GEOPHYSICS
WHAT IS IT?
Geophysics
is the study of the Earth and its surrounding space environment by quantitative
physical methods, especially by seismic, electromagnetic, and radioactivity methods.
The theories and techniques of geophysics are employed extensively in the planetary
sciences in general.
The field of geophysics includes the branches of:
o
Seismology (earthquakes and elastic waves)
o
Gravity and geodesy
(the Earth's gravitational field and the size and form of the earth)
o
Space Science
which includes:
·
Atmospheric electricity and terrestrial magnetism (including ionosphere, Van Allen
belts, telluric currents, Radiant energy, etc.)
·
Meteorology and Climatology, which both involve studies of the weather.
·
Aeronomy, the study of the physical structure and chemistry of the atmosphere.
·
Geothermometry (heating of the Earth, heat flow, volcanology, and
hot
springs)
o
Hydrology
(ground and surface water, sometimes including glaciology)
o
Physical oceanography
o
Tectonophysics
(geological processes in the Earth)
o
Geodynamics
(numerical study of the inner Earth)
o
Exploration and engineering geophysics
o
Geophysical Engineering
o
Geodesy
o
Glaciology
o
Petrophysics
o
Applied geophysics
o
Mineral Physics
o
Engineering geology