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Geology and Geophysics

POST 701
1680 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7640
Fax: (808) 956-5512
Web: www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG
E-mail: lanthony@soest.hawaii.edu

Faculty

* Graduate Faculty

• *P. Wessel, PhD (Chair)--marine geophysics
• *J. M. Becker, PhD--geophysical fluid dynamics, nonlinear dynamics
• *P. Cooper, PhD--seismology
• *F. K. Duennebier, PhD--seismology, marine geophysical instrumentation
• *A. I. El-Kadi, PhD--groundwater hydrology
• *P. F. Fan, PhD--sedimentary and geothermal mineralogy, geology of Asia
• *C. H. Fletcher, PhD--coastal processes
• *L. N. Frazer, PhD--theoretical seismology
• *M. O. Garcia, PhD--igneous petrology, volcanology
• *C. R. Glenn, PhD--sedimentology, diagenesis, paleoceanography
• *B. F. Houghton, PhD--physical volcanology
• *J. L. Karsten, PhD--petrology
• P. D. Lee, MS--paleontology 
• *J. J. Mahoney, PhD--geochemistry
• *S. J. Martel, PhD--engineering geology, geomechanics
• *R. Moberly, PhD--marine geology, sedimentology
• *G. F. Moore, PhD--exploration seismology, tectonics
• *B. N. Popp, PhD--isotopic biogeochemistry
• *C. B. Raleigh, PhD--seismology, rock mechanics
• *J. M. Resig, Dr. rer. nat.--micropaleontology
• *K. H. Rubin, PhD--isotope geochemistry, age dating
• *J. M. Sinton, PhD--igneous petrology, marine geology
• *K. J. Spencer, PhD--geochemistry, instrumentation
• *B. Taylor, PhD--plate tectonics, geology of ocean margin basins

Cooperating Graduate Faculty

• T. B. Appelgate, PhD--marine geology and geophysics, seafloor mapping and plate tectonics
• J. Bell, PhD--planetary geosciences
• M. G. Bevis, PhD--crustal motion geodesy, GPS, geodynamics
• K. A. W. Crook, PhD--sedimentology, tectonics, geoscience policy
• E. H. DeCarlo, PhD--marine geochemistry, marine resources
• M. H. Edwards, PhD--marine geology and geophysics
• F. P. Fanale, PhD--planetary surfaces
• L. Flynn, PhD--remote sensing of fires and volcanoes
• G. J. Fryer, PhD--seismology, computer modeling, marine geophysics
• P. B. Fryer, PhD--marine geology, petrology, tectonics
• M. D. Fuller, PhD--paleomagnetism, geomagnetism
• A. J. Harris, PhD--volcanology, remote sensing
• M. A. Garcés, PhD--infrasound, wave propagation, volcanology
• B. R. Hawke, PhD--planetary geosciences
• E. Herrero-Bervera, PhD--paleomagnetism, geomagnetism
• R. N. Hey, PhD--marine geophysics and tectonics
• B. H. Keating, PhD--paleomagnetism
• K. Keil, Dr. rer. nat.--meteorites, planetary geosciences
• L. S. L. Kong, PhD--seismology
• L. W. Kroenke, PhD--marine geology and geophysics
• B. R. Lienert, PhD--geophysics
• P. G. Lucey, PhD--planetary geosciences
• F. Mackenzie, PhD--sedimentary geochemistry, sedimentology
• M. H. Manghnani, PhD--high-pressure geophysics, mineral physics
• F. Martinez, PhD--marine geophysics
• T. B. McCord, PhD--planetary surfaces, remote sensing
• F. W. McCoy, PhD--marine geology, sedimentology
• L. C. Ming, PhD--high-pressure mineralogy
• P. J. Mouginis-Mark, PhD--planetary science, remote sensing
• S. K. Rowland, PhD--planetary geosciences
• E. R. D. Scott, PhD--planetary geosciences
• S. K. Sharma, PhD--raman and IR spectroscopy in geochemistry
• G. J. Taylor, PhD--planetary geosciences
• D. M. Thomas, PhD--geothermal and volcanic geochemistry 
• J. S. Tribble, PhD--marine geology and geochemistry
• R. Wilkens, PhD--rock and sediment properties, bore-hole research
• C. J. Wolfe, PhD--seismology, marine geophysics

