EOSC 353 · Seismology

Hooke's law for isotropic continua, elastic wave equation, reflection and refraction methods for imaging the Earth's internal structure, plane waves in an infinite medium and interaction with boundaries, body wave seismology, inversion of travel-time curves, generalized ray theory, crustal seismology, surface waves and earthquake source studies. [3-3*] Prerequisite: EOSC 352.

 Course Availability & Schedule

 Alternate year course

Even year start – Term 2

Instructors

Michael Bostock

Office hours: Mon/Wed/Fr 11:00-01:00 PM 

Textbook

Introduction to Seismology by Peter Shearer, Cambridge University Press.

Course Content

Book:

Introduction to Seismology by Peter Shearer

Lecture Topics

Topics covered include stress, strain, Hooke's law for isotropic media, elastic wave equation, reflection and refraction methods for imaging the Earth's internal structure, plane waves in an infinite medium and interaction with boundaries, body wave seismology, inversion of travel-time curves, generalized ray theory, surface waves and earthquake source studies.

Course Outline:

  • Stress and strain relations
  • Seismic wave equation
  • Ray theory: travel time aspects
  • Inversion of travel times
  • Ray theory: amplitudes; reflection/transmission coefficients
  • Reflection seismology: theory
  • Reflection seismology: applications to exploration and the environment
  • Surface waves
  • Earthquake source theory

 

  • Mark Assignments: Within the percentage ranges shown here, the combination to 100% that produces the highest overall mark will be assigned.
    • Laboratory Assignments 20%
    • Midterm examination 30%
    • Final examination 50%
  • Relevant references:
    • An Introduction to Seismology, Earthquakes and Earth Structure, Seth Stein and Michael Wysession, 2003, Blackwell Scientific
    • The Solid Earth, C.M.R. Fowler, 1990, Cambridge University Press

Labs

Lab: Mon 15:00 – 17:00 pm