Caltech Seismological Laboratory [Earthquakes, Research, Academics]

On this page you will find the Geophysics course list with short descriptions. Also, some classes will have a class website you can view.

Always check with the Option Representative for course changes and announcements. Consult the Caltech Catalog for a complete listing of courses.

Geophysics Option Courses/Course Websites 2009-2010

Ge 10. Frontiers in Geological and Planetary Sciences.
3 units (2-0-1); second term. The course may be taken multiple times. Weekly seminar by a member of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences or a visitor to discuss a topic of his or her current research at an introductory level. The course is designed to introduce students to research and research opportunities in the division and to help students find faculty sponsors for individual research projects. Graded pass/fail. Instructors: Farley, Rossman.

Ge 11 abcd. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences.
9 units each term. Comprehensive, integrated overview of Earth and planets. Although designed as a sequence, any one term can be taken as a stand-alone course. Biologists are particularly welcome in Ge 11 b, as are physicists and astronomers in Ge/Ay 11 c.

a. Earth as a Planet.
(3-3-3); first term. Systematic introduction to the physical and chemical processes that have shaped Earth as a planet over geological time, and the observable products of these processes—rock materials, minerals, land forms. Geophysics of Earth. Plate tectonics; earthquakes; igneous activity. Weathering, erosion, and sedimentary rocks. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks. Rock deformation and mountain building. Role of aqueous, atmospheric, glacial, and tectonic processes in shaping Earth's surface and our environment. Earth resources. Field trips, interpretation of geological maps, and laboratory study of Earth materials (minerals and rocks). Instructor: Eiler.

b. Earth and the Biosphere.
(3-3-3); second term. Prerequisite: Ch 1 a. Systematic analysis of the origin and evolution of life in the solar system, and its impact on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and climate of Earth. Archean surface environments and production of oxygen. Bacterial evolution, photosynthesis, genes as fossils. Banded iron stones, algal mats, stromatolites, global glaciation, and molecular evolution. Biological fractionation of stable isotopes. Numerical calibration of the geological timescale, the Cambrian evolutionary explosion, mass extinction events, and human evolution. The course usually includes one major field trip, and laboratory studies of fossils, Precambrian rocks, and geological processes. Instructor: Kirschvink.

Ge 102. Introduction to Geophysics.
9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ph 2, or Ge 108, or equivalents. An introduction to the physics of the earth. The present internal structure and dynamics of the earth are considered in light of constraints from the gravitational and magnetic fields, seismology, and mineral physics. The fundamentals of wave propagation in earth materials are developed and applied to inferring Earth structure. The earthquake source is described in terms of seismic and geodetic signals. The following are also considered: the contributions that heat-flow, gravity, paleomagnetic, and earthquake mechanism data have made to our understanding of plate tectonics, the driving mechanism of plate tectonics, and the energy sources of mantle convection and the geodynamo. Instructor: Simons.

Ge 111 ab. Applied Geophysics Seminar and Field Course.
An introduction to the theory and application of basic geophysical field techniques consisting of a comprehensive survey of a particular field area using a variety of methods (e.g., gravity, magnetic, electrical, GPS, seismic studies, and satellite remote sensing). The course will consist of a seminar that will discuss the scientific background for the chosen field area, along with the theoretical basis and implementation of the various measurement techniques. The 4–5-day field component will be held in spring break, and the data analysis component is covered in Ge 111 b. May be repeated for credit with an instructor's permission. Instructors: Clayton, Stock.

a. Applied Geophysics Seminar. 6 units (3-3-0); second term. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.

b. Applied Geophysics Field Course. 9 units (0-3-6); spring break, third term. Prerequisite: Ge 111 a.

Ge 161. Plate Tectonics.
9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisite: Ge 11 ab or equivalent. Geophysical and geological observations related to plate tectonic theory. Instantaneous and finite motion of rigid plates on a sphere; marine magnetic and paleomagnetic measurements; seismicity and tectonics of plate boundaries; reference frames and absolute plate motions. Interpretations of geologic data in the context of plate tectonics; plate tectonic evolution of the ocean basins. Instructor: Stock.

Ge 162. Seismology.
9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite: ACM 95/100 abc or equivalent. Review of concepts in classical seismology. Topics to be covered: basic theories of wave propagation in the earth, instrumentation, Earth's structure and tomography, theory of the seismic source, physics of earthquakes, and seismic risk. Emphasis will be placed on how quantitative mathematical and physical methods are used to understand complex natural processes, such as earthquakes. Instructor: Heaton.

Ge 163. Geodynamics.
9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisite: Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab. Quantitative introduction to the dynamics of the earth, including core, mantle, lithosphere, and crust. Mechanical models are developed for each of these regions and compared to a variety of data sets. Potential theory applied to the gravitational and geomagnetic fields. Special attention is given to the dynamics of plate tectonics and the earthquake cycle. Instructor: Gurnis.

