Geophysics GOPH

Instruction offered by members of the Department of Geology and Geophysics in the Faculty of Science.

Department Head - L. R. Lines

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 201 and 203; Mathematics 251 or 249 or Applied Mathematics 217; Physics 211 or 221.

Corequisites: Physics 223.

Note: Credit for both Geophysics 355 and 365 will not be allowed.

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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 Applied Mathematics 217; Mathematics 253 or 263 or Applied Mathematics 219; Physics 223.

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Geophysics 365 H(3-3)

Environmental Geophysics

Methods for the determination of the composition and structure of shallow subsurface materials, including refraction seismic, high resolution reflection seismic, direct current resistivity, induced polarization (IP), low induction number electromagnetic profiling and depth sounding, ground penetrating radar, magnetics and microgravity.

Prerequisites: Applied Mathematics 217 or Mathematics 251 or 249

Note: Credit for both Geophysics 365 and 355 will not be allowed.

Note: Not available as a course in the Field of Geophysics.

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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.

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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.

Prerequisites: Geology 381 and Geophysics 355.

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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 Applied Mathematics 219; Mathematics 221 or Applied Mathematics 309 or Mathematics 353.

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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.

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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. Physical properties of earth materials as they relate to geophysical exploration and environmental geosciences. Overview of small-scale high resolution applications of other geophysical methods (seismic, gravity, magnetics).

Prerequisites: Geophysics 355.

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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

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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.

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Geophysics 549 H(0-1T-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, 453, Geology 341.

Note: This course occurs in rugged field conditions and varying weather, for which participants must be prepared and equipped.

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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.

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Geophysics 557 H(3-3)

Geophysical Data Processing

Geophysical signal analysis, digital processing methods applied to seismic and other geophysical data.

Prerequisites: Applied Mathematics 415, Geophysics 355.

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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: Geophysics 457 or Geology 461 or 597.

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Graduate Courses

Graduate students are urged to read the Geology and Geophysics 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.

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Geophysics 647 H(3-0)

Advanced Applied Geophysics

Selected modern topics in seismic, gravity, electrical and magnetic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Geophysics 659 H(3-0)

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.

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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.

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Geophysics 667 H(3-3)

Digital Signal Theory and Applications

The theory of digitally sampled signals in one, two, and three dimensions, fundamental sampling theorems, reconstruction formulae, Z transforms, filtering are developed and used to solve problems in wave propagation, seismic imaging, geophysical inverse theory, and potential fields processing. The methods of Green's functions, separation of variables, and finite differences are emphasized.

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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.

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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.

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Geophysics 685 H(3-3)

Seismic Anisotropy

Theory of elastic-wave propagation in anisotropic media of various symmetries; the Kelvin-Christoffel equations; group and phase velocities; slowness, velocity and wave surfaces; shear-wave splitting; singularities; scaled physical modelling in anisotropic media; results of field studies in surface-seismic, VSP and cross-borehole modes; anisotropy in the deep interior of the Earth.

Prerequisites: Geophysics 645 or consent of the Department.

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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.

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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

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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 Geology and Geophysics.

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Geophysics 703 H(0-6)

Readings in Geophysics

Note: Open only to graduate students in the Department of Geology and Geophysics.

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