Target level
Baccalaureate +5
ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Language(s) of instruction
French, English
Presentation
The master in Earth, planetary and environmental sciences is a two-year course (for students having completed 3 years of higher education) that teaches high-level skills in the study of processes operating at all scales in the Earth-Environment system.
This master is co-accredited by the Université Grenoble Alpes and the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble.
The master is organised around differents programmes (two of which are formally identified as international programs). All the programs are defined over the two years of the master, and students choose a program when registering for the 1st year. Nevertheless, progressive specialisation is planned, with a foundation program for the specialisation, foundation modules for each major of the master 1st year (Solid earth ; Water-climate-environment) and most of the modules (UEs) common to several programs. It is therefore possible to change program right up to the end of the 1st year's master ; the final choice of program is made when entering the 2nd year.
The master in Earth, planetary and environmental sciences aims to train students in the modern tools of mechanical physics, chemistry and geology that enable a quantitative approach to be applied to Earth and environmental studies, whether regarding geodynamics, climate, natural hazards, soil and water pollution, geological and geophysical exploration, etc., and to draw on a very solid field knowledge when using these tools. A major challenge is to apply science and new technologies, in particular through the use of modelling, to society's current problems.
None of the programs specifically has a vocational or research goal ; the principle is rather to stress their objectives in terms of skills acquired. Nevertheless, the Geodynamics and Atmosphere-climate-continental landmass programs mainly prepare students for doctoral studies. The others are mixed programs (research, development and innovation) that help prepare students for the labour market after either five or eight years of higher education. The opportunities are:
- After five years (bac + 5) - engineering jobs in large energy and mining companies ; consultants in geology, geophysics, environment ; local and regional authorities ; non-governmental organisations
- After eight years (bac + 8) - teaching / research in state-owned scientific, technological, industrial or commercial establishments (EPST, EPIC) ; R&D in large energy and mining companies, environmental research centres, international and national organisations
International education
- Internationally-oriented programmes
- Education with formalized international partnerships
- Double degrees, joint degrees, Erasmus Mundus
International dimension
The master includes two international courses: Erasmus Mundus in Earthquake engineering and engineering seismology (MEEES) and the international course Hydrohasards for which an application for Erasmus Mundus label is in progress.
We actively welcome foreign students from all backgrounds, including from Asia, Africa and South America, partly through IRD research collaboration agreements (Peru, Indonesia) or through the Program. Master Grenoble China. We offer a part of the curriculum in English and adopt the policy of teaching in English in case of presence of non-French speakers among the students; we therefore ask for a good level (B2) of English at the entrance of the master.
We have multiple Erasmus + and transatlantic partnerships allowing us to offer semesters abroad to a growing number of students (on average 5 starters and 5 students hosted per year). We strongly support internships abroad and help our students find funding to do them.
Organisation
Knowledge check
In each case : written report + oral defence (public except in cases of confidentiality)
Abroad intership
In France or abroad
Internship period
master 1st year : june-july ; master 2nd year : february- june
Program
Select a program
Research Intensive Track in Geosciences 1st year
This path aims to train students in research on the basis of one of the other paths in the STPE master's program. It is aimed at students who already have professional experience or a very good academic level and who wish to continue their training with greater autonomy, by giving more important room to scientific research through an interneship in a laboratory. The objective is to acquire specialized knowledge through immersion in the academic or industrial research environment, which requires a great deal of autonomy and a certain degree of certainty about one's future professional project, the logical goal of this program being to continue with a doctoral thesis.
In concrete terms, each student chooses one of the STPE master's paths to which he or she will be attached. They will only follow a part of the UEs of this course corresponding to approximately 2 semesters (1st semester of M1 and M2 typically). The UE will be chosen according to the professional objective and in consultation with the persons in charge of the attached course. The other two semesters will be devoted to long internships (5 months) in a public or private research laboratory, on a subject relevant to the attached course.
The Atmosphere-Climate-Continental Landmass program primarily aims to train students through research into the functioning of the climate system and atmosphere in interaction with continental hydrosystems. The training is broad and multidisciplinary, because the problems addressed (climate change ; air quality ; evolution of continental hydrosystems) are complex and require coupled approaches. Continuing on to doctoral studies is a natural goal of this program.
Environmental monitoring and forecasting require well-trained managerial staff. Air quality monitoring associations, consulting engineers and experts, local authorities, administrations and companies all have an interest in the use of new tools for environmental measurement, monitoring and forecasting. It should be emphasised that these potential opportunities are in addition to the pursuit of doctoral studies for the students.
Earth System Sciences 1st and 2nd year
The Earth System Sciences program is aimed towards research, generally but not necessarily aiming for a doctoral thesis. The program aims both at offering a robust knowledge of the solid Earth and to envision the solid Earth as belonging to a global system, by analyzing the interactions with its external envelopes: the hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and planets.
The Earth System Sciences program offers a broad panel and mutiple options, which allow for individualized learning paths to be designed. Each semester cumulates 30 ECTS (ignore indications "x options au choix parmi N")
Training is designed to jointly provide theoretical and practical approaches, with multiple field-based teaching classes.
Several UE are opened jointly to M1 and M2 student, on a biannual basis (alternatively opened during odd and even years).
Some of the optional UE are (rarely) unavaible, for technical or administrative reasons.
Teaching will be partly in English.
This transdisciplinary program is conceived and articulated around scientific questions, for which methods and techniques come in support. It offers a range of options, which leave the possibility to develop personal tracks. These tracks can either be more focused towards the internal Earth, with extensive teaching on the physical and chemical evolution of the Earth, or more oriented towards the outer spheres of the Earth, making connections with surface interactions (geomorphology, surface processes). As such, it also permits to expand the curiosity, and reach for scientific questions that may be considered marginal to the main learning path.
While the core of the program revolves around the solid Earth, students will be eligible for interdisciplinary research programs, involving for instance ecology or climate, namely in the field of Earth System Sciences. The many options proposed by Earth System Sciences program will yield an individual scientific signature to each student, who shall become rare specialists, each with a unique interdisciplinary flavor.
The Earth System Sciences program of the Solid earth major aims to train specialists who intend to enter employment after preparing a doctoral thesis, working for academia, governmental and non-governmental authorities, agencies and organizations, as well as consulting.
Optional
UE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
6 creditsUE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
6 creditsUE Petrology
6 creditsUE Petrology field course
3 creditsUE Plio-Quaternary climates and landforms (2024-2025)
3 creditsUE Solid Earth and the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere (2023-2024)
3 creditsUE Surfaces planétaires
3 creditsUE Geophysical observation of the Earth
6 creditsUE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
3 creditsUE Programmation et environnements informatiques
3 creditsUE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
6 creditsUE Geomechanics
3 credits
Optional
UE Remote sensing and GIS project
6 creditsUE Basin analysis
6 creditsUE Sedimentology field course
3 creditsUE Multidisciplinary field course
6 creditsUE Lautaret Field Course: Snow-Atmosphere interface
6 creditsUE Climate records
3 creditsUE Deep Earth Geodynamics
6 creditsUE Data sciences & Inverse problems
3 creditsUE Volcanic dynamics and hazards
3 creditsUE Environment records
3 creditsUE Scientific computing
3 creditsUE Sciences, pseudosciences, & pensée critique
3 credits
Optional
UE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
6 creditsUE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
6 creditsUE Tectonics-Metamorphism field course
3 creditsUE Active Faults
6 creditsUE Intérieurs planétaires
3 creditsUE Dynamique des fluides géophysiques
6 creditsUE Doctoral School - InternalEarth@les Houches
6 creditsUE Climate change
6 creditsUE Ecologie, biogéographie, évolution
6 creditsUE Fieldtrip Mountain Building, Climate, and biodiversity
3 creditsUE Solid Earth and the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere (2023-2024)
3 creditsUE Plio-Quaternary climates and landforms (2024-2025)
3 credits
UE short Internship
6 creditsUE long Internship
24 credits
Geophysics and Earth Imaging 1st and 2nd year
The "Geophysical Imaging of the Earth" program is for students interested in the understanding and evolution of the Earth's internal processes and structures, at different scales. It addresses several aspects of geophysics: environmental geophysics (changes in the cryosphere related to global warming, geothermal energy, hydrology, natural hazards...), fundamental geophysics (study of fault zones and earthquakes, volcano studies and monitoring, deep Earth dynamics...) and multi-scale and multi-physics imaging/monitoring.
These structures are mainly understood by their seismic, magnetic, electrical or gravimetric signatures, and their deformation movements. In the era of Big Data, the teaching is therefore resolutely oriented towards i) the acquisition of data during field and/or laboratory experiments, ii) the use of continuous observatory-type data, iii) their analysis via signal processing methods, as well as iv) their modelling and inversion by classical and advanced approaches (machine learning, use of numerical models...)
The students trained in the Geophysical Imaging of the Earth program will be able to demonstrate their skills as geophysical engineers and apply for jobs offered by design offices, public research institutes or large industrial groups concerned with the imaging, characterization and temporal monitoring of the physical properties of underground environments and their natural reservoirs in various environments. The main applications of this work are in the fields of seismology, civil engineering, natural hazard assessment, natural resource exploration and production including geothermal and hydrology, and the storage of fluids or solid wastes underground. There are many opportunities for internships in Earth science research laboratories (ISTerre in Grenoble), but also in operational research offices (BRGM) or in companies and design offices. The course also opens the way to a PhD.
UE Geophysical observation of the Earth
6 creditsUE Signal processing
6 creditsUE Programmation et environnements informatiques
3 creditsUE Waves Physics
3 creditsUE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
6 creditsChoice: 3 among 3
UE Geomechanics
3 creditsUE Geophysical Prospecting
3 creditsUE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
3 credits
UE Deep Earth Geodynamics
6 creditsUE Exploration geophysics
6 creditsUE Data sciences & Inverse problems
3 creditsUE Volcanic dynamics and hazards
3 creditsUE Instrumentation for geophysics
3 creditsUE Introduction to Machine learning in Earth Sciences
3 creditsUE Scientific computing
3 creditsChoice: 4 to 6 among 2
UE Marine Geophysics
3 creditsUE Induced seismicity
3 credits
UE Frontiers in seismic imaging (Noise + FWI)
6 creditsUE Quantitative seismology
6 creditsUE Computing and data analysis Project
3 creditsUE Advanced signal Processing
3 creditsChoice: 2 to 3 among 5
UE Near surface geophysics
6 creditsUE Active Faults
6 creditsUE Doctoral School - InternalEarth@les Houches
6 creditsUE Advanced Machine Learning in Earth Sciences
3 creditsUE Numerical Modelling
3 credits
UE short Internship
6 creditsUE long Internship
24 credits
Georessources 1st and 2nd year
To meet the energy and material demands of the 21st century, sustainable exploration of our planet's resources is necessary, managed by exploration specialists with solid knowledge in geology and geophysics. The Georesources program has been created to respond to this need. The training is organised over two years with a series of modules in common with other programs in the specialisation, as well as modules specific to this program. Training in the field, in a company or in a research laboratory plays a key role in this program.
The aim of the Georesources program is to train students in geology and geophysics, with a view to working in research and/or the private sector in mining exploration or energy resources.
The Georesources+ option gives students the opportunity to take additional courses in the economics of energy and resources, offered by the master in Economy for energy and sustainable development.
This Master Course gives you the opportunity to apply to the UGA Graduate School and one of its 15 thematic programmes that add an interdisciplinary component to your studies. Terra is the thematic programme closest to this Course. The objective of the thematic programmes is to offer students an interdisciplinary study programme combining academic teaching and training through laboratory research. The programme brings together students from different majors, master's courses or engineering programmes and works together in specific courses. Participation in the @UGA Graduate School is for two years (M1 and M2) and may open the possibility of obtaining an academic scholarship for two years for the best international students (non-French baccalaureate holders).
More information on the Graduate School website
UE Novel analysis methods in geochemistry & mineralogy
6 creditsUE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
6 creditsChoice: 3 among 9
UE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
3 creditsUE Géochimie des contaminants : I) interactions métaux/minéraux/matière organique dans les réservoirs terrestres
6 creditsUE Petrology field course
3 creditsUE Geomechanics
3 creditsUE Geophysical Prospecting
3 creditsUE Géochimie des contaminants II) modélisation Phreeqc
3 creditsUE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
6 creditsUE Croissance économique et limites planétaires: climat, biodiversité
3 creditsUE Petrology
6 credits
UE Basin analysis
6 creditsUE Mineral resources
3 creditsChoice: 4 to 6 among 7
UE Exploration geophysics
6 creditsUE Subsurface modelling
3 creditsUE Multidisciplinary field course
6 creditsUE Sedimentology field course
3 creditsUE Stratégie argumentative
3 creditsUE Marine Geophysics
3 creditsUE Remote sensing and GIS project
6 credits
UE Mineral Resources and Sustainable Development
3 creditsUE Field trip : Exploration and Mining Geology
3 creditsUE GéoReservoirs: caractérisation, évaluation, valorisation
6 creditsChoice: 3 to 4 among 6
UE Drilling and borehole geophysics
3 creditsUE Tectonics-Metamorphism field course
3 creditsUE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
6 creditsUE Near surface geophysics
6 creditsUE Environmental-politics
3 creditsUE Active Faults
6 credits
UE short Internship
6 creditsUE long Internship
24 credits
Hydroressources et Qualité des Milieux 1st and 2nd year
To view the presentation of the Hydroressources et Qualité des Milieux 1st and 2nd year program in French click on the following link : Parcours Hydroressources et Qualité des Milieux 1re et 2e années
UE Air, soil, water : introduction to environmental pollutants modelling
6 creditsUE Climatic and Environmental variability
6 creditsUE Géochimie des contaminants : I) interactions métaux/minéraux/matière organique dans les réservoirs terrestres
6 creditsUE Hydrology and hydraulics
6 creditsChoice: 1 among 4
UE Hydrogeology
6 creditsUE Professional and Scientific Communication 1
3 creditsChoice: 4 to 5 among 6
UE Organic pollutions and remediation
6 creditsUE Projets en Géochimie/Hydrologie et Qualité de l'Eau
6 creditsUE Transfer in Porous Media
6 creditsUE Continental Systems Hydrology
3 creditsUE Transferts dans les eaux de surface
3 creditsChoice: 1 to 2 among 6
UE Water quality and treatment
6 creditsUE Environmental-politics
3 creditsUE Emerging pollutions
3 creditsUE Hydrogeophysics for Hydrodynamic modeling
3 creditsUE Hydrogeophysics
3 creditsUE Hydrologie et climat
3 credits
UE short Internship
6 creditsUE long Internship
24 credits
Natural Geological Hazards and Risks 1st and 2nd year
Natural geological hazards (earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, deformation of the earth's crust) are a major issue in our societies. This is reflected in a growing demand for understanding, controlling and managing telluric risks, both in France and internationally. The NATURAL GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS AND RISKS program was created to meet this need and trains students in the assessment of natural hazards using quantitative methods and geophysical tools. Students are prepared to work either for research (academic, semi-public or private), or for engineering offices in charge of natural hazard assessment or geophysical reconnaissance of surface terrain, or for local authorities.
The training is organized over two years and includes courses shared with the other programs of the master. It combines theoretical and practical approaches, and provides a range of cross-disciplinary skills for the various natural hazards. The first-year courses allow students to master the use of geophysical, seismological, remote sensing and numerical modeling tools. In the second year, the focus is on the use of these tools for the quantification of seismic, landslide and volcanic hazards and risks. In the second year, a large number of training hours are given in the form of projects (a mix of lectures, case studies and applications, evaluation on reports and oral presentations).
Almost every year, the classes include foreign students. Thus, the teaching is done in English.
The program is also associated to a Thematic Program (PT Risk), which brings together UGA students working on risks in general (technological, natural, etc.). This opening is offered to students on selection from the first year, in order to deepen their knowledge of risk management. To know more on this PT Risk, follow this link or the teasers.
Training in the field, in companies or in research laboratories, plays a key role in this program. The end-of-master's internship (lasting between 4 and 6 months) takes place either in an engineering office, or in academic research (~25% of students), or in local authorities, in France or abroad (~20% of students each year).
UE Signal processing
6 creditsUE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
3 creditsUE Programmation et environnements informatiques
3 creditsChoice: 3 among 8
UE Geophysical observation of the Earth
6 creditsUE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
6 creditsUE Geomechanics
3 creditsUE Geophysical Prospecting
3 creditsUE Professional and Scientific Communication 1
3 creditsUE Gestion des risques : approches réglementaires et alternatives
6 creditsUE Waves Physics
3 creditsUE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
6 credits
UE Introduction to Seismic Risk
6 creditsUE Volcanic dynamics and hazards
3 creditsUE Advanced volcanic dynamics and hazards
3 creditsUE Mouvements de terrain, avalanches, ouvrages de protection
6 creditsChoice: 4 to 6 among 7
UE Exploration geophysics
6 creditsUE Remote sensing and GIS project
6 creditsUE Data sciences & Inverse problems
3 creditsUE Instrumentation for geophysics
3 creditsUE Introduction to Machine learning in Earth Sciences
3 creditsUE Scientific computing
3 creditsUE Induced seismicity
3 credits
UE Advanced gravitational risk
3 creditsUE Engineering seismology
6 creditsUE Project in engineering seismology [seismic vulnerability, site characterization, ground motion simulation]
3 creditsUE Project in gravitational risk [multi-method approach]
3 creditsChoice: 3 to 4 among 9
UE Active Faults
6 creditsUE Risk management: regulatory and alternative approaches
6 creditsUE Near surface geophysics
6 creditsUE Quantitative seismology
6 creditsUE Signal processing
6 creditsUE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
6 creditsUE Advanced Machine Learning in Earth Sciences
3 creditsUE Computing and data analysis Project
3 creditsUE Numerical Modelling
3 credits
UE short Internship
6 creditsUE long Internship
24 credits
Système Climatique : Atmosphère, Hydrosphère, Cryosphère 1st and 2nd year
The Climate System: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere course aims to study the processes operating in the climate system and their interactions. Understanding past and present climate and predicting future changes requires a precise knowledge of these processes. This Course addresses all the surface components of the Earth, the atmosphere, the continental surfaces (water, cryosphere, biosphere) and the ocean. It draws on a variety of disciplines and skills, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, geosciences, geography, and computer science.
The course trains generalist experts and has a research focus, but also responds to the growing needs of local authorities and companies in the field of the environment, for example in air quality, hydrology, or remote sensing. The teaching relies heavily on the specificities of Grenoble's research laboratories in the field of climate, atmosphere and cryosphere and glaciology (IGE, LEGI, INRAE, CEN). The observation made today is that 70% of the students pursue a PhD after this master (reflecting individual choice rather than any selection). The tools used in the courses, workshops and projects are in fact also the tools used in the professional world, or in the process of being used. The course's greater openness to the professional world is achieved through the introduction of professionally oriented courses, as well as by taking care in the general modules to systematically make the necessary links with "business" applications: climate variability and intermittency of renewable energy resources.
The course includes fieldwork (1 compulsory week + 1 optional week + occasional days), numerous practical assignments (e.g. 1 week in atmospheric chemistry) which allow theoretical knowledge to be put into practice.
Finally, the course includes two internships in a laboratory or in a company, of one's choice. These internships take place between M1 and M2 (6 weeks minimum but 2-3 months recommended) and at the end of M2 (5 months minimum). For those interested in an even stronger involvement in research (2 internships of 5 months over the two years), the Research Intensive Track associated to the Climate System Course may be an option, provided that you already have a master's or professional experience.
Note that in the first semester, there are 30 ECTS of compulsory courses in the program, which is sufficient to obtain validation of the semester, the two options proposed are for special cases and not necessarily open every year. In the second semester, the remote sensing and GIS course is marked as optional but is strongly recommended unless you already have a strong competence in the field or a specific professional project that justifies other module choices.
This Master Course gives you the opportunity to apply to the UGA Graduate School and one of its 15 thematic programmes that add an interdisciplinary component to your studies. Terra is the thematic programme closest to this Course. The objective of the thematic programmes is to offer students an interdisciplinary study programme combining academic teaching and training through laboratory research. The programme brings together students from different majors, master's courses or engineering programmes and works together in specific courses. Participation in the @UGA Graduate School is for two years (M1 and M2) and may open the possibility of obtaining an academic scholarship for two years for the best international students (non-French baccalaureate holders).
