Department of Applied Science
Course Syllabus
7360 Applied Geophysics
I. Instructor: Dr. Haydar Al-Shukri
II.
Catalog Description:
Utilization of various geophysical prospecting techniques to explore the upper few kilometers of the earth for natural resources, environmental, and engineering problems. Introduce the students to the main methods of geophysical prospecting, instrumentation and fieldwork. Train the students on the planning of the geophysical field experiments, selecting the appropriate equipment for each particular problem, executing the required work and handling the field procedures. Introduce the students to various techniques of reducing geophysical data, forward and inverse modeling, and geological interpretation.
III.
Prerequisites: Calculus I, II, III, and differential equation or approval of instructor
(Math1451, Math1452, Math2453, Math3322)
IV.
Course Objectives:
A. Introduce the students of applied science to the main methods of geophysical prospecting, instrumentation and fieldwork.
B.
Train
the students on the planning of the geophysical field experiments, selecting
the appropriate equipment for each particular problem, executing the required
work and handling the field procedures.
C.
Introduce
the students to various techniques of reducing geophysical data, forward and
inverse modeling, and geological interpretation.
V.
Expectation of Students:
A. Students will participate in all class meetings and will complete assigned readings and other preparation for discussion of the subject matters.
B. Students will achieve satisfactory grades on a midterm and a final examination.
C. Students will complete written term paper and give oral presentation about a field experiment of selected topic.
VI.
Course Content:
1.
Propagation
of seismic waves.
2.
Velocity
and attenuation of seismic waves
3.
Instrumentation
of seismic prospecting
4.
Seismic
reflection prospecting
a.
Acquiring
of seismic reflection data
b.
Seismic
data processing
c.
Geological
interpretation of seismic reflection data
d.
3-D
seismic exploration
5.
Seismic
Refraction
a.
Refraction
versus reflection
b.
Travel-time
calculation
c.
Refraction
operation in the field
d.
Correction
and processing of refraction data
e.
Interpretation
and modeling
B.
Gravity
Prospecting
1.
Principal
and instrumentation
2.
Field
measurement and data reduction
3.
Gravity
anomalies for various geological features
4.
Design
of survey
5.
Techniques
for displaying and enhancing anomalies
6.
Regional
– Residual separation
7.
Qualitative
interpretation; forward and inverse modeling
C.
Midterm
Examination.
D.
Magnetic
Prospecting
1.
Basic
concepts and definitions
2.
Magnetism
of the earth
3.
Magnetic
susceptibility of rocks
4.
Magnetic
anomalies
5.
Instrumentation
6.
Airborne
data collection
7.
Magnetic
survey on land
8.
Data
processing
9.
Qualitative
and quantitative interpretation of magnetic data
E.
Electric
and electromagnetic prospecting
1.
Electric
properties associated with rock
2.
Direct-current
resistively methods
3.
Natural-source
electromagnetic techniques
4.
The
self-potential method
5.
Electromagnetic
prospecting of the inductive type
6.
Induced
polarization
F. Ground penetrating radar
1.
Instrumentation
and principal.
2.
Field
techniques
3.
Data
reduction and interpretation
G. Final examination and oral presentation of term paper.
VII.
Textbook: Burger, H.R. (1992). Exploration Geophysics of the Shallow
Subsurface, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 489p.
VIII.
Basis for student
evaluation:
B. Laboratory and experiments reports 35%
C. Term paper and presentations 35%
C. Final examination 15%