Ge 164. Mineral Physics of Earth's Interior.
9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ch 1 ab, Ph 1 ab, Ma 1 ab. This course will introduce and explore the mineral physics of Earth's interior. Topics to be covered: elasticity and equations of state, vibrational and electronic properties of minerals, transport properties, phase transitions; determinations of pressure and temperature of samples under extreme conditions; application of mineral physics data to Earth and planetary interiors. A short survey will be given on experimental approaches used in mineral physics, with an emphasis on recent advances in synchrotron-based X-ray scattering methods at extreme conditions. Instructor: Jackson. Given in alternate years; offered 2009–10.

Ge 165. Geophysical Data Analysis.
9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: basic linear algebra and Fourier transforms. Introduction to modern digital analysis: discrete Fourier transforms, Z-transforms, filters, deconvolution, auto-regressive models, spectral estimation, basic statistics, 1-D wavelets, model fitting via singular valued decomposition. Offered 2009–10.

Ge 167. Tectonic Geodesy.
9 units (3-0-6); first term. An introduction to the use of modern geodetic observations (e.g., GPS and InSAR) to constrain crustal deformation models. Secular velocity fields, coseismic and time-dependent processes; volcano deformation and seasonal loading phenomena. Basic inverse approaches for parameter estimation and basic temporal filtering algorithms. Instructor: Simons.

Ge 168. Crustal Geophysics.
. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite: ACM 95/100 or equivalent, or instructor's permission. The analysis of geophysical data related to crust processes. Topics include reflection and refraction seismology, tomography, receiver functions, surface waves, and gravity. Instructor: Clayton.

Ge 169 abc. Readings in Geophysics.
6 units (3-0-3); first, second, third terms. Reading courses are offered to teach students to read critically the work of others and to broaden their knowledge about specific topics. Each student will be required to write a short summary of each paper that summarizes the main goals of the paper, to give an assessment of how well the author achieved those goals, and to point out related issues not discussed in the paper. Each student will be expected to lead the discussion on one or more papers. The leader will summarize the discussion on the paper(s) in writing. A list of topics offered each year will be posted on the Web. Individual terms may be taken for credit multiple times without regard to sequence. Instructor: Staff.

Ge 179 abc. Seismological Laboratory Seminar.
1 unit; first, second, third terms. Presentation of current research in geophysics by students, staff, and visitors. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Helmberger.

Ge 193. Special Topics in Geophysics.
Units to be arranged. Offered by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions of problems of current interest in geophysics. Students may enroll for any or all terms of this course without regard to sequence. Instructor: Staff.

Ge 211. Applied Geophysics II.
Units to be arranged. Prerequisite: instructor's permission. Intensive geophysical field experience in either marine or continental settings. Marine option will include participation in a student training cruise, with several weeks aboard a geophysical research vessel, conducting geophysical measurements (multibeam bathymetry, gravity, magnetics, and seismics), and processing and interpreting the data. Supporting lectures and problem sets on the theoretical basis of the relevant geophysical techniques and the tectonic background of the survey area will occur before and during the training cruise. The course might be offered in a similar format in other isolated situations. The course will be scheduled only when opportunities arise and this usually means that only six months' notice can be given. Auditing not permitted. Class may be taken more than once. Instructors: Stock, Clayton, Gurnis.

Ge 261. Advanced Seismology.
9 units (3-0-6); third term. Continuation of Ge 162 with special emphasis on particular complex problems; includes generalizations of analytical methods to handle nonplanar structures and methods of interfacing numerical-analytical codes in two and three dimensions; construction of Earth models using tomographic methods and synthetics. Requires a class project. Instructor: Helmberger.

Ge 263. Computational Geophysics.
9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: introductory class in geophysics, class in partial differential equations, some programming experience. Finite-difference, pseudo- spectral, finite-element, and spectral-element methods will be pre- sented and applied to a number of geophysical problems including heat flow, deformation, and wave propagation. Students will program simple versions of methods. Instructors: Clayton, Gurnis, Ampuero. Given in alternate years; not offered 2009–10.

Ge 268. Mantle Dynamics.
9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: Ge 163 and Ge 263. Analysis of mantle dynamics and connection with surface processes, especially plate tectonics. Selected problems will be examined, including the mechanics of subduction, mantle plumes, mantle convection, convective mixing, thermal evolution, and interpretation of seismic tomography. Term project using numerical models required. Instructor: Gurnis. Given in alternate years; not offered 2009–10.

Ge 297. Advanced Study.
Units to be arranged.

Ge 299. Thesis Research.
Original investigation, designed to give training in methods of research, to serve as theses for higher degrees, and to yield contributions to scientific knowledge.

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