Geophysics

Geophysics is the study of the earth by quantitative physical methods, namely seismic, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, thermal and radioactivity methods.

It includes the branches of:

• Seismology (earthquakes and elastic waves)
• Gravity (Earth's gravitational field)
• Geodesy (size and shape of the earth)
• Geomagnetism (including ionosphere, magnetosphere, Van Allen belts)
• Geoelectricity and electromagnetic methods (telluric currents, resistivity and conductivity structure, ground penetrating radar (GPR))
• Geothermometry (heat from internal processes, radioactivity, heat flow, volcanology, and hot springs)
• Hydrology (ground and surface water, sometimes including glaciology)
• Physical oceanography
• Tectonophysics (geological processes in the earth)
• Exploration, engineering, and environmental geophysics
• Geophysical Engineering
• Glaciology
• Mineral Physics
• Engineering geology

See also

• Fluid dynamics
• Society of Exploration Geophysicists
• American Geophysical Union

External links

• USGS Geomagnetism Program
• Case studies from TerraDat Geophysics documenting the use in shallow engineering and environmental applications
• Center for Gravity, Electrical, and Magnetic Studies