Best Geophysics Books to Know the Earth by Using Seismic Methods

best geophysics books

If you are interested in earth science then these books are appropriate for you. You can study earth by using gravity, magnetic, electrical, and seismic methods and these books cover all of the methods.

Geophysics actually means the application of physics to study the earth, oceans, atmosphere and near-Earth space. Here you will get some of the best geophysics books.

Essentials of Geophysical Data Processing
Author: Wilson, Clark R.
Published at: 06/01/2022
ISBN: 1108931006

A concise introduction to geophysical data processing - many of the techniques associated with the general field of time series analysis - for advanced students, researchers, and professionals. The textbook begins with calculus before transitioning to discrete time series via the sampling theorem, aliasing, use of complex sinusoids, development of the discrete Fourier transform from the Fourier series, and an overview of linear digital filter types and descriptions.

Aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students in geophysics, environmental science, and engineering with no previous background in linear algebra, probability, or statistics, this textbook draws scenarios and datasets from across the world of geophysics, and shows how data processing techniques can be applied to real-world problems using detailed examples, illustrations, and exercises (using MATLAB or similar computing environment). Online supplementary resources include datasets for students, and a solutions manual and all the figures from the book as Power Points for course instructors.



Fundamentals of Geophysics
Author: Lowrie, William
Published at: 02/01/2020
ISBN: 1108716970

This enduringly popular undergraduate textbook has been thoroughly reworked and updated, and now comprises twelve chapters covering the same breadth of topics as earlier editions, but in a substantially modernized fashion to facilitate classroom teaching. Covering both theoretical and applied aspects of geophysics, clear explanations of the physical principles are blended with step-by-step derivations of the key equations and over 400 explanatory figures to explain the internal structure and properties of the planet, including its petroleum and mineral resources.

New topics include the latest data acquisition technologies, such as satellite geophysics, planetary landers, ocean bottom seismometers, and fibre optic methods, as well as recent research developments in ambient noise interferometry, seismic hazard analysis, rheology, and numerical modelling - all illustrated with examples from the scientific literature. Student-friendly features include separate text boxes with auxiliary explanations and advanced topics of interest; reading lists of foundational, alternative, or more detailed resources; end-of-chapter review questions and an increased number of quantitative exercises. Completely new to this edition is the addition of computational exercises in Python, designed to help students acquire important programming skills and develop a more profound understanding of geophysics.



An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics
Author: John M. Reynolds
Published at: 25/04/2011
ISBN: 0471485365

An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics is a valuable resource for your geophysics classes. In this book, John M. Reynolds introduces the basic methods, explains the theory behind them and then explores applications. You also get clear diagrams and figures that were related to the material.

Key topics are

  • Gravity methods
  • Geomagnetic methods
  • Applied seismology: introduction and principles 
  • Seismic refraction surveying seismic reflection
  • Surveying electrical resistivity methods
  • Spontaneous potential methods 
  • Induced polarisation electromagnetic methods
  • Electromagnetic methods: systems and applications 
  • Introduction to ground-penetrating radar
  • Ground-penetrating radar: applications and case histories radiometric.

This book covers new techniques such as magnetic resonance sounding, controlled- source EM, shear-wave seismic refraction, and airborne gravity and EM techniques.



52 Things You Should Know About Geophysics
Author: Matt Hall
Published at: 25/05/2012
ISBN: 0987959409

52 Things You Should Know About Geophysics is easy to understand read. It is a must-read book for students of geology and practicing geologists and is a collection of 1-2 page essays.

You will get here some general philosophy and advice about developing your career, but mostly it has to do with detailed tips about processing and interpreting seismic data.

The topics are ranging from

  • Anisotropic media to pre-stack interpretation
  • Stories of early seismic workstations to career advice for the future.


Statistical Methods in the Atmospheric Sciences, Volume 100 (International Geophysics)
Author: Daniel S. Wilks
Published at: 05/12/2005
ISBN: 0127519661

This book is divided into three parts with many chapters. The answer to the exercises is including at the end of the book. It covers many important topics including exploratory data analysis, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, statistical weather forecasting, forecast verification, and time series analysis.

Three parts are

  • Preliminaries
  • Univariate statistics
  • Multivariate statistics

After reading this book you will benefit from pedagogical features including worked examples, end-of-chapter exercises with separate solutions, and numerous illustrations and equations.



Field Geophysics
Author: John Milsom,Asger Eriksen
Published at: 28/02/2011
ISBN: 0470749849

Field Geophysics is a handy pocket-sized field guide that provides practical information and assistance to anyone engaged in small-scale surveys on the ground. It includes many topics like geophysical survey design, geophysical fieldwork, and data, gravity reduction, surveys, magnetic instruments, the magnetic field of the earth, natural radiation, resistivity, conductivity and much much more.

