Oh you’re a geophysicist?
...what... is that?!
...what... is that?!
Even other geoscientists rarely know what geophysics actually is, nor what we do.
But to be fair, it’s pretty much dark magic rituals with a scientific flare. It’s all the least-intuitive bits of math applied to the parts of rocks you don’t notice, for results you rarely see.
But to be fair, it’s pretty much dark magic rituals with a scientific flare. It’s all the least-intuitive bits of math applied to the parts of rocks you don’t notice, for results you rarely see.
You know some of the geophysics sub-specialities:
Seismologists who look at earthquakes & volcanologists who look at volcanoes are in disaster-news frequently.
& many geoscientists are aware they hire geophysicists for oil & gas exploration, even if they’re not quite sure why.
Seismologists who look at earthquakes & volcanologists who look at volcanoes are in disaster-news frequently.
& many geoscientists are aware they hire geophysicists for oil & gas exploration, even if they’re not quite sure why.
But geophysics is this fabulous mix of James Bond villain, MacGyver, and, yes, a sorcerer of the dark arts. Or maybe a really annoying sibling playing “I’m not touching you!” while poking you with a feather.
It’s having the answer & trying to figure out the right question.
It’s having the answer & trying to figure out the right question.
Geophysics is the science (& dark art) of exploring subsurface secrets without ever touching it.
It’s looking at how signals change, then figuring out what had to happen to them to create that change.
It’s taking an infinite pool of possibilities & picking the most likely.
It’s looking at how signals change, then figuring out what had to happen to them to create that change.
It’s taking an infinite pool of possibilities & picking the most likely.
Where’s the gold? Geophysics.
What’s this buried structure? Geophysics.
Why do we have a magnetic field? Geophysics.
How thick is this glacier? Geophysics.
Where’s that cave? Geophysics.
Can I reach rock? Geophysics.
We hunt the hidden, buried, & forgotten.
What’s this buried structure? Geophysics.
Why do we have a magnetic field? Geophysics.
How thick is this glacier? Geophysics.
Where’s that cave? Geophysics.
Can I reach rock? Geophysics.
We hunt the hidden, buried, & forgotten.
Geophysics can be exploration & exploitation, and it can be absolutely soul-destroying when you feel like you’re making the future worse.
Been there, done that, ragequit.
But if you can’t grow it, you need to mine it.
& geophysics helps us do that more efficiently & cleanly.
Been there, done that, ragequit.
But if you can’t grow it, you need to mine it.
& geophysics helps us do that more efficiently & cleanly.
Geophysics is all about understanding the physical properties of geological materials. It’s a toolset. What you do with it is up to you.
I use geophysics on disasters, better understanding the mechanics of hazards to reduce risk.
Others use it to stalk spider sex.
I use geophysics on disasters, better understanding the mechanics of hazards to reduce risk.
Others use it to stalk spider sex.
Undergrad geophysics programs are fretting over declining enrollments.
It makes sense: most geo grads want to work green jobs for a better future (americangeosciences.org/sites/default/…), and most prospective think geophysics = oil & gas.
But that’s such a small segment of geophysics jobs.
It makes sense: most geo grads want to work green jobs for a better future (americangeosciences.org/sites/default/…), and most prospective think geophysics = oil & gas.
But that’s such a small segment of geophysics jobs.
Think about it:
Geophysics is a tool to track the unseen. It’s perfect for sustainability & environmental work.
Groundwater tracking? Geophysics
Waste containment? Geophysics
Green energy? Geophysics
ID rogue polluters? Geophysics
We steal secrets.
Geophysics is a tool to track the unseen. It’s perfect for sustainability & environmental work.
Groundwater tracking? Geophysics
Waste containment? Geophysics
Green energy? Geophysics
ID rogue polluters? Geophysics
We steal secrets.
If you like mysteries
If inversions are your happy place
If you like hacking hardware
If constraints help you tell stories
If you love knowing secrets no one else does
If you like rocks, but not ID
Consider geophysics.
Or at least figure out what is is!
If inversions are your happy place
If you like hacking hardware
If constraints help you tell stories
If you love knowing secrets no one else does
If you like rocks, but not ID
Consider geophysics.
Or at least figure out what is is!
Bonus:
Some geophysicists find unmarked graves.
Some geophysicists blow shit up.
Some geophysicists guide robots on distant worlds.
Some geophysicists tame lava.
Some geophysicists zap rocks.
Some geophysicists live in space.
Geophysics is way more than oil & gas.
Some geophysicists find unmarked graves.
Some geophysicists blow shit up.
Some geophysicists guide robots on distant worlds.
Some geophysicists tame lava.
Some geophysicists zap rocks.
Some geophysicists live in space.
Geophysics is way more than oil & gas.
