Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
EASC3408 Geophysics (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department Earth and Planetary Sciences Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Prof X Liu, Earth and Planetary Sciences < liuxine@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof X Liu,Earth and Planetary Sciences)
Course Objectives An overview of the geophysical characteristics and processes of the solid earth and a survey of the various geophysical disciplines, including seismology, gravity, geothermometry, geomagnetism, as well as exploration geophysical methods for studying the earth's interior and near subsurface structure.
Course Contents & Topics - Gravity and gravity anomalies
- Geomagnetism
- Thermal Properties of the Earth
- Seismology
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 describe the approaches and methods geophysicists use to study the interior of the earth
CLO 2 apply basic techniques in measurements of earthquakes and interpret a seismogram
CLO 3 describe the procedure to determine gravity anomalies and their interpretation
CLO 4 understand the methods of paleomagnetism and describe the processes of rock magnetisation
CLO 5 describe how density, pressure and temperature of the earth's interior are determined
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in EASC2401 or PHYS2250
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2025 Major in Geology ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Major in Geology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Minor in Earth Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Geology ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Geology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Minor in Earth Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Geology ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Geology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Minor in Earth Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Geology ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Geology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Minor in Earth Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Geology ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Geology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Minor in Earth Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2025 Major in Geology < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2025 Major in Geology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2024 Major in Geology < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2024 Major in Geology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2023 Major in Geology < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2023 Major in Geology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2022 Major in Geology < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2022 Major in Geology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2021 Major in Geology < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2021 Major in Geology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        2nd sem    Examination No Exam     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the subject well above the expected level of an university undergraduate and achieving over 80% of total marks and an ability to pursue advance-level study in some of the geophysics subdisciplines.
B Demonstrate an understanding of the subject at the appropriate level of a university student and achieving 70% of the total course marks. A greater effort and further preparation are needed if student plans to pursue further study of geophysics.
C Coursework and examination results reflect only a basic understanding of the subject without the ability to carry out in-depth analysis. Achieved 60-70% of total course marks.
D Demonstrated an insufficient understanding of the subject as total course mark achieved is below 60%. The pass grade is reflective only of the time the student puts in on the subject.
Fail A total lack of effort and insufficient ability to understand the subject and failure to achieve 50% of the available course marks.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture with laboratory component course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Laboratory 2 computer exercises, 2 field exercises on exploration geophysical methods 24.0
Lectures 12 sessions x 2 hours 24.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Homework assignments 30.0 1,2,3
Examination Two in-class examinations 40.0 1,2,3,4,5
Laboratory reports 30.0 1,2,3,4,5
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 NIL
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information NIL


Back  /  Home