More information on the Graduate School website
UE Hydrology and hydraulics
6 creditsUE Fluid mechanics
3 creditsUE Air, soil, water : introduction to environmental pollutants modelling
6 creditsUE Climatic and Environmental variability
6 creditsUE General Physical Meteorology
3 creditsUE Professional and Scientific Communication 1
3 creditsChoice: 1 among 2
UE Atmospheric pollution: Principles and Experimental Methods
6 creditsUE Lautaret field workshop: snow & atmosphere interface
6 creditsChoice: 2 to 3 among 6
UE Instrumentation and metrology
6 creditsUE Hydrology and Hydrometeorology Field Course
6 creditsUE Remote sensing and GIS project
6 creditsUE Climate records
3 creditsUE Introduction to Machine learning in Earth Sciences
3 creditsUE Environmental flows
3 credits
Choice: 5 among 16
UE Climate change
6 creditsUE Cryosphere
6 creditsUE Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
6 creditsUE Models for atmospheric chemistry and physics
6 creditsUE Radiative transfer and remote sensing
6 creditsUE Advanced Machine Learning in Earth Sciences
3 creditsUE Atmospheric boundary layer : from fundamentals to air quality 1
3 creditsUE Atmospheric boundary layer : from fundamentals to air quality 2
3 creditsUE Computing and data analysis Project
3 creditsUE Data assimilation in geosciences
3 creditsUE Geostatistics
3 creditsUE Continental Systems Hydrology
3 creditsUE Hydrologie et climat
3 creditsUE Numerical Modelling
3 creditsUE Ocean dynamics
3 creditsUE Wave dynamics
3 credits
Choice: 1 among 2
UE short Internship
6 creditsUE long Internship
24 credits
UE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to examine the behavior of the lithosphere and of the crust, at spatial scales ranging from the global Earth to the mountain range. An important part of the course is meant to place plate tectonics in the broad context of mantle convection. Similarly, the evolution of mountain ranges is understood within the general geodynamic framework. Surface deformation is explained by the cumulative effects of crustal and lithospheric tectonics, mantle convection, and surface processes. The development of the course is largely based on the analysis of Cenozoic tectonics, using multiple regional examples. A multidisciplinary approach is developed, in order to use analytical tools and geodynamic modeling to interpret observations from geophysical datasets or from the geological record.
UE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is on the interactions and feedback relationships between tectonics and climatically controlled surface processes, with a particular emphasis on evolution of mountain belts such as the Alps, Andes or Himalayas. In this context, the timescales on which geological processes shape the surface of the Earth are of great importance. Therefore, the determining the timing and quantifying geological processes through wide range dating techniques are at the core of this course with the objective of modelling landscape evolution. Half of the course will be based on practical exercises, case studies and presentations, so that the students will actively participate in the teaching of this course.The course will be in English.
UE Petrology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Description and quantification of the processes that manage magmatic and metamorphic petrology Fractional crystallization - example of large bedded intrusions; Partial melting - trapps and oceanic plateaus; Assimilation, mixing of magmas - magmatic deposits; Basalts from oceanic ridges and oceanic islands; Volcanic rocks of subduction zones; Composition and structure of continental crust; Transformation processes of metamorphic rocks; Metamorphic rocks and their geodynamic context; Metamorphic facies and reconstruction of pressure-temperature conditions; Dating of metamorphic rocks; Alpine metamorphism.
This course is given in English.
UE Petrology field course
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This 5-day course (3 ECTS) takes place in the Ivrea zone, in northern Italy. The objective is to study a Permian igneous system, exceptionally preserved, and its metamorphic surrounding. The observations made on the field can be extrapolated to understand the structure of the continental crust.
This course is based on an integrative approach. Students study different outcrops during the day. In the evening, they synthesize their field observations together with thin section descriptions and geochemical and thermodynamic data. This approach allows understanding, progressively during the fieldtrip, the igneous processes that operated within the magma chamber and the consequences of magmatism on the thermal structure of the lower continental crust. The work is evaluated from reports throughout the course.
For practical reasons, this fieldtrip is limited to 16 students. It is asked to follow the Petrology course to participate to the fieldtrip.
Additional information
Location(s) : Departure and return from Grenoble. Training course taking place in the Ivrea area, in Italy
Language(s) : French (English)
Targeted skills:
- Processes in igneous system and interaction with the surrounding rocks.
- Associated mineral deposits.
- Macroscopic and microscopic recognition of magmatic and metamorphic rocks
- Autonomy in the field, team work, field notebook, note taking, observations.
- Drawing and mapping of outcrops.
- Interpretation of mineral textures and paragenesis in metamorphic and magmatic rocks.
- Synthesis of data obtained on the field and data that can be acquired later in the lab (geochemistry, thin sections) in order to establish a plausible geodynamic scenario of the studied area, at the outcrop scale and at the regional scale.
UE Plio-Quaternary climates and landforms (2024-2025)
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective is to explore to what extent geomorphological archives (landscape features and associated sedimentary deposits) can inform us about past climates, as well as associated environmental conditions and earth surface processes/natural hazards. This course adresses this question with a multisciplinary approach (geomorphology, sedimentology, paleoclimatology) with the aim to reconstruct past landscapes and use them as archives. A special focus will be on the Alps and their evolution during the Plio-Quaternary, but other environments/periods will also be considered, especially key transition periods from glacials to interglacials or changes in amospheric circulations (monsoon). The proposed course is organised around lectures and interactive group sessions.
A field excursion around Grenoble is also planned. Some background in paleoclimatology and/or geomorphology would be advantageous but not mandatory. Teaching can be performed in french or english.
UE Solid Earth and the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere (2023-2024)
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective is to provide an overview of the coupling between the solid Earth (the geosphere) and the external spheres (hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere), and to understand the physico-chemical processes that are at work. The behavior of these spheres is examined in the context of the Earth System (and not independently of it).
This course is based on a reversed pedagogy, i.e. the courses are prepared by the students beforehand in the framework of tutored projects.
UE Surfaces planétaires
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This teaching unit presents the key question related to the formation and evolution of Solar System objects, and the approaches that have been developed across the last decades.
The methods and techniques of remote sensing applied to Solar System surfaces (planets, satellites, small bodies) are discussed.
The exploration of small bodies (asteroids, comets) via space mission and analysis of extraterrestrial matter originating from their surface are described, as well as the contributions to our understanding of the young Solar System.
The phenomenon of cratering is explored on different types of surface, as a physical and geological process, as well as the links with the dynamic evolution of the Solar System.
The space and robotic exploration of Mars will also be presented, in particular the evolution and dynamics of its outer envelopes, and the contributions of the Curiosity and Perseverance “field” missions to our understanding of the geological history of the planet.
UE Geophysical observation of the Earth
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of the course is to provide students, from the beginning of the Master's degree, with tools to identify and retrieve geophysical data from international data distribution systems, and to apply some simple processing on the data. The 3 types of data are a) seismological data, and their application to earthquake location; b) GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data; c) Earth's magnetic field data, with an application to the reconstruction of the magnetic field at the surface of the Earth's core. The practical work on applications forms the core of the module, and is prepared through introductory courses in each of the three areas. Requirements: Basic knowledge on the Solid Earth and/or Waves and potential fields. Language: English
UE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module provides an introduction to the course. It helps place the issues covered by the Earth and Environmental Sciences in context, and guide the students with their training and professional projects. This module consists of:
(1) a 3-day field workshop for the entire class, which will serve to illustrate the major themes and issues of EES with the help of the exceptional sites found around Grenoble;
(2) an interview, and the drafting of an educational and professional project by each student;
(3) seminars for the entire class on the major current issues of EES (mineral and energy resources, telluric risks, climate change, water resources).
UE Programmation et environnements informatiques
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module is intended to acquire and deepen the basics of computer programming and computer environments that will be used throughout the Master's programme. It consists of 6 hours of lectures and 18 hours of practical work on computers. The practical sessions are adapted to the level of each student.
UE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course offers a guided tour of the Earth's interior, from the crust to the core. The main observables and tools for investigating the Earth's interior (seismology, mineralogy, heat transfer, geochemistry, gravity, geomagnetism) are presented and used to describe and explain key processes (crust formation, plate tectonics and mantle convection, magnetic field generation). A historical approach is often privileged: the emphasis is put on the construction and evolution of our understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and its behaviour, by presenting the discoveries and conceptual advances that have led to our current vision of the Earth. The course includes two sessions of group presentations of historical or recent papers.
Teaching language: English
UE Geomechanics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The geomechanics course applies the principles of continuum mechanics to concrete problems of the Solid Earth.
The module is articulated by a back-and-forth between:
- a complete course presenting the basics of geomechanics, which allows a refresher for students who have never studied continuum mechanics,
- numerous application examples from real studies, both geotechnical and geodynamic. The large exercise base allows students who already have the basics of mechanics to practice reading data and applying the geomechanical approach in a more applied way than in their previous course.
Thus, at the end of the module, students should have a solid foundation in
- mechanics of continuous media
- the use and measurement of elastic properties of materials
- the use of failure criteria to gauge the mechanical stability of a structure: friction and fracturing phenomena.
Evaluation:
A mid-term CC counting for 50% of the grade
A final exam accounting for 50% of the grade
UE Remote sensing and GIS project
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This course offers a broad and practical introduction to Earth Observation from space and to Geographic Information System (GIS). The course works on a basis of 3h lecture associated to 3h of practical work using the free software QGIS. Course are usually given in French. In addition, a project using QGIS has to be by small groups of students, including 9h (3x3h) with teacher support in computer room.
The structure of the courses is:
first part is common to all the student (from January to February winter break)
+ Introduction to GIS: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (1): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (2): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Classification methods: 3h course + 3h practical
The second part of the course depends of the program followed by the students :
for Geophysics, Geodynamics, Georesources and Georisks programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geology: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geophysics: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to planetology: 3h course + 3h practical
for Hydro-resources and Atmosphere-Climate-Continental Landmass programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Digital Elevation Surface: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to atmosphere: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Ocean: 3h course
Evaluation will be based on a written exam at mid-term, a written report about the project, and a final written exam covering all the lectures and practicals.
UE Basin analysis
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The goal of the course ‘Basin analysis’ is to understand the formation and evolution of sedimentary basins. It includes:
- Lectures on the various types of basins in their lithospheric setting (divergent, convergent, transform plate boundaries, intraplate basins).
- Lectures on their sedimentary systems, clastic and carbonate, source to sink processes, diagenesis and thermal evolution, and their implications for energy resources.
- Practical work on the interpretation of sedimentary cores and seismic lines.
Required level: Bachelor level in sedimentology, tectonics and lithospheric dynamics.
Teaching language: Half of the course is given in English, half in French or in English in case at least one student does not understand French.
UE Sedimentology field course
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
During this course you will familiarise yourself with the evolution of a sedimentary basin through field observations. We will study, at various scales (hand sample, outcrop, landscape), the distribution of sedimentary facies in the basin through space and time, paying particular attention to the effects of changing accommodation space, as a result of for example sea-level variations. We will study the basin along a transect from the basin margin to the deeper water areas.
Language: French, English
UE Multidisciplinary field course
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
10-day field course between Grenoble and the Briançon area. This multidisciplinary course is organized around the implementation of previously acquired techniques of multi-tool geological analysis (pre-requisites in mapping, structural and sedimentological analysis) and consists of an exploration and synthesis situation in the field. This workshop, inspired by training courses requested by the petroleum industry, addresses multi-scale and three-dimensional observation, integration with geodynamic models and the link with the geophysical approach in current analogues. It also allows students to become familiar with the new mapping and measurement tools (tablets).
UE Lautaret Field Course: Snow-Atmosphere interface
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The snowpack is an essential and unique component of the Earth's climate system. It forms an interface between the atmosphere and the ground, a place of intense exchanges of mass (water/ice), energy (radiative, turbulent), and chemical species (nitrogen, ...). It thus plays an important role in mountain hydrology (water resources, etc.), in ecology, in the thermal regime of the soil (permafrost), etc.
The course "Snow and atmosphere at Le Lautaret" aims at observing the alpine snow cover and the atmosphere from several angles: mass and energy balance of the surface, nivology, thermics, chemistry. The objective is to acquire new knowledge on snow and associated problems as well as technical and experimental skills.
This internship emphasizes autonomy and practical application with the use of instruments used in research and data processing in order to achieve elaborate scientific results. You will be in groups of 3, and will conduct a large number of observations during the internship, then process them to finally present the whole in the form of posters, which constitutes the final exam.
The course takes place every year at the end of February or the beginning of March at the Col du Lautaret (2100 m.a.s.l) over 6 days, during which you will address
- snowpack thickness mapping (GPS, GPR, 2 x 0.5 days)
- snowpack study: snow wells, stratigraphy, metamorphism (2 x 0.5 days)
- thermal regime (0.5 day).
- albedo of the anieg and energy balance (0.5 day).
- atmospheric ozone (0.5 day).
- snow optics (0.5 day).
- data processing and interpretation (0.5 day)
This course is also open to international students/professionals (Master, PhD), depending on available places, and is a good opportunity to open up in a beautiful and friendly environment.
Recommended prerequisites :
Basic knowledge of environmental physics
Language(s) : French
UE Climate records
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
UE Deep Earth Geodynamics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This course focuses on the dynamics of the deep Earth from a deterministic point of view, based on elementary principles of physics. Topics covered include the rheological behavior of the mantle and lithosphere, mantle convection and plate tectonics, core dynamics and the generation of the Earth's magnetic field. For each of these topics, the problems are approached in different ways: order-of-magnitude analyses, analytical resolutions, discussion of the informations provided by observations, contributions from numerical simulations and experimental studies.
Teaching language: english
UE Data sciences & Inverse problems
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
In every fields of science (economy, health, physics, chemistry,..), we measure/collect data or observations and try to understand and interpret them.
To interpret these complex data, we propose "simple" models, for example:
- in meteorology, data are temperature, humidity, etc, models are collection of boxes/cells linked through physical relationships.
- in earth-science, data are collected from satellites, ground instruments, and models propose a simplified view of earth dynamic
In the first case we are more interested in the data (what is the forecast for next week?) than in the model (cells),
In the second case we focus on the interpretation of the data rather than the data themselves.
The relation model->data is called the direct problem, the reverse is called the inverse problem.
Solving an inverse problem is answering the question: Given some data, how can we retrieve the model and parameters that explain them?
The course explores the solution of linear inversion problems and how to solve iteratively non linear inverse problems.
This is done by using a light theoretical background and playing on computer with applications.
prerequisite: basic knowledge of linear algebra (vector, matrices, transposition, dot product, etc...), some python (or matlab) programming experience
Language: english or french
UE Volcanic dynamics and hazards
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The aim of this module is to provide a basic understanding of the physics of magmatic and eruptive processes occurring in volcanoes and of the main methods of volcanological study and monitoring. In particular, the forces and parameters controlling the transport and storage of magma from the production zones to the surface will be explained and illustrated with the help of tutorials. In the context of the study of eruptive dynamics, the different modes of eruption of volcanic products (plume, pyroclastic flow, dome, lava flow) and their physical mechanisms will be discussed. The most commonly used geophysical monitoring methods (seismology, deformation, gas emission studies) will be presented, showing their contribution to the prediction of eruptions and the knowledge of volcanic processes. The different remote sensing methods used in this field (optical, thermal and radar imagery) will be described, with emphasis on the specificities of these techniques for their application to volcanology and monitoring. Teaching language: English.
UE Environment records
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of "Environmental Records" is to understand the principles and implementation of classical methods of sedimentology, isotope chemistry, mineralogy and biology (DNA, pollen, chironomids, diatoms) applied to the study of various paleoenvironnemental records (sediment, peat, loess,..) to reconstruct Holocene landscape, plant and human migration, climate change.
The aim is to reconstruct the quality of water, the biology of the catchment area, landscapes, water and air pollution, the direction of marine currents and winds throughout the Holocene and thus to reconstruct the advent of the Anthropocene since the Bronze Age
The module is based on a series of applied lectures/examples and includes a personal project on a topic chosen from a wide range of themes, or on another topic defined with the student and the supervisors, with a written report and an oral presentation.
Recommended prerequisites: Basic geochemistry, and notions of geology and sedimentology
Language of teaching: In French, with slides in English
UE Scientific computing
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of this module is to acquire the principles of the basic methods of scientific computing and their implementation in computer codes. The methods are presented in a simplified way, insisting on the ideas behind them, then they are implemented in computer programs (in Python or Matlab) on simple examples related to geosciences.
UE Sciences, pseudosciences, & pensée critique
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
L’objectif de cette UE est de donner un cadre épistémologique solide à nos connaissances pour circonscrire les pseudosciences et les intrusions spiritualistes et religieuses comme les créationnismes. En étudiant des éléments de méthode de la pensée critique (6h) et en menant des études de cas (6h), nous documenterons ce qu’est le contrat laïc de la recherche et la responsabilité sociale des chercheurs/ses à le défendre.
Un travail d’enquête sur une « théorie » controversée (à choisir) sera mené en binôme, avec l’objectif d’en rendre public le résultat (Wikipédia, publication en ligne, etc.)
UE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to examine the behavior of the lithosphere and of the crust, at spatial scales ranging from the global Earth to the mountain range. An important part of the course is meant to place plate tectonics in the broad context of mantle convection. Similarly, the evolution of mountain ranges is understood within the general geodynamic framework. Surface deformation is explained by the cumulative effects of crustal and lithospheric tectonics, mantle convection, and surface processes. The development of the course is largely based on the analysis of Cenozoic tectonics, using multiple regional examples. A multidisciplinary approach is developed, in order to use analytical tools and geodynamic modeling to interpret observations from geophysical datasets or from the geological record.
UE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is on the interactions and feedback relationships between tectonics and climatically controlled surface processes, with a particular emphasis on evolution of mountain belts such as the Alps, Andes or Himalayas. In this context, the timescales on which geological processes shape the surface of the Earth are of great importance. Therefore, the determining the timing and quantifying geological processes through wide range dating techniques are at the core of this course with the objective of modelling landscape evolution. Half of the course will be based on practical exercises, case studies and presentations, so that the students will actively participate in the teaching of this course.The course will be in English.
UE Tectonics-Metamorphism field course
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Students will learn to recognise and interpret markers of ductile deformation in different structural and metamorphic contexts.
Field workshop offered every other year, alternating with the Field Workshop Petrology.. This module is available in even-numbered years (2018, 2020, etc.)
UE Active Faults
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Active faults are those producing earthquakes. Their knowledge is thus a prerequisite to any seismic hazard analysis. The objective of the ‘active faults’ class is to make the students familiar with these structures, and establish the links and common properties between long‐term geological faults and instantaneous earthquake ruptures. We start reminding a few basics in rock and fracture mechanics that allow understanding why the Earth crust and lithosphere break through faulting and earthquakes. We then see on which criteria most active faults can be identified in the surface morphology. The modern tools allowing such identification are described. We show that faults are organized features that form hierarchical, larger‐scale systems, whose geometry brings information on long‐term fault evolution, kinematics and mechanics. The long‐term kinematics and evolution can then be more precisely quantified using data such as geomorphology and geochronology. We discuss these methods of quantification, the assumptions on which they rely, their implications in terms of long‐term fault slip rates, earthquake sizes and recurrence times, etc... Then, we go back to earthquake ruptures, which we analyze with a ‘geological eye’ (analysis of static parameters). Doing so, we point out the differences and similarities between earthquake ruptures and long‐term faults, and discuss the properties of faults which most control the earthquake behavior. We also characterize how faults behave during a single, then multiple seismic cycles, and introduce the recently discovered complexities of both the seismic cycle and its repetitions. Combining the present knowledge on long‐term faults and earthquakes, we then try to understand how faults may grow in time, i.e., accumulate slip and propagate laterally through the repetition of large earthquakes. We eventually suggest how that understanding may help anticipating the occurrence and size of the future earthquakes.
UE Intérieurs planétaires
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course focuses on the structure and dynamics of planets and satellites of the solar system and exoplanets. We will first describe the observables relevant to the study of the structure and dynamics of planets, whether they are accessible from Earth (dimensions, mass, moment of inertia, average density) or through space missions (surface topography and morphology, gravity field, magnetic field, seismology, heat flux, surface chemical/mineral composition). Space missions (the James Webb Space Telescope or the Insight mission, for example) bring a harvest of astonishing observations indicating an unsuspected richness of behavior. These observables and the questions they raise will be discussed in a comparative planetology perspective, and confronted with models from high pressure mineralogy, fluid and solid mechanics, and electromagnetism. Why do the Earth and Venus - of similar masses and compositions - have such different dynamic behaviors (plate tectonics and magnetic field for the Earth, absence of tectonics and magnetic field for Venus)? What factors determine the presence or absence of a planetary magnetic field? How to explain the hemispheric asymmetry observed on Mars or the Moon? The varied dynamics - volcanism and cryovolcanism, tectonics - of satellites of Jupiter and Saturn such as Io or Encélade? Will we find an Earth twin planet among the exoplanets, and how to determine if it is habitable?
