What is Geophysics?

Geophysics is the physics of the Earth, but it has developed into a field with much broader implications. Geophysicists use the principles of physics to study the Earth, its environment, and infrastructure to better understand how the Earth, as a whole or in smaller parts, are formed and function.

Geophysics is used by millions of people around the world every day. It is used for a wide number of reasons and is an essential tool for anyone wanting to study natural or man-made structures without causing any harm to the study-object.  

Geophysical studies are typically classed as “non-destructive testing” (NDT). The aim of a geophysical study can range in scale from looking at the smallest constituents of minerals to mapping the interior of planets. The popularity of geophysics is largely down to its ability to map areas more efficiently and more completely than intrusive methods such as drilling or test-pitting, which are destructive, expensive, slow, and will usually only give you information at discrete locations. 

Earth scientists study variations in earth’s natural fields (passive methods), or the effect of locally induced fields (active methods), to understand what is hidden within. Passive methods measure naturally occurring physical parameters such as magnetism, seismic activity or gravity variations. At Guideline Geo we have a range of products that focus on active methods – where the systems generate a signal, and we record how that signal and the materials under test interact; this tells us something about the structure and composition of the targeted area. 

Geophysics can be used for a huge range of applications, with abundant success stories. If you have a specific mapping or monitoring requirement, or simply want to know more about how geophysics might help bring insight and efficiency to your work, please contact us to discuss it and we will guide you to the best possible solution for you.  

 

 

More to read 

Application areas
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/application-areas/  

Methods
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/ground-penetrating-radar-gpr/ 
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/resistivity-and-induced-polarization/ 
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/transient-electromagnetics-tem/ 
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/seismic-methods/  

Case Stories
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/solutions/case-stories/  

Products
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/mala-ground-penetrating-radar-gpr/ 
https://www.guidelinegeo.com/abem-resistivity-seismics-tem/