Geophysics and Earth Imaging 1st and 2nd year

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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).

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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

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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.   

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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".

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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. 

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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.

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