Earth & Space Sciences

This course examines the geophysical imaging of the subsurface, including contrasting rock and fluid properties. Applications include environmental, engineering, resource, hazard, and tectonic studies. 

This course examines how and why volcanoes erupt from magma processes in the mantle to eruption at the surface.

This special topic explores the geological and volcanic history of the Auckland Volcanic Field. 

This course is structured as a research project in which samples are collected, investigated using various analytical methods, processed using statistical methods, and compared to other studies. The focus lies on abrupt climate changes and the role of ocean circulation during the last ~50 thousand years in the North Atlantic region. The course takes a hands-on approach, using marine sedimentary archives as the basis for reconstructing past climate and environmental conditions. Through weekly theoretical lectures accompanied by extensive practical work in groups (field excursion, laboratory analyses, presentations and data processing), the subject progresses and culminates in an individual written report as course exam.

This course examines the history of aeronautics, the commercial and scientific use of space, the operation of specifically aerospace technologies, and the exploration and exploitation of space.

This course covers the interactions between geology and human activities and gives an overview of environmental problems and challenges in geosciences. It deals with water- and soil-resources, contaminated sediments, carbon capture and storage (CCS), the use of micropaleontology in environmental studies to establish reference conditions, impacts of mining activities, climate change from a perspective of natural variation, sustainable use of natural resources, and waste- and pollution control.

This course includes a theoretical and practical introduction to the reflection seismic and acoustic method and to interpretation of geophysical well logs and geotechnical measurements. Teaching consists of integrated lectures and exercises and a one-day fieldtrip with the research vessel Aurora. Lectures include: acquisition and processing of reflection seismic data and other acoustic data; the physical principles of geophysical well logs and geotechnical measurements; the workflow in an integrated interpretation. The theoretical introduction is succeeded by interpretation of seismic data and qualitative and quantitative interpretation of well logs and geotechnical measurements and how such data are used for analyzing the geological structure and development of both shallow and deep sediments with focus on the industrial applications and the green transition.

This course provides research training for exchange students. Students work on a research project under the guidance of assigned faculty members. Through a full-time commitment, students improve their research skills by participating in the different phases of research, including development of research plans, proposals, data analysis, and presentation of research results. A pass/no pass grade is assigned based a progress report, self-evaluation, midterm report, presentation, and final report.

This course surveys and introduces topics vital to understanding our planet.  

The Earth is composed of four major systems, such as geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere, which govern the surface processes and internal dynamics of the Earth. This course explores Earth processes of crustal evolution, environmental changes, and biotic successions since its formation as a planet.