Geophysics 54962 225566460 2008-07-14T10:03:37Z Littlealien182 3345501 clean up using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] '''Geophysics''', a major discipline of [[Earth sciences]], is the study of the [[Earth]] by quantitative [[physics|physical]] methods, especially by [[reflection seismology|seismic]], [[Electromagnetism|electromagnetic]], and [[radioactivity]] methods. It calls heavily upon other fields of science such as math, physics, and computer science.[[History of geophysics]] has been motivated by theoretical and practical isues. The term of geophysics was probably first used in Germany, where it appeared in scientific writings of the mid-19th century. The word geophysics was first used by Fröbel <ref>Buntebarth, G. (1981) "Zur Entwicklung des Begriffes Geophysik", Abhandlungen der Braunschwiegischen Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft 32, 95-109 </ref> <ref> Beck, H. (1961) Alexander von Humboldt, 2 Vols (Wiesbaden: Steiner) </ref> as "geophysik" in 1834. The theories and techniques of geophysics are employed extensively in the [[planetary sciences]] in general. The field of geophysics includes the branches of: * [[Seismology]] ([[earthquake]]s and elastic [[wave]]s) * [[Earth's gravity|Gravity]] and [[geodesy]] (the Earth's gravitational field and the size and form of the Earth) * [[Atmospheric science]], which includes: :* [[Atmospheric electricity]] and [[Earth's magnetic field|terrestrial magnetism]] (including [[ionosphere]], [[Van Allen radiation belt|Van Allen belts]], [[telluric current]]s, [[Radiant energy]], etc.) :* [[Meteorology]] and [[Climatology]], which both involve studies of the weather. :* [[Aeronomy]], the study of the physical structure and chemistry of the atmosphere. * [[Geomagnetism]] (study of the [[Earth's magnetic field]]) * [[Geothermobarometry|Geothermometry]] (heating of the Earth, heat flow, [[volcano]]logy, and hot springs) * [[Hydrology]] (ground and surface water, sometimes including [[glaciology]]) * [[Physical oceanography]] * [[Tectonophysics]] (geological processes in the Earth) * [[Geodynamics]] (numerical study of the inner Earth) * [[Exploration geophysics|Exploration and engineering geophysics]] (see also [[Archaeological geophysics]]) * [[Geophysical Engineering]] * [[Glaciology]] * [[Petrophysics]] * [[Applied geophysics]] * [[Mineral Physics]] * [[Engineering geology]] * [[Archaeological geophysics]] == References == {{reflist}} == See also == {{portal|Physics}} * [[Fluid dynamics]] * [[Society of Exploration Geophysicists]] * [[American Geophysical Union]] * [[European Geosciences Union]] * [[List of publications in geology#Geophysics| Important publications in geophysics(geology)]] * [[list of publications in physics#Geophysics|important publications in Geophysics(physics)]] == External links == * [http://geomag.usgs.gov USGS Geomagnetism Program] * [http://www.terradat.co.uk/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=49 Case studies from TerraDat Geophysics documenting the use in shallow engineering and environmental applications] {{Earth science}} [[Category:Geophysics| ]] [[Category:Physics]] [[af:Geofisika]] [[ar:جيوفيزياء]] [[br:Geofizik]] [[ca:Geofísica]] [[cv:Геофизика]] [[cs:Geofyzika]] [[da:Geofysik]] [[de:Geophysik]] [[et:Geofüüsika]] [[el:Γεωφυσική]] [[es:Geofísica]] [[eo:Geofiziko]] [[eu:Geofisika]] [[fa:ژئوفیزیک]] [[fr:Géophysique]] [[gl:Xeofísica]] [[ko:지구물리학]] [[hr:Geofizika]] [[id:Geofisika]] [[is:Jarðeðlisfræði]] [[it:Geofisica]] [[he:גאופיזיקה]] [[jv:Geofisika]] [[lv:Ģeofizika]] [[lt:Geofizika]] [[hu:Geofizika]] [[ms:Geofizik]] [[nl:Geofysica]] [[ja:地球物理学]] [[no:Geofysikk]] [[nn:Geofysikk]] [[nds:Eerdphysik]] [[pl:Geofizyka]] [[pt:Geofísica]] [[ro:Geofizică]] [[ru:Геофизика]] [[scn:Giofìsica]] [[sk:Geofyzika]] [[sl:Geofizik]] [[sr:Геофизика]] [[sh:Geofizika]] [[fi:Geofysiikka]] [[sv:Geofysik]] [[th:ธรณีฟิสิกส์]] [[vi:Địa vật lý]] [[tr:Jeofizik]] [[uk:Геофізика]] [[vec:Giofìxica]] [[zh:地球物理学]]