Teaching will be held in french or english
UE Dynamique des fluides géophysiques
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Les écoulements dans l’atmosphère, dans les océans, dans les atmosphères des planètes géantes, dans le noyau liquide de la Terre, et même dans les étoiles, présentent deux ingrédients communs essentiels pour leur dynamique: (1) la rotation globale à laquelle ils sont soumis, qui se traduit par la force de Coriolis; et (2) la stratification du fluide en couches de densité variable, soumis à un champ de gravité. Ces deux caractéristiques changent radicalement la dynamique des fluides, donnant naissance à de nouveaux équilibres et à de nouvelles ondes ou instabilités.
L’objectif de cette UE est de définir les concepts clés, de donner les outils nécessaires à l’étude de ces systèmes, et de donner un sens physique à ces écoulements qui défient souvent l’intuition forgée par la vie quotidienne.
Après une introduction à la dynamique des fluides, une première partie se focalise sur l’effet de la rotation, de manière générale puis dans le cas particulier d’écoulements en couches minces, pertinente pour la modélisation des écoulements océaniques et atmosphériques. Une part importante de ces enseignements est dédiée à l’étude d’ondes rencontrées dans les écoulements géophysiques (ondes inertielles et de gravité, ondes de Rossby). Une seconde partie se focalise sur l’effet de variations de densité : convection thermique (instabilité de Rayleigh-Bénard), instabilités des écoulements parallèles cisaillés stratifiés, courants de densité visqueux (glaciers, coulées volcaniques) ou turbulents (courants de densité atmosphériques, courants de turbidité, coulées pyroclastiques). Pour chaque phénomène, des exemples spécifiques sont donnés et la théorie est détaillée.
Langue d’enseignement: Français ou anglais
********************************************************************************************************************************
The flows in the atmosphere, in the oceans, in the atmospheres of the giant planets, in the liquid core of the Earth, and even in stars are specific essentially by two aspects: (1) the global rotation to which they are subjected, which is reflected in the Coriolis force; and (2) the stratification of the fluid into layers of varying density, subject to a gravity field. These two characteristics radically change the behavior of fluids. The objective of this course is to define the key concepts, to give the necessary tools to study these systems, and to give a physical meaning to these flows which often defy intuition.
After an introduction to fluid dynamics, a first part focuses on the effect of rotation, in a general way and then in the particular case of thin layers, relevant for the modeling of oceanic and atmospheric flows. An important part of the course is dedicated to the study of waves encountered in geophysical flows (inertial and gravity waves, Rossby waves). A second part focuses on the effect of density variations: thermal convection, viscous density currents (glaciers, volcanic flows) or turbulent currents (atmospheric density currents, turbidity currents, pyroclastic flows). For each phenomenon, specific examples are given and the theory is detailed.
Teaching language: French or english
UE Doctoral School - InternalEarth@les Houches
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course takes the form of a two-week school, bringing together master students from Grenoble and Lyon with french and international PhD students. This course benefits from the favourable environment of the Ecole de Physique des Houches, and is in line with the historical filiation of the place. This course includes 50 to 60 hours of lectures by international professors, in English. These lectures are often accompanied by more specific seminars, and a field trip. The courses and teachers change each year, but cover most aspects related to the interior of the Earth (seismology, geodynamics, mineralogy, geochemistry), from the surface of the Earth to the core.
Teaching anguage: English
UE Climate change
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is given in English (or in French if all students are french speaking).
The course is a physical approach of the climatic change at the global level, in line with the Working group I of the IPCC .
The lectures (about 33-36h) give an overview of climate change causes and mechanisms at the global level. They are given by researchers of the IGE laboratory (**), and some visitors if any. Topics covered by these lectures are the following (they may slightly change depending on researchers availability):
- A global view of the surface warming, and its relationship with climatic forcings;
- Climatic sensitivities; scenarios of future warming;
- Extreme climatic events;
- Paleoclimatic variations and what they tell us on mechanisms;
- Modelling climate, from 1D to 3D models;
- A regional model, application to the mountain climate.
Students have a practical project to discuss a dataset, with the goal to get some grasp on what the data can tell us, their uncertainty, bias, etc. Outputs are both a written and an oral presentations of the results.
UE Ecologie, biogéographie, évolution
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Cette UE est proposée en partenariat avec le Master BEE (Biodiversité, écologie, évolution)
********************************************************************************************************************************
This course, is offered in partnership with the BEE (Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution) Master's degree
Cours Magistraux :
Les intervenants sont des spécialistes des thématiques traitées dans l’UE, chercheurs et ingénieurs de recherche. Les interventions concernent :
- Théorie de la niche et écologie fonctionnelle
- Écologie du paysage et analyse des patrons de diversité des communautés
- Modélisation et analyse des distributions des espèces et écosystèmes, selon les conditions environnementales présentes et futures
- Macroécologie et théorie neutre de la biogéographie
- Réseaux écologiques
- Dynamique des écosystèmes
- Théorie de la coexistence
- Test d'hypothèses et inférence de processus d'assemblage
- Ecologie du paysage et modèles de métapopulations
Travaux Dirigés :
L’UE comporte plusieurs séances de travaux dirigés mettant en application les concepts et méthodes abordés en cours à l’application de données réelles :
- Modélisation et analyses de données de biodiversité avec R
- Modèles de Distribution d’Espèces (SDM) avec BIOMOD
- Modèles de métapopulation
Par ailleurs les étudiants effectuent l’analyse critique d’un article scientifique portant sur une des thématiques abordées dans l’UE. Ils présentent à l’oral le contenu de l’article et leur analyse.
L’objectif de l’UE est d’appréhender le fonctionnement et la dynamique de la biodiversité à de larges échelles spatiales et temporelles. Dans cette logique, l’UE s’appuie sur les connaissances et compétences acquises dans les domaines de l’écologie et de la biologie évolutive, et poursuit l’apprentissage des théories et méthodes développées en biogéographie, macroécologie, et évolution.
UE Fieldtrip Mountain Building, Climate, and biodiversity
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
In this field course we will study the impact of geodynamics and climate on the development of biodiversity. The creation of mountain belts and sedimentary basins via geodynamic processes leads to changes in the environment at the earth’s surface particularly along active plate boundaries. Organisms living in these environments adapt to these changes through evolution and migration. Phylogenetic studies as well as the fossil record show that evolution occurs at a timescale comparable to the timescale of geological processes. Surface renewal through geodynamic processes also significantly impacts on the interconnectedness of environmental niches, which means it can stimulate the isolation of populations or trigger sudden mixing between populations that were formerly disconnected. The climate also impacts on the physical parameters of environments at the earth’s surface and changes in climate can thus equally stimulate evolutionary adaptations, trigger extinctions or enhance the radiation of certain taxa better adapted to the environments new conditions. In this field course we will use a case-study from the Africa-Eurasia collision zone to study how geodynamics and climate can drive speciation, migration and extinction of living organisms and hence impact biodiversity. We will use field observations as well as analytical data to lay the link between processes acting in the interior of the earth, those acting in the earth’s external envelopes and the biosphere. The course will be graded through a written field report. It is generally taught in English
UE Solid Earth and the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere (2023-2024)
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective is to provide an overview of the coupling between the solid Earth (the geosphere) and the external spheres (hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere), and to understand the physico-chemical processes that are at work. The behavior of these spheres is examined in the context of the Earth System (and not independently of it).
This course is based on a reversed pedagogy, i.e. the courses are prepared by the students beforehand in the framework of tutored projects.
UE Plio-Quaternary climates and landforms (2024-2025)
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective is to explore to what extent geomorphological archives (landscape features and associated sedimentary deposits) can inform us about past climates, as well as associated environmental conditions and earth surface processes/natural hazards. This course adresses this question with a multisciplinary approach (geomorphology, sedimentology, paleoclimatology) with the aim to reconstruct past landscapes and use them as archives. A special focus will be on the Alps and their evolution during the Plio-Quaternary, but other environments/periods will also be considered, especially key transition periods from glacials to interglacials or changes in amospheric circulations (monsoon). The proposed course is organised around lectures and interactive group sessions.
A field excursion around Grenoble is also planned. Some background in paleoclimatology and/or geomorphology would be advantageous but not mandatory. Teaching can be performed in french or english.
UE short Internship
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship must be carried out for at least 6 weeks. It aims to discover the professional environment, business or research laboratory, whose themes are linked to the objectives of each course.
UE long Internship
ECTS
24 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship has a minimum duration of 4 months and constitutes the finalization of each student's master's project. It can serve as a gateway to the professional world or preparatory to a doctorate. It must be closely linked to the chosen master's course.
UE Geophysical observation of the Earth
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of the course is to provide students, from the beginning of the Master's degree, with tools to identify and retrieve geophysical data from international data distribution systems, and to apply some simple processing on the data. The 3 types of data are a) seismological data, and their application to earthquake location; b) GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data; c) Earth's magnetic field data, with an application to the reconstruction of the magnetic field at the surface of the Earth's core. The practical work on applications forms the core of the module, and is prepared through introductory courses in each of the three areas. Requirements: Basic knowledge on the Solid Earth and/or Waves and potential fields. Language: English
UE Signal processing
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The scope of this course is to cover the fundamentals of numerical data processing. The main emphasis is on analysis of time series, such as seismic signals, even though the concepts can be transposed to any numerical signal. One major aim of the course is to illustrate some of the many pitfalls and problems that students (and researchers alike) can come across when analyzing signals.
The course is split into two equal parts. The first one introduces the theoretical framework of signal processing i.e., sampling, Fourier Transform, convolution, correlation and filtering, while the second one focuses on practical applications. In this second part, the students address specific subjects of signal processing (such as sampling issues, measurements of time delays, filtering, f–k analysis, wave separation …) in 4-hour lab work sessions performed on computers.
UE Programmation et environnements informatiques
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module is intended to acquire and deepen the basics of computer programming and computer environments that will be used throughout the Master's programme. It consists of 6 hours of lectures and 18 hours of practical work on computers. The practical sessions are adapted to the level of each student.
UE Waves Physics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The wave physics course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge necessary to study wave propagation for geophysics. The course covers the following concepts
- Propagation of acoustic waves in fluids, in infinite and bounded media (guided waves)
- Green's functions in fluids
- Propagation of elastic waves in solids
- Laws of refraction, Huygens' principle, Khirkchoff's theory of diffraction
- Rayleigh, Love, Lamb, Scholte, Stoneley waves
The course is illustrated by practical work allowing the application of these concepts:
- Measurement and inversion of Lamb wave propagation
- Standing waves in a Kundt's tube
- Ultrasonic imaging
UE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course offers a guided tour of the Earth's interior, from the crust to the core. The main observables and tools for investigating the Earth's interior (seismology, mineralogy, heat transfer, geochemistry, gravity, geomagnetism) are presented and used to describe and explain key processes (crust formation, plate tectonics and mantle convection, magnetic field generation). A historical approach is often privileged: the emphasis is put on the construction and evolution of our understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and its behaviour, by presenting the discoveries and conceptual advances that have led to our current vision of the Earth. The course includes two sessions of group presentations of historical or recent papers.
Teaching language: English
UE Geomechanics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The geomechanics course applies the principles of continuum mechanics to concrete problems of the Solid Earth.
The module is articulated by a back-and-forth between:
- a complete course presenting the basics of geomechanics, which allows a refresher for students who have never studied continuum mechanics,
- numerous application examples from real studies, both geotechnical and geodynamic. The large exercise base allows students who already have the basics of mechanics to practice reading data and applying the geomechanical approach in a more applied way than in their previous course.
Thus, at the end of the module, students should have a solid foundation in
- mechanics of continuous media
- the use and measurement of elastic properties of materials
- the use of failure criteria to gauge the mechanical stability of a structure: friction and fracturing phenomena.
Evaluation:
A mid-term CC counting for 50% of the grade
A final exam accounting for 50% of the grade
UE Geophysical Prospecting
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is an introduction to the use of basic geophysical prospecting methods (seismic refraction, electrical sounding, EM mapping). An effort is made towards the processing and acquisition of data in the field and especially their interpretation in geological and hydrological terms in simple environments.
UE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module provides an introduction to the course. It helps place the issues covered by the Earth and Environmental Sciences in context, and guide the students with their training and professional projects. This module consists of:
(1) a 3-day field workshop for the entire class, which will serve to illustrate the major themes and issues of EES with the help of the exceptional sites found around Grenoble;
(2) an interview, and the drafting of an educational and professional project by each student;
(3) seminars for the entire class on the major current issues of EES (mineral and energy resources, telluric risks, climate change, water resources).
UE Deep Earth Geodynamics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This course focuses on the dynamics of the deep Earth from a deterministic point of view, based on elementary principles of physics. Topics covered include the rheological behavior of the mantle and lithosphere, mantle convection and plate tectonics, core dynamics and the generation of the Earth's magnetic field. For each of these topics, the problems are approached in different ways: order-of-magnitude analyses, analytical resolutions, discussion of the informations provided by observations, contributions from numerical simulations and experimental studies.
Teaching language: english
UE Exploration geophysics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module is intended to supplement the subsurface geophysics teaching with a detailed mathematical description of geophysics imaging techniques adapted to petroleum, mining and crustal objectives.
Particular focus is given to the main following methods:
- seismic reflection signals; principles of acquisition and data processing (theory and practical exercices on academic and industrial softwares) with application to several datasets acquired in marine environment and on the ground at various scales of the Earth's crust.
- interpretation of controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) data and gravimetry,
- electromagnetic prospection in diffuse regime
The seismic part of this lecture aims at proving a solid background fo further interpretation, which is taught in the "bassin analysis" class.
Evaluation is based on the reports from the practical works and on a final exam.
UE Data sciences & Inverse problems
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
In every fields of science (economy, health, physics, chemistry,..), we measure/collect data or observations and try to understand and interpret them.
To interpret these complex data, we propose "simple" models, for example:
- in meteorology, data are temperature, humidity, etc, models are collection of boxes/cells linked through physical relationships.
- in earth-science, data are collected from satellites, ground instruments, and models propose a simplified view of earth dynamic
In the first case we are more interested in the data (what is the forecast for next week?) than in the model (cells),
In the second case we focus on the interpretation of the data rather than the data themselves.
The relation model->data is called the direct problem, the reverse is called the inverse problem.
Solving an inverse problem is answering the question: Given some data, how can we retrieve the model and parameters that explain them?
The course explores the solution of linear inversion problems and how to solve iteratively non linear inverse problems.
This is done by using a light theoretical background and playing on computer with applications.
prerequisite: basic knowledge of linear algebra (vector, matrices, transposition, dot product, etc...), some python (or matlab) programming experience
Language: english or french
UE Volcanic dynamics and hazards
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The aim of this module is to provide a basic understanding of the physics of magmatic and eruptive processes occurring in volcanoes and of the main methods of volcanological study and monitoring. In particular, the forces and parameters controlling the transport and storage of magma from the production zones to the surface will be explained and illustrated with the help of tutorials. In the context of the study of eruptive dynamics, the different modes of eruption of volcanic products (plume, pyroclastic flow, dome, lava flow) and their physical mechanisms will be discussed. The most commonly used geophysical monitoring methods (seismology, deformation, gas emission studies) will be presented, showing their contribution to the prediction of eruptions and the knowledge of volcanic processes. The different remote sensing methods used in this field (optical, thermal and radar imagery) will be described, with emphasis on the specificities of these techniques for their application to volcanology and monitoring. Teaching language: English.
UE Instrumentation for geophysics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module proposes the practical application of the knowledge acquired in the module "Geophysical observation of the Earth" in the disciplines of seismology and space geodesy by GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems). The aim is to master the entire GNSS measurement chain: handling the receiver, deploying the GNSS station with precise centring of the antenna receiving the GNSS signal, downloading and formatting the acquired data. The analysis of these data with an open source software will allow to reach a positioning accuracy of a few mm. The target of the measurements will be a landslide in the Trièves region. We will quantify its rate of displacement by combining the measurements taken with observations from previous years.
For seismology, we will deploy a classic seismological station completed by new generation instruments of the 'nodes' type and possibly fibre optics, DAS technique. We will address the issues of site selection according to ambient noise conditions, precise sensor installation, GPS data dating and remote data recovery. The target of the measurements will be the same landslide in the Trièves region. We will study seismological approaches to characterise both the seismic properties of this landslide and their temporal evolution.
Prerequisite: having followed the module "Geophysical observation of the Earth" in S1
UE Introduction to Machine learning in Earth Sciences
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of this course is to understand the principles and the application of machine learning methods (one of the branches of artificial intelligence) in the context of geosciences. To do so, we will introduce the concepts, the main uses in geosciences (detection/understanding of natural phenomena from satellite imagery, time series, etc.), the main problems addressed (regression, classification and unsupervised learning) as well as the main methods (random forests, PCA..). Finally, we will briefly introduce deep learning methods.
The main goal of this course is to know how to use these tools by oneself, to understand the main problems, but also to understand their limits. For this, the module is based on 12 hours of practical work in Python.
Pre-requisites:
Basic knowledge of Python programming and mathematics.
Languages: English, French
UE Scientific computing
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of this module is to acquire the principles of the basic methods of scientific computing and their implementation in computer codes. The methods are presented in a simplified way, insisting on the ideas behind them, then they are implemented in computer programs (in Python or Matlab) on simple examples related to geosciences.
UE Marine Geophysics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The field course offers a practical teaching in which they implement geophysical and geological methods classically used in Marine Geosciences. In particular, during the internship, students will participate in a seismic reflection acquisition campaign aboard the Thetys II, a coastal vessel of the French Oceanic Fleet, chartered by INSU and managed by IFREMER.
The object studied is the northern Ligurian continental margin, off Nice, which is a remarkable example of passive margin. The internship program includes (under the supervision of a teacher, and with the help of a technician) the implementation by the students of the main data acquisition techniques used in Earth Sciences
- principles of navigation and positioning (GPS, keeping a logbook);
- bathymetry (canyons, sedimentary surveys, continental slope, plateaus,...);
- the implementation of seismic-reflection multitracing, along large profiles cutting the entire Ligurian margin.
These profiles are completed by cross-sectional profiles at the top or bottom of the slope, in order to initiate the students to the study and the reconstruction in three dimensions of sedimentary bodies. Back in the classroom, the students process and interpret the data acquired at sea, in the context of regional geology and global tectonics.
The internship is organized differently for students in the Geophysics track and those in the GeoResources/Geodynamics track, with a different weight for the 3 parts of the internship:
(1) acquisition campaign at sea
(2) processing of seismic profiles with Seismic Unix
(3) interpretation of seismic reflection profiles
For geophysics students, the focus is on acquisition and processing. For example, an offshore session is planned to evaluate the importance of acquisition parameters on the resolution and penetration of the profiles obtained.
For the other students, the interpretation of the profiles is more developed and completed by a course on the tectonic-sedimentary history of the margin. Students will be able to recognize on the profiles the Messinian erosion surface, the unconformity of the acoustic basement and post-rift sediments, the transgression of the upper evaporites, the mode of deposition of the Quaternary turbidic series (canyons and deep Var cone), the tectonic deformation of the foot of the margin (sometimes salt diapirs, active faults of the foot of the margin and of the basin), the subsident zone of the foot of the margin, and finally sometimes, the syn-rift series and the Oligocene tilted blocks (ante-rift series).
The number of students is limited to 16, divided into 2 groups according to their course within the STPE master.
The evaluation is done on the basis of :
a summary sheet to be handed in right after the course. These sheets are corrected by the teachers and can be used as revision sheets afterwards
an oral exam on the 3 themes covered during the course:
Acquisition
Processing
Interpretation
Recommended prerequisites
The student is expected to have a good knowledge of seismic wave propagation and notions of sedimentology.
The processing of seismic profiles is done with the software suite " Seismic Unix ", already presented in the module PAX8GPAB " Exploration Geophysics ".
All students participating in the internship will be required to attend two sessions of module PAX8GRAC "Basin Analysis".
Targeted skills
At the end of the internship, students will have seen the complete work chain carried out during a marine geoscience campaign, from geophysical measurements in the field to the geological interpretation of profiles. In particular, they will know how to:
- Identify the key parameters needed to acquire a seismic profile, identifying the appropriate equipment and choosing the relevant parameters to obtain data with the resolution and penetration needed to characterize the target being studied.
