Teaching introductory geophysics:

what our students dont know, need to,

and what we can do

Seth Stein

Department of Earth and Planetary

Sciences
Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208

seth@earth.northwestern.edu
This presentation at
ttp://www.earth.northwestern.edu/people/seth/Lectures/teachinggp.ppt

 Solid earth
concepts can be
taught purely
descriptively at the
100-level

But this is teaching

science as magic,
not geophysics Davidsonetal

AGI: Geophysics is
a branch of
experimental
physics dealing
with the earth
 NU introductory geophysics:

-First geophysics class (200-level) for geology

majors, engineers, or other science folk

-Typically sophomores or juniors

- Some have descriptive (100-level) intro to earth

science

- Math, physics, chemistry prerequisite or

corequisites

- Global/planetary perspective

- Course goes beyond descriptive

- Try to challenge students & prepare them for
 Intro geophysics classes integrate topics that
wed like students to know from other classes, but
often dont know well (or at all). These can
include

GEOPHYSICS
Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime GEOLOGY Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS Spherical

E&M geometry
MATH
Waves Calculus
Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)
In practice, we need to review - or teach - much of
these This is OK since many students learn them
better in context We cant do detailed derivations,
but can give intuition & contexts (often common to
different applications)
GEOPHYSICS
Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime GEOLOGY Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS Spherical

E&M geometry
MATH
Waves Calculus
Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)
 Seek to improve students understanding of both
underlying concepts & geophysical application

GEOPHYSICS
Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime GEOLOGY Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS Spherical

E&M geometry
MATH
Waves Calculus
Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)
 Tradeoff between breath of topics covered &
depth of each (underlying math & physics)
depends on class goals & composition

GEOPHYSICS
Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime GEOLOGY Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS Spherical

E&M geometry
MATH
Waves Calculus
Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)
 VECTORS

Physics independent of
coordinate system (F=ma)

Magnitude-angle vs
components
Steinetal,
2007 Vector operations (sum,
gradient, curl, etc.)

Magneticfield
Platemotion
 SPHERICAL GEOMETRY
Latitude & longitude
Vector components: (r,, ),
(N-S, E-W, up-down), (x,y,z)
Unit vectors in non-Cartesian
system
VDOs in spherical coordinates
Operations must be done in
Stein&Wysession,
2003 Cartesian

Steinetal,
Platemotion
2007 Magneticfield
 SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS/LEAST SQUARES

Can motivate w/o math or w/simple algebra

Davidson et al, 2002

GPS receiver finds position with radio signals from different

satellites
Locating
earthquake from arrivals at multiple seismometers
Tomography
 MECHANICS
F=ma
Magneticfield
torqueon Weight vs mass
magneticdipole
Gravity on different
causes
planets
Objects of different
Compasstowork
mass fall at same
speed
Torque
Magnetic surveys
Paleomagnetism
Thermal
Remnant Need to
Magnetization
understand cross

Steinetal,2007 product
 ROTATION
(CIRCULAR MOTION)
Torque, angular
velocity & momentum,
moment of inertia
Need to understand
cross product & vector
Steinetal,2007
nature of acceleration

L=I
Precessionmagnetometer
PlatemotionMomentofinertia
ELECTROMAGNETIS B
MHow fields arise
V
Columbs law
Spinner
B from moving magnetometer V=dfluxB/dt
charges
Lorentz force
Steinetal,2007

Maxwells equations
How we measure &
use fields
Massspectrometer
(agedating)
F=q(E+vxB)

Circularmotion

U(x,t) SEISMOLOGY
Waves in space & time
Observe as either
Period, wavelength,
speed (c=/T) &
dimensions
Relation between
wave fronts and rays

t Wavefront Ray

x
Stein&Wysession,
2003
 SEISMOLOGY Idea of geometric
optics: when we can
use rays, when we
need waves
Travel time vs
amplitude
T2
Inquiringminds Stein&Wysession,

wanttoknow 2003
Huygens T1

principle To
graphic

Likeboatswake
wavefront>ray
 Non-geometric DIFFRACTIO
optical arrivals N

Frequency
dependent (hear
but not see
around corners)

D/2d core

Migrationundoes
diffraction
Single
Interface DEPTH TIME
slit
end
diffraction
Stein&Wysession,

2003
 CONSTRUCTIVE & DESTRUCTIVE
INTERFERENCE
Phase
difference
between waves
Distance & time
VLBI measurement
CMPstacking
earth.leeds.ac.uk/.../
active_tectonics/vlbi.gif Stein&Wysession,2003

http://comet.nerc.ac.uk/sc
hoolssar_how.html
INSAR

X-ray Michelson
diffractio Morley
n experiment
(1887)
http://www.eserc.stonybrook.e
du/ProjectJava/Bragg/
RAYS ARE
APPROXIMATION
S TO WAVES

Stein&Wysession,
2003

 GEOTHERMICS
Conservation
of energy
Potential (science vs
popular usage)
Potential,
kinetic,
chemical, heat,
Chemical Nuclear electrical
Most energy
available to
humans &
natural
systems is
ultimately
Planets
are heat
engines Steinetal,2007 nuclear from
 HEAT & TEMPERATURE

Explain physically (towel)

Heat transfer modes
Use partial derivative
(dont have to call it grad)
Steinetal,2007 Time dependant solutions

Coolinghalfspacesolution

Lavalake

Stein&Wysession,2003

THERMAL EVOLUTION OF LITHOSPHERE
Simple models of
spreading &
subduction

Tie to observations

Density anomalies

Plate driving forces

Forsyth&
Uyeda,1975

Stein&Wysession,
2003

 THERMAL
CONVECTIO
N
Buoyancy
force
Adiabat
Convection
cell
Solid & fluid
earth
Steinetal,2007

Tietoweather
&climate
change

 VISCOSITY
Definew/otensor
Magma&mantle
flow
Stokesproblem
Steinetal,2007
Rayleighnumber
Tietoglacialgeology
Stratovolcano
GPS

Shieldvolcano

Reflectsmagmachemistry;tietohazard
RADIOACTIVITY How & why it occurs
Why nuclear energy released
Age dating
Radioactive heating of earth

Nucleus

Meteorites
fromearly
solar
system

2
E=mc
Steinetal,2007
 SUGGESTIONS
Identify math, physics, chemistry
concepts implicitly or explicitly
needed in course
Assess which students are shaky
on
Review - or teach - these at
level suitable for class curriculum
& composition
Seek to improve students
You come in
understanding of both underlying
here with a
concepts & geophysical
skull full of
application
mush and you
Develop problems & labs for this leave thinking
goal
like a lawyer.