Physics and Key Skills for Geophysicists

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Data handling and reporting. Simple use of Unix computers.
• Communicate effectively by writing reports with appropriate structure and referencing, and by making oral presentations.
• Carry out basic physical laboratory experiments, analysing and interpreting the results and keeping records in a laboratory logbook.
• Use GMT software to analyse and present 1D and 2D data.
• Use of GMT and unix shell scripting.

You will conduct laboratory experiments and analyse the resulting data.

Your computing and geophysical data analysis skills will be developed during a series of computer practicals during the academic year, supported by tutorials that provide feedback on the practical sessions as well as helping to develop writing and presentation skills. The computer classes will include an extended exercise during which you will have to analyse and produce an integrated interpretation of multiple large geophysical datasets.

You will also analyse field geophysical data collected within other modules.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures/tutorials: To introduce the basics of data handling and analysis using the GMT software. To develop skills in reading and assimilating scientific papers. To provide feedback and review sessions on the computing practicals.

Computer Practicals: To give experience in using GMT on Linux computers, and lead to extended exercises in applied geophysical data analysis and reporting.

Physics laboratory classes: Laboratory classes are held in the first year teaching laboratory on level 3 of the Physics Building (Building 46). These nominally consist of 11 weeks of Experiments, including training in data analysis, handling of common apparatus, and logbook keeping. Experiments will focus on key Physics themes including electronic circuits, optics, dynamics, renewable energy, thermodynamics, acoustics and more. Data analysis training includes handling and propagating errors, Normal distributions, and understanding of goodness-of-fit statistics. A range of analysis and writing software packages are introduced, though students are free to use any package or analysis software of their choice.

Attendance at all classes is compulsory.

Analysis of field geophysical data: working in groups, you will analyse field geophysical data acquired within other modules.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.