- Process raw data to obtain a quality, debruised and migrated seismic profile.
- Identify artifacts and avoid gross errors when interpreting a seismic profile
- Recognize sedimentary structures in a series of seismic profiles on a 3D volume and place them in the tectonic-sedimentary history of the region studied.
UE Induced seismicity
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
During the 60'-90' numerous studies pinpointed on the evidence for seismicity triggered by the different types of geo-resource productions (mining, oil and gas extraction, reservoir impoundment, geothermal production, water supply) and discussed the possible triggering processes. Half a century later, the key challenges for the research community remain to be able to estimate where, when, how long will the induced seismicity sequence last, and what is the maximum possible earthquake size. In order address these questions, this module revisits case studies related to each type of geo-resource exploitations by selecting the cases where the seismicity and deformation before the exploitation onset are documented, and the production history is known. On such a basis, each of geo-resource exploitation styles are (i) analyzed in term of observed induced deformation and seismicity and (ii) mechanical models of the associated induced stress changes over time and space are presented. A specific focus on the partitioning of the deformation between slow plastic response and brittle seismic failure will be developed as a function of the local geo-mechanical context (tectonic setting, local forcing rate, boundary conditions).
Apart from such these global analyses, tools to extract patterns of time series for these human induced seismicity sequences will be defined using standard statistical seismology law in time space and size domains (e.g. frequency size distribution, aftershocks triggering, ...). These patterns and laws they derive from, will be used to compare the induced seismicity sequences both to the regular tectonic earthquake sequences and to the production history. Some implications-applications for production monitoring will be discussed.
UE Frontiers in seismic imaging (Noise + FWI)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The aim of the Frontiers in seismology module is to present two innovative methods in seismology: seismic tomography using full waveform inversion and the use of seismic ambient noise for tomography and monitoring the temporal evolution of the Earth's crust.
The module is based on lectures as well as practical work (matlab/python) on seismic noise correlations and waveform inversion. Thus, the part on seismic noise correlations includes 3 TP sessions and 12 hours of lectures, while the course on waveform inversions includes 18 hours of lectures including practical work.
Recommended prerequisites:
Basic knowledge in seismology, signal processing, programming (matlab and/or python)
UE Quantitative seismology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The main motivation of the course is to introduce the fundamental equations underlying the essential theoretical and numerical approaches used in seismology. Its objective is to provide basic knowledge of the mathematical and physical background for quantitative seismology. The course contents includes elements of mechanics, concepts of waves and vibrations, seismic earthquake source representation, kinematics and directivity, seismic wave propagation in layered media, synthetic seismogram computation, focal mechanisms, fault mechanics and models, surface waves, anelastic attenuation, ground motion prediction.
UE Computing and data analysis Project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this project-oriented course is to deepen, according to the student's choices, one or more aspects seen in the "Numerical Modeling", "Advanced Signal Processing", "Advanced Machine Learning" and "Data Assimilation" (note that depending on your parcours / path, not all these courses may be accessible) courses on a project carried out in autonomy with a teacher-referent on a particular subject.
UE Advanced signal Processing
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The scope of this course is (1) to recap the fundamentals of numerical data processing for practical applications in geophysics and (2) to introduce advanced tools and methods, for ever more challenging geophysical observations and processing applications in Earth sciences. The class will mostly cover two main topics: projections (multi-dimensional data, beamforming, wavelet transform...), and random signals. Students will have to work and present a particular processing project chosen among a list of topics as practical applications (about 12h). For instance, students could work on deconvolution, implement a denoising tool, a high-resolution beamforming or a wavelet-based time-frequency decomposition.
UE Near surface geophysics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Near Surface Geophysics is open to Georisks, Geophysics and MEEES paths. The course starts with a brief reminder of the basics in Geophysical imaging (Seismic refraction, electrical soundings) and evolves towards more advanced methods: i) inversion-based methods such as tomography techniques (electric, seismic) and surface wave investigations, and ii) methods based on more advanced signal processing such as Ground Penetrating Radar and advanced Seismic reflection techniques. A specific GPS course is also included.
The course is a bit data oriented with training using different geophysical softwares (electrical and seismic tomography, Surface wave inversion, Seismic Unix).
A fieldwork is included (generally on a landslide) and data acquired in the field are then post-processed and analyzed to produce a report.
UE Active Faults
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Active faults are those producing earthquakes. Their knowledge is thus a prerequisite to any seismic hazard analysis. The objective of the ‘active faults’ class is to make the students familiar with these structures, and establish the links and common properties between long‐term geological faults and instantaneous earthquake ruptures. We start reminding a few basics in rock and fracture mechanics that allow understanding why the Earth crust and lithosphere break through faulting and earthquakes. We then see on which criteria most active faults can be identified in the surface morphology. The modern tools allowing such identification are described. We show that faults are organized features that form hierarchical, larger‐scale systems, whose geometry brings information on long‐term fault evolution, kinematics and mechanics. The long‐term kinematics and evolution can then be more precisely quantified using data such as geomorphology and geochronology. We discuss these methods of quantification, the assumptions on which they rely, their implications in terms of long‐term fault slip rates, earthquake sizes and recurrence times, etc... Then, we go back to earthquake ruptures, which we analyze with a ‘geological eye’ (analysis of static parameters). Doing so, we point out the differences and similarities between earthquake ruptures and long‐term faults, and discuss the properties of faults which most control the earthquake behavior. We also characterize how faults behave during a single, then multiple seismic cycles, and introduce the recently discovered complexities of both the seismic cycle and its repetitions. Combining the present knowledge on long‐term faults and earthquakes, we then try to understand how faults may grow in time, i.e., accumulate slip and propagate laterally through the repetition of large earthquakes. We eventually suggest how that understanding may help anticipating the occurrence and size of the future earthquakes.
UE Doctoral School - InternalEarth@les Houches
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course takes the form of a two-week school, bringing together master students from Grenoble and Lyon with french and international PhD students. This course benefits from the favourable environment of the Ecole de Physique des Houches, and is in line with the historical filiation of the place. This course includes 50 to 60 hours of lectures by international professors, in English. These lectures are often accompanied by more specific seminars, and a field trip. The courses and teachers change each year, but cover most aspects related to the interior of the Earth (seismology, geodynamics, mineralogy, geochemistry), from the surface of the Earth to the core.
Teaching anguage: English
UE Advanced Machine Learning in Earth Sciences
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
A new course that will follow the one in the 2nd semester of the first year, but that can also be chosen by students with previous experience in the field. A detailed description will be posted later, in the meantime look at the corresponding UE of the first year.
This course introduces the main deep learning methods relevant for Earth Science applications, where the processing of time series and images (sometimes noisy, incomplete) and forecasting are routine problems. This includes for example Convolutional Neural Networks, Recurrent Neural Networks, and Generative Networks.
Pre-requisites: Ideally: Introduction to Machine Learning in Earth Sciences, course from the first year of STPE Master. If not: good knowledge in Python, basic notions in differential calculation and linear algebra.
Languages: English, French
UE Numerical Modelling
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to train students in the numerical methods used to solve the classical partial differential equations of the Earth sciences, with methods such as finite difference, finite element, spectral methods, ... This course is structured around theoretical lectures presenting the methods and their numerical properties, and practical work on simple practical problems. The practical application on more complex problems and the deepening of the methods will be approached in the project-oriented UE "Computing and data analysis Project".
UE short Internship
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship must be carried out for at least 6 weeks. It aims to discover the professional environment, business or research laboratory, whose themes are linked to the objectives of each course.
UE long Internship
ECTS
24 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship has a minimum duration of 4 months and constitutes the finalization of each student's master's project. It can serve as a gateway to the professional world or preparatory to a doctorate. It must be closely linked to the chosen master's course.
UE Novel analysis methods in geochemistry & mineralogy
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Apply novel mineralogy and geochemistry analysis tools to geomaterials in the environment. Coupled chemical, structural, morphological and isotopic modern analytical methods for characterization of mineral phases. Introduction to hyperspectral imaging by combining spectroscopies and scanning microscopies.
UE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course offers a guided tour of the Earth's interior, from the crust to the core. The main observables and tools for investigating the Earth's interior (seismology, mineralogy, heat transfer, geochemistry, gravity, geomagnetism) are presented and used to describe and explain key processes (crust formation, plate tectonics and mantle convection, magnetic field generation). A historical approach is often privileged: the emphasis is put on the construction and evolution of our understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and its behaviour, by presenting the discoveries and conceptual advances that have led to our current vision of the Earth. The course includes two sessions of group presentations of historical or recent papers.
Teaching language: English
UE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module provides an introduction to the course. It helps place the issues covered by the Earth and Environmental Sciences in context, and guide the students with their training and professional projects. This module consists of:
(1) a 3-day field workshop for the entire class, which will serve to illustrate the major themes and issues of EES with the help of the exceptional sites found around Grenoble;
(2) an interview, and the drafting of an educational and professional project by each student;
(3) seminars for the entire class on the major current issues of EES (mineral and energy resources, telluric risks, climate change, water resources).
UE Géochimie des contaminants : I) interactions métaux/minéraux/matière organique dans les réservoirs terrestres
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course deals with the fundamental processes that control the behavior of metallic pollutants (e.g. Zn, Pb, As, Ag, Cr, U, Fe, Mn...) and nutrients (Nitrate, phosphate...) in soils, groundwater, mine waters, lakes, and wastewaters. In the first part, the fundamental processes conditioning the mobility/reactivity of these pollutants, and their solubility and toxicity are discussed, i.e. bacterial respiration and the redox chain, the parameters conditioning their retention (specific surface, density/nature/structure/strength of the reactive sites, pH) and their modes of interaction with solids (complexation/ionic exchange/hydrophobicity) are treated, and exemplified.
The second part of the module is dedicated to the illustration of the taught subject, i.e. dedicated to the visit of two respectively sulphide and carbanate-based mining sites and the associated societal, environmental and technical management problems and outcomes. This visit is followed by three days of practical work in the laboratory with the study in small groups of the metal content of the sampled soils, the composition and the BOD of wastewater and the complexing reactivity of reactive soil organic matter. A reading and oral presentation of related scientific publications is included.
Language: Course in English, overheads in French, the 'mines' sites visit ans sampling is in French. A 50-page course summary written in English and French is distributed at the beginning of the course.
UE Petrology field course
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This 5-day course (3 ECTS) takes place in the Ivrea zone, in northern Italy. The objective is to study a Permian igneous system, exceptionally preserved, and its metamorphic surrounding. The observations made on the field can be extrapolated to understand the structure of the continental crust.
This course is based on an integrative approach. Students study different outcrops during the day. In the evening, they synthesize their field observations together with thin section descriptions and geochemical and thermodynamic data. This approach allows understanding, progressively during the fieldtrip, the igneous processes that operated within the magma chamber and the consequences of magmatism on the thermal structure of the lower continental crust. The work is evaluated from reports throughout the course.
For practical reasons, this fieldtrip is limited to 16 students. It is asked to follow the Petrology course to participate to the fieldtrip.
Additional information
Location(s) : Departure and return from Grenoble. Training course taking place in the Ivrea area, in Italy
Language(s) : French (English)
Targeted skills:
- Processes in igneous system and interaction with the surrounding rocks.
- Associated mineral deposits.
- Macroscopic and microscopic recognition of magmatic and metamorphic rocks
- Autonomy in the field, team work, field notebook, note taking, observations.
- Drawing and mapping of outcrops.
- Interpretation of mineral textures and paragenesis in metamorphic and magmatic rocks.
- Synthesis of data obtained on the field and data that can be acquired later in the lab (geochemistry, thin sections) in order to establish a plausible geodynamic scenario of the studied area, at the outcrop scale and at the regional scale.
UE Geomechanics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The geomechanics course applies the principles of continuum mechanics to concrete problems of the Solid Earth.
The module is articulated by a back-and-forth between:
- a complete course presenting the basics of geomechanics, which allows a refresher for students who have never studied continuum mechanics,
- numerous application examples from real studies, both geotechnical and geodynamic. The large exercise base allows students who already have the basics of mechanics to practice reading data and applying the geomechanical approach in a more applied way than in their previous course.
Thus, at the end of the module, students should have a solid foundation in
- mechanics of continuous media
- the use and measurement of elastic properties of materials
- the use of failure criteria to gauge the mechanical stability of a structure: friction and fracturing phenomena.
Evaluation:
A mid-term CC counting for 50% of the grade
A final exam accounting for 50% of the grade
UE Geophysical Prospecting
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is an introduction to the use of basic geophysical prospecting methods (seismic refraction, electrical sounding, EM mapping). An effort is made towards the processing and acquisition of data in the field and especially their interpretation in geological and hydrological terms in simple environments.
UE Géochimie des contaminants II) modélisation Phreeqc
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This optional module is intended for students wishing to deepen their knowledge of the behavior of metals in natural soils and waters and in mining environments. It is based on the PHREEQC geochemical modeling software which is a reference in the scientific world and is freely available. The first sessions are dedicated to the step-by-step learning of the software in the classroom and in tutored sessions, the following sessions are dedicated to the modeling of equilibrium speciation processes in soils and groundwater (hydrolysis, Eh-pH diagrams, complexation and toxicity, 1D reactive transfer of pollutions in soils, redox processes) and mining processes (acid mine drainage, genesis of a mining reservoir, solubility f(T, p)). The last two sessions are dedicated to projects elaborated by the students in pairs.
Language: English, bilingual notices.
UE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to examine the behavior of the lithosphere and of the crust, at spatial scales ranging from the global Earth to the mountain range. An important part of the course is meant to place plate tectonics in the broad context of mantle convection. Similarly, the evolution of mountain ranges is understood within the general geodynamic framework. Surface deformation is explained by the cumulative effects of crustal and lithospheric tectonics, mantle convection, and surface processes. The development of the course is largely based on the analysis of Cenozoic tectonics, using multiple regional examples. A multidisciplinary approach is developed, in order to use analytical tools and geodynamic modeling to interpret observations from geophysical datasets or from the geological record.
UE Croissance économique et limites planétaires: climat, biodiversité
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The goal of this module is to introduce students to the energy and environmental issues raised by the modern quest for economic growth and to map out the potential of the ecological transition. This series of courses is structured along three main axes: an introduction to environmental discourses on growth and limits; a zoom on the climate-energy-raw material nexus; a “map” of the possibilities for low-carbon economies.
Students will learn about the physical foundations of economic growth. We will look at both the importance of economic growth (and energy use) for human welfare and the huge environmental footprint of growth. Students will explore different − sometimes radically different − perspectives on issues ranging from what makes growth possible and whether economic growth is sustainable in a physically finite world to what is to be done about environmental destruction and climate change. Specifically, they will learn about 3 schools of thought relevant to the academic conversation about the limits to growth: (1) the degrowth perspective, (2) the green growth perspective, and (3) cornucopianism.
Students are introduced to climate change studies and to the major social and environmental challenges of the Anthropocene. Living most fossil fuels in the ground to meet the conditions of the Paris Agreement and transitioning to low-carbon economies implies an increasing demand on mineral resources. This course deals with the demand for raw materials in a low-carbon world and the challenges that come along (energy transition scenarios and energy mixes, extraction and processing of raw materials, environmental (in)justice…) .
UE Petrology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Description and quantification of the processes that manage magmatic and metamorphic petrology Fractional crystallization - example of large bedded intrusions; Partial melting - trapps and oceanic plateaus; Assimilation, mixing of magmas - magmatic deposits; Basalts from oceanic ridges and oceanic islands; Volcanic rocks of subduction zones; Composition and structure of continental crust; Transformation processes of metamorphic rocks; Metamorphic rocks and their geodynamic context; Metamorphic facies and reconstruction of pressure-temperature conditions; Dating of metamorphic rocks; Alpine metamorphism.
This course is given in English.
UE Basin analysis
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The goal of the course ‘Basin analysis’ is to understand the formation and evolution of sedimentary basins. It includes:
- Lectures on the various types of basins in their lithospheric setting (divergent, convergent, transform plate boundaries, intraplate basins).
- Lectures on their sedimentary systems, clastic and carbonate, source to sink processes, diagenesis and thermal evolution, and their implications for energy resources.
- Practical work on the interpretation of sedimentary cores and seismic lines.
Required level: Bachelor level in sedimentology, tectonics and lithospheric dynamics.
Teaching language: Half of the course is given in English, half in French or in English in case at least one student does not understand French.
UE Mineral resources
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is an initiation to economic geology given by academic researchers and people from mining industry. The main core concepts that will be developed are:
(1) the global resources and reserves of ores today and in the future and the geological, societal, political, economical and environmental factors that constrain the exploitation of an ore deposit;
(2) the exploration techniques;
(3) the classification of ore deposits;
(4) the geological processes involved in the formation of magmatic, sedimentary and hydrothermal ore deposits;
(5) The ore resources in Europe and the exploration and exploitation of ore deposits in Europe
These concepts will be developed during lectures and practicals
UE Exploration geophysics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module is intended to supplement the subsurface geophysics teaching with a detailed mathematical description of geophysics imaging techniques adapted to petroleum, mining and crustal objectives.
Particular focus is given to the main following methods:
- seismic reflection signals; principles of acquisition and data processing (theory and practical exercices on academic and industrial softwares) with application to several datasets acquired in marine environment and on the ground at various scales of the Earth's crust.
- interpretation of controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) data and gravimetry,
- electromagnetic prospection in diffuse regime
The seismic part of this lecture aims at proving a solid background fo further interpretation, which is taught in the "bassin analysis" class.
Evaluation is based on the reports from the practical works and on a final exam.
UE Subsurface modelling
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
In this module, taught in the form of a short course with essentially practical assignments, students will learn to use subsurface modelling software ("Move"). This way of modelling the subsurface has become the industry standard, fully supplanting 2D geological maps, and it is essential for Master students in Earth Sciences to know how to use these tools. In addition, the software developers make them available to universities at a very low cost. The practical assignments will benefit from the new digital mapping facilities installed at Phitem with support from the OSUG@2020 excellence laboratory. This course is taught in English by an external contributor, who is an active consultant in structural geology with an excellent knowledge of the work field.
UE Multidisciplinary field course
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
10-day field course between Grenoble and the Briançon area. This multidisciplinary course is organized around the implementation of previously acquired techniques of multi-tool geological analysis (pre-requisites in mapping, structural and sedimentological analysis) and consists of an exploration and synthesis situation in the field. This workshop, inspired by training courses requested by the petroleum industry, addresses multi-scale and three-dimensional observation, integration with geodynamic models and the link with the geophysical approach in current analogues. It also allows students to become familiar with the new mapping and measurement tools (tablets).
UE Sedimentology field course
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
During this course you will familiarise yourself with the evolution of a sedimentary basin through field observations. We will study, at various scales (hand sample, outcrop, landscape), the distribution of sedimentary facies in the basin through space and time, paying particular attention to the effects of changing accommodation space, as a result of for example sea-level variations. We will study the basin along a transect from the basin margin to the deeper water areas.
Language: French, English
UE Stratégie argumentative
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
Objectifs d’enseignement :
- Prendre conscience des représentations véhiculées par le langage et comprendre les phénomènes langagiers décrits en écolinguistique afin de faciliter la communication, la cohésion, l’intégration et la compréhension entre les différents acteurs de la transition écologique
- Être capable d'utiliser le terme adéquat, les métaphores et la saillance discursive pour développer des stratégies argumentatives auprès d'acteurs publics et privés
UE Marine Geophysics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The field course offers a practical teaching in which they implement geophysical and geological methods classically used in Marine Geosciences. In particular, during the internship, students will participate in a seismic reflection acquisition campaign aboard the Thetys II, a coastal vessel of the French Oceanic Fleet, chartered by INSU and managed by IFREMER.
The object studied is the northern Ligurian continental margin, off Nice, which is a remarkable example of passive margin. The internship program includes (under the supervision of a teacher, and with the help of a technician) the implementation by the students of the main data acquisition techniques used in Earth Sciences
- principles of navigation and positioning (GPS, keeping a logbook);
- bathymetry (canyons, sedimentary surveys, continental slope, plateaus,...);
- the implementation of seismic-reflection multitracing, along large profiles cutting the entire Ligurian margin.
These profiles are completed by cross-sectional profiles at the top or bottom of the slope, in order to initiate the students to the study and the reconstruction in three dimensions of sedimentary bodies. Back in the classroom, the students process and interpret the data acquired at sea, in the context of regional geology and global tectonics.
