Definition
Individuals who use the principles of physics, mathematics, and chemistry to study not only the Earth's surface, but also its internal composition; ground and surface waters; atmosphere; oceans; and magnetic, electrical and gravitational forces. Geophysicists specialize in areas such as geodesy, seismology, or magnetic geophysics. Geodesists study the Earth's size, shape, gravitational field, tides, polar motion and rotation. Seismologists interpret data from seismographs and other geophysical instruments to detect earthquakes and locate earthquake-related faults. Geomagnetists measure the Earth's magnetic field and use measurements taken over the past few centuries to devise theoretical models that explain the Earth's origin. Paleomagnetists interpret fossil magnetization in rocks and sediments from the continents and oceans to record the spreading of the sea floor, the wandering of the continents and the many reversals of polarity that the Earth's magnetic field has undergone through time. Other geophysicists study atmospheric sciences and space physics.
URL Name
YO-8000-6500-300
Third Level Code
YO-8000
Taxonomy Code
YO-8000.6500-300
Parent Code
YO-8000.6500
Family Code
Y
Second Level Code
YO
Fifth Level Code
YO-8000-6500-300
Fourth Level Code
YO-8000-6500
Use References
Geodesists, Geomagnetists, Seismologists
Publication Status
Online