Geophysics II
- Sciences
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 75 pages
- 9 units
This course introduces students to geophysical methods, focusing on seismic techniques. It covers seismic wave propagation, sources, and detection. Students will learn about seismic reflection and refraction methods, including data acquisition, field interpretation, and limitations. The course aims to provide a fundamental understanding of seismic surveying for subsurface investigation and resource exploration.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 40 hours
- Maths
- Intermediate
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Basic Physics
- Introductory Geology
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PHY361, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PHY361 · UNIT 1 SEISMIC METHODS
While current technological improvements have made it possible to obtain usable reflection data in many areas where reflections were formerly too poor to map, there are still places where reflection does not yield reliable information even though highly sophisticated data acquisition and processing techniques are used. In such intractable areas, other geophysical and geological methods must be employed.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the principles of seismic methods for subsurface investigation.
- Describe the characteristics of seismic waves and their propagation.
- Identify and interpret seismic sources and signals.
- Apply seismic reflection and refraction techniques for geological mapping.
- Analyze and interpret seismic data to determine subsurface structures.
- Evaluate the limitations of seismic methods in different geological settings.
What it prepares you for
- Geophysicist
- Exploration Geophysicist
- Seismic Data Analyst
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Environmental Consultant
- Oil and Gas Exploration
- Mineral Exploration
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Environmental Geophysics
- Archaeological Geophysics
- Seismographs
- Geophones
- Hydrophones
- Seismic Data Processing Software
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1:
Unit 3: Detection of Seismic Waves
Requires understanding of complex mathematical relationships between wave properties and rock characteristics.
- Module 2:
Unit 1: Seismic Reflection
Involves complex geometric corrections and velocity analysis for accurate subsurface imaging.
- Module 3:
Unit 2: Field Interpretation
Requires careful analysis and interpretation of time-distance plots to determine subsurface structure.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 39 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: Seismic Methods · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Seismic Methods, focusing on the general introduction and seismic waves.. Understand the different types of elastic waves (P-waves, S-waves, Love waves, Rayleigh waves).. Solve problems related to seismic velocities and the time-average equation..
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 2: Seismic Sources · 3 hours
Study Unit 2: Seismic Sources, focusing on hammers, impact sources, and explosives.. Understand safety procedures when using explosives.. Learn about time breaks and their importance in seismic surveys..
- Week 3Module 1:
Unit 3: Detection of Seismic Waves · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Detection of Seismic Waves, focusing on geophones and hydrophones.. Understand the detection of S-waves and noise reduction techniques.. Learn about seismic cables and their importance in signal transmission..
- Week 4Module 1:
Unit 4: Recording Seismic Signals · 3 hours
Study Unit 4: Recording Seismic Signals, focusing on single-channel and multi-channel seismographs.. Understand the principles of enhancement seismographs.. Learn about dynamic range and filters in seismic signal recording..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 1: Seismic Reflection · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Seismic Reflection, focusing on reflection theory and coefficients.. Understand acoustic impedances and normal move-out.. Solve problems related to Dix velocity and the effect of dip..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 2: Reflection Surveys · 3 hours
Study Unit 2: Reflection Surveys, focusing on spread lengths and arrays.. Understand shot arrays and common mid-point shooting.. Learn about depth conversion and geometric distortion in reflection surveys..
- Week 7Module 3:
Unit 1: Seismic Refraction · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Seismic Refraction, focusing on refraction surveys and principal refractors.. Understand critical refraction and Snell's Law.. Solve problems related to lengths of refraction spreads and positioning shots..
- Week 8Module 3:
Unit 2: Field Interpretation · 3 hours
Study Unit 2: Field Interpretation, focusing on intercept times and multiple layers.. Understand the effect of dip and refractor relief.. Learn about reciprocal time interpretation..
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 3: Limitation of Refraction Methods · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Limitation of Refraction Methods, focusing on direct waves and vertical velocities.. Understand hidden layers and blind zones.. Solve problems related to the limitations of refraction methods..
- Week 10Module 1:
Unit 1: Review of Seismic Methods · 3 hours
Review Module 1: Seismic Methods. Focus on Seismic Methods, Seismic Sources, Detection of Seismic waves and Recording Seismic Signals. Attempt all self-assessment exercises.
- Week 11Module 2:
Unit 1: Review of Seismic Reflection · 3 hours
Review Module 2: Seismic Reflection. Focus on Seismic Reflection and Reflection Surveys. Attempt all self-assessment exercises.
- Week 12Module 3:
Unit 1: Review of Seismic Refraction · 3 hours
Review Module 3: Seismic Refraction. Focus on Seismic Refraction, Field Interpretation and Limitation of Refraction Methods. Attempt all self-assessment exercises.
- Week 13Module 1:
Unit 1: Final Revision · 3 hours
Complete all assignments and TMAs. Prepare for final examinations. Review all course materials and key concepts.
Preparing for the exam
- Review all unit objectives and summaries to reinforce key concepts.
- Practice solving numerical problems related to seismic velocities and travel times.
- Create diagrams illustrating seismic wave propagation and reflection/refraction principles.
- Focus on understanding the differences between seismic reflection and refraction methods.
- Study case studies to understand real-world applications of seismic methods.
- Practice interpreting seismic data and identifying subsurface structures.
- Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and address any areas of weakness.
- Create flashcards for key terms and definitions related to seismic methods.
- Allocate specific time slots for focused study sessions each week.
- Form a study group to discuss challenging concepts and share insights.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PHY361 about?
This course introduces students to geophysical methods, focusing on seismic techniques. It covers seismic wave propagation, sources, and detection. Students will learn about seismic reflection and refraction methods, including data acquisition, field interpretation, and limitations. The course aims to provide a fundamental understanding of seismic surveying for subsurface investigation and resource exploration.
How many units does PHY361 have?
PHY361, Geophysics II, has 9 units across 3 modules, over 75 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PHY361?
PHY361 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Sciences.
Is PHY361 hard?
PHY361 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does PHY361 take to study?
About 40 hours of study, spread across its 9 units.
How is PHY361 assessed?
PHY361 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What do I need before starting PHY361?
Basic Physics Introductory Geology
What can I do with PHY361?
Geophysicist, Exploration Geophysicist, Seismic Data Analyst, Geotechnical Engineer and Environmental Consultant.