The internship is organized differently for students in the Geophysics track and those in the GeoResources/Geodynamics track, with a different weight for the 3 parts of the internship:
(1) acquisition campaign at sea
(2) processing of seismic profiles with Seismic Unix
(3) interpretation of seismic reflection profiles
For geophysics students, the focus is on acquisition and processing. For example, an offshore session is planned to evaluate the importance of acquisition parameters on the resolution and penetration of the profiles obtained.
For the other students, the interpretation of the profiles is more developed and completed by a course on the tectonic-sedimentary history of the margin. Students will be able to recognize on the profiles the Messinian erosion surface, the unconformity of the acoustic basement and post-rift sediments, the transgression of the upper evaporites, the mode of deposition of the Quaternary turbidic series (canyons and deep Var cone), the tectonic deformation of the foot of the margin (sometimes salt diapirs, active faults of the foot of the margin and of the basin), the subsident zone of the foot of the margin, and finally sometimes, the syn-rift series and the Oligocene tilted blocks (ante-rift series).
The number of students is limited to 16, divided into 2 groups according to their course within the STPE master.
The evaluation is done on the basis of :
a summary sheet to be handed in right after the course. These sheets are corrected by the teachers and can be used as revision sheets afterwards
an oral exam on the 3 themes covered during the course:
Acquisition
Processing
Interpretation
Recommended prerequisites
The student is expected to have a good knowledge of seismic wave propagation and notions of sedimentology.
The processing of seismic profiles is done with the software suite " Seismic Unix ", already presented in the module PAX8GPAB " Exploration Geophysics ".
All students participating in the internship will be required to attend two sessions of module PAX8GRAC "Basin Analysis".
Targeted skills
At the end of the internship, students will have seen the complete work chain carried out during a marine geoscience campaign, from geophysical measurements in the field to the geological interpretation of profiles. In particular, they will know how to:
- Identify the key parameters needed to acquire a seismic profile, identifying the appropriate equipment and choosing the relevant parameters to obtain data with the resolution and penetration needed to characterize the target being studied.
- Process raw data to obtain a quality, debruised and migrated seismic profile.
- Identify artifacts and avoid gross errors when interpreting a seismic profile
- Recognize sedimentary structures in a series of seismic profiles on a 3D volume and place them in the tectonic-sedimentary history of the region studied.
UE Remote sensing and GIS project
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This course offers a broad and practical introduction to Earth Observation from space and to Geographic Information System (GIS). The course works on a basis of 3h lecture associated to 3h of practical work using the free software QGIS. Course are usually given in French. In addition, a project using QGIS has to be by small groups of students, including 9h (3x3h) with teacher support in computer room.
The structure of the courses is:
first part is common to all the student (from January to February winter break)
+ Introduction to GIS: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (1): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (2): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Classification methods: 3h course + 3h practical
The second part of the course depends of the program followed by the students :
for Geophysics, Geodynamics, Georesources and Georisks programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geology: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geophysics: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to planetology: 3h course + 3h practical
for Hydro-resources and Atmosphere-Climate-Continental Landmass programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Digital Elevation Surface: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to atmosphere: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Ocean: 3h course
Evaluation will be based on a written exam at mid-term, a written report about the project, and a final written exam covering all the lectures and practicals.
UE Mineral Resources and Sustainable Development
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This teaching unit will introduce the students to the new opportunities for mining exploration in Europe. In the current environment of high-metal demand and exhaustion of historically important metal resources, different sources of metals and technologies to extract metal will have to be found: mining deeper primary mineral resources, using new type of ore, or returning to recover extractable minerals from abandoned mines. The idea of this unit is to train students to identify such sustainable opportunities using complex sets of geological, historical, geographical, and economical data. Innovation in data visualisualization and integration will be of prior importance. We develop a new pedagogic approach based on an educational crowd-sourcing contest. The students will work co-operatively on an unstructured problem, without a pre-ordained “right” answer, where they will hone both their university-acquired or self-taught skillsets into application that the minerals exploration industry requires. We aim at strengthening MSc students creativity, entrepreneurship and skills for the sustainable development of mineral resources in Europe. We train the next generation of mineral resource managers (not only geologists) to develop new active environmental and societal strategy for sustainably harnessing mineral resources in Europe
UE Field trip : Exploration and Mining Geology
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The Montagne Noire constitutes a remarkable metallogenic province with about 100 km long and 25-70 km wide, located in the southwest part of Massif Central, France.
This region hosts a unique diversity of ore deposits:
- Pb, Zn, Cu, Ba in sedimentary and metamorphic units,
- Sb in magmatic context,
- W in metamorphic units,
- Au, Ag, As, Te in epithermal context,
- Al in bauxites,
- U in sedimentary context,
All these ore deposits are of major interest regarding mining exploration and exploitation. Mining activity has taken place in several areas since pre-Roman period mainly for for Au and Ag exploitation. Some very important ore deposits have been exploited in this province during the past century (The Salsigne gold mine used to be the biggest in Europe). The geology of Montagne Noire has a remarkable chronostratigraphic set that provides a vast lithologic diversity.
The general idea of the field trip is to introduce the students to ore targeting and exploration, but also to the environmental history of mining: exploitation, closure and recreation.
UE GéoReservoirs: caractérisation, évaluation, valorisation
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
"La connaissance du sous-sol est nécessaire pour appréhender ses risques, évaluer ses ressources, et les exploiter dans un cadre qui fait consensus, notamment vis-à-vis des dernières contraintes environnementales.
L'identification et la caractérisation géochimique et géophysique des réservoirs géologiques trouvent de très nombreuses applications pour la production et le stockage de ressources. Qu'il s'agisse d'analogues de surface ou de réservoirs souterrains, la compréhension de la mise en place des réservoirs et de leur fonctionnement dynamique en tant que milieux poreux, fracturés et perméables bénéficie à l'hydrologie, à la géothermie (y compris ses aléas sismiques), aux stockages souterrains de gaz (CO2, CH4, H2, He, air comprimé, ...), voire à la volcanologie.
Les étudiants apprendront dans ce module à utiliser les outils géochimiques nécessaire à la caractérisation des réservoirs pétroliers (maturité, dépôts environnementaux, du pétrole / gaz). Ils manipuleront des logiciels permettant de traiter, de visualiser et d'interpréter des volumes de données sismiques dans le cadre de l’imagerie sismique 2D et 3D. Ils seront également initiés aux solutions envisagées pour réduire la concentration de CO2 atmosphérique (stockage géologique).
Les connaissances acquises dans ce module pourront être valorisées aussi bien en milieu industriel que dans des organismes de recherche publique de type EPIC (ANDRA, BRGM, CEA, IFP Energies nouvelles, INERIS, IRSN, …)."
UE Drilling and borehole geophysics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module trains students in site geophysics. It contains solid theoretical training, complemented by many practical applications. The aim is to make students more autonomous with respect to the choice of exploration methods and the establishment of an acquisition campaign.
UE Tectonics-Metamorphism field course
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Students will learn to recognise and interpret markers of ductile deformation in different structural and metamorphic contexts.
Field workshop offered every other year, alternating with the Field Workshop Petrology.. This module is available in even-numbered years (2018, 2020, etc.)
UE Lithosphere dynamics (2024-2025)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to examine the behavior of the lithosphere and of the crust, at spatial scales ranging from the global Earth to the mountain range. An important part of the course is meant to place plate tectonics in the broad context of mantle convection. Similarly, the evolution of mountain ranges is understood within the general geodynamic framework. Surface deformation is explained by the cumulative effects of crustal and lithospheric tectonics, mantle convection, and surface processes. The development of the course is largely based on the analysis of Cenozoic tectonics, using multiple regional examples. A multidisciplinary approach is developed, in order to use analytical tools and geodynamic modeling to interpret observations from geophysical datasets or from the geological record.
UE Near surface geophysics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Near Surface Geophysics is open to Georisks, Geophysics and MEEES paths. The course starts with a brief reminder of the basics in Geophysical imaging (Seismic refraction, electrical soundings) and evolves towards more advanced methods: i) inversion-based methods such as tomography techniques (electric, seismic) and surface wave investigations, and ii) methods based on more advanced signal processing such as Ground Penetrating Radar and advanced Seismic reflection techniques. A specific GPS course is also included.
The course is a bit data oriented with training using different geophysical softwares (electrical and seismic tomography, Surface wave inversion, Seismic Unix).
A fieldwork is included (generally on a landslide) and data acquired in the field are then post-processed and analyzed to produce a report.
UE Environmental-politics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The Environmental Problem Solving training unit helps develop the knowledge, methods and competencies needed to advance sustainability and the ecological transition as unprecedented change is happening at the global, regional and local levels. Students are trained to use qualitative, quantitative and scenario methods in a systems-theory approach. “What can change?” “How can change happen?” “Who can change?” are the pivotal questions of the course. Two of the six key sectors of the ecological transition (Transport and Industry) are explored from a theoretical and practical perspective, including investigation of a set of case studies and a roll-play at the end of each sequence. Specific attention is given to biophysical and subsurface resources. This course works hand in hand with the project-based course “Initiatives” and the various interventions of our colleagues from the geology department.
Course objectives and competencies developed:
- Understand the complexity and interconnectedness of major environmental issues: systems competence
- Demonstrate understanding of selected environmental problems from a transdisciplinary perspective: transdisciplinary competence
- Learn to use the methods and processes of environmental problem solving: critical, strategic and normative competence
Learn to use qualitative and quantitative data-collection methods: integrative data collection and analysis
- Develop strong oral and written communication skills and abilities: interpersonal and communication competence
UE Active Faults
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Active faults are those producing earthquakes. Their knowledge is thus a prerequisite to any seismic hazard analysis. The objective of the ‘active faults’ class is to make the students familiar with these structures, and establish the links and common properties between long‐term geological faults and instantaneous earthquake ruptures. We start reminding a few basics in rock and fracture mechanics that allow understanding why the Earth crust and lithosphere break through faulting and earthquakes. We then see on which criteria most active faults can be identified in the surface morphology. The modern tools allowing such identification are described. We show that faults are organized features that form hierarchical, larger‐scale systems, whose geometry brings information on long‐term fault evolution, kinematics and mechanics. The long‐term kinematics and evolution can then be more precisely quantified using data such as geomorphology and geochronology. We discuss these methods of quantification, the assumptions on which they rely, their implications in terms of long‐term fault slip rates, earthquake sizes and recurrence times, etc... Then, we go back to earthquake ruptures, which we analyze with a ‘geological eye’ (analysis of static parameters). Doing so, we point out the differences and similarities between earthquake ruptures and long‐term faults, and discuss the properties of faults which most control the earthquake behavior. We also characterize how faults behave during a single, then multiple seismic cycles, and introduce the recently discovered complexities of both the seismic cycle and its repetitions. Combining the present knowledge on long‐term faults and earthquakes, we then try to understand how faults may grow in time, i.e., accumulate slip and propagate laterally through the repetition of large earthquakes. We eventually suggest how that understanding may help anticipating the occurrence and size of the future earthquakes.
UE short Internship
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship must be carried out for at least 6 weeks. It aims to discover the professional environment, business or research laboratory, whose themes are linked to the objectives of each course.
UE long Internship
ECTS
24 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship has a minimum duration of 4 months and constitutes the finalization of each student's master's project. It can serve as a gateway to the professional world or preparatory to a doctorate. It must be closely linked to the chosen master's course.
UE Air, soil, water : introduction to environmental pollutants modelling
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Every year, mankind emits into the environment large quantities of chemical compounds, notably organic ones, some of which may have an environmental impact far from where or when they were emitted.
The primary objective of this course is to learn how to analyse environmental problems, to estimate the most important phenomena and to provide first-order approximate answers to these problems. By the end of the course, you should:
- Be able to define a simple model to evaluate the fate of chemical compounds in the environment: box models
- Be able to solve this type of model, if necessary numerically with a common tool (python)
- Understand how / where to find data to configure these models
- Know some methods for evaluating the uncertainties of your numerical model
- Develop some environmental common sense
## Teaching language
- all courses documents are available in both english and french
- most activities are group-based, and groups work either in english or french depending on people present - there is always at leas a french group and at least an english group
UE Climatic and Environmental variability
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
What are the scientific issues associated with climate and environmental variability?
How does this variability play out on global, regional and local scales?
With which statistical tools can we describe it?
This course aims, through practical work on a machine, to address these questions.
The objective is to acquire :
a culture of climate and environmental sciences
a knowledge of statistical tools to describe climate and environmental variability
skills in several numerical data treatment languages (R and Python) in an ergonomic programming environment (Jupyter
Language: French and English
UE Géochimie des contaminants : I) interactions métaux/minéraux/matière organique dans les réservoirs terrestres
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course deals with the fundamental processes that control the behavior of metallic pollutants (e.g. Zn, Pb, As, Ag, Cr, U, Fe, Mn...) and nutrients (Nitrate, phosphate...) in soils, groundwater, mine waters, lakes, and wastewaters. In the first part, the fundamental processes conditioning the mobility/reactivity of these pollutants, and their solubility and toxicity are discussed, i.e. bacterial respiration and the redox chain, the parameters conditioning their retention (specific surface, density/nature/structure/strength of the reactive sites, pH) and their modes of interaction with solids (complexation/ionic exchange/hydrophobicity) are treated, and exemplified.
The second part of the module is dedicated to the illustration of the taught subject, i.e. dedicated to the visit of two respectively sulphide and carbanate-based mining sites and the associated societal, environmental and technical management problems and outcomes. This visit is followed by three days of practical work in the laboratory with the study in small groups of the metal content of the sampled soils, the composition and the BOD of wastewater and the complexing reactivity of reactive soil organic matter. A reading and oral presentation of related scientific publications is included.
Language: Course in English, overheads in French, the 'mines' sites visit ans sampling is in French. A 50-page course summary written in English and French is distributed at the beginning of the course.
UE Hydrology and hydraulics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course covers an area and knowledge that will be useful for both vocational and research programmes.
1. Physical hydrology, slope processes (Cédric Legoût)
2. Hydrology for engineers (Théo Vischel)
Provide the hydrological concepts for addressing issues of predetermination of floods:
- analysis of the rainfall-runoff relationship;
- application of flood predetermination methods.
3. Open-channel hydraulics and river hydraulics (Philippe Belleudy)
Which elements of your fluid mechanics courses might be useful for the study and practice of river hydraulics problems?
- head loss and backwater curve;
- gradually varied flows;
- shocks and transitions of the water regime;
- gravity, inertia and friction: non-permanent open-channel flows;
- application: facilities to combat flood risk;
- solid transport and river morphology; several impact studies.
4. Closed-conduit hydraulics (Jean-Pierre Vandervaere)
UE Geophysical Prospecting
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is an introduction to the use of basic geophysical prospecting methods (seismic refraction, electrical sounding, EM mapping). An effort is made towards the processing and acquisition of data in the field and especially their interpretation in geological and hydrological terms in simple environments.
UE Géochimie des contaminants II) modélisation Phreeqc
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This optional module is intended for students wishing to deepen their knowledge of the behavior of metals in natural soils and waters and in mining environments. It is based on the PHREEQC geochemical modeling software which is a reference in the scientific world and is freely available. The first sessions are dedicated to the step-by-step learning of the software in the classroom and in tutored sessions, the following sessions are dedicated to the modeling of equilibrium speciation processes in soils and groundwater (hydrolysis, Eh-pH diagrams, complexation and toxicity, 1D reactive transfer of pollutions in soils, redox processes) and mining processes (acid mine drainage, genesis of a mining reservoir, solubility f(T, p)). The last two sessions are dedicated to projects elaborated by the students in pairs.
Language: English, bilingual notices.
UE Fluid mechanics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course provides basics in fluid mechanics. This includes hydrostatic, fluid kinematics and Euler equation for ideal fluid. Bernoulli formula are then derived and examples of application are presented. The case of non-ideal fluid and Navier-Stokes formula are afterwards established. The NS equation is solved for classical simple cases (e.g. Couette flow). Turbulence is shortly introduced during a 3h practical course held at the Coriolys experiment.
This course comprises 21h of CM/TD, and a 3h practical course.
The final exam is a 2h examination. The "controle continu" is a written homework.
UE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module provides an introduction to the course. It helps place the issues covered by the Earth and Environmental Sciences in context, and guide the students with their training and professional projects. This module consists of:
(1) a 3-day field workshop for the entire class, which will serve to illustrate the major themes and issues of EES with the help of the exceptional sites found around Grenoble;
(2) an interview, and the drafting of an educational and professional project by each student;
(3) seminars for the entire class on the major current issues of EES (mineral and energy resources, telluric risks, climate change, water resources).
UE Hydrogeology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module deals with flow in saturated porous media. The first part teaches the natural flow of water (development of piezometric maps, determination of streamlines, discrimination of flow systems, variation of reserves, calculation of mass balances, Darcy, etc.). The second part deals with the anthropic disturbance of the natural flow (hydrodynamics of wells and consequences on the aquifer and its functioning, e.g. pumping tests; development of analytical solutions with a dedicated Python-based software). The third part deals with mass transfer in solution (fate of contaminants and anthropogenic tracers in the aquifer). Practical lessons on real cases are provided (implementation of pollution control systems, water production, prediction of the fate of pollutants (sorption, degradation).
Language : français // Language : french
UE Professional and Scientific Communication 1
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Préparer l’étudiant aux métiers visés par la formation, autant les métiers de chercheur que ceux de chargés d’étude dans le privé. Formulation d’un CV, entraînement aux entretiens d’embauche, la structuration d’une publication scientifique et d'un rapport d'études, la connaissance des outils de recherche et de mise en forme d’une publication, un enseignement sur le fonctionnement des bureaux d’étude et de la législation en vigueur font partie de cette préparation. Nous insistons sur le fait que les futurs thésards ou ceux qui entrent directement dans le monde du travail doivent connaître les deux mondes.
UE Lautaret Field Course: Snow-Atmosphere interface
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The snowpack is an essential and unique component of the Earth's climate system. It forms an interface between the atmosphere and the ground, a place of intense exchanges of mass (water/ice), energy (radiative, turbulent), and chemical species (nitrogen, ...). It thus plays an important role in mountain hydrology (water resources, etc.), in ecology, in the thermal regime of the soil (permafrost), etc.
The course "Snow and atmosphere at Le Lautaret" aims at observing the alpine snow cover and the atmosphere from several angles: mass and energy balance of the surface, nivology, thermics, chemistry. The objective is to acquire new knowledge on snow and associated problems as well as technical and experimental skills.
This internship emphasizes autonomy and practical application with the use of instruments used in research and data processing in order to achieve elaborate scientific results. You will be in groups of 3, and will conduct a large number of observations during the internship, then process them to finally present the whole in the form of posters, which constitutes the final exam.
The course takes place every year at the end of February or the beginning of March at the Col du Lautaret (2100 m.a.s.l) over 6 days, during which you will address
- snowpack thickness mapping (GPS, GPR, 2 x 0.5 days)
- snowpack study: snow wells, stratigraphy, metamorphism (2 x 0.5 days)
- thermal regime (0.5 day).
- albedo of the anieg and energy balance (0.5 day).
- atmospheric ozone (0.5 day).
- snow optics (0.5 day).
- data processing and interpretation (0.5 day)
This course is also open to international students/professionals (Master, PhD), depending on available places, and is a good opportunity to open up in a beautiful and friendly environment.
Recommended prerequisites :
Basic knowledge of environmental physics
Language(s) : French
UE Hydrology and Hydrometeorology Field Course
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This hydrology trainee course occurs on the ‘Gazel’ and ‘Claduègne’ watershed sites in the French Ardèche department. To note that the landscapes are appreciated not only from hydrologists but also from tourists of the entire planet. The investigated watersheds are monitored since 2011 by the ‘Observatoire Hydrométéorologique Méditerranéen Cévennes-Vivarais’ (http://www.earth-syst-sci-data-discuss.net/essd-2016-32/) for a better understanding of the processes leading to the flash floods, and associated improvement of their prediction. Teaching occurs on site in small group (5-6 students) workshops and combines both theoretical and practical training and on-site hypothesis testing. Teaching focuses on an integrated understanding approach, that means the transmission of watershed-relevant hydrological, meteorological, pedological, geophysical, geochemical, ecological and geomorphological knowledge. Courses are performed by the staff of observatory researchers and professors (http://www.osug.fr/) in their respective domain of their specialized knowledge, the Environmental Geosciences Institute (http://www.ige-grenoble.fr/) is specifically involved.
