1. What is Geophysics?
The study of the Earth

2. What is Geophysics?
The study of tectonic plates and earthquakes

3. What is Geophysics?
Earth Structure by USGS
www.usgs.gov
The study of the composition of the Earth

4. What is Geophysics?
Turtle Mountain
Frank Slide
The study of natural hazards

5. What does a Geophysicist do?
Explores for oil and gas

6. What does a Geophysicist do?
Shoots seismic surveys

7. What does a Geophysicist do?
recording truck
geophones
energy source
reflecting boundary
reflecting boundary
Shoots seismic surveys

8. What does a Geophysicist do?
Vibroseis trucks
Shoots seismic surveys

9. What does a Geophysicist do?
Shoots seismic surveys in Africa

10. What does a Geophysicist do?
Shoots seismic surveys in the mountains

11. What does a Geophysicist do?
Process seismic data

12. What does a Geophysicist do?
Seismic Image of Ancient Reef in Alberta
[400 million years old]
Uses computer technology to interpret seismic data

13. What does a Geophysicist do?
Uses computer technology to interpret seismic data

14. What does a Geophysicist do?
Uses high tech visualization to interpret seismic data

15. What does a Geophysicist do?
Collects aeromagnetic and gravity data

16. What does a Geophysicist do?
Finds water in Malawi

17. What does a Geophysicist do?
Archaeological surveys in Israel

18. What does a Geophysics student do?
Surveys in the Arctic Islands as though on Mars

19. What does a Geophysics student do?
Goes on geology field trips

20. What does a Geophysics student do?
Goes to geophysics field school

21. What does a Technologist do?
Data management

22. Who hires Geophysicists and Technologists?
• The Petroleum Industry
oil and gas exploration and production
• Engineering Companies
environmental studies
• Mining Companies
mineral resource exploration
• Universities
teaching and research
• Governments
regulatory agencies

23. Education requirements?
• B.Sc in geophysics, physics, mathematics, geology,
earth science or computer science
(see details under “Careers in Geophysics” at
www.cseg.ca)
• Diploma or certificate from a
technical college
• Licensing by your provincial regulatory
association (APEGGA in Alberta)

24. How much does a Geophysicist earn per year?
With an oil company:
• New hire: $40,000-70,000
• 5 years experience: $70,000-100,000
• 10 years experience: $90,000-140,000
• 20 years experience: $130,000-150,000
* based on 2006 data

25. How much does a
Geophysical Technologist earn?
With an oil company:
• New hire: $32,000-$44,000
• 5 years experience: $56,000
• 10 years experience: $72,000
• 20 years experience: $75,000
* based on 2004 data

26. More info?
Visit our website:
www.cseg.ca