Objectives:
The course objective is to provide an overview of the field of geophysics while gaining hands-on experience in the acquisition and analysis of real data. We will not go into great detail into any one topic but will instead introduce the topics so that you will know its use in geophysics and how to obtain more information if you need it. Labs will be devoted to making observations with homeworks will comprise analysis of the data.

Instructor:
Rob McCaffrey, Science Center Room 1W08, extension 8521, email: mccafr@rpi.edu

Teaching Assistant: None

Meeting time:
Lecture: 2 lectures each week: Monday and Wednesday 10:00 - 11:50, Science Center Room 3W13

Lab:  2 hours per week, in class or in field. Thursday 10:00 - 11:50
Students will be required to keep a lab notebook that I may ask to see.

Main Text:
C.M.R. Fowler: The Solid Earth, Cambridge Univ Press.

Useful References:
Press & Siever Earth, Chapters 1, 2, 4, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21
or the geophysics chapters of any introductory geology textbook.

Other Reading:
Articles will be on reserve in the Huntington Library in the Science Center. You may read them in the library but they are not to be removed from the library. Some of these articles may also be available in the main library.

Grading
50% Labs and Homework, 30% Exams, 20% Participation in class and labs

Late problem sets and lab reports will be penalized by subtracting 20% of the total value per class that it is late. A problem set not turned in will get no credit; this can lower your final grade by several percent.

Policy on Cheating: We are required to state the policy of this class regarding cheating. It is expected that each student do his or her own work on homework assignments and exams. I do encourage students to confer with each other for the purpose of gaining increased understanding of concepts presented in the class. However, I expect that assignments will reflect the student's own thoughts and calculations; anything else will be considered cheating. If cheating is proven then the student will receive a failing grade for the class and the case will be turned over to the University for additional action.

Topics to be covered: (not necessarily in this order, see Schedule)

Math, Physics, Statistics Review
Vector fields, differential equations, force balance, gradient, spherical geometry; rotations, potential fields; dot product; measurement errors; statistics; inverse problems

Stress and Strain
Deformation (elastic, viscous); Deformation gradient tensor; Faulting (brittle); Strain near a fault (and elastic rebound); Glacial rebound and strain rates

Plate Tectonics
History of development of theory; Plate boundaries; Euler rotation poles and reference frames; Driving mechanisms; Marine magnetic anomalies; Earthquakes at plate boundaries; Mountain building; Continental tectonics

Seismology
Seismic wave motion; Snell's Law; Earthquakes (locations, magnitudes, distributions); Seismometry and seismograms; Travel time curves; Earthquake prediction; Nuclear explosions; Seismic exploration for resources, Fourier series

Earth's Structure and Interior
Sources of information; Crust, mantle, core; Lithosphere, asthenosphere; Convection (some fluid dynamics); Continents

Gravity and Geodesy
Shape of Earth (geoid, spheroid); Earth rotation, Earth-moon dynamics; Earth structure; Isostasy; Exploration for resources; Geodetic measurements of crustal motion

Magnetics
Reversals and core dynamics; Paleomagnetism and continental drift; Exploration for resources

Heat Flow
Sources of heat in Earth; Heat transfer (conduction and convection); Thermal evolution, budget, and structure of Earth; Heat flow and plate tectonics

Field and Lab exercises (not necessarily in this order, see Schedule)

Measurements and Statistics
Linear regression as an inverse problem in geophysics
GPS measurements of plate motions
Strain measurements (displacement gradients)
Gravity field over a fault
Magnetic surveying
Hammer seismic surveying
Seismic tomography
Earthquake location
Convection and Plate motions
Temperature and viscosity
Isostasy and rates of deformation