Johan Robertsson: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021

Name Prof. Dr. Johan Robertsson
FieldApplied Geophysics
Address
Institut für Geophysik
ETH Zürich, NO H 51.2
Sonneggstrasse 5
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 43 13
Fax+41 44 633 10 65
E-mailjohan.robertsson@erdw.ethz.ch
DepartmentEarth Sciences
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
651-4087-00LCase Studies in Exploration and Environmental Geophysics3 credits3GH. Maurer, J. Robertsson, M. Hertrich, M. O. Saar, T. Spillmann
AbstractThis course focuses on benefits and limitations of geophysical methods applied to problems of high societal relevance. It is demonstrated, how seismics, ground-penetrating-radar and other electromagnetic methods can be employed in geothermics, the cryosphere, hydrocarbon exploration, natural hazard assessments and radioactive waste disposal problems.
ObjectiveThis course is set up for both, geophysicists and non-geophysicists. The former will become familiar with applications of geophysical methods, for which they have learned the underlying theory in other courses. Non-geophysicists (i.e., potential users of geophysical technics, such as geologists and geotechnical engineers) will learn, which geophysical method or which combination of geophysical methods can be used to solve a particular in their realm.

The main learning goal for both groups is to understand the benefits and limitations of geophysical techniques for important applications, such as exploration problems, waste disposal, or natural hazards.
ContentDuring the first part of the course, various themes will be introduced, in which geophysical methods play a key role.

Module 1 (25.2./4.3): Geothermal Energy (M. Saar)

Module 2 (11.3.): Natural Hazards (H.R. Maurer)

Module 3 (18.3.): Cryosphere Applications (H.R. Maurer)

Module 4 (25.3./1.4.): Radioactive Waste Disposal (T. Spillmann)

Module 5 (15.4.): Marine Seismics (J. Robertsson)

Module 6 (22.4.): Hydrocarbon Exploration (Fons ten Kroode)

During the second part of the course, we will focus on Deep Underground Laboratories. They offer exciting opportunities for research associated with many themes covered in Modules 1 to 6. This block starts with an introductory lecture (29.4.), followed by visits of the three main Deep Underground Laboratories in Switzerland:

6.5: Bedretto Laboratory

20.5 .: Mont Terri Laboratory

27.5.: Grimsel Test Site

The laboratory visits will occupy the full afternoons of the respective days. Of course, the visits will only be possible, when the COVID-19 situation will be appropriate. Otherwise, virtual laboratory tours are planned. For earning the credit points, at least two out of the three laboratory visits are mandatory, but the students are encouraged, to join all visits.

Active participation of the students will be required. Prior to the laboratory visits, the students must familiarize themselves with one experiment (in total, not per laboratory), and they will introduce this experiment during the visit to their fellow students. Finally, a short report on the experiment assigned will have to be written. Presentation and report will contribute 50% to the final grade.

The remaining 50% of the final grade will be earned during a project work on June 3. The students will receive a small project out of the themes of Modules 1 to 6. During a few hours, they will work independently on the project, and they have to summarize their results in a short report.
Lecture notesCourse material will be provided in the teaching repository associated with this course.
LiteratureProvided during the course
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic knowledge of geophysical methods is required.

Students registering for the course confirm having read and accepted the terms and conditions for excursions and field courses of D-ERDW
https://www.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/erdw/department/dokumente/studium/exkursionen/AGB_ERDW_Exkursionen_en.pdf
651-4094-00LNumerical Modelling for Applied Geophysics5 credits2GJ. Robertsson, H. Maurer
AbstractNumerical modelling in environmental and exploration geophysics. The course covers different numerical methods such as finite difference and finite element methods applied to solve PDE’s for instance governing seismic wave propagation and geoelectric problems.

Prerequisites include basic knowledge of (i) signal processing and applied mathematics such as Fourier analysis and (ii) Matlab.
ObjectiveAfter this course students should have a good overview of numerical modelling techniques commonly used in environmental and exploration geophysics. Students should be familiar with the basic principles of the methods and how they are used to solve real problems. They should know advantages and disadvantages as well as the limitations of the individual approaches.

The course includes exercises in Matlab where the stduents both should lear, understand and use existing scripts as well as carrying out some coding in Matlab themselves.
ContentDuring the first part of the course, the following topics are covered:
- Applications of modelling
- Physics of acoustic, elastic, viscoelastic wave equations as well as Maxwell's equations for electromagnetic wave propagation and diffusive problems
- Recap of basic techniques in signal processing and applied mathematics
- Potential field modelling
- Solving PDE's, boundary conditions and initial conditions
- Acoustic/elastic wave propagation I, explicit time-domain finite-difference methods
- Acoustic/elastic wave propagation II, Viscoelastic, pseudospectral
- Acoustic/elastic wave propagation III, spectral accuracy in time, frequency domain FD, Eikonal
- Implicit finite-difference methods (geoelectric)
- Finite element methods, 1D/2D (heat equation)
- Finite element methods, 3D (geoelectric)
- Acoustic/elastic wave propagation IV, Finite element and spectral element methods
- HPC and current challenges in computational seismology
- Seismic data imaging project

Most of the lecture modules are accompanied by exercises Small projects will be assigned to the students. They either include a programming exercise or applications of existing modelling codes.
Lecture notesPresentation slides and some background material will be provided.
LiteratureIgel, H., 2017. Computational seismology: a practical introduction. Oxford University Press.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is offered as a full semester course. During the second part of the semester some lecture slots will be dedicated towards working on exercises and course projects.