Introduction to Geophysics

ES 3004 / ES 7020
Semester 2, AY2025–2026
Nanyang Technological University

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Instructor Information

Instructor: Asst. Prof. Luca Dal Zilio
Email: luca.dalzilio@ntu.edu.sg
Office: N2-01B-22
Office Hours: By appointment

Co-Instructor: Dr. Sharadha Sathiakumar
Teaching Assistant: Wenzhi Zhao

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to solid Earth geophysics and near-surface imaging. Students learn the physical principles governing the Earth’s interior and the geophysical methods used to image the shallow subsurface.

The first half of the course, Essentials of Geophysics, covers Earth structure, elasticity, rheology, seismic wave propagation, the gravitational field, and geodynamic processes.

The second half, Near-Surface Imaging, introduces applied geophysics techniques including seismic reflection, refraction, gravity, magnetics, electrical resistivity, and electromagnetic methods.

Weekly tutorials reinforce lecture concepts through guided problem solving and MATLAB-based exercises. Assignments are submitted weekly to ensure steady development of quantitative and analytical skills.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Explain the physical principles underlying major solid Earth processes.

  • Apply concepts of stress, strain, elasticity, and rheology to geological materials.

  • Interpret seismic waves and use them to infer Earth structure.

  • Understand Earth’s gravity field and the principles of isostasy.

  • Describe the driving forces of plate tectonics and mantle convection.

  • Apply seismic, gravity, magnetic, and resistivity methods to near-surface problems.

  • Design a basic geophysical survey and justify method selection.

Course Logistics

Lectures: Mondays 12:30–14:20
Tutorials: Tuesdays 15:30–16:20
Rooms:
• Lectures — N1.1-B2-01D (E2S2 Lab 3)
• Tutorials — N1.1-B2-01E (E2S2 Lab 4)

Start of Teaching: 12 January 2026 (Week 1)
End of Teaching: 13 April 2026 (Week 13)
Note: Week 6 (17–18 Feb 2026, Chinese New Year) — No Lecture

Weekly Schedule [ Download syllabus ]

Below is the full lecture + tutorial plan with placeholders for lecture slides, tutorial sheets, and assignments.

Week

Dates

Lecture, Tutorial & Assignment

1

12 Jan (Lecture)
13 Jan (Tutorial)

Introduction to Geophysics & Earth Structure
Overview of geophysics, layered Earth, plate tectonics, physical parameters.
Tutorial: PREM profiles; MATLAB plotting of density/velocity vs depth.
Assignment: Earth structure calculations.
Lecture • Tutorial • [Assignment]

2

19 Jan (Lecture)
20 Jan (Tutorial)

Stress, Strain, and Elasticity
Stress tensor, strain, elastic moduli, Hooke’s law, lithospheric flexure.
Tutorial: Stress–strain calculations; MATLAB curve fitting.
Assignment: Elasticity + flexure problems.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

3

26 Jan (Lecture)
27 Jan (Tutorial)

Rheology of Earth Materials
Brittle–ductile behavior, creep laws, viscoelasticity.
Tutorial: Maxwell viscoelastic model in MATLAB.
Assignment: Rheology scenarios.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

4

2 Feb (Lecture)
3 Feb (Tutorial)

Seismology: Waves and Earth’s Interior
P/S waves, seismograms, travel-time curves.
Tutorial: S–P location; ray tracing.
Assignment: Travel-time readings.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

5

9 Feb (Lecture)
10 Feb (Tutorial)

Earth’s Gravity Field & Isostasy
Bouguer anomalies, geoid, Airy/Pratt models.
Tutorial: MATLAB gravity modelling.
Assignment: Isostasy questions.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

6

16 Feb

Chinese New Year Week — No Lecture or Tutorial

7

23 Feb (Lecture)
24 Feb (Tutorial)

Geodynamics & Plate Driving Forces
Convection, heat flow, ridge push, slab pull.
Tutorial: Oceanic lithosphere cooling model.
Assignment: Heat-flow interpretation.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

—

2–6 Mar

Recess Week

8

9 Mar (Lecture)
10 Mar (Tutorial)

Seismic Exploration (Refraction & Reflection)
Snell’s law, critical angle, NMO.
Tutorial: Refraction analysis.
Assignment: Depth estimation.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

9

16 Mar (Lecture)
17 Mar (Tutorial)

Gravity & Magnetic Methods
Density/magnetization contrasts.
Tutorial: Forward modelling.
Assignment: Bouguer & magnetic depth estimation.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

10

23 Mar (Lecture)
24 Mar (Tutorial)

Electrical Resistivity Methods
Wenner/Schlumberger arrays, inversion concepts.
Tutorial: Apparent resistivity curve calculation.
Assignment: Resistivity interpretation.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

11

30 Mar (Lecture)
31 Mar (Tutorial)

Electromagnetic Methods & GPR
Radar propagation, radargrams.
Tutorial: GPR profile interpretation.
Assignment: EM/GPR problems.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

12

6 Apr (Lecture)
7 Apr (Tutorial)

Integrated Geophysical Interpretation
Multimethod surveys, inversion concepts.
Tutorial: Group mini-project.
Assignment: Method selection.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]

13

13 Apr (Lecture)
14 Apr (Tutorial)

Course Synthesis & Survey Design
Tutorial: Final project workshop.
Assignment: Final survey design report.
[Lecture] • [Tutorial] • [Assignment]