Key topics are

  • Gravity method
  • Magnetic method
  • Radiometric surveys
  • Electric current methods: general considerations  resistivity methods
  • SP and IP electromagnetic methods 
  • Remote-source electromagnetics
  • Ground penetrating radar
  • Seismic methods: general considerations
  • Seismic reflection
  • Seismic refraction
  • Seismic surface wave methods
  • Maps, mapping, and GPS.


Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Volume 101: Physical and Numerical Aspects (International Geophysics)
Author: Benoit Cushman-Roisin,Jean-Marie Beckers
Published at: 09/09/2011
ISBN: 0120887592

From this book, you will get an introductory-level exploration of geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD), the principles governing air and water flows on large terrestrial scales, the Greenhouse Effect, global warming, and the El Nino Southern Oscillation. Here the biographical and historical notes at the ends of chapters trace the intellectual development of the field

Introduction  to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics contains six important parts

  • Introduction
  • Rotation effects
  • Stratification effects
  • Combined rotation and stratification effects
  • Special topics
  • Website information.


Statistical Methods in the Atmospheric Sciences, Volume 100 (International Geophysics)
Author: Daniel S. Wilks
Published at: 03/06/2011
ISBN: 0123850223

This book covers some of the recent progress of statistical methods in the atmospheric sciences in contrast to the second edition. This book is divided into three parts including preliminaries, univariate statistics, multivariate statistics.

The third edition includes new sections on maximum likelihood and on statistical simulation and contains current references to original research. Examples, end-of-chapter exercises with separate solutions and numerous illustrations and equations will be advantageous for the students.

Some important topics are

  • Empirical distributions and exploratory data analysis
  • Parametric probability distributions
  • Frequentist statistical inference
  • Bayesian inference
  • Statistical forecasting
  • Forecast verification
  • Matrix algebra and random matrices
  • The multivariate normal (MVN) distribution
  • Principal component (EOF) analysis
  • Canonical correlation analysis (CCA)
  • Discrimination and classification
  • Cluster analysis.


Geophysics for the Mineral Exploration Geoscientist
Author: Professor Michael Dentith,Stephen T. Mudge
Published at: 23/06/2014
ISBN: 0521809517

This is the single most important Geophysical book on the state of Geophysics in mineral exploration. It provides a balance between principles and practice. It provides all techniques in a consistent way, without complex mathematics and emphasizing the extraction of maximum geological information from geophysical data. 

It describes all the commonly used geophysical methods that take readers from the basic physical phenomena, through the acquisition and processing of data, to the creation of geological models of the subsurface.

Some important topics are

  • Geophysical data acquisition
  • processing and interpretation
  • Gravity and magnetic methods
  • Radiometric method
  • Electrical and electromagnetic methods
  • Seismic method.


Geophysics: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Author: William Lowrie
Published at: 01/06/2018
ISBN: 0198792956

An extremely well-written book full of interesting information that encompasses areas such as seismology, volcanism, plate tectonics, gravitational anomalies, and the Earth's magnetic field.

In this book, the writer explains the internal and external processes that affect the planet, as well as the principles and methods of geophysics used to investigate them, how analysis of the seismic waves produced in earthquakes reveals the internal structure of the Earth and many other things.

Contents include the following

  • What is geophysics?
  • Planet earth
  • Seismology and Earth's internal structure
  • Seismicity - the restless Earth
  • Gravity and the figure of the Earth
  • Earth's heat
  • Earth's magnetic field.


Handbook of Geophysics and Archaeology (EQUINOX HANDBOOKS IN ANTHRO ARCH)
Author: Alan Joel Witten
Published at: 20/06/2015
ISBN: 1904768601

This is an excellent book for any archaeologist or non-scientist who is interested in geophysics. This book includes some math in it that focuses on applications and issues in archaeology but also provides a broad overview of the basics of geophysics.

Handbook of Geophysics and Archaeology use many techniques associated with gravity, magnetometry, waves, electromagnetic induction, ground penetrating radar, Geotomography, and electrical resistivity tomography.

Coverage includes

  • Gravity: The pull of the earth
  • Case studies in gravity
  • Magnetometry: Finding buried magnets and more
  • Some basic concepts of wave
  • Electromagnetic induction: A new frontier
  • Ground penetrating radar: A true wave-based technique
  • Geotomography: Holograms within the earth
  • Electrical resistivity tomography: Imaging with electricity.


Everyday Applied Geophysics 1: Electrical Methods
Author: Nicolas Florsch,Frederic Muhlach
Published at: 06/12/2017
ISBN: 1785481991

Everyday Applied Geophysics 1 covers physical methods permitting the environmental exploration of the sub-surface in 1, 2, 3 or 4 dimensions, provides simple apparatus electronic diagrams, as well as open-source and free software links for data interpretation and addresses the methods feasible, accessible and affordable to all users.

Contents include

  • Introduction and general points
  • Direct current electrical methods
  • The spontaneous polarization method
  • The induced polarization (IP) method
  • Equipment
  • An acquisition system designed for the electrical prospection of soil.


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