Introduction to Global Geophysics

Steve Dickman
,

dickman@binghamton.edu

Binghamton University
a

University with graduate programs, including doctoral programs

Summary

Application of physical concepts to understanding the solid earth. Topics: origin of Earth; gravitational and geomagnetic fields and effects; earthquakes and seismic waves; composition and structure of Earth's interior; radioactivity and its geothermal consequences; fluid flow; principles of geophysical exploration for natural resources. Applications to moon, sun and planets as appropriate. Three lectures, one two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: one semester of physics, calculus and geology; or consent of instructor.

Course URL:
Course Size:

less than 15

Course Context:

This is an upper-division elective for the geology major, cross-listed on the graduate level. A semester each of geology, calculus, and physics are prerequisite. Its format is 3 hours of lecture and a 2-hour lab each week. This course is open to all science and engineering majors (and others by petition), but is intended primarily for geology seniors and graduate students.

Course Goals:

Students should be able to collect, reduce, and interpret gravity data.
Students should be able to collect, reduce, and interpret seismic refraction data.
Students should be able to apply dimensional analysis (simple scaling techniques) to obtain order-of-magnitude solutions to basic differential equations.
Most important, students should be able to draw on a geophysical knowledge base to understand the natural world around them.

How course activities and course structure help students achieve these goals:

The primary activity of my course is the lecture. Students are expected to assimilate and master a large amount of geophysical material. Key homework assignments and lab activities provide focus for the students' effort; those plus the exams allow me to assess the students' success.

Skills Goals

see above

How course activities and course structure help students achieve these goals:

see above

Attitudinal Goals

developing a geophysical outlook on the world around them
seeing the relevance of math and physics to their own scientific endeavors, and seeing the value of using math and physics in those endeavors
seeing the importance of errors in modifying conclusions (in field work)

How course activities and course structure help students achieve these goals:

Throughout the course, I try to provide examples illustrating the relevance of geophysics, math, and physics to other sciences and to the world around them.

I require that lab reports include an error assessment.