Research at the Institute for Geophysics
General
Geophysics is a subsidiary science of physics: it explores the natural physical phenomena on Earth, including the effects of phenomena in space. The Earth is seen as a planet which consists of the solid earth, oceans and atmosphere.
Geophysicists accordingly explore:
- the structure of the Earth and its vicinity as well as its physical substances and processes
- the force fields emanating from the Earth and surrounding it
- the influences from other celestial bodies, especially from the sun and the moon
- other planets
Due to the history of this science emerged a subdivision of disciplines which is represented at the various German Institutes for Geophysics in a special way:
- Astrophysics
- Aeronomy and Meteorology
- Oceanography, Hydrology and Glaciology
- Physics of the solid Earth
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Engineering and Environmental Geophysics
Research priorities in Münster
At the Institute for Geophysics working groups exist in the latter three disciplines. They comprise the three main research areas geodynamics, seismology and environmental/polar research. Via the links you will be able to access current research results and references. A complete list of all diploma theses, doctoral theses and bachelor thesis written at the Institute is available. This also includes theses from the since 1995 discontinued working groups for Palaeomagnetism and Aeronomy.
Geodynamics (Physics of the solid Earth)
- Applicaction and development of magnetotellurics to investigate the distribution of electrical conductivity in the crust and upper mantle
- Laboratory studies on the electrical conductivity of rocks
- Crust refractions and reflection seismic surveys for decoding earth's history in Antarctica
- Development of numerical models to describe thermochemical convection in multi-component- and multiphase systems as well as convection in porous media
- Study and model description of thermal and transport properties of convection in the Earth, and the long-term development of subduction zones
- Model development of the dynamo mechanism in the outer core and the generation in the Earth's magnetic field
Seismology
- Investigation of the core-mantle boundary with teleseismic registrations - in particular the investigation of the D"layer (ca. 200 - 300 km above the core-mantle boundary)
- Investigation of the seismic discontinuities in the transition zone between upper and lower mantle
- Anisotropy at the core-mantle boundary
- Detection and identification of structures in the Earth's mantle - in particular the detection of deep subduction (below 660 km depth)
- Array Seismology
- Scattering of structures near the core-mantle boundary
Angewandte Geophysik