12.201/501 ESSENTIALS
OF GEOPHYSICS Fall 2002
Instructor: Prof. Bradford H. Hager Office: 54-622
Phone: (O) 253-0126
e-mail: bhhager@mit.edu
TA: Shawn Lawrence 54-625 #3-1909 shawnl@chandler.mit.edu
This course is designed to be a survey of the various subdisciplines of
geophysics (geodesy, geomagnetism, seismology, and geodynamics). No prior
background in Earth sciences is assumed, but students should be comfortable
with vector calculus, classical mechanics, and potential field theory.
Class is scheduled to meet in room 54-317 at 9-10 MWF.
Grades for the class will be based on the
scores from homework assignments (approx. 8 during the course of the term)
(50%) and a final exam/quiz (50%). No mid-term exam will be given. You are encouraged to discuss problem sets
to help each other on approaches to problems. However, do not copy answers
from each other or from solution sets.
(Unless indicated otherwise, homework is due one week after it is assigned.)
I will not use one single text book, but for further reading I recommend the text books listed below. Rather detailed lecture notes, mainly written in previous years by Rob van der Hilst, Frederik Simons and Maria Zuber, will reside on the web:
http://www-gpsg.mit.edu/12.201_12.501/
Lecture notes:
Chapter1.pdf HarmonicAnalysis.pdf SphericalHarmonics.pdf Precession.pdf Chapter2.pdf Chapter3.pdf Chapter4.pdf Chapter5.pdf
BoundaryLayer.pdf
Matlab tutorial:
Problem Set 1. Due Friday,
September 13:
Problem Set 2. Due Friday,
September 20:
Problem Set 3. Due Friday,
October 4:
Problem Set 4. Due Friday,
October 11:
Problem Set 5. Due Wednesday,
October 23:
Problem Set 6. Due Wednesday,
November 6:
Problem Set 7. Due Friday,
Dec. 6 (extended to Dec. 11):
Books:
Stacey "Physics of the Earth" (3rd
edition, 1992) (Good text for potential field theory, gravity + geomagnetism,
meteorites, and it has very useful appendices, good problems, not good for
seismology; we will go through most of this book).
Sleep & Fujita Principles of
Geophysics" (Blackwell Science, 586 pp, 1997) (New; Looks like a good text
book for this course and I will cover most of the material presented herein;
very useful source of literature for further reference; no problem sets).
Turcotte & Schubert "Geodynamics:
Applications of continuum physics to geological problems" (Wiley &
Sons, 450 pp., 1982) (A 'classic' reference text for gravity, thermal state of
earth, heat flow, flexure, thermal convection; derives most equations)
Fowler "The solid Earth: Introduction to
global geophysics" (Cambridge University Press, 472 pp., 1990) (Nice
overview of the field, useful appendices, but often lacks fundamental math +
physics)
Lay & Wallace "Modern Global Seismology"
(very good introduction to modern seismology, big plus is the use of many
examples from recent seismological research; theory not as rigorous as, for
instance, Aki & Richards, but adequate for this class).
Anderson "Theory of the Earth" (very
good reference book for chemistry and thermodynamics)
Merrill et al., “The magnetic field of the
Earth” (observational and theoretical aspects of Earth’s magnetic field.)
Lowrie “Fundamentals of Geophysics” (Good
reference book to have on your shelf; Follows same lines as I do in class)
