Geophysics applies physics and mathematics to increase our understanding of conditions and processes within the Earth (or other planets), ranging from the motion of the Earth's core, to earthquakes and explosions, to understanding the motion of beach sand. The aim of the Geophysics program is to teach students not just about the facts of geophysics, but to equip them with a knowledge of the methods of the field, since these can be applied to many environmental problems. Geophysicists at SIO have been pioneers in developing new instrumentation to measure geophysical phenomena, in creating the rigorous mathematics needed to determine what can (and cannot) be inferred about Earth from available data, and in managing and analyzing the large data sets generated by many geophysics experiments. Research interests within the program are diverse. You can find out more using links to various research groups, see a sampling of opportunities in geophysics at SIO, or download the document Geophysics at SIO in a low-resolution version , or high-resolution version .
For more information about this curricular group email: pshearer@ucsd.edu (Prof. Peter Shearer; telephone 858-534-2260)
There is no single course of study appropriate to the geophysics curriculum; instead, the individual interests of the student will permit, in consultation with the advisor, a choice of course work, although certain "core courses" are taken by nearly all students. For a fuller explanation of how students usually progress through the PhD program in Geophysics, see Information For New Or Prospective Students
Extra-Curricular Information
Beyond academic considerations, there is also San Diego as a place to live-many of us think it is a pretty good place; click here for a page put together by geophysics students. Current events and entertainment are listed in The Reader (the local free newspaper, which has a huge classified ad section). Here is lots of information about the local weather.
As explained in the Information For Students, some courses are "core", in the sense that they are given every year, and that knowledge of their contents is expected for the Departmental Exam at the end of the student's first year. These are marked with a * in the list below. Classes planned for 2006/2007 academic year are listed here. For a complete list of courses taught at SIO refer to the general catalog under Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Courses. Occasional special topics and seminar classes are taught under the SIO239 label. Students are encouraged to take relevant classes in other curricular groups and departments. Click here for some math classes that might be useful to you, here for brief descriptions of the classes listed below. Many of courses have their own web sites
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