Lange d’enseignement / Teaching language: french, with english support, see the ‘Hydroressource’ main page.
UE Instrumentation and metrology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
In geoscience, it is important to know how to appreciate the precision and the accuracy of a physical measurement, to correctly interpret and compare it with other measurements. This module begins with a short introduction to the theory of measurement (metrology) (course 6h) which will be put into practice (TP 9h) by the statistical analysis of datasets of measurements that you will acquire yourself in the TP.
In a second part, the module deals with instrumentation, firstly in a general way (the principles and the problems specific to geosciences, 6h) illustrated by a TP where you will assemble a simple instrument (temperature logger) from the electronic components .
All this will then be put into practice in a concrete and real case of measures (24h total). You will perform precise positioning measurements on a landslide in Trièves, by GPS and by tacheometry (field trip of one day). When analyzing the data obtained, we will benefit from the redundancy of the measurements and the independence of the two techniques to quantify the distances between several measurement points with their uncertainties. The results in terms of distances will be compared with measurements from previous years to assess if the landslide is active, and if so, how and how fast it is moving. This module allows you to acquire the basics of GPS operation and tachometry (course 6h), to obtain a field measurement experience (one day), and to test several freely available software as well as webservices to analyze GPS data (TD 12h).
UE Atmospheric pollution: Principles and Experimental Methods
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The aim of this module is to explain the chemical reactor that is the atmosphere, in order to describe the main types of pollution affecting it.
The first part of the course consists of reminders of the structure of the atmosphere and its composition, insisting on the diversity of this composition. The concepts of wells, sources and lifespan are also reviewed and illustrated by atmospheric examples where the lifespans are related to the transport times that can be observed in the different layers of the atmosphere. The importance of temperature inversion situations in the establishment of pollution episodes is illustrated with examples of pollution concerning, in particular, the Grenoble basin.
Subsequently, the means for quantifying the processes (deposits, chemical or photochemical reactions) responsible for elimination or formation of the main air pollutants are described: units, chemical and photochemical kinetics applied to the atmosphere, calculation of concentrations, etc.
Lastly, the different types of pollution to which the atmosphere may be subjected are addressed:
- The different types of air pollution episodes
- Regulatory concepts: ASQAA, information and alert thresholds, public regulatory measures, etc.
- Particulate pollution and public health aspects
- Acid rain and London smog
- Urban ozone pollution (photochemical smog)
- Ozone layer and ozone hole: an example of global pollution
The last course session prepares students for the 4-day mini-internship that takes place in the month of March. The objective of these four days is for the students, working in pairs or groups of three, to conduct measurements of some of the most representative pollutants in urban areas: ozone, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Besides the measurements that may be carried out, our objective through this mini-internship is to raise awareness of the particularities and difficulties that can be posed by environmental measurements in general, and atmospheric measurements in particular. The procedure for carrying out the atmospheric sampling and analysis is explained to the students, who will then be free to define for themselves the questions they wish to answer with the measurements they take (many different ways of measuring a given pollutant).
UE Remote sensing and GIS project
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This course offers a broad and practical introduction to Earth Observation from space and to Geographic Information System (GIS). The course works on a basis of 3h lecture associated to 3h of practical work using the free software QGIS. Course are usually given in French. In addition, a project using QGIS has to be by small groups of students, including 9h (3x3h) with teacher support in computer room.
The structure of the courses is:
first part is common to all the student (from January to February winter break)
+ Introduction to GIS: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (1): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (2): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Classification methods: 3h course + 3h practical
The second part of the course depends of the program followed by the students :
for Geophysics, Geodynamics, Georesources and Georisks programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geology: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geophysics: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to planetology: 3h course + 3h practical
for Hydro-resources and Atmosphere-Climate-Continental Landmass programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Digital Elevation Surface: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to atmosphere: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Ocean: 3h course
Evaluation will be based on a written exam at mid-term, a written report about the project, and a final written exam covering all the lectures and practicals.
UE Environment records
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of "Environmental Records" is to understand the principles and implementation of classical methods of sedimentology, isotope chemistry, mineralogy and biology (DNA, pollen, chironomids, diatoms) applied to the study of various paleoenvironnemental records (sediment, peat, loess,..) to reconstruct Holocene landscape, plant and human migration, climate change.
The aim is to reconstruct the quality of water, the biology of the catchment area, landscapes, water and air pollution, the direction of marine currents and winds throughout the Holocene and thus to reconstruct the advent of the Anthropocene since the Bronze Age
The module is based on a series of applied lectures/examples and includes a personal project on a topic chosen from a wide range of themes, or on another topic defined with the student and the supervisors, with a written report and an oral presentation.
Recommended prerequisites: Basic geochemistry, and notions of geology and sedimentology
Language of teaching: In French, with slides in English
UE Organic pollutions and remediation
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course combines diagnosis and risk analysis of polluted sites, behavior of organic pollutants, mainly hydrocarbons, remediation and legislation with a visit to a site polluted with organochlorines and hydrocarbons. The lessons are delivered by university teachers and professionals of the depollution sector.
Two sessions are dedicated to the reminders of the metallic pollutions delivered the previous year in the module "Geochemistry of contaminants: I) interactions...". A 50 pages Fr/An written document summarizing this course is available. Language : French, documents in French and English.
UE Projets en Géochimie/Hydrologie et Qualité de l'Eau
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module deals with the quality and properties of drinking water and wastewater in the form of tutored projects and several site visits, and teaches specific treatment, characterization and implementation techniques (stable isotopes, pumping tests, infiltration tests, geochemical and hydrogeological monitoring of the campus water table, non collective sanitation).
Language : French
UE Transfer in Porous Media
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course deals with the simulation of (a) groundwater flows, (b) contamination plumes and (c) heat fluxes, in saturated and unsaturated porous media, using numerical models (Feflow and Hydrus). The associated keywords are direct and inverse modelling, groundwater, contamination, geothermal energy. The practical and research implications are the modelling of infiltration, groundwater recharge, flow fields and contaminant fate, the design of remediation systems, heat pumps (low and high energy, i.e. subsurface and deep) and water production systems.
Prerequisite:
* M1 STE-UGA (or equivalent) hydrological or hydrogeological courses.
* M1 STE-UGA (or equivalent) hydrological or hydrogeological courses.
Language
The course is taught in French. Supplements in English are provided if necessary for non-French speaking students.
UE Continental Systems Hydrology
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
L'objectif de cette UE est de présenter l'ensemble des connaissances nécessaires à la compréhension du cycle continental de l'eau. Les variables, leurs liens entre elles et les méthodes de mesure sont présentées. Les équations de transfert et d'infiltration verticale sont présentées ensuite ainsi que quelques cas d'étude particuliers. Une séance TP porte sur un sujet à approfondir au choix parmi deux.
UE Transferts dans les eaux de surface
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course deals with the transfer in surface waters of both dissolved and particulate matter. It deals with soil erosion by water on hillslopes, solid transport of fine and coarse elements in rivers, reactive transfer of contaminants and pathogens in surface soil horizons. Both the processes and the management strategies to limit the impacts are addressed.
Recommended prerequisites : M1 STE-UGA hydrological or hydrogeological courses
Language :The course is taught in French. Supplements in English are provided if necessary for non-French speaking students.
UE Water quality and treatment
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
(i) Understand and model the main processes managing and impacting water quality (mainly surface water in this module) (ii) Development strategies in terms of development and depollution to limit its impacts (wastewater/rainwater treatment) (iii) Ensure the production of water suitable for different uses (domestic, industrial, etc.). An integrated approach to the phenomena is favoured, from upstream of the catchment area to downstream and the receiving environment. This module thus comprises 3 parts: (i) Water quality (ii) Water treatment bioprocesses (iii) Physico-chemical water treatment processes.
In terms of pedagogy, the tutorials include applications concerning the biogeochemical modeling of watercourses as well as the dimensioning of unitary water treatment processes. In addition, a mini project makes it possible to synthesize and relate the themes provided in this module in a more integrated way. These tutorials and this project correspond to one third of the module (counting 20 hours of personal work in addition to face-to-face sessions. The module is in ENGLISH. Beware, the number of place is limited (4 students/year) this module being shared with the ENS3/HOE option. The module is self-consistant.
Language : English
UE Environmental-politics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The Environmental Problem Solving training unit helps develop the knowledge, methods and competencies needed to advance sustainability and the ecological transition as unprecedented change is happening at the global, regional and local levels. Students are trained to use qualitative, quantitative and scenario methods in a systems-theory approach. “What can change?” “How can change happen?” “Who can change?” are the pivotal questions of the course. Two of the six key sectors of the ecological transition (Transport and Industry) are explored from a theoretical and practical perspective, including investigation of a set of case studies and a roll-play at the end of each sequence. Specific attention is given to biophysical and subsurface resources. This course works hand in hand with the project-based course “Initiatives” and the various interventions of our colleagues from the geology department.
Course objectives and competencies developed:
- Understand the complexity and interconnectedness of major environmental issues: systems competence
- Demonstrate understanding of selected environmental problems from a transdisciplinary perspective: transdisciplinary competence
- Learn to use the methods and processes of environmental problem solving: critical, strategic and normative competence
Learn to use qualitative and quantitative data-collection methods: integrative data collection and analysis
- Develop strong oral and written communication skills and abilities: interpersonal and communication competence
UE Emerging pollutions
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Introduction to concepts involved in risk assessment and how they are applied to formulating human, aquatic or terrestrial environments emerging contaminants risk assessments. Modern methods and models describing environmental risk assessment strategies will be emphasized. Topics will include: Sources and exposure pathways, Transformation and transport processes, Megacities as tomorrow ecosystems, energy exploration and fracking, Military and conflicts areas, nanomaterials and microplastics as emerging contaminants. Tools to be acquired and used include: soil and water quality data evaluation, dynamic box models (for lake, building, city), risk assessment and risk management, human health risk assessment, Life Cycle Analysis. Case studies across all environmental compartments (e.g. surface water, groundwater, soil, air, biological tissue, etc.) will be drawn on specific emerging contaminants by students, who will formulate a risk assessment as part of a team.
Langue d’enseignement / Teaching language: french, with english support, see the ‘Hydroressource’ main page.
UE Hydrogeophysics for Hydrodynamic modeling
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module aims to expand knowledge of students acquired in the fields of hydrogeophysics and hydrodynamic modeling. Teaching is focalized on a better understanding of geophysical data and their use as input variables for hydrodynamic modeling. Practicing with the numerical modeling software will be focused on the demonstration of the benefits brought by the use of these data as, for example, a decrease of the uncertainties in the modeling. The teaching is based on software packages with a free access that will facilitate to students the use of this approach at the beginning of the professional activities. The follow-up of both courses hydrogeophysics and Transfer in porous media and the use of a laptop for each student will be required.
Prerequisites: Having followed the hydrodynamic modeling and hydrogeophysics courses. The use of a laptop PC for each student will be required..
Language: French or English (but not both)
UE Hydrogeophysics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course will focus on the main geophysical methods used for environmental and hydrological problems. In particular, a detailed presentation on electrical tomography, electromagnetic methods, geological radar and proton magnetic resonance will be provided. These methods will then be used to acquire data in an environmental context (one day of fieldwork) and then processed and interpreted together.
UE Hydrologie et climat
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The water cycle is tightly coupled to climate change (and more generally to global changes) at all time and space scales. After a brief introduction on the observed continental hydrological cycle changes at the global level; and on the associated methods (detection, attribution, projection); the course will focus on these changes (and their impacts and possible adaptation strategies) at finer scales in different regions of the world. This second part will be done mainly in the form of TD/TPs.
Recommended prerequisites: Some background in climate/meteorology/hydrology. Practical experience in programming and/or numerical/statistical analysis of environmental data series (e.g. Climatic and Environmental variability EU)
Language: French
UE short Internship
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship must be carried out for at least 6 weeks. It aims to discover the professional environment, business or research laboratory, whose themes are linked to the objectives of each course.
UE long Internship
ECTS
24 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship has a minimum duration of 4 months and constitutes the finalization of each student's master's project. It can serve as a gateway to the professional world or preparatory to a doctorate. It must be closely linked to the chosen master's course.
UE Signal processing
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The scope of this course is to cover the fundamentals of numerical data processing. The main emphasis is on analysis of time series, such as seismic signals, even though the concepts can be transposed to any numerical signal. One major aim of the course is to illustrate some of the many pitfalls and problems that students (and researchers alike) can come across when analyzing signals.
The course is split into two equal parts. The first one introduces the theoretical framework of signal processing i.e., sampling, Fourier Transform, convolution, correlation and filtering, while the second one focuses on practical applications. In this second part, the students address specific subjects of signal processing (such as sampling issues, measurements of time delays, filtering, f–k analysis, wave separation …) in 4-hour lab work sessions performed on computers.
UE Introductory Field Course - Professional project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This module provides an introduction to the course. It helps place the issues covered by the Earth and Environmental Sciences in context, and guide the students with their training and professional projects. This module consists of:
(1) a 3-day field workshop for the entire class, which will serve to illustrate the major themes and issues of EES with the help of the exceptional sites found around Grenoble;
(2) an interview, and the drafting of an educational and professional project by each student;
(3) seminars for the entire class on the major current issues of EES (mineral and energy resources, telluric risks, climate change, water resources).
UE Programmation et environnements informatiques
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module is intended to acquire and deepen the basics of computer programming and computer environments that will be used throughout the Master's programme. It consists of 6 hours of lectures and 18 hours of practical work on computers. The practical sessions are adapted to the level of each student.
UE Geophysical observation of the Earth
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of the course is to provide students, from the beginning of the Master's degree, with tools to identify and retrieve geophysical data from international data distribution systems, and to apply some simple processing on the data. The 3 types of data are a) seismological data, and their application to earthquake location; b) GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data; c) Earth's magnetic field data, with an application to the reconstruction of the magnetic field at the surface of the Earth's core. The practical work on applications forms the core of the module, and is prepared through introductory courses in each of the three areas. Requirements: Basic knowledge on the Solid Earth and/or Waves and potential fields. Language: English
UE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is on the interactions and feedback relationships between tectonics and climatically controlled surface processes, with a particular emphasis on evolution of mountain belts such as the Alps, Andes or Himalayas. In this context, the timescales on which geological processes shape the surface of the Earth are of great importance. Therefore, the determining the timing and quantifying geological processes through wide range dating techniques are at the core of this course with the objective of modelling landscape evolution. Half of the course will be based on practical exercises, case studies and presentations, so that the students will actively participate in the teaching of this course.The course will be in English.
UE Geomechanics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The geomechanics course applies the principles of continuum mechanics to concrete problems of the Solid Earth.
The module is articulated by a back-and-forth between:
- a complete course presenting the basics of geomechanics, which allows a refresher for students who have never studied continuum mechanics,
- numerous application examples from real studies, both geotechnical and geodynamic. The large exercise base allows students who already have the basics of mechanics to practice reading data and applying the geomechanical approach in a more applied way than in their previous course.
Thus, at the end of the module, students should have a solid foundation in
- mechanics of continuous media
- the use and measurement of elastic properties of materials
- the use of failure criteria to gauge the mechanical stability of a structure: friction and fracturing phenomena.
Evaluation:
A mid-term CC counting for 50% of the grade
A final exam accounting for 50% of the grade
UE Geophysical Prospecting
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is an introduction to the use of basic geophysical prospecting methods (seismic refraction, electrical sounding, EM mapping). An effort is made towards the processing and acquisition of data in the field and especially their interpretation in geological and hydrological terms in simple environments.
UE Professional and Scientific Communication 1
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Préparer l’étudiant aux métiers visés par la formation, autant les métiers de chercheur que ceux de chargés d’étude dans le privé. Formulation d’un CV, entraînement aux entretiens d’embauche, la structuration d’une publication scientifique et d'un rapport d'études, la connaissance des outils de recherche et de mise en forme d’une publication, un enseignement sur le fonctionnement des bureaux d’étude et de la législation en vigueur font partie de cette préparation. Nous insistons sur le fait que les futurs thésards ou ceux qui entrent directement dans le monde du travail doivent connaître les deux mondes.
UE Gestion des risques : approches réglementaires et alternatives
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
L’objectif de cet enseignement est de transmettre des connaissances théoriques et des compétences pratiques sur la gestion des risques majeurs en France, avec un accent sur les risques naturels. Les étudiants disposeront dès lors des compétences et connaissances nécessaires pour comprendre les enjeux voire mettre en œuvre les plans de gestion réglementaires (PPR, PCS, information préventive, surveillance et observation), tout en disposant d’éléments sur les approches et outils alternatifs existant en matière de prévention (information préventive), de gestion (gestion intégrée des risques naturels, gestion de crise opérationnelle) et de retour d’expérience (notamment approches participatives et liées aux réseaux sociaux numériques). L’UE alterne entre cours (22h) et session pratiques (18h), parmi lesquelles une sortie de terrain.
UE Waves Physics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The wave physics course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge necessary to study wave propagation for geophysics. The course covers the following concepts
- Propagation of acoustic waves in fluids, in infinite and bounded media (guided waves)
- Green's functions in fluids
- Propagation of elastic waves in solids
- Laws of refraction, Huygens' principle, Khirkchoff's theory of diffraction
- Rayleigh, Love, Lamb, Scholte, Stoneley waves
The course is illustrated by practical work allowing the application of these concepts:
- Measurement and inversion of Lamb wave propagation
- Standing waves in a Kundt's tube
- Ultrasonic imaging
UE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course offers a guided tour of the Earth's interior, from the crust to the core. The main observables and tools for investigating the Earth's interior (seismology, mineralogy, heat transfer, geochemistry, gravity, geomagnetism) are presented and used to describe and explain key processes (crust formation, plate tectonics and mantle convection, magnetic field generation). A historical approach is often privileged: the emphasis is put on the construction and evolution of our understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and its behaviour, by presenting the discoveries and conceptual advances that have led to our current vision of the Earth. The course includes two sessions of group presentations of historical or recent papers.
Teaching language: English
UE Introduction to Seismic Risk
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The "Introduction to Seismic Risk" module introduces the basic concepts for assessing seismic hazard and risk assessement, and presents the main scientific issues and methods, from the movement of tectonic plates and faults rupturing to surface ground motions and their accounting for in seismic regulations. This module will address the concepts of active deformation, slip velocity and fault loading, earthquakes occurrence, seismic rupture characteristics, wave propagation in the earth's crust and modification of ground motions by surface geology. The module will also cover all the statistical methods necessary for the quantification of seismic hazard and risk (quantification of uncertainties, distribution laws, random processes, etc.). Introduction of these basic concepts are essential to the M2 Active Faults and M2 Engineering seismology modules which are more advanced courses.
UE Volcanic dynamics and hazards
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The aim of this module is to provide a basic understanding of the physics of magmatic and eruptive processes occurring in volcanoes and of the main methods of volcanological study and monitoring. In particular, the forces and parameters controlling the transport and storage of magma from the production zones to the surface will be explained and illustrated with the help of tutorials. In the context of the study of eruptive dynamics, the different modes of eruption of volcanic products (plume, pyroclastic flow, dome, lava flow) and their physical mechanisms will be discussed. The most commonly used geophysical monitoring methods (seismology, deformation, gas emission studies) will be presented, showing their contribution to the prediction of eruptions and the knowledge of volcanic processes. The different remote sensing methods used in this field (optical, thermal and radar imagery) will be described, with emphasis on the specificities of these techniques for their application to volcanology and monitoring. Teaching language: English.
UE Advanced volcanic dynamics and hazards
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
L’objectif de ce module est d’apporter une connaissance approfondie des méthodes opérationnelles de surveillance utilisées dans les observatoires volcanologiques et des principes de la gestion des crises volcaniques. Les diverses approches mises en œuvre pour évaluer l’aléa volcanique seront étudiées : cartographie des produits éruptifs, reconstitution de l’histoire éruptive, méthodes probabilistes et déterministes de prédiction des éruptions. Des TD/TP portant sur l’interprétation en temps réel des signaux géophysiques (sismicité, déplacements de surface…) seront proposés. Ce module s’appuiera sur les retours d’expériences des crises volcaniques récentes.
UE Mouvements de terrain, avalanches, ouvrages de protection
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
Cet enseignement est une introduction à l'évaluation des risques naturels gravitaires, dispensé par 6 intervenants professionnels:
- Aléas (mouvements de terrain, avalanches, crues et laves torrentielles) : compréhension des processus, méthodes de détection, caractérisation.
- Risques : notions de gestion des risques en fonction des enjeux ; approches qualitatives et quantitatives.
