By

Dr. Ali Mohammed Al Tameemi

 
Geophysics : is the application of the methods of physics
to the study of the Earth.
But which methods, and how are they
applied?
1-Geophysics can be used to make observations about the
subsurface using measurements taken (usually) at the
surface.
2-Geophysics is the only branch of the earth sciences that
can truly ‘look’ into Earth’s interior, that is, remotely detect
the presence of buried bodies and structures. In contrast,
geology can only infer them.
geophysics is able to add the third dimension, depth, in a
way that traditional geology often cannot.
Boreholes could in principle provide valuable and detailed
information about the subsurface, but they are expensive
and, strictly, provide information only about the rocks
immediately surrounding the borehole, for the rock or
structure at a distance could be different.
1-Geophysics has three aspects: (i) as a subject in its own
right (i.e., ‘pure’ geophysics), (ii) as a source of information
for the geologist (i.e., ‘geological’ geophysics), and (iii) as a
giant laboratory to test theories of physics.
2. Geophysics is the only branch of the earth sciences that
can truly ‘look’ into the solid Earth.
3. Geophysics ‘sees’ the Earth in terms of its physical
properties, which complement the usual types of geological
information‫ز‬
SUBPARTI.1
Data Acquisition and Processing
The first stage of most of the geophysical
methods is making measurements in the field. Then usually
follow further stages of working with the Data.
Most geophysical measurements are made at the Earth’s
surface, either to save the expense and time of drilling, or
because it is not feasible to go deep enough. Therefore
the first actual step, after planning, to carry out a
geophysical survey, is data acquisition, a set of
measurements made with a geophysical instrument. Often
the instrumental readings are taken along a line or
traverse (Fig. 2.1a). Usually, readings are not taken
continuously along the traverse but are taken at intervals –
usually regular – and each place where a reading is taken
is called a station. When the readings are plotted – often
after calculations – they form a profile (Fig. 2.1b).
Converting the readings into a more useful form is called
data reduction.
 Even after the data has been reduced, the profile may
not reveal the presence of the target as clearly as one
would like, because of noise.
 Noise is not sound but simply unwanted variations or
fluctuations in the quantities being measured; it contrasts
with the wanted part, the signal.
 noise can be vibrations due to passing traffic or anything
else that shakes the ground.
 There are usually two further stages:
 The first is to model the reduced data in physical terms.
 A model is a body or structure (described by such physical
properties as depth, size, density, etc.) that could account
for the data measured.