Geophysics
Geophysics is a branch of earth sciences and physics at the same time. It explores the physical properties and processes of the Earth's crust and the Earth's interior (Physics of the solid earth geophysics in the narrower sense), but includes as well the physics of the oceans ( oceanography ), the atmosphere ( meteorology ) and the planets of our solar system.
It looks at issues primarily with natural phenomena and processes of the Earth and its environment, as well as technical aspects (see Applied Geophysics ) and geophysical maps.
Subregions
Geophysics can be subdivided according to various criteria into further sub- areas. Depending on the selected criterion, different subdivisions, the subdivisions contained herein may overlap partly. Such a criterion for subdivision, the spatial division of the earth into several spheres, whose research into various sub- areas have specialized
- The physics of the solid earth, often referred to as " Geophysics in the narrow sense " or " General Geophysics ". This area is in turn divided into the following sub-disciplines: Physical Geodesy and Gravimetry
- Seismology and the structure of the Earth's interior
- Geomagnetism
- Petrophysics
- Geodynamics
Alternatively, the Geophysics even after the research methods used and the details of their application by reference. This breakdown is most frequently applied to the physics of the solid Earth, or " General Geophysics ", which results in the following three areas:
- The theoretical geophysics deals with the mathematical foundations of geophysics and its application for simulating geophysical processes. Some typical topics of theoretical geophysics, fluid mechanics, the potential theory, the wave equations or geodynamics.
- The experimental geophysics deals with laboratory tests. Often this involves the study of material properties under conditions that prevail in the earth's interior. Is it in the investigated materials to rocks, it is called this line of research also petrophysics. A typical example would be the determination of the sound conductivity of different rocks under high pressure in a material Press. Ultimately, the numerical simulation of the experimental and not theoretical geophysics is assigned sometimes.
- The Applied Geophysics deals with the exploration of the subsoil with geophysical methods for practical applications. Most important is the exploration for the search of raw materials such as oil, water or ores. The discovery of suitable disposal sites, the study of landfills and other contaminated sites, soil investigation, and the investigation of the subsurface for the purposes of agriculture (agro Geophysics ) fall within this range. Ultimately, methods of applied geophysics for academic issues, especially in archeology ( archaeometry ), are used. If geophysical surveys carried out not from the surface but from a borehole, one speaks of borehole geophysics, another sub- field of applied geophysics.
Since the geophysics primarily concerned with those areas of the world that are not accessible for direct measurements, remote sensing methods are often used. These usually run down to is that a physical field is measured near the earth's surface, in order to then extrapolate using mathematical methods in the interest of depth or height ranges. The details of the applied measurement and evaluation methods will vary greatly depending on the studied variable ( acceleration due to gravity, electric or magnetic field strength, etc.), the observed frequency range, and the occurring basic field characteristics ( potential field diffusion field or wave field, depending on the underlying differential equations ). In particular, the field pattern has great influence on the evaluation methods used. Therefore, here are some typical sensing methods in geophysics are listed according to the applicable field characteristics:
- Potential method ( potential fields, elliptic differential equations) geoelectric
- Geomagnetic
- Geothermal
- Gravimetry
- Magnetotelluric (MT, also special forms such as AMT, LMT, RMT)
- Geoelektromagnetik (including transient electromagnetics, short TEM)
- Very Low Frequency ( VLF short method)
- Seismology and seismic
- GPR ( Ground Penetrating Radar, GPR short )
- Radiometry
Trade associations
The global research agendas of geophysics in the context of coordinated IUGG ( International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics ) and its seven associations. The world's largest geophysical company specializing in the academic field, the American Geophysical Union ( AGU ) with over 58,000 members. The largest umbrella organization of applied geophysics, especially the search for raw materials is the Society of Exploration Geophysicists ( SEG) with approximately 28,000 members. The German Geophysical Society ( DGG ) is the largest German geophysical trade association with approximately 1,000 members.
Courses
Germany
Geophysical study courses are not offered at all universities. The emphasis differs between the individual colleges regarding geophysical disciplines. Some colleges offer geophysics at as a separate subject and other geophysics as study or focus in the study subjects Geosciences or Physics. Shares in geophysical content can differ here and are out at the respective university. Is to be observed that a master " Geophysics " not necessarily more geophysical courses includes, as for example a master geosciences study geophysics. The following universities in Germany offer geophysical studies:
- RWTH Aachen B.Sc. Applied Geosciences ( geophysical modules)
- B.Sc. Georessourcenmanagement ( geophysical modules)
- M.Sc. Applied Geophysics
- M.Sc. Applied Geoscience ( Geophysical elective modules )
- M.Sc. Georessourcenmanagement ( geophysical elective modules )
- Free University of Berlin B.Sc.in Geological Sciences ( geophysics modules)
- M.Sc. of Geological Sciences / Geophysics focus
- Technical University of Berlin B.Sc. Geotechnology / Elective Applied Geophysics
- M.Sc. Geotechnology / emphasis Applied Geophysics
- Rheinische Friedrich- Wilhelms-Universität Bonn B.Sc. earth sciences
- M.Sc. Physics of the Earth and atmosphere (in cooperation with the University of Cologne )
- Technical University of Braunschweig B.Sc. Physics with specialization in Geo - and Astrophysics
- M.Sc. Physics with specialization in Geo - and Astrophysics
- University of Bremen B.Sc. Geosciences ( geophysical modules)
- M.Sc. Geosciences ( geophysical modules)
- M.Sc. Marine Geosciences
- Ruhr- University Bochum B.Sc. Geosciences ( geophysical modules)
- M.Sc. earth sciences
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main B.Sc. earth sciences
- M.Sc. Earth Sciences / Geophysics focus
- Technical University of Freiberg B.Sc.. Geophysics and Geoinformatics
- M.Sc. geophysics
- Georg -August- University of Göttingen B.Sc. Physics with emphasis Astro- and Geophysics
- M.Sc. Physics / research focus Astro- and Geophysics
- University of Hamburg B.Sc. Geophysics / Oceanography
- M.Sc. geophysics
- Friedrich -Schiller- University Jena B.Sc. Geoscience ( Geophysical compulsory and elective modules )
- M.Sc. geophysics
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology B.Sc. geophysics
- M.Sc. geophysics
- Christian -Albrechts -University of Kiel B.Sc. Physics of the Earth system: Meteorology Oceanography Geophysics
- M.Sc. geophysics
- M.Sc. Marine Geosciences
- M.Sc. Climate Physics: Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
- University of Cologne B.Sc. Geophysics and Meteorology
- M.Sc. Physics of the Earth and atmosphere (in cooperation with the University of Bonn)
- University of Leipzig M.Sc. Earth Sciences: Environmental Dynamics and Geohazards
- Ludwig- Maximilians- University of Munich B.Sc. Earth Sciences ( specialization in geophysics )
- M.Sc. Geophysics
- Westfälische Wilhelms -Universität Münster B.Sc. geophysics
- M.Sc. geophysics
- University of Potsdam B.Sc. Geosciences ( emphasis geophysics )
- M.Sc. Geosciences / well Geophysics