Geophysical imaging
Encyclopedia
Geophysical imaging is geophysical
technique that investigates the subsurface. There are many different kinds of imaging techniques, all which are based on applied physics
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Types of geophysical imaging include:
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
technique that investigates the subsurface. There are many different kinds of imaging techniques, all which are based on applied physics
Applied physics
Applied physics is a general term for physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use.It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and engineering....
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Types of geophysical imaging include:
- Electrical resistivity tomographyElectrical resistivity tomographyElectrical resistivity tomography or electrical resistivity imaging is a geophysical technique for imaging sub-surface structures from electrical measurements made at the surface, or by electrodes in one or more boreholes. It is closely related to the medical imaging technique electrical...
- Ground-penetrating radarGround-penetrating radarGround-penetrating radar is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. This nondestructive method uses electromagnetic radiation in the microwave band of the radio spectrum, and detects the reflected signals from subsurface structures...
- Induced polarizationInduced polarizationInduced polarization is a geophysical imaging technique used to identify subsurface materials, such as ore. The method is similar to electrical resistivity tomography, in that an electric current is induced into the subsurface through two electrodes, and voltage is monitored through two other...
- Seismic tomographySeismic tomographySeismic tomography is a methodology for estimating the Earth's properties. In the seismology community, seismic tomography is just a part of seismic imaging, and usually has a more specific purpose to estimate properties such as propagating velocities of compressional waves and shear waves . It...
and Reflection seismologyReflection seismologyReflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a...
See also
- Archaeological geophysicsArchaeological geophysicsGeophysical survey in archaeology most often refers to ground-based physical sensing techniques used for archaeological imaging or mapping. Remote sensing and marine surveys are also used in archaeology, but are generally considered separate disciplines...
- Exploration geophysicsExploration geophysicsExploration geophysics is the applied branch of geophysics which uses surface methods to measure the physical properties of the subsurface Earth, in order to detect or infer the presence and position of ore minerals, hydrocarbons, geothermal reservoirs, groundwater reservoirs, and other geological...
- Geophysical Tomography Group (The)
- Medical imagingMedical imagingMedical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
- Stanford Exploration ProjectStanford Exploration ProjectThe Stanford Exploration Project is an industry-funded academic consortium within the Geophysics Department at Stanford University. SEP research has contributed greatly to improving the theory and practice of constructing 3-D and 4-D images of the earth from seismic echo soundings...