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Seismologist
Seismology is a science that mainly involves the study of earthquakes – why, where, when and will they occur. There are various subfields of seismology which includes
· “ground motion seismology” where seismic scientists try to make sense of and predict the shaking caused by large earthquakes;
· and where seismologists try to determine where or when they next earthquake might occur
What they do:
· study artificially generated waves which enables them to locate very deep geological structures such as oil and gas deposits
· specialise in a variety of fields such as:
o seismo-tectonics (study the relation between faults, stress and seismicity);
o focal mechanisms, seismic zoning and earthquake engineering where they work with engineers to minimise the damage to structures in the event of an earthquake
· Use instruments such as:
o analogue recorders used to record seismographic activity on paper they are currently being replaced by digital instruments that make readings much more precise
o computers are used extensively to record and interpret seismological data and to visualise the movements of the earth
· work as part of a team consisting of earth scientists and technicians and professionals in the computer, physics, electronics