Prerequisites
Advanced Calculus for Engineers (18.075) or Mathematical Methods for Engineers I (18.085). This is a graduate-level class, but is open to undergraduates.
Overview
This course constitutes a broad overview of observational and theoretical seismology and the utilization of seismic waves for the study of the Earth's interior. Topics include elastic wave propagation, seismic ray theory, interpretation of travel times, finite frequency effects, surface wave dispersion, and seismic tomography.
Textbook
Stein, S., and M. Wysession. An Introduction to Seismology, Earthquakes, and Earth Structure. 1st ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell, September 2002. ISBN: 0865420785.
Homework
There are 4 homework assignments for this course based on the lecture material. Some require raw data analysis in MATLAB®.
Grading
Course grading.
| activities |
percentages |
| Assignments |
50% |
| Final Exam |
40% |
| Class Participation |
10% |
Calendar
Calendar table.
| Lec # |
Topics |
key dates |
| 1 |
Introductory Lecture |
|
| 2 |
Stress and Strain |
|
| 3 |
Relationship between Stress and Strain
Equation of Motion
Wave Equation |
|
| 4 |
Wave Equation (cont.) |
|
| 5 |
d'Alembert's Solution
Separation of Variables
Fourier Transform
Slowness
Nomenclature of Body Waves in Earth's Interior |
|
| 6 |
Eikonal Equation (Basis of Ray Theory)
Boundary Conditions
Snell's Law |
Problem set 1 due |
| 7 |
Snell's Law (cont.) |
|
| 8 |
P-Sv Case
Critical and Post-critical Reflection |
|
| 9 |
Critical and Post-critical Reflection (cont.)
Phase Shifts and Pulse Distortion
Layer Over Half Space |
|
| 10 |
Seismic Data Inversion |
|
| 11 |
Snell's Law in Spherical Media
Ray Equation
Radius of Curvature
Amplitude → Geometrical Spreading |
Problem set 2 due |
| 12 |
Traveltime Tomography |
|
| 13 |
Traveltime Tomography (cont.)
Model Uniqueness
Fresnel Zones |
|
| 14 |
Traveltime Tomography (cont.)
Surface Waves |
|
| 15 |
Surface Waves - Ground Roll |
Problem set 3 due |
| 16 |
Review of Ground Roll / Love Waves
Evanescent Wave and Sensitivity Kernel
ω - k Space
Phase Velocity vs. Group Velocity |
|
| 17 |
Stationary Waves
Application |
|
| 18 |
Surface Waves (cont.)
Dispersion
Modeling |
|
| 19 |
Normal Modes (Free Oscillations) |
|
| 20 |
Anisotropy |
Problem set 4 due two days after lecture 20 |
| 21 |
Earthquakes |
|
| 22 |
Fault Geometry
First Motions
Stereographic Fault Plane Representation
Moment Tensor
Radiation Patterns |
|
| 23 |
Earthquake Magnitude
Tsunami |
|
| 24 |
Seismometers, Seismic Stations, Seismic Networks |
|