Gridding data with large unconstrained regions can cause problems. There are several techniques that can be used in GMT; this example illustrates some of them. Lower left panel shows contours of the surface generated with nearneighbor based on available ship bathymetry. Being a local procedure it will not extrapolate the surface far away from the control data. surface, on the other hand (lower right), will. One can deal with this by either imposing a clip mask based on the data distribution (upper left), or simply overlay the continents to mask out the unwanted contours. [Example courtesy of Paul Wessel and Walter Smith, using the GMT software, http://gmt.soest.hawaii.edu/]

Kurt Feigl
Associate Professor
Department of Geology and Geophysics

Description of Course

Capsule statement of course

Prerequisites

• Calculus and/or elementary vector matrix algebra (Math 210, 211, 221 or equivalent) or consent of instructor
• Some experience with digital images, GIS, or cartography is desirable.
• Familiarity with computers and/or high-level programming/scripting languages is desirable.
• This course is NOT be open to freshmen.

CROSSLISTING DEPARTMENTS (proposed)

• Geological Engineering

CREDITS:   

EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION

NEED FOR THIS COURSE

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER UW-MADISON COURSES

WILL THIS COURSE MEET A REQUIREMENT FOR THE MAJOR IN YOUR DEPARTMENT OR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT?

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

• To understand the basic mathematical concepts underlying data analysis in the Earth sciences
  
• To master the criteria for selecting an appropriate approach to data analysis
  
• To view, intepret, and asses practical examples data analysis
  
• To understand the current abilities, future potential, and limiting factors of various software packages
  
• To develop critical thinking skills, particularly in spatial reasoning about quantitative data

How will students be evaluated?

• Seven problem sets involving data analysis with Matlab and GMT
• Students may (and should) consult with each other on problem sets, but each student is expected to turn in his or her own work.
  
• Problem sets will be turned in on paper with numbered figures and pages, including "diary" from Matlab showing relevant calculations.
  
• Problem sets will be due at the end of class (4:20 pm) on the due date. Late penalty is 20 percent per business day or fraction thereof.
  
• No exam
  

Schedule

• Regular 15-week course offered every Fall
  
• Class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 4:20 PM.
• First meeting is planned for 3:30 PM Tuesday September 4th, 2007, in Room 1249 of Engineering Hall
• The classroom is a computer lab in the Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) facility.
  

Required Textbook

Recommended Textbooks

	Fundamentals of Structural Geology by David D. Pollard and Raymond C. Fletcher Published by Cambridge University Press 2005 Hardback, 503 pages ISBN-10: 052183927, ISBN-13: 9780521839273 http://pangea.stanford.edu/projects/structural_geology/book_info/book_info.html
	Numerical Recipes in C Numerical Recipes in C Adobe Acrobat ® version
	Numerical Recipes in Fortran Numerical Recipes in Fortran 77 Volume 1 of Numerical Recipes in Fortran Adobe Acrobat ® version
	Numerical Recipes in Fortran Numerical Recipes in Fortran 90 Volume 2 of Numerical Recipes in Fortran Adobe Acrobat ® version
	Aster, R. C., C. H. Thurber, and B. Borchers (2005), Parameter estimation and inverse problems, xii, 301 p. pp., Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam ; Boston
	Menke, W. (1989), Geophysical data analysis: discrete inverse theory, revised ed., 289 pp., Academic Press, San Diego.
	Bevington, P. R. (1969), Data reduction and error analysis for the physical sciences, xv, 336 p. pp., McGraw-Hill, New York.
	Bevington, P. R., and D. K. Robinson (1992), Data reduction and error analysis for the physical sciences, 2nd ed., xvii, 328 p. pp., McGraw-Hill, New York.
	Nelson, S. L. (2007), Excel 2007 Data Analysis For Dummies ISBN: 978-0-470-04599-2 http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/  * Shows ordinary users how to tap the rich data analysis functionality of Excel, make sense of their organization’s critical financial and statistical information, and put together compelling data presentations     * Now revised with over 30 percent new content to cover the enhancements in Excel 2007, including the completely redesigned user interface, augmented charting and PivotTable capabilities, improved security, and better data exchange through XML     * Provides thorough coverage of Excel features that are critical to data analysis–working with external databases, creating PivotTables and PivotCharts, using Excel statistical and financial functions, sharing data, harnessing the Solver, taking advantage of the Small Business Finance Manager, and more
	Davis, J. C. (2002). Statistics and data analysis in geology. New York Chichester, Wiley.
	MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications, 2nd Edition Amos Gilat ISBN: 978-0-471-69420-5 Paperback 352 pages July 2004 http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471694207.html
	Strang, G. and K. Borre (1997). Linear algebra, geodesy, and GPS. Wellesley, MA, Wellesley-Cambridge Press.