- Ouvrages de protection : principes généraux des dispositifs de protection contre les différents aléas, éléments de dimensionnement.
L'UE inclut des cours, un TD-jeux de rôle et une sortie terrain.
UE Exploration geophysics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module is intended to supplement the subsurface geophysics teaching with a detailed mathematical description of geophysics imaging techniques adapted to petroleum, mining and crustal objectives.
Particular focus is given to the main following methods:
- seismic reflection signals; principles of acquisition and data processing (theory and practical exercices on academic and industrial softwares) with application to several datasets acquired in marine environment and on the ground at various scales of the Earth's crust.
- interpretation of controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) data and gravimetry,
- electromagnetic prospection in diffuse regime
The seismic part of this lecture aims at proving a solid background fo further interpretation, which is taught in the "bassin analysis" class.
Evaluation is based on the reports from the practical works and on a final exam.
UE Remote sensing and GIS project
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This course offers a broad and practical introduction to Earth Observation from space and to Geographic Information System (GIS). The course works on a basis of 3h lecture associated to 3h of practical work using the free software QGIS. Course are usually given in French. In addition, a project using QGIS has to be by small groups of students, including 9h (3x3h) with teacher support in computer room.
The structure of the courses is:
first part is common to all the student (from January to February winter break)
+ Introduction to GIS: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (1): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (2): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Classification methods: 3h course + 3h practical
The second part of the course depends of the program followed by the students :
for Geophysics, Geodynamics, Georesources and Georisks programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geology: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geophysics: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to planetology: 3h course + 3h practical
for Hydro-resources and Atmosphere-Climate-Continental Landmass programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Digital Elevation Surface: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to atmosphere: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Ocean: 3h course
Evaluation will be based on a written exam at mid-term, a written report about the project, and a final written exam covering all the lectures and practicals.
UE Data sciences & Inverse problems
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
In every fields of science (economy, health, physics, chemistry,..), we measure/collect data or observations and try to understand and interpret them.
To interpret these complex data, we propose "simple" models, for example:
- in meteorology, data are temperature, humidity, etc, models are collection of boxes/cells linked through physical relationships.
- in earth-science, data are collected from satellites, ground instruments, and models propose a simplified view of earth dynamic
In the first case we are more interested in the data (what is the forecast for next week?) than in the model (cells),
In the second case we focus on the interpretation of the data rather than the data themselves.
The relation model->data is called the direct problem, the reverse is called the inverse problem.
Solving an inverse problem is answering the question: Given some data, how can we retrieve the model and parameters that explain them?
The course explores the solution of linear inversion problems and how to solve iteratively non linear inverse problems.
This is done by using a light theoretical background and playing on computer with applications.
prerequisite: basic knowledge of linear algebra (vector, matrices, transposition, dot product, etc...), some python (or matlab) programming experience
Language: english or french
UE Instrumentation for geophysics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module proposes the practical application of the knowledge acquired in the module "Geophysical observation of the Earth" in the disciplines of seismology and space geodesy by GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems). The aim is to master the entire GNSS measurement chain: handling the receiver, deploying the GNSS station with precise centring of the antenna receiving the GNSS signal, downloading and formatting the acquired data. The analysis of these data with an open source software will allow to reach a positioning accuracy of a few mm. The target of the measurements will be a landslide in the Trièves region. We will quantify its rate of displacement by combining the measurements taken with observations from previous years.
For seismology, we will deploy a classic seismological station completed by new generation instruments of the 'nodes' type and possibly fibre optics, DAS technique. We will address the issues of site selection according to ambient noise conditions, precise sensor installation, GPS data dating and remote data recovery. The target of the measurements will be the same landslide in the Trièves region. We will study seismological approaches to characterise both the seismic properties of this landslide and their temporal evolution.
Prerequisite: having followed the module "Geophysical observation of the Earth" in S1
UE Introduction to Machine learning in Earth Sciences
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of this course is to understand the principles and the application of machine learning methods (one of the branches of artificial intelligence) in the context of geosciences. To do so, we will introduce the concepts, the main uses in geosciences (detection/understanding of natural phenomena from satellite imagery, time series, etc.), the main problems addressed (regression, classification and unsupervised learning) as well as the main methods (random forests, PCA..). Finally, we will briefly introduce deep learning methods.
The main goal of this course is to know how to use these tools by oneself, to understand the main problems, but also to understand their limits. For this, the module is based on 12 hours of practical work in Python.
Pre-requisites:
Basic knowledge of Python programming and mathematics.
Languages: English, French
UE Scientific computing
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of this module is to acquire the principles of the basic methods of scientific computing and their implementation in computer codes. The methods are presented in a simplified way, insisting on the ideas behind them, then they are implemented in computer programs (in Python or Matlab) on simple examples related to geosciences.
UE Induced seismicity
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
During the 60'-90' numerous studies pinpointed on the evidence for seismicity triggered by the different types of geo-resource productions (mining, oil and gas extraction, reservoir impoundment, geothermal production, water supply) and discussed the possible triggering processes. Half a century later, the key challenges for the research community remain to be able to estimate where, when, how long will the induced seismicity sequence last, and what is the maximum possible earthquake size. In order address these questions, this module revisits case studies related to each type of geo-resource exploitations by selecting the cases where the seismicity and deformation before the exploitation onset are documented, and the production history is known. On such a basis, each of geo-resource exploitation styles are (i) analyzed in term of observed induced deformation and seismicity and (ii) mechanical models of the associated induced stress changes over time and space are presented. A specific focus on the partitioning of the deformation between slow plastic response and brittle seismic failure will be developed as a function of the local geo-mechanical context (tectonic setting, local forcing rate, boundary conditions).
Apart from such these global analyses, tools to extract patterns of time series for these human induced seismicity sequences will be defined using standard statistical seismology law in time space and size domains (e.g. frequency size distribution, aftershocks triggering, ...). These patterns and laws they derive from, will be used to compare the induced seismicity sequences both to the regular tectonic earthquake sequences and to the production history. Some implications-applications for production monitoring will be discussed.
UE Advanced gravitational risk
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to provide the fundamental notions of the study of landslides, which can have very diverse characteristics (speeds, sizes, mechanisms, geology) and forcings (precipitations, earthquakes, anthropic actions, deglaciation, erosion...). An important part of the course consists in illustrating the use of observation and characterisation methods (geodesy, remote sensing, seismology, geophysics, geomorphology, cosmogenic dating) of landslide activity, as well as the modelling of landslide propagation, and then to use them in the form of mini-projects.
This course is therefore largely based on the practice of tools and the study of active and paleo landslide cases, including visits on different sites.
UE Engineering seismology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The Engineering Seismology course aims to provide students with an overview of the latest issues and methods for quantitative estimation of seismic hazard and risk. A basic knowledge of seismology is required. The course develops these specific topics: seismic wave radiation at the earthquake source, wave propagation and attenuation in the Earth's crust, wave amplification in the subsurface soils (site effects), empirical (Green's functions, ground-motion models GMPE/GMM) and numerical methods for the prediction of strong motions (with a particular emphasis on uncertainties), probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) that combines earthquake recurrence models and ground-motion models, vulnerability of buildings to seismic shaking and their dynamic response, and the specificities of the urban environment. The course addresses these topics with a physical approach (understanding, measurement and quantification of phenomena) but also with a regulatory approach (consideration of these phenomena in seismic standards, microzonation).
UE Project in engineering seismology [seismic vulnerability, site characterization, ground motion simulation]
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This unit aims to learn the most recent methods used to assess ground motion caused by earthquakes, characterize shallow structures for seismic response analysis, or assess seismic hazard, seismic vulnerability and seismic risk in urban areas. The unit is organized in the form of a project to develop one of the abovementioned topics. The basic notions are first introduced in the “Engineering Seismology” lectures (wave propagation, fault rupture mechanisms, empirical and numerical ground motion prediction, non-invasive methods for characterizing shallow ground structure, ground-motion parameters used in earthquake engineering, structural dynamics applied to seismology, seismic vulnerability, structural health monitoring).
UE Project in gravitational risk [multi-method approach]
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Cette UE vise à développer l’approche multi-disciplinaire de l’étude des glissements de terrain. Pour cela, différentes méthodes seront utilisées et combinées : géophysique, géologie, hydrologie, géodésie, etc. L’objectif est de parvenir à intégrer ces données multi-sources pour mieux comprendre la structure et/ou l’évolution de glissements de terrain. Cette UE se déroulera sous la forme de projet(s).
UE Active Faults
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Active faults are those producing earthquakes. Their knowledge is thus a prerequisite to any seismic hazard analysis. The objective of the ‘active faults’ class is to make the students familiar with these structures, and establish the links and common properties between long‐term geological faults and instantaneous earthquake ruptures. We start reminding a few basics in rock and fracture mechanics that allow understanding why the Earth crust and lithosphere break through faulting and earthquakes. We then see on which criteria most active faults can be identified in the surface morphology. The modern tools allowing such identification are described. We show that faults are organized features that form hierarchical, larger‐scale systems, whose geometry brings information on long‐term fault evolution, kinematics and mechanics. The long‐term kinematics and evolution can then be more precisely quantified using data such as geomorphology and geochronology. We discuss these methods of quantification, the assumptions on which they rely, their implications in terms of long‐term fault slip rates, earthquake sizes and recurrence times, etc... Then, we go back to earthquake ruptures, which we analyze with a ‘geological eye’ (analysis of static parameters). Doing so, we point out the differences and similarities between earthquake ruptures and long‐term faults, and discuss the properties of faults which most control the earthquake behavior. We also characterize how faults behave during a single, then multiple seismic cycles, and introduce the recently discovered complexities of both the seismic cycle and its repetitions. Combining the present knowledge on long‐term faults and earthquakes, we then try to understand how faults may grow in time, i.e., accumulate slip and propagate laterally through the repetition of large earthquakes. We eventually suggest how that understanding may help anticipating the occurrence and size of the future earthquakes.
UE Risk management: regulatory and alternative approaches
ECTS
6 credits
Component
Institut d'Urbanisme et de Géographie Alpine (IUGA)
Semester
Automne
Risk management; preventive information; crisis management; modelling for crisis management
Critical approach to regulatory management tools and comparison with alternative approaches
Field trip with an elected official, lecture by a consultancy director, testing of educational solutions for raising awareness of risks
Application to the students' problems
UE Near surface geophysics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Near Surface Geophysics is open to Georisks, Geophysics and MEEES paths. The course starts with a brief reminder of the basics in Geophysical imaging (Seismic refraction, electrical soundings) and evolves towards more advanced methods: i) inversion-based methods such as tomography techniques (electric, seismic) and surface wave investigations, and ii) methods based on more advanced signal processing such as Ground Penetrating Radar and advanced Seismic reflection techniques. A specific GPS course is also included.
The course is a bit data oriented with training using different geophysical softwares (electrical and seismic tomography, Surface wave inversion, Seismic Unix).
A fieldwork is included (generally on a landslide) and data acquired in the field are then post-processed and analyzed to produce a report.
UE Quantitative seismology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The main motivation of the course is to introduce the fundamental equations underlying the essential theoretical and numerical approaches used in seismology. Its objective is to provide basic knowledge of the mathematical and physical background for quantitative seismology. The course contents includes elements of mechanics, concepts of waves and vibrations, seismic earthquake source representation, kinematics and directivity, seismic wave propagation in layered media, synthetic seismogram computation, focal mechanisms, fault mechanics and models, surface waves, anelastic attenuation, ground motion prediction.
UE Signal processing
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The scope of this course is to cover the fundamentals of numerical data processing. The main emphasis is on analysis of time series, such as seismic signals, even though the concepts can be transposed to any numerical signal. One major aim of the course is to illustrate some of the many pitfalls and problems that students (and researchers alike) can come across when analyzing signals.
The course is split into two equal parts. The first one introduces the theoretical framework of signal processing i.e., sampling, Fourier Transform, convolution, correlation and filtering, while the second one focuses on practical applications. In this second part, the students address specific subjects of signal processing (such as sampling issues, measurements of time delays, filtering, f–k analysis, wave separation …) in 4-hour lab work sessions performed on computers.
UE Tectonics and surface processes (2023-2024)
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is on the interactions and feedback relationships between tectonics and climatically controlled surface processes, with a particular emphasis on evolution of mountain belts such as the Alps, Andes or Himalayas. In this context, the timescales on which geological processes shape the surface of the Earth are of great importance. Therefore, the determining the timing and quantifying geological processes through wide range dating techniques are at the core of this course with the objective of modelling landscape evolution. Half of the course will be based on practical exercises, case studies and presentations, so that the students will actively participate in the teaching of this course.The course will be in English.
UE Advanced Machine Learning in Earth Sciences
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
A new course that will follow the one in the 2nd semester of the first year, but that can also be chosen by students with previous experience in the field. A detailed description will be posted later, in the meantime look at the corresponding UE of the first year.
This course introduces the main deep learning methods relevant for Earth Science applications, where the processing of time series and images (sometimes noisy, incomplete) and forecasting are routine problems. This includes for example Convolutional Neural Networks, Recurrent Neural Networks, and Generative Networks.
Pre-requisites: Ideally: Introduction to Machine Learning in Earth Sciences, course from the first year of STPE Master. If not: good knowledge in Python, basic notions in differential calculation and linear algebra.
Languages: English, French
UE Computing and data analysis Project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this project-oriented course is to deepen, according to the student's choices, one or more aspects seen in the "Numerical Modeling", "Advanced Signal Processing", "Advanced Machine Learning" and "Data Assimilation" (note that depending on your parcours / path, not all these courses may be accessible) courses on a project carried out in autonomy with a teacher-referent on a particular subject.
UE Numerical Modelling
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to train students in the numerical methods used to solve the classical partial differential equations of the Earth sciences, with methods such as finite difference, finite element, spectral methods, ... This course is structured around theoretical lectures presenting the methods and their numerical properties, and practical work on simple practical problems. The practical application on more complex problems and the deepening of the methods will be approached in the project-oriented UE "Computing and data analysis Project".
UE short Internship
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship must be carried out for at least 6 weeks. It aims to discover the professional environment, business or research laboratory, whose themes are linked to the objectives of each course.
UE long Internship
ECTS
24 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship has a minimum duration of 4 months and constitutes the finalization of each student's master's project. It can serve as a gateway to the professional world or preparatory to a doctorate. It must be closely linked to the chosen master's course.
UE Hydrology and hydraulics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course covers an area and knowledge that will be useful for both vocational and research programmes.
1. Physical hydrology, slope processes (Cédric Legoût)
2. Hydrology for engineers (Théo Vischel)
Provide the hydrological concepts for addressing issues of predetermination of floods:
- analysis of the rainfall-runoff relationship;
- application of flood predetermination methods.
3. Open-channel hydraulics and river hydraulics (Philippe Belleudy)
Which elements of your fluid mechanics courses might be useful for the study and practice of river hydraulics problems?
- head loss and backwater curve;
- gradually varied flows;
- shocks and transitions of the water regime;
- gravity, inertia and friction: non-permanent open-channel flows;
- application: facilities to combat flood risk;
- solid transport and river morphology; several impact studies.
4. Closed-conduit hydraulics (Jean-Pierre Vandervaere)
UE Fluid mechanics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course provides basics in fluid mechanics. This includes hydrostatic, fluid kinematics and Euler equation for ideal fluid. Bernoulli formula are then derived and examples of application are presented. The case of non-ideal fluid and Navier-Stokes formula are afterwards established. The NS equation is solved for classical simple cases (e.g. Couette flow). Turbulence is shortly introduced during a 3h practical course held at the Coriolys experiment.
This course comprises 21h of CM/TD, and a 3h practical course.
The final exam is a 2h examination. The "controle continu" is a written homework.
UE Air, soil, water : introduction to environmental pollutants modelling
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Every year, mankind emits into the environment large quantities of chemical compounds, notably organic ones, some of which may have an environmental impact far from where or when they were emitted.
The primary objective of this course is to learn how to analyse environmental problems, to estimate the most important phenomena and to provide first-order approximate answers to these problems. By the end of the course, you should:
- Be able to define a simple model to evaluate the fate of chemical compounds in the environment: box models
- Be able to solve this type of model, if necessary numerically with a common tool (python)
- Understand how / where to find data to configure these models
- Know some methods for evaluating the uncertainties of your numerical model
- Develop some environmental common sense
## Teaching language
- all courses documents are available in both english and french
- most activities are group-based, and groups work either in english or french depending on people present - there is always at leas a french group and at least an english group
UE Climatic and Environmental variability
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
What are the scientific issues associated with climate and environmental variability?
How does this variability play out on global, regional and local scales?
With which statistical tools can we describe it?
This course aims, through practical work on a machine, to address these questions.
The objective is to acquire :
a culture of climate and environmental sciences
a knowledge of statistical tools to describe climate and environmental variability
skills in several numerical data treatment languages (R and Python) in an ergonomic programming environment (Jupyter
Language: French and English
UE General Physical Meteorology
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Meteorology is a fascinating subject. Because of its very nature, it is never constant or boring. General Meteorology consists of knowledge of the structure of the atmosphere, physical lows steering the distribution of atmospheric variables, such as temperature, humidity, winds, pressure and dynamics of air masses resulting in changes and weather and climate in different regions of the Earth.
UE Professional and Scientific Communication 1
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Préparer l’étudiant aux métiers visés par la formation, autant les métiers de chercheur que ceux de chargés d’étude dans le privé. Formulation d’un CV, entraînement aux entretiens d’embauche, la structuration d’une publication scientifique et d'un rapport d'études, la connaissance des outils de recherche et de mise en forme d’une publication, un enseignement sur le fonctionnement des bureaux d’étude et de la législation en vigueur font partie de cette préparation. Nous insistons sur le fait que les futurs thésards ou ceux qui entrent directement dans le monde du travail doivent connaître les deux mondes.
UE Croissance économique et limites planétaires: climat, biodiversité
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The goal of this module is to introduce students to the energy and environmental issues raised by the modern quest for economic growth and to map out the potential of the ecological transition. This series of courses is structured along three main axes: an introduction to environmental discourses on growth and limits; a zoom on the climate-energy-raw material nexus; a “map” of the possibilities for low-carbon economies.
Students will learn about the physical foundations of economic growth. We will look at both the importance of economic growth (and energy use) for human welfare and the huge environmental footprint of growth. Students will explore different − sometimes radically different − perspectives on issues ranging from what makes growth possible and whether economic growth is sustainable in a physically finite world to what is to be done about environmental destruction and climate change. Specifically, they will learn about 3 schools of thought relevant to the academic conversation about the limits to growth: (1) the degrowth perspective, (2) the green growth perspective, and (3) cornucopianism.
Students are introduced to climate change studies and to the major social and environmental challenges of the Anthropocene. Living most fossil fuels in the ground to meet the conditions of the Paris Agreement and transitioning to low-carbon economies implies an increasing demand on mineral resources. This course deals with the demand for raw materials in a low-carbon world and the challenges that come along (energy transition scenarios and energy mixes, extraction and processing of raw materials, environmental (in)justice…) .
UE Programmation et environnements informatiques
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This module is intended to acquire and deepen the basics of computer programming and computer environments that will be used throughout the Master's programme. It consists of 6 hours of lectures and 18 hours of practical work on computers. The practical sessions are adapted to the level of each student.
UE Atmospheric pollution: Principles and Experimental Methods
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The aim of this module is to explain the chemical reactor that is the atmosphere, in order to describe the main types of pollution affecting it.
The first part of the course consists of reminders of the structure of the atmosphere and its composition, insisting on the diversity of this composition. The concepts of wells, sources and lifespan are also reviewed and illustrated by atmospheric examples where the lifespans are related to the transport times that can be observed in the different layers of the atmosphere. The importance of temperature inversion situations in the establishment of pollution episodes is illustrated with examples of pollution concerning, in particular, the Grenoble basin.
Subsequently, the means for quantifying the processes (deposits, chemical or photochemical reactions) responsible for elimination or formation of the main air pollutants are described: units, chemical and photochemical kinetics applied to the atmosphere, calculation of concentrations, etc.
Lastly, the different types of pollution to which the atmosphere may be subjected are addressed:
- The different types of air pollution episodes
- Regulatory concepts: ASQAA, information and alert thresholds, public regulatory measures, etc.
