Seismology Fundamentals: Analyzing Seismic Waves and Earth's Structure

How do we map the deep interior of our planet without ever drilling into it? Seismology provides the tools to read the waves generated by earthquakes and decode the secrets hidden miles beneath our feet. This text-only course guides you through the fundamental science of seismology, from the basic physics of elastic waves to the modern methods used to image Earth's layered structure. You will gain a solid conceptual foundation in how seismic waves travel, refract, and reflect through different geological media. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamental physics of stress, strain, and elastic wave propagation; Analyze the differences between body waves and surface waves; Map Earth's interior layers using seismic travel-time curves and ray theory; Explore how seismic reflection and refraction are used in geophysics; Examine modern digital seismograph networks and earthquake source characterization. You will begin with essential terminology and the physical principles of elasticity before moving on to wave propagation in layered media and global earth structure models. The material concludes with an overview of modern observational seismology and data interpretation. This course is designed for curious beginners, students of earth sciences, and anyone interested in geophysics, requiring no prior background in seismology. Start your journey into the science of earthquakes and planetary imaging today.