 

Topics

Week 1 & 2: Review of Linear Matrix Algebra

• Vectors
• Working with strike, dip, rake, azimuth and plunge on  a computer
  
• Matrices and Tensors
  
• Functions and Functionals
  
• Images and Fields
• Read Chapter 1 of Trauth
• Read Chatper 1 "Vectors and Matrices" of pages 3-36 in Strang, G. and K. Borre (1997), Linear algebra, geodesy, and GPS, on reserve in C. K. Leith Library of Geology and Geophysics
• Problem Set (PS) 1 due 4:20 PM Thursday 2007-SEP-13.
• Adding and drawing vectors in three different representations
     
   
  

Week 3 & 4: Fitting a straight line to 1-D data

• Least squares by Singular Value Decomposition
  
• Gaussian uncertainty
• Goodness of fit
• Learning from residuals
• Read Chapters 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and pp. 45-46 only of chapter 3.4 in Traut
• Read Chapter 15, "Modeling of Data", pages 650-700 in Press et al. (1992) on reserve in C. K. Leith Library of Geology and Geophysics
• Optional reading in Menke.
  
• Problem Set 2 due 4:20 PM Thursday 2007-SEP-27.
• Gravity dataset from K.M. Larson
  

Week 5 & 6: Cartogographic Projections

• Spherical geometry
• Ellipsoids
  
• Plat carre
  
• Mercator
• Transverse Mercator & UTM
  
• Oblique Mercator
• forward and inverse projections
• Using and installing M_MAP
  
• Read chapters 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of Trauth
• Read Pawlowicz, R. (2007). " M_Map: A mapping package for Matlab."  http://www.eos.ubc.ca/~rich/map.html
• Problem Set 3 due 4:20 PM Thursday 2007-OCT-12.
• Camp Randall on USGS Topographic Sheet
  

Weeks 7, 8, and 9: Fitting a surface to 2-D data  

• Sampling, gridding and kriging
• Map representation
  
• Contour representation
  
• Shaded relief
• Cross-sections
• Read chapters 7.6 and 7.7 in Trauth
  
• Problem Set 4 due 4:20 PM Thursday 2007-NOV-01
• Example 12 from GMT cookbook
  

Week 10, 11, and 12: Digital Image Processing

• Manipulating Color Tables
  
• Stretching Histograms
  
• Smoothing & Filtering
• Read chapters 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 of Trauth
• Problem Set 5 due 4:20 PM Tuesday 2007-NOV-20.
• Aster Image into Google Earth
• No class scheduled Thursday 2007-NOV-22 (Thanksgiving)
  

Week 13: Frequency

• Spectrum
• FFT
• Wavelets
• Problem Set 6 due 4:20 PM Thursday 2007-NOV-29.
• Temperature time series
  

Weeks 14 & 15: Velocity FieldsAbsolute and relative Velocity Fields

• Eulerian description of motion on a sphere
• Trajectories
• Estimating Euler Poles of Rotation
• Error ellipses
• Two guest lectures in Week 15 (AGU).
  
• Problem Set 7 due 4:20 PM Tuesday 2007-DEC-18.
• Example from NUVEL-1
  

* Readings on Learn@UW and/or Library Reserve

HOW TO REGISTER

School/College: 
    COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE 

Department:          
(420) GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS 

Course:          
(376) Topics in Geology 

Session        A1 

Lecture        LEC 1
Data Analysis for Earth Scientists 

Class Number   35692 

School/College: 
    COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE 

Department:          
(420) GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS 

Course:          
(875) Topics in Geology 

Session        A1 

Lecture        SEM 2 
Data Analysis for Earth Scientists 

Class Number   41369  

Software

Matlab

Students with access to CAE

Students with access to Geology and Geophysics computers

Student Version

Computer Programs and Scripts

Google Earth Plus

• GPS data import - read in tracks and waypoints from select GPS devices
•           o Note 1: Verified support for Magellan and Garmin devices only
•           o Note 2: Does not support export of tracks or waypoints to a GPS device
• Higher resolution printing (greater than screen resolution).
• Annotation – adds draw/sketch tools for richer annotations (can be shared as KML).
• Data importer – read address points from .csv files.

Excel or equivalent

ARC GIS (optional)

Computer Hardware

Computer

Data Sets