, and subjects related to characterization of the physical properties of rock in situ. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Zoback, M), Win (Zoback, M), Spr (Zoback, M)

GEOPHYS 185L. Earthquake Seismology, Deformation, and Stress

(Same as GEOPHYS 385L.) Research on seismic source processes, crustal stress, and deformation associated with faulting and volcanism. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Zoback, M; Segall, P; Beroza, G), Win (Beroza, G; Segall, P; Zoback, M), Spr (Segall, P; Beroza, G; Zoback, M)

GEOPHYS 185S. Wave Physics

(Same as GEOPHYS 385S.) Theory, numerical simulation, and experiments on seismic and electromagnetic waves in complex porous media. Applications from Earth imaging and in situ characterization of Earth properties, including subsurface monitoring. Presentations by faculty, research staff, students, and visitors. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Harris, J), Win (Harris, J), Spr (Harris, J)

GEOPHYS 185V. Poroelasticity

(Same as GEOPHYS 385V.) Research on the mechanical properties of porous rocks: dynamic problems of seismic velocity, dispersion, and attentuation; and quasi-static problems of faulting, fluid transport, crustal deformation, and loss of porosity. Participants define, investigate, and present an original problem of their own. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Mavko, G), Win (Mavko, G), Spr (Mavko, G)

GEOPHYS 185Z. Radio Remote Sensing

(Same as GEOPHYS 385Z.) Research applications, especially crustal deformation measurements. Recent instrumentation and system advancements. May be repeated for credit. WIM at 3-unit level.

1-3 units, Aut (Zebker, H), Win (Zebker, H), Spr (Zebker, H)

GEOPHYS 190. Introduction to Geophysical Field Methods

Applications of geophysical methods for imaging and characterizing the top 500 meters of the Earth. Field-based equipment demonstrations and data acquisition practices; underlying theories; and modeling and interpreting the data. Techniques include electrical resistivity, ground penetrating radar, gravity, magnetics, electromagnetic and seismic methods focusing on applications in hydrology, engineering, and archaeology. GER:DB-EngrAppSci

3 units, Spr (Crook, N)

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Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09

Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09

Alphabetical Index

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Undergraduate courses in Geophysics