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About the University of Calgary
 Graduate Studies Calendar 2018-2019 Courses of Instruction Course Descriptions G Geophysics GOPH
Geophysics GOPH
GOPH 619 645 657 665 667 669 671 673 681 687 695 699 701 703 705
 

Instruction offered by members of the Department of Geoscience in the Faculty of Science.
 
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 619       Advanced Computational Methods for Geophysicists
Review of important mathematical models in geophysics (Poisson equation, acoustic wave equation, elastic wave equation) and typical boundary conditions for elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations. Numerical solutions using finite difference, finite volume and finite element approaches. Algorithms for nonlinear constitutive behaviour and introduction to nonlinear optimization/inversion algorithms.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geophysics 619 and Geophysics 699.09 will not be allowed.
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Geophysics 645       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.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Geophysics 551.
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Geophysics 657       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.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
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Geophysics 665       Theoretical Seismology
Seismic ray theory, inverse theory, full-wave methods, matrix methods, numerical methods, additional topics depending on current research interests.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Geophysics 551.
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Geophysics 667       Introduction to Microseismic Methods
Use of microseismic methods as surveillance technology during hydraulic-fracture treatment of tight reservoirs. Methods for acquiring, processing and interpreting microseismic data. Methods for picking events, determining hypocenter location and magnitude, and interpreting the stimulated rock volume.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.    
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Geophysics 669       Global Seismology
An introduction to theory and practice of global seismology. Topics include: seismograph systems, global wave propagation, moment tensors, shear-wave splitting, surface waves, receiver functions, seismic tomography and teleseismic receiver functions.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the graduate program in geophysics.
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Geophysics 671       Inverse Theory and Applications I
An introduction to the mathematical and numerical techniques of geophysical inversion. Topics include least squares, singular value decomposition, and Tikhonov regularization. Development of numerical codes to solve real inverse problems is stressed.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the graduate program in geophysics.
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Geophysics 673       Inverse Theory and Applications II
Multidimensional real-world inverse problems, such as constrained seismic, gravity, or resistivity inversion. Fourier, maximum entropy, Bayesian approaches and iterative solution techniques such as Kaczmarz and conjugate gradient are covered.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
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Geophysics 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.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Also known as: (Geomatics Engineering 681)
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Geophysics 687       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.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Notes: Elementary knowledge of vector calculus and partial differential equations is assumed.
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Geophysics 695       Research Topics and Tools
An introduction to seismic structural imaging and interpretation, seismic velocity anisotropy, and multicomponent seismology, including seismic survey design for PS converted waves. Discussion of software packages used for graduate research programs.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.   
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Geophysics 699       Selected Topics in Geophysics
Courses are offered in specific topics in areas such as seismology, environmental geophysics, potential methods, integrated geophysical studies, and geodynamics.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Geophysics 701       Advanced Independent Study
A written report based on laboratory and field studies is required.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(0-6)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate program in Geoscience.
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Geophysics 703       Readings in Geophysics
A written report based on a literature review is required.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(0-6)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate program in Geoscience.
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Geophysics 705       Graduate Skills in Geoscience
Provides an overview of professional skills that are key to success in graduate school and beyond. Presentation skills, writing scientific manuscripts, the peer review process, defence and candidacy exams, intellectual property and innovation, and networking basics.
Course Hours: 3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geophysics 705 and Geology 699.56 will not be allowed.
Also known as: (Geology 705)
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