- Particulate pollution and public health aspects
- Acid rain and London smog
- Urban ozone pollution (photochemical smog)
- Ozone layer and ozone hole: an example of global pollution
The last course session prepares students for the 4-day mini-internship that takes place in the month of March. The objective of these four days is for the students, working in pairs or groups of three, to conduct measurements of some of the most representative pollutants in urban areas: ozone, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Besides the measurements that may be carried out, our objective through this mini-internship is to raise awareness of the particularities and difficulties that can be posed by environmental measurements in general, and atmospheric measurements in particular. The procedure for carrying out the atmospheric sampling and analysis is explained to the students, who will then be free to define for themselves the questions they wish to answer with the measurements they take (many different ways of measuring a given pollutant).
UE Lautaret field workshop: snow & atmosphere interface
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
Snow is a critical component of the Earth climate system. It is a singular interface between the atmosphere and the soil, where occur intense exchanges of mass (water/ice), energy (radiative, turbulent), and chemical species (N, ...). It plays a major role in the hydrology of mountainous areas (water resource), in ecology, in the thermal regime of soil (permafrost), ...
The training “neige et atmosphère au Lautaret” aims to observe the Alpine snow and the atmosphere from various perspectives: surface mass and energy budget, snow, thermal regime, chemistry. The objective is to acquire new knowledge on snow and associated issues, as well as technical and experimental skills.
This training is based on autonomy and active pedagogy. You will work in group of 3 persons and use “research-grade” instruments and techniques, process your data in order to eventually produce elaborated scientific results that will be present as posters.
The program comprises the following topics:
- snow depth mapping (GPS, GPR, 2x 0.5 day)
- snow stratigraphy in snowpits, snow metamorphism (2x 0.5 day)
- snow thermal regime (0.5 day).
- snow albedo and surface energy budget, micro-meteorology (0.5 day).
- atmospheric ozone (0.5 day).
- snow optics (0.5 day).
- data processing and interpretation (0.5 day)
This training is open to a few international students and professionals (Master, PhD) every year, depending on the number of UGA students.
UE Instrumentation and metrology
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
In geoscience, it is important to know how to appreciate the precision and the accuracy of a physical measurement, to correctly interpret and compare it with other measurements. This module begins with a short introduction to the theory of measurement (metrology) (course 6h) which will be put into practice (TP 9h) by the statistical analysis of datasets of measurements that you will acquire yourself in the TP.
In a second part, the module deals with instrumentation, firstly in a general way (the principles and the problems specific to geosciences, 6h) illustrated by a TP where you will assemble a simple instrument (temperature logger) from the electronic components .
All this will then be put into practice in a concrete and real case of measures (24h total). You will perform precise positioning measurements on a landslide in Trièves, by GPS and by tacheometry (field trip of one day). When analyzing the data obtained, we will benefit from the redundancy of the measurements and the independence of the two techniques to quantify the distances between several measurement points with their uncertainties. The results in terms of distances will be compared with measurements from previous years to assess if the landslide is active, and if so, how and how fast it is moving. This module allows you to acquire the basics of GPS operation and tachometry (course 6h), to obtain a field measurement experience (one day), and to test several freely available software as well as webservices to analyze GPS data (TD 12h).
UE Hydrology and Hydrometeorology Field Course
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This hydrology trainee course occurs on the ‘Gazel’ and ‘Claduègne’ watershed sites in the French Ardèche department. To note that the landscapes are appreciated not only from hydrologists but also from tourists of the entire planet. The investigated watersheds are monitored since 2011 by the ‘Observatoire Hydrométéorologique Méditerranéen Cévennes-Vivarais’ (http://www.earth-syst-sci-data-discuss.net/essd-2016-32/) for a better understanding of the processes leading to the flash floods, and associated improvement of their prediction. Teaching occurs on site in small group (5-6 students) workshops and combines both theoretical and practical training and on-site hypothesis testing. Teaching focuses on an integrated understanding approach, that means the transmission of watershed-relevant hydrological, meteorological, pedological, geophysical, geochemical, ecological and geomorphological knowledge. Courses are performed by the staff of observatory researchers and professors (http://www.osug.fr/) in their respective domain of their specialized knowledge, the Environmental Geosciences Institute (http://www.ige-grenoble.fr/) is specifically involved.
Lange d’enseignement / Teaching language: french, with english support, see the ‘Hydroressource’ main page.
UE Remote sensing and GIS project
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This course offers a broad and practical introduction to Earth Observation from space and to Geographic Information System (GIS). The course works on a basis of 3h lecture associated to 3h of practical work using the free software QGIS. Course are usually given in French. In addition, a project using QGIS has to be by small groups of students, including 9h (3x3h) with teacher support in computer room.
The structure of the courses is:
first part is common to all the student (from January to February winter break)
+ Introduction to GIS: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (1): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (2): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Classification methods: 3h course + 3h practical
The second part of the course depends of the program followed by the students :
for Geophysics, Geodynamics, Georesources and Georisks programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geology: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geophysics: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to planetology: 3h course + 3h practical
for Hydro-resources and Atmosphere-Climate-Continental Landmass programs:
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Digital Elevation Surface: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to atmosphere: 3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Ocean: 3h course
Evaluation will be based on a written exam at mid-term, a written report about the project, and a final written exam covering all the lectures and practicals.
UE Climate records
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
UE Introduction to Machine learning in Earth Sciences
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
The objective of this course is to understand the principles and the application of machine learning methods (one of the branches of artificial intelligence) in the context of geosciences. To do so, we will introduce the concepts, the main uses in geosciences (detection/understanding of natural phenomena from satellite imagery, time series, etc.), the main problems addressed (regression, classification and unsupervised learning) as well as the main methods (random forests, PCA..). Finally, we will briefly introduce deep learning methods.
The main goal of this course is to know how to use these tools by oneself, to understand the main problems, but also to understand their limits. For this, the module is based on 12 hours of practical work in Python.
Pre-requisites:
Basic knowledge of Python programming and mathematics.
Languages: English, French
UE Environmental flows
Level
Baccalaureate +4
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Tous les ans
Environmental flows lecture aims at introducing geophysical fluid dynamic and showing how mechanistic approaches are commonly applied to describe the flows. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is presented as an example, It is associated with its boundary conditions, namely the energy budget at the surface and the geostrophic circulation at the top.
- Introduction and surface boundary conditions for ABL
- Mathematical decription of ABL
- Introduction to turbulence
- Similarity theory
- Measurements in ABL
UE Climate change
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course is given in English (or in French if all students are french speaking).
The course is a physical approach of the climatic change at the global level, in line with the Working group I of the IPCC .
The lectures (about 33-36h) give an overview of climate change causes and mechanisms at the global level. They are given by researchers of the IGE laboratory (**), and some visitors if any. Topics covered by these lectures are the following (they may slightly change depending on researchers availability):
- A global view of the surface warming, and its relationship with climatic forcings;
- Climatic sensitivities; scenarios of future warming;
- Extreme climatic events;
- Paleoclimatic variations and what they tell us on mechanisms;
- Modelling climate, from 1D to 3D models;
- A regional model, application to the mountain climate.
Students have a practical project to discuss a dataset, with the goal to get some grasp on what the data can tell us, their uncertainty, bias, etc. Outputs are both a written and an oral presentations of the results.
UE Cryosphere
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
The course will be teached in french, it can be given in english if requested
This course aims at providing a general background in glaciology focusing on qualitative (review of all forms of ice on Erath) as well as quantitative aspects (model description, various computational exercices).
A first part is dedicated to a rather comprehensive description of the various forms of ice and their environmental impacts (interactions with the climate system and more generally on the environment like sea level for instance). A focus is proposed on sea ice owing to its high sensitivity to climate warming expressing nowadays under the form of a pronounced retreat in the Arctic. A small exercice is proposed to understand and simply reproduce the formation of sea ice. Water ressources in connection with the cryosphere are also considered. Ice mechanics and their consequences on the ice flow via ice flow models are then treated with an emphasis on the archiving process in ice cores where optimal conditions, notably for datation purposes, are addressed.
A second part (equivalent in size to the first) is dedicated to snow as such. There, the detailed structure of the snow crystals is proposed along with its evolution through time as a result of local conditions leading to the so-called snow metamorphism with environmental implications (radiative properties, mechanical stability..). The climate role of snow is emphasized through its radiative properties and is tackled with the help of surface energy balance models.
A third part consists of an active participation from the students during which they work on a bibliographic study under the supervision of one scientist from IGE. After choosing one or several scientific publications on selected glaciological topics, each tandem presents an oral synthesis to all other groups which serves as a basis for the continuous eveluation (contrôle continu).
UE Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The flows in the atmosphere, in the oceans, in the atmospheres of the giant planets, in the liquid core of the Earth, and even in stars are specific essentially by two aspects: (1) the global rotation to which they are subjected, which is reflected in the Coriolis force; and (2) the stratification of the fluid into layers of varying density, subject to a gravity field. These two characteristics radically change the behavior of fluids. The objective of this course is to define the key concepts, to give the necessary tools to study these systems, and to give a physical meaning to these flows which often defy intuition.
After an introduction to fluid dynamics, a first part focuses on the effect of rotation, in a general way and then in the particular case of thin layers, relevant for the modeling of oceanic and atmospheric flows. An important part of the course is dedicated to the study of waves encountered in geophysical flows (inertial and gravity waves, Rossby waves). A second part focuses on the effect of density variations: thermal convection, viscous density currents (glaciers, volcanic flows) or turbulent currents (atmospheric density currents, turbidity currents, pyroclastic flows). For each phenomenon, specific examples are given and the theory is detailed.
Teaching language: French or english
UE Models for atmospheric chemistry and physics
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
UE Radiative transfer and remote sensing
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
This course describes the processes of solar and terrestrial energy transfer through environmental mediums, particularly the atmosphere, for applications in climate science (greenhouse effect) and in space and terrestrial remote sensing. Theoretically, the course introduces radiative variables (radiance, irradiance, albedo, emissivity), absorption and scattering processes, the radiative transfer equation, blackbody radiation, and the energy balance of surfaces.
These theoretical elements will enable students to understand and quantify the greenhouse effect in detail, particularly the different roles played by CO2 and water vapor. The same tools will be applied in space remote sensing to understand how surface properties (soil, snow, water, ice) influence signals recorded by satellites, and in turn, how these signals can be used to quantify surface properties.
The second part of the course will cover a detailed application: the use of weather radar to estimate precipitation rates and other hydrometeorological information.
The third part consists of a GIS project (9 hours) independently completed by each student, aimed at improving their skills in Geographic Information System software (QGIS) to create digital maps and perform quantitative analyses. This project differs from the Master 1 project by involving more advanced use of QGIS and possibly the use of Python for large-scale geospatial processing.
Overall, this course is designed for students who want to deepen their knowledge in space and terrestrial remote sensing (in a quantitative manner) and in climate system functioning (energy balance). It is also relevant for instrumentalists who use light sources, microwaves, or infrared to probe the environment (laser, GPR, thermal camera, etc.).
UE Advanced Machine Learning in Earth Sciences
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
A new course that will follow the one in the 2nd semester of the first year, but that can also be chosen by students with previous experience in the field. A detailed description will be posted later, in the meantime look at the corresponding UE of the first year.
This course introduces the main deep learning methods relevant for Earth Science applications, where the processing of time series and images (sometimes noisy, incomplete) and forecasting are routine problems. This includes for example Convolutional Neural Networks, Recurrent Neural Networks, and Generative Networks.
Pre-requisites: Ideally: Introduction to Machine Learning in Earth Sciences, course from the first year of STPE Master. If not: good knowledge in Python, basic notions in differential calculation and linear algebra.
Languages: English, French
UE Atmospheric boundary layer : from fundamentals to air quality 1
Level
Baccalaureate +5
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Physics of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer: role in the climate system, vertical structure and simple models. Microphysics of cloud formation and of aerosols. Impact of aerosols on air quality and climate.
UE Atmospheric boundary layer : from fundamentals to air quality 2
Level
Baccalaureate +5
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The atmospheric boundary layer in complex terrain, for stable (wintertime) and unstable (summertime) conditions. Application to air quality from an operational view point.
UE Computing and data analysis Project
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this project-oriented course is to deepen, according to the student's choices, one or more aspects seen in the "Numerical Modeling", "Advanced Signal Processing", "Advanced Machine Learning" and "Data Assimilation" (note that depending on your parcours / path, not all these courses may be accessible) courses on a project carried out in autonomy with a teacher-referent on a particular subject.
UE Data assimilation in geosciences
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Le cours introduit des bases théoriques et méthodologiques pour la résolution de problèmes d’assimilation de données (inversion de données distribuées dans le temps) en sciences de la Terre. Les méthodes principalement abordées sont le filtre de Kalman (canonique et d'ensemble), le filtre particulaire, et le 4DVar. Il est produit sous forme de cours magistraux interactifs incluant la présentation et la manipulation d’exercices sous forme numérique en python. En fin de cours, les étudiant·es sont en capacité de :
- poser un problème d'assimilation de données simple et mettre en oeuvre une méthode de résolution ;
- communiquer avec des experts d'assimilation pour progresser vers la résolution de problèmes complexes.
Langue : français ou anglais
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The course introduces theoretical and methodological foundations for solving data assimilation problems (inversion of time-distributed data) in the Earth sciences. The main methods covered are the Kalman filter (canonical and ensemble), the particle filter, and the 4DVar. It is produced in the form of interactive lectures including the presentation and manipulation of exercises in numerical form in Python. At the end of the course, students will be able to :
- pose a simple data assimilation problem and implement a solution method
- communicate with data assimilation experts to progress towards solving complex problems.
Language: French or English
UE Geostatistics
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
- Objectives
- To be able to produce regionalized (spatial) data, e.g. on a watershed, using several methods.
- To understand notions of meteorology (general circulation, thermodynamics, perecipitation) and climatology (climate model, climate change scenario) required for hydrological forecasting.
- To be aware of the need to take into account non stationarities (climate or change in land use) in long-term hydrological forecasting and management of water resources.
- To be able to apply new methodologies for hydrological forecasting at several lags.
-
An approach linked with research is privileged in this in-depth module.
It is divided into three parts:- Meteorology and climatology.
- Geostatistics and spatial data;
- Forecast and management of water resources in a non stationary context.
A short-project in the module called "Engineering of hydraulic structure" III will allow to link the three areas teached in this module.
-
Session normale / First session
Evaluation rattrapable (ER) / ER assessment : devoir surveillé écrit de 3h / 3 hours supervised written exam
Evaluation non rattrapable (EN) / EN assessment : 3 comptes rendus de BE / 3 Lab reports - Language : English
UE Continental Systems Hydrology
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
L'objectif de cette UE est de présenter l'ensemble des connaissances nécessaires à la compréhension du cycle continental de l'eau. Les variables, leurs liens entre elles et les méthodes de mesure sont présentées. Les équations de transfert et d'infiltration verticale sont présentées ensuite ainsi que quelques cas d'étude particuliers. Une séance TP porte sur un sujet à approfondir au choix parmi deux.
UE Hydrologie et climat
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The water cycle is tightly coupled to climate change (and more generally to global changes) at all time and space scales. After a brief introduction on the observed continental hydrological cycle changes at the global level; and on the associated methods (detection, attribution, projection); the course will focus on these changes (and their impacts and possible adaptation strategies) at finer scales in different regions of the world. This second part will be done mainly in the form of TD/TPs.
Recommended prerequisites: Some background in climate/meteorology/hydrology. Practical experience in programming and/or numerical/statistical analysis of environmental data series (e.g. Climatic and Environmental variability EU)
Language: French
UE Numerical Modelling
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
The objective of this course is to train students in the numerical methods used to solve the classical partial differential equations of the Earth sciences, with methods such as finite difference, finite element, spectral methods, ... This course is structured around theoretical lectures presenting the methods and their numerical properties, and practical work on simple practical problems. The practical application on more complex problems and the deepening of the methods will be approached in the project-oriented UE "Computing and data analysis Project".
UE Ocean dynamics
Level
Baccalaureate +5
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
After a short introduction to the observations of the worlds oceans in the past and present, the forces acting on the ocean are discussed. We will then see how the forcing put the water masses of the ocean into motion. An important question is: how can the forcing, which acts on the surface of the ocean influence the motion in the deep ocean? This leads to a discussion of the two principal types of basin scale ocean circulation: the gyre and the overturning circulation. We then discuss small scale processes of the ocean dynamics including their importance on the large scale ocean circulation.
UE Wave dynamics
Level
Baccalaureate +5
ECTS
3 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Automne
Introduction to surface and internal gravity waves in fluids. Nonlinear and dissipative effects and associated wave impact on the medium. Wave-current interaction. Examples in natural media (such as coastal waters).
UE short Internship
ECTS
6 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship must be carried out for at least 6 weeks. It aims to discover the professional environment, business or research laboratory, whose themes are linked to the objectives of each course.
UE long Internship
ECTS
24 credits
Component
UFR PhITEM (physique, ingénierie, terre, environnement, mécanique)
Semester
Printemps
This internship has a minimum duration of 4 months and constitutes the finalization of each student's master's project. It can serve as a gateway to the professional world or preparatory to a doctorate. It must be closely linked to the chosen master's course.
Admission
Access conditions
- The 1st year is open to students who have obtained a national diploma equivalent to a bachelor degree (licence) in a field compatible with that of the master, or via a validation of their studies or experience
- Entry to the 2nd year may be selective. It is open to candidates who have completed the first year of a master in the field, subject to a review of their application
Public continuing education : You are in charge of continuing education :
- if you resume your studies after 2 years of interruption of studies
- or if you followed training under the continuous training regime one of the previous 2 years
- or if you are an employee, job seeker, self-employed
If you do not have the diploma required to integrate the training, you can undertake a validation of personal and professional achievements (VAPP)
Candidature / Application
Target
- Students in initial training with a bachelor's degree in Earth sciences, Physics, or Mechanics
- Foreign students wishing to pursue their studies in Earth sciences and the Environment in France
- Students in continuing education wishing to improve in the field of Earth sciences and the environment
Fees
Tuition fees 2023-2024 : 243 € + 100 € CVEC
Prerequisites
The master focuses on the tools to quantitatively address the Earth and environmental sciences (whatever the course), a good level in mathematics and physics is required. This is particularly true for the Geophysics course, which is primarily aimed at students with a degree in physics or mechanics.
Recommended prerequisites
- For the Geodynamic and Georessources programs, a good level in Geology (including with field experiments) is highly recommended
- The teaching is given partly in English, a good level of English is required at the entrance of the master (preferably level B2). The B2 level in English is compulsory at the end of the master's degree to obtain the diploma. There is no integrated English course in the master, but English lessons. It is the responsibility of the students to reach the B2 level at least at the end of the master
And after
Targeted trades
- At the end of the master's degree (bac + 5) : engineering positions in the major energy and mining companies ; engineering offices in geology, geophysics, environment ; local and territorial authorities ; non-governmental organizations
- After graduation (bac + 8): teaching-research in EPST, EPIC ; research and development in major energy and mining companies, environmental research centers, international and national organizations
Additional information
The course is supported by the research laboratories associated with the OSUG (Grenoble Universe Sciences Observatory) and the following in particular :
- Institute of Earth Sciences - ISTerre (Geodynamics, Georesources, Georisks, Geophysics, MEEES programs)
- Institute of Environmental Geosciences - IGE (Atmosphere-Climate-Continental landmass and Hydroressources programs)
There are also close links with the other laboratories and teams of the OSUG. The OSUG@2020 excellence laboratory includes a training component and supports this course.
The training is very focused on field teaching ; up to 24 ECTS of field modules can be selected in some courses. The field is a fundamental aspect of a training in Earth sciences and the environment. The privileged location of Grenoble makes field training a strong "brand image" of the master. The Alps offer a very rich geological terrain, but also the possibility to study hydro-meteorology and cryosphere-atmosphere exchanges, as part of the OSUG Observation services.
This field practice is complemented by important digital teaching activities, carried out in the form of practical work or projects. We place a strong emphasis on the most modern tools for quantitative exploration of the Earth and its environment. Geophysical measurement tools ('environmental monitoring') are supplemented by interpretation tools, such as numerical modeling, signal processing, remote sensing and seismic interpretation. The support of the OSUG @ 2020 Labex has been essential for setting up or renewing a large number of these tools.
Most of the "tools" (i.e., digital modeling, remote sensing / GIS) modules are organized as projects, so that students can apply these tools to a mini-problem in accordance with their choice of course and interests. Several disciplinary UEs are also partly in the form of a tutored project, where the students will work in a small group to solve a societal problem.
The 3 UEs are taught in English as well as at least 1 module of the year of master 1. Our policy is to present teaching in English in case of presence of non-French speakers in the student public, both in 1st year than in 2nd year.