Affiliate Graduate Faculty

• D. Clague, PhD--marine geology, volcanology
• A. L. Clark, PhD--economic geology, resources
• J. Gradie, PhD--planetary sciences
• C. J. Johnson, PhD--resource systems
• K. T. M. Johnson, PhD--marine geology and geophysics
• J. P. Kauahikaua, PhD--volcanology
• J. P. Lockwood, PhD--volcanology
• J. K. Morgan, PhD--sediment mechanics, convergent margin processes, numerical modeling of granular materials
• P. G. Okubo, PhD--geophysics
• S. Self, PhD--volcanology, petrology
• G. H. Sutton, PhD--seismology, marine geophysics
• C. R. Thornber, PhD--geochemistry, volcanology
• G. W. Tribble, PhD--geochemistry, coral reef geology
• D. A. Walker, PhD--seismology
• C. G. Wheat, PhD--low-temperature geochemistry
• S. Zisk, PhD--planetary geosciences

Degrees Offered: BA in geology, BS in geology and geophysics, MS in geology and geophysics, PhD in geology and geophysics

The Academic Program

Geology and geophysics (GG) are important branches of the geosciences, which encompass the scientific study of Earth and other bodies in our solar system. Thus, the scope of the geosciences is extremely broad, and includes important ties to meteorology and oceanography. The Earth and other planets are highly dynamic; geoscientists study the internal and surface changes that occur to decipher the fundamental causes of these changes. In turn, these studies shed light on the origin and evolution of Earth processes, the other planets, and, indeed, the entire solar system. The range of interest in the Earth and planetary sciences is from submarine volcanism to understanding our environment, from coastal erosion and sea level change to past oceanic, biotic, and climatic changes, from the origins of life to monitoring the earthquakes of active volcanoes, and from the composition of meteorites and Mars to the distribution of petroleum and water resources. The geosciences offer a richness in variety and unrivaled opportunity for multidisciplinary research on problems of great intellectual and practical importance.

Geology and geophysics have much to offer students curious about humankind's place in nature. Undergraduate majors can look forward to expanding opportunities in the private and public sectors (e.g., the environment, hydrogeology). Such jobs offer incredible variety, the opportunity to work outdoors, and many opportunities for travel. Prospective undergraduates are strongly encouraged to build communication skills and a solid background of understanding in chemistry, physics, and mathematics as these disciplines are essential for solving the basic question about how Earth and other planets work. Students with graduate degrees (both MS and PhD) can look forward to interesting research careers in industry, government, or in colleges and universities. The intellectual rewards of basic geosciences research are comparable to such other exciting fields as biomedical research, particle physics, and cosmology. Geosciences have many exciting frontiers and challenges for the future including learning to predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, discovering the history of Mars, understanding the forces that move the surface plates of Earth, and unraveling the history of Earth's surficial processes both on land and in its oceans.

At the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, the department offers outstanding programs of study at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The faculty is large (about 24 teaching and research faculty and about 38 additional graduate faculty) and diverse, so there are strong programs in all major subdisciplines. The geographic location in the midst of the Pacific Ocean and the rich geologic setting provide a natural focus for research programs in seismology, volcanology, marine geology and geophysics, planetary science, sedimentology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, paleoceanography, meteorites, and many other fields. The quality of the school's research vessels, submersibles, and analytical and computing facilities reflects its commitment to the excellence in field studies, and well as in theoretical and modeling studies. The quality of the faculty, research facilities, and opportunities is difficult to match.

Advising

Students contemplating a major or minor in geology and geophysics should visit an undergraduate adviser at the earliest opportunity. Inquire at the department's student services office, POST 701C.

Undergraduate Study

BA in Geology

Requirements
The BA degree in geology is appropriate for students interested in the study of the Earth but who do not necessarily intend to pursue graduate work or employment in traditional geology fields. It is more flexible than the BS program and is suitable for students who are considering, for example, a double major, teaching, or not considering employment as a professional geologist.

