VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Numerical Modelling for Applied Geophysics
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:32:52
Abstract
Numerical modelling in environmental and exploration geophysics. The course covers different numerical methods such as finite difference and finite element methods applied to solve PDE’s for instance governing seismic wave propagation and geoelectric problems.Prerequisites include basic knowledge of (i) signal processing and applied mathematics such as Fourier analysis and (ii) Matlab.
Objective
After this course students should have a good overview of numerical modelling techniques commonly used in environmental and exploration geophysics. Students should be familiar with the basic principles of the methods and how they are used to solve real problems. They should know advantages and disadvantages as well as the limitations of the individual approaches. The course includes exercises in Matlab where the students both should learn, understand and use existing scripts as well as carrying out some coding in Matlab themselves.
Content
The following topics are covered: - Applications of modelling - Physics of acoustic, elastic, viscoelastic wave equations as well as Maxwell's equations for electromagnetic wave propagation and diffusive problems - Recap of basic techniques in signal processing and applied mathematics - Solving PDE's, boundary conditions and initial conditions - Acoustic/elastic wave propagation I, explicit time-domain finite-difference methods - Acoustic/elastic wave propagation II, Viscoelastic, pseudospectral - Acoustic/elastic wave propagation III, spectral accuracy in time, frequency domain FD, Eikonal - Implicit finite-difference methods (geoelectric) - Finite element methods, 1D/2D (heat equation) - Finite element methods, 3D (geoelectric) - Acoustic/elastic wave propagation IV, Finite element and spectral element methods Most of the lecture modules are accompanied by exercises Small projects will be assigned to the students. They either include a programming exercise or applications of existing modelling codes.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Presentation slides and some background material will be provided.
Literature
Igel, H., 2017. Computational seismology: a practical introduction. Oxford University Press.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Numerical Modelling for Applied Geophysics |
|
36 h semesterly |
Offered In
-
-
-
Geophysik (Empfohlene Kombinationen: Fach 1 + Fach 2 Fach 1 + Fach 3 Fach 2 + Fach 3 Fach 3 + Fach 4 Fach 5 + Fach 6 + Fach 8 Fach 4 + Fach 5 Fach 7 + Fach 8)
-
-
-
-
-
Geophysik (Empfohlene Kombinationen: Fach 2 + Fach 5 + Fach 6 + Fach 7 Fach 2 + Fach 4 + Fach 5 + Fach 6 + Fach 8 Fach 2 + Fach 5 + Fach 6 + (Fach 1 oder Fach 3))
-
-
-