Course code: GEO-8137

Seismology

Campus Tromsø
Semester / Year Autumn 2026
Duration 1 semester
Level Videreutdanning – Lavere grad
Credits 10

About the course

This course is available as a single course.

This course will introduce the students to earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth and other planets. The aim is to provide training in mathematical modelling and practical data analysis pertaining to seismic wave propagation, seismology and Earth structure, earthquakes, and the relevant signal processing methods. The theory will be illustrated by several illuminating real-world applications ranging from tectonic earthquake analysis, to ambient seismic noise seismology, cryo-seismology and microseismic monitoring. Modern e-learning tools (e.g., Jupyter Notebooks and ObsPy) will be used extensively for exploring seismological data, and to provide practical training in analyzing seismological data that will be made available to the students.

This PhD level course goes beyond the companion 3000-level course both with respect to the level and volume of the syllabus.

The course will be conducted by a seismology expert from NORSAR in collaboration with scientists from the Department of Geosciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

Admission requirements

All external applicants have to attach a confirmation of their status as a PhD student from their home institution.

More information regarding PhD courses at the Faculty of Science and Technology is found here:

https://uit.no/om/enhet/artikkel?p_document_id=376462&p_dimension_id=88131&men=28714

Objectives of the course

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• a comprehensive understanding of the concepts and tools for modelling of seismic wave propagation, in particular the seismic wave equation, plane waves, strain and stress, reflection and transmission coefficients, surface waves, anisotropy and attenuation, and elements of ray theory • a comprehensive understanding of seismology and Earth structure, including reflection and refraction seismology, body waves, and inverse problems

• understanding of earthquakes, including focal mechanisms, waveform modelling, moment tensors, source parameters, and global earthquake statistics

• understanding of signal processing and data analysis methods relevant for the analysis and interpretation of seismological data

Skills

The student can

• apply the principles of seismology to get access to, visualize, analyze, and assess earthquakes and other seismological events

• understand and interpret seismograms

• connect observational data to source, propagation medium and receiver array configuration

• utilize analysis software to process and extract relevant geophysical information from data

• make independent choices about methodology and methods of analysis and performance assessment for advanced applications

General competences

The student can

• carry out the most important elements of advanced research projects related to seismology: read and understand relevant advanced literature, acquire and analyze data, and communicate results to fellow students/scientists and to the public.

• work with seismological problems in the public and private sector.

• solve problems related to seismology analytically and prompt in written English, and present research results orally.

• work independently and in a team.

Prerequisites

Anbefalte forkunnskaper

GEO-2006 Introduction to applied geophysics

Credit reduction

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

  • GEO-3137 Seismology 10 ects

Teaching methods

The course will be given as an intensive course over two weeks with 30 hours of lectures and 20 hours of exercises/computer lab.

Compulsory active participation in the course.

Language of instruction and examination

English.

Schedule

The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.

It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.

Examination

Exams
Assignment Hand in: 30.10.2026 14:00 Duration: 1 Semesters Weighting: 1/2 Grade:
A–E, fail F
School exam Date: 25.11.2026 09:00 Duration: 4 Hours Weighting: 1/2 Grade:
A–E, fail F

Everything you need to know about before, during, and after the exam; registration, absence, appeals, and diplomas: UiT Exams homepage

Re-sit examination

A re-sit exam will not be held.

Previous years and semesters

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Responsible unit: Institutt for geovitenskap