dr. Islam Fadel, prof. dr. Mark van der Meijde.
Geophysics – Imaging the Unseen (Q4); Python solutions (2nd year)
This topic requires a good background in physics and geophysics, as well as strong programming skills.
There is a possibility to visit research partners during the MSc research.
Geophysical data are the primary source of information about the subsurface. In this topic, the student can choose the preferred geophysical technique. This research will be spatially carried out in one of the following locations; 1) East Africa, 2) Southern Africa, or 3) Sardinia (Italy). The topic could be potentially conducted with partners from Penn State University, the University of Rome Tre, or Macquarie University.
Several research options are available within this topic:
- Regional seismological subsurface imaging using receiver functions, ambient noise tomography, earthquake tomography, or joint inversion of multiple seismological datasets.
- Near surface characterization using seismic nodes.
- Regional modeling of the density of the Earth's lithosphere using an integrated seismological and gravity approach. Mapping the density of the crust is a challenging task due to the weak sensitivity of the seismic waves to the density variation. GOCE satellite gravity mission has provided the scientific community with a state-of-the-art satellite gravity gradient measurement with homogenous global coverage. In this research, the freely available GOCE satellite gravity measurements will be used to improve the density structure in integration with seismological data. A local study can also be targeted in Botswana.
- Thermal imaging of the Earth's crust using an integrated approach of magnetic and seismology. Mapping the temperature within the Earth's crust is crucial for many applications. This work can be done on a local scale for datasets available from Botswana or Olkaria geothermal field.
Fadel, I., Paulssen, H., van der Meijde, M., Kwadiba, M., Ntibinyane, O., Nyblade, A., & Durrheim, R. (2020). Crustal and upper mantle shear wave velocity structure of Botswana: The 3 April 2017 central Botswana earthquake linked to the East African Rift System. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(4).
van der Meijde, M., Pail, R., Bingham, R., & Floberghagen, R. (2015). GOCE data, models, and applications: A review. International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation, 35, 4-15.
Fadel, I. E. A. M., van der Meijde, M., Kerle, N., & Lauritsen, N. (2015). 3D object-oriented image analysis in 3D geophysical modelling: Analysing the central part of the East African Rift System. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 35, 44-53.
Afonso, J. C., M. Moorkamp, and J. Fullea (2016), Imaging the lithosphere and upper mantle, in Integrated Imaging of the Earth: Theory and Applications, vol. 218, edited by M. Moorkamp et al., pp. 191–218, Wiley, Hoboken, N. J.