Ge 111ab: Applied Geophysics Seminar and Field Course

Summer 2001 Field Camp Location: Long Valley Caldera & Mono Lake, CA.

Photo: Mono Lake Committee webpage.

GE111 Field Data Accessible Here!

PICTURES FROM 2001 FIELD COURSE AVAILABLE here

Course Description

An introduction to the theory and application of basic geophysical field techniques consisting of a comprehensive survey of a particular field area using a variety of methods (e.g., gravity, magnetic, electrical, GPS, seismic studies, and satellite remote sensing). The course will consist of a seminar (Ge 111a) held in the spring quarter in which we will discuss the scientific background for the chosen field area, along with the theoretical basis and implementation of the various measurement techniques. The field course (Ge 111b) will take place soon after commencement.

Units: 3-3-0 (spring), 0-3-6 (summer). The seminar is graded, with auditing not permitted; The field course must be taken for a grade and the seminar is required for participation in the field component.

Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor(s) Spring/Summer 2001

The field course will take place from Sunday, June 17 to Saturday, June 23. Reports will be due 5pm Wednesday, June 27. We will be camping near Mono Lake for the entire field course.

The course schedule and assignments for spring 2001 are on the web and updated weekly.

Information on field component of class is here

Intructors

Mark Simons, 355 South Mudd, simons@gps.caltech.edu, x6984
Robert W. Clayton, 352 South Mudd, clay@gps.caltech.edu, x6909
Joann Stock, 356 South Mudd, jstock@gps.caltech.edu, x6938

Teaching Assistants

Javier Favela, 362 South Mudd, javier@gps.caltech.edu, x6971
Matthew Pritchard, 167 South Mudd, matt@gps.caltech.edu, x3992

Course Topics (in no particular order)

Regional and local geology and tectonics framework of field area
Seismic reflection/refraction, (ISIS and SAC2000)
Gravity (Lacoste-Romberg gravimeter)
Electrical Methods
Magnetic Methods
Ground Penetrating Radar
Remote Sensing/Satellite data
Surveying techniques (Total station and GPS)

Schedule (v1.0b)

Week	Date	Room	Topic(s)	Homework for following week
1	Wed., April 4 1-3 pm	Salvatori	Intro (Simons), Post Caldera Geology (Sieh)	Summarize Bursik/Sieh.
2	Fri., April 13 9-11 am	215 NM	Gravity (Simons) Play with Gravimeter (Simons)	Reynolds: Gravity Gravity homework
3	Wed., April 18 1-3 pm	215 NM	Remote Sensing (Simons) Deformation (Simons)	SPOT image and DEM Read Bailey et al. 1976
4	Fri., April 27 9-11 am	215 NM	Geology of eastern Sierra (Stock)	Reynolds: Refraction seismology
5	Wed., May 2 1-3 pm	215 NM	Seismic Refraction (Clayton)	Reynolds: Magnetics
6	Wed., May 9 1-3 pm	215 NM	Magnetics (Stock) Pen/ruler homework	Reynolds: Reflection Seismology
7	Fri., May 18 9-11 am	215 NM	Seismic reflection (Clayton) Pen/ruler homework	Reynolds: GPR
8	Fri., May 25 9-11 am	215 NM	Ground Penetrating Radar (Clayton) use instrument at Caltech	Reynolds: Resistivity
9	Fri., June 1 9-11 am	215 NM	Resistivity/ IP (Stock) Pen/ruler homework	Write intro for Ge 111b paper

Useful links

Introduction to Matlab as a data processing tool.
USGS Long Valley Caldera observatory site.
The Geologic Time Scale from the University of Calgary website
The volcanic history of Mono Basin from the Mono Lake Committee.
The geologic history of Mono Basin from the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area web site
This page is totally devoted to the Mono Craters
Current weather at Mono Lake

Ge 111b
Prerequisite: Ge 111a

Travel to field (Long Valley/Mono Basin) Sunday, June 17.
Work in the field Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22.
Return to Caltech Saturday, June 23.

Textbook
Reynolds, John M. (1997) An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics , John Wiley & Sons.

Reading List

Bailey, R. A., G B. Dalrymple and M. A. Lanphere (1976) Volcanism, Structure and Geochronology of Long Valley Caldera, Mono Country, California, JGR, 81, 725-744.

Bailey, R. A, C. D. Miller and K. Sieh (1989) Long Valley Caldera and Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain, Eastern California, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Memoir, 47, 227-254.

Bursik, M. and K. Sieh (1989) Range front faulting and volcanism in the Mono Basin, Eastern California, JGR, 94, 15,587-15,609.

Baker G. S., Steeples D. W., Schmeissner C., Pavlovic M, and R. Plumb (2001) Near-surface imaging using coincident seismic and GPR data, GRL, 28, 627-630.

Marshall, G. A., Langbein, J., Stein, R. S., Lisowski, M., and J. Svarc (1997) Inflation of Long Valleu caldera, California, Basin and Range strain, and possible Mono Craters dike opening from 1990-94 GPS surveys, GRL, 24,1003-1006.

Sorey, M. L., Farrar, C. D., Marshall, G. A., and J. F. Howle (1995) Effects of geothermal development on deformation in the Long Valley caldera, eastern California, 1985-1994, JGR, 100, 12,475-12,486.

Radzevicius S. J., Guy E. D., and J. J. Daniels (2000) Pitfalls in GPR data interpretation: Differentiating stratigraphy and buried objects from periodic antenna and target effects, GRL, 27,3393-3396.

Previous Class Web Pages
2000: Mono Lake, CA
1999: Blackhawk Landslide, CA

Last updated, June 24, 2001