The BA degree requires completion of 124 credit hours of coursework, the equivalent of four years of full-time work. The BA program requires 34 credits in the geology and geophysics curriculum. This includes one introductory level GG course with a lab, seven non-introductory GG courses, and a one-credit research seminar (GG 410). A minimum of 6 credits of approved upper division science electives is also required; these courses can be in geology and geophysics or in other natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Students are encouraged to consider taking a mainland summer field course as an elective. Required support mathematics and science classes include physics, chemistry, biological sciences, and one semester of college calculus; these total 20-21 credits and should be taken as early as possible.

Geology and Geophysics Courses 

• Required Courses (28 credits)
  • GG 101 Dynamic Earth or GG 103 Geology of the Hawaiian Islands (3)
  • GG 101L Dynamic Earth Laboratory (1)
  • GG 200 Geological Inquiry (4)
  • GG 301 Mineralogy (3)
  • GG 302 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3)
  • GG 303 Structural Geology (3)
  • GG 305 Geological Field Methods (3)
  • GG 308 Earth History (3)
  • GG 309 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4)
  • GG 410 Research Seminar (1)

   

• Upper Division Science Electives (6 credits)
  • GG 300 Volcanology (3)
  • GG 312 Geomathematics (3)
  • GG 313 Geological Data Analysis I (3)
  • GG 325 Fundamentals of Geochemistry (3)
  • GG 399 Directed Reading (V)
  • GG 401 Introduction to Mineral Physics (3)
  • GG 402 Hawaiian Geology (3)
  • GG 407 Energy and Mineral Resources (3)
  • GG 420 Quaternary Geology (3)
  • GG 423 Marine Geology (3)
  • GG 425 Environmental Geochemistry (3)
  • GG 426 Sedimentary Isotope Geochemistry (3)
  • GG 430 Geology and Mineral Resources of Asia (3)
  • GG 444 Plate Tectonics (3)
  • GG 450 Geophysical Methods (4)
  • GG 451 Earthquakes (3)
  • GG 454 Engineering Geology (3)
  • GG 455 Hydrogeology (4)
  • GG 460 Geological Remote Sensing (3)
  • GG 466 Planetary Geology (3)
  • GG 491 Teaching Geology (4)
  • GG 499 Undergraduate Thesis (3)

   

• Support Courses (20-21 credits)
  • General Chemistry (CHEM 161, 161L, 162, 162L)
  • Calculus I (MATH 241)
  • College Physics (PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L)
  • Biological Science (a 3-credit course listed under the University's General Education and Core requirements)

BS in Geology and Geophysics

Requirements
The BS degree in geology and geophysics is strongly recommended for students who intend to pursue graduate work or employment in geology or geophysics. The BS degree provides substantial grounding in computational and analytical skills needed for a practicing geologist. It places added emphasis on applications of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to studying the Earth. 

The BS degree requires completion of 124 credit hours of coursework, the equivalent of four years of full-time work. The BS program requires 47 credits in the geology and geophysics curriculum. This includes one introductory level GG course with a lab, ten non-introductory GG courses, a one-credit research seminar (GG 410), and nine credits of electives in GG. With advice and consent of an undergraduate adviser, courses in other natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering may be substituted as electives. Students are encouraged to consider taking a mainland summer field course as an elective. Required support mathematics and science classes include physics, chemistry, biological sciences, and two semesters of college calculus; these total between 24 and 25 credits and should be taken as early as possible.

Geology and Geophysics Courses

• Required Courses (38 credits)
  • GG 101 Dynamic Earth or GG 103 Geology of the Hawaiian Islands (3)
  • GG 101L Dynamic Earth Laboratory (1)
  • GG 200 Geological Inquiry (4)
  • GG 301 Mineralogy (3)
  • GG 302 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3)
  • GG 303 Structural Geology (3)
  • GG 304 Physics of Earth and Planets (4)
  • GG 305 Geological Field Methods (3)
  • GG 308 Earth History (3)
  • GG 309 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4)
  • GG 313 Geological Data Analysis I (3)
  • GG 325 Fundamentals of Geochemistry (3)
  • GG 410 Research Seminar (1)

• Upper Division GG Electives (9 credits)
  • See the Upper Division Science Electives listing under the BA program.

• Support Courses (24-25 credits)
  • General Chemistry (CHEM 161, 161L, 162, 162L)
  • Calculus I and II (MATH 241 and 242, 242L)
  • General Physics (PHYS 170, 170L, 272, 272L) or College Physics (PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L)
  • Biological Science (a 3-credit course listed under the University's General Education and Core require ments)

Minor

Requirements
The minor requires GG 101 (or 103), 101L, 200, and 11 credits of non-introductory courses at the 300-level or higher. A "C" average is required in these courses. The minor is flexible and can provide either an introductory survey of geology or emphasize areas of particular interest to the student. A student interested in a minor in geology and geophysics should consult with an adviser from the department to tailor a plan best suited to the student's interest.

Graduate Study

Admission Requirements
All applicants must take the GRE General Test. All students are urged to have completed a course in C++ or similar computer programming language before entrance. U.S. applications are due by January 15 for admission in the fall semester or by September 1 for the spring semester. International applications are due January 1 and August 15, respectively.

Undergraduate deficiencies will be listed on the basis of the student's transcripts and intended field of study. Courses may be added to the list or removed from it as a result of questioning during the preliminary conference and the general examination. Course GG 611 is intended for students entering from a non-geoscience field to prepare them for graduate studies in geosciences.

Master's Degree

Intended candidates will be accepted from undergraduate majors in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and they normally would be expected to have completed at least one year each of college mathematics, geology, physics, and chemistry. Adequacy of each applicant's additional preparation will depend on the particular branch of geology and geophysics being pursued. At the time of application the student should state the field in which he or she intends to study

Requirements
For MS students, the graduate studies committee of the department will determine suitability of Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis) at the preliminary conference. Virtually all students are required to follow Plan A. Plan A requires a minimum of 30 credits, including 6 credits of GG 700 Thesis Research and at least 24 credits of course work (up to 6 course work credits may be in GG 699). Plan B requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work and a final exam.

Doctoral Degree

Students wishing to bypass the MS degree and advance directly into PhD candidacy must pass a qualifying examination during the second semester in residence.

Requirements
PhD candidates are accepted with either a BS or MS degree. Students without an MS must pass a qualifying examination given at the beginning of their second semester in residence. All PhD candidates must pass a comprehensive examination no later than at the end of the fourth semester of residence for students without an MS degree or at the end of the second semester of residence for students with an MS degree. The comprehensive exam includes oral and written parts that cover in-depth subjects in the student's field of interest and also the breadth of several areas in this and other departments that bear on the field. A final examination in defense of the dissertation is required. Space and aid for the program are limited, so each student's progress will be reviewed annually.

Areas of Interest
The four areas of interest listed below are active fields of research in the department. For each, a brief description and the required undergraduate preparation is listed. Students with backgrounds other than these may be accepted in a field if their records and recommendations are good, but advancement to candidacy may be delayed. A complete statement of the courses and other work in each field necessary for the MS or to prepare for the PhD comprehensive examination will be given to the entering student.

The department can provide further information on research opportunities and financial aid in each of the areas of interest.

Geophysics and Tectonics
This program takes advantage of the University of Hawai'i's mid-Pacific setting to investigate a wide variety of geodynamic, tectonic, and geophysical phenomena that operate over a broad range of scales. Studies in geophysics and tectonics at the University of Hawai'i are interdisciplinary and include experimental and theoretical developments, field-based observations, and computer simulations. Together, they provide students with a background that combines both geology and geophysics for technical and professional work at industrial, governmental, and academic institutions. Current research areas include:

Plate Kinematics and Evolution. Studies of rift propagation and plate break-up; initiation and evolution of continental margins and back-arc basins; relative and absolute motion of plates; thermo-mechanical properties of oceanic lithosphere; mantle flow and the driving forces of plate tectonics.

Seismology. Theory and analysis of seismic waves from active and passive sources; ocean-bottom geophysical instrumentation (HUGO); multichannel seismic imaging of subduction zones, accretionary prisms, and submarine volcano flanks.

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. Mantle flow and plume-plate interaction; plate generation and rheology from mantle flow; ocean/shore dynamics and nonlinear waves.

Rock Fracture Mechanics. Coupled field, theoretical, and laboratory analyses of the mechanics of fault growth, rock fracture, dike propagation, landslides, and crustal deformation; these topics are relevant to plate tectonics, structural geology, and engineering geology.

Entrance may be through majors in geophysics, geology, mathematics, physics, or engineering. Students need a background in geology (which can be obtained in graduate school) together with supporting mathematics and physics.

Marine and Environmental Geology
The Marine and Environmental Geology program (MEG) is focused on the dynamic physical, biological and chemical interactions that characterize earth surface environments. The program provides instructional and research opportunities in a wide range of topics related to tropical insular environments. Because of our unique geographic location and diverse ethnic population, Hawai'i is an excellent natural laboratory to study the interaction of humans with natural environmental systems. Special areas of emphasis include carbonate geology, coastal geology, geomechanics, groundwater hydrology, paleoclimatology, marine biogeochemistry, and sedimentology/stratigraphy. Although much of our research is done within the Hawaiian Islands, we also study other Pacific islands, Asia, and modern environments around the world. The MEG program consists of three main areas of research:

Coastal Geology. Hawai'i's beaches and reefs are world-renowned for their beauty. Understanding the processes which shape them will help us to preserve their splendor; this is an important motivation for research in this field. Volcanic islands provide platforms for reef community development and a unique chronicle of past sea level changes. Studies in this program have a particular emphasis on nearshore processes, coastal sedimentation and erosion, remote sensing of reefs, geologic history of Hawaiian reefs, Pacific basin sea level history, and submarine landslides. Research also focuses on carbonate petrology and petrography to derive clues to past environmental changes as well as post-depositional geochemical changes to island limestones.

Deep-Sea Sedimentary Environments. Hawai'i's central location within the Pacific allows easy access to a wealth of deep-sea environments, where sediments record the history of changes in ocean chemistry and productivity and their relationships to tectonic movements and climate change. Deep-sea studies are focused on micropaleontology, paleoceanography, organic isotope biogeochemistry, marine authigenesis, carbonate sedimentology and the physical properties of sediments and crustal rocks.

Hydrogeology of Tropical Volcanic Islands. Almost all types of hydrologic environments are found in the Hawaiian Islands, ranging from near-desert conditions with annual rainfalls of less than 25 cm to Mt. Waialeale on Kaua'i, which is one of the wettest gauged spots on Earth with annual rainfall of over 10 m, and from sea level tropical rain forests to snow and permafrost conditions at the top of Mauna Kea at 4.2 km above sea level. Human activities related to tourism and agriculture introduce additional complexities into this delicately balanced environmental system. This unique setting presents important opportunities to study groundwater transport and contaminant fate processes, groundwater modeling, and the hydrogeology of Pacific islands and atolls. 

Many research efforts in this program involve participation in several marine expeditions each year. Graduate students in our program are encouraged to participate in these voyages as a part of their career training. The program is multidisciplinary with cooperating faculty and courses from several other departments including civil engineering, soil sciences, oceanography and geography. The diverse research and teaching interests of the faculty make it possible to tailor graduate degree work to fit the needs and desires of the student.

Typically an undergraduate major in geology or one of the other natural sciences along with basic courses in physics, chemistry, and mathematics would be sufficient for entrance. The student should be prepared to commence or continue course work in (1) structural or tectonic geology (2) exploration geophysics, and (3) any one or more of sedimentology, paleontology, geochemistry, and petrology, as applied to marine research. The student should be prepared for additional work in whatever combination of geology, geophysics, civil engineering, and geochemistry is appropriate for his or her optimum development.

Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology
The University of Hawai'i is uniquely situated to study all major aspects of volcanic systems. Active Hawaiian volcanoes are natural laboratories of intraplate volcanism and hydrothermalism; eroded fossil volcanic systems on the older islands provide windows into deeper volcanic structures; and Hawai'i is at the center of the Pacific "Ring of Fire." Also, we study submarine volcanoes with our research vessel, and we remotely monitor volcanoes on Earth and other planets from ground-based and space-borne observatories. The Hawai'i Center for Volcanology is housed at SOEST; it includes scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at UH Hilo, facilitating collaborative projects to monitor active volcanoes. Additionally, the Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology (VGP) program has a wide range of modern, well-equipped analytical laboratories that provide data on the chemical composition and physical properties of igneous materials. Current research areas include:

Ocean Spreading Center Processes. Petrologic, geochemical and isotopic variations along and across mid-ocean ridges and back-arc basin spreading centers; geometry and dynamics of mantle flow, melt generation and magma chambers beneath spreading centers; near axis seamount genesis; hot spot-spreading center interactions; magmatic systems at propagating rifts; geochronology of submarine volcanism, elemental fluxes from erupting mid-ocean ridge volcanoes. 

Physical Volcanology. The rise, degassing and fragmentation of magma in conduits; transport and deposition from volcanic plumes and pyroclastic density currents; flood basalts and the eruption and emplacement of lavas; caldera volcanoes and ignimbrites; volatile degassing and retention in magma chambers; environmental impact and social consequences of eruptions; origin of dike complexes and rift zones; and volcanic processes on extraterrestrial bodies. 

Intraplate Volcanism and Volcano Monitoring. Petrologic, geochemical, isotopic, and geologic evolution of Hawaiian and other oceanic islands and seamounts; petrologic, seismic, and geodetic monitoring of magmatic systems at active Hawaiian volcanoes, including a fiber optic-linked observatory on Loihi Seamount; satellite monitoring of volcanic hazards and eruption clouds; remote-sensing observation of extraterrestrial volcanoes. Relationship of hot spots to flood basalt and oceanic plateau formation; geochemistry of active hydrothermal systems.

In addition to basic courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, the well-prepared student would have had training in mineralogy, optical mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, and, in some cases, geological field methods and remote sensing techniques.

Planetary Geoscience and Remote Sensing
The principal objective of this program is to study the geology and composition of objects (planets, asteroids, moons, and meteorites) in the solar system in order to understand their origin and evolution. It involves research in planetary and terrestrial geology, cosmochemistry, planetary astronomy, and scientific instrumentation. Current research areas include: 

Meteoritics and Cosmochemistry. Research on extraterrestrial materials (from asteroids, the Moon, and Mars) focuses on the vast array of processes that formed and modified planets and asteroids. Central themes of our research are: (1) processes in the solar nebula (2) alteration processes in asteroids (3) the effects of shock on mineralogy, textures, and isotopic systems (4) igneous processes, and (5) planetary crustal compositions and evolution.

Inner Planets and the Moon. Several HIGP faculty are involved in a number of remote sensing and petrology projects that have as their focus deriving a better understanding the composition of the crust and mantle of the Moon, which is crucial to understanding lunar origin and differentiation. Mars has numerous large volcanoes that have a similar morphology to Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes in Hawai'i. New high resolution images and topographic data from the Mars Global Surveyor mission allow us to quantify the eruption processes on Mars, based on the knowledge of volcanism in Hawai'i.

Outer Planet Satellites. One group of planetary scientists is doing extensive research on the compositions of the outer planets' satellites. They are studying the surface compositions of the icy moons of Jupiter using data from the Galileo spacecraft and laboratory experiments. The research has implications for the nature of primitive bodies in the solar system and the possibility for life in icy satellites. This group is also heavily involved with the Cassini mission to Saturn and its moons.

Terrestrial Remote Sensing. Several faculty within HIGP are involved with the analysis of volcanic thermal anomalies, using spacecraft (Landsat 7, Terra, GOES), aircraft, and ground observations. These data allow studies of the flux of lava through volcanic systems and evaluation of eruption precursors. Similar work on thermal anomalies focuses on the study of forest fires. Data from the GOES geostationary satellite are made available on the HIGP web site (hotspot1.pgd.hawaii.edu/goes/). Remote sensing studies of volcanoes also include the use of radar interferometry to measure the deformation of volcanoes, crucial for understanding magma emplacement and volcanic tectonics.

Instrument Development. The Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology has a many years of experience in developing instruments for use in studying global problems in earth and planetary science. One group is developing hyperspectral thermal infrared imagers for use in lithologic mapping. A new instrument is also in the planning stage, potentially for flight on the International Space Station. Another group is developing a synthetic aperture sonar system. A third group built the HIGP Acoustic Wide Angle Imaging Instrument, Mapping Researcher 1 (HAWAII MR1).

Typically, an undergraduate major in geology, astronomy, physics, or engineering along with basic courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics would be sufficient for entrance. The student should be prepared to commence or continue course work in whatever combination of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, planetary science, spectroscopy, or remote sensing is appropriate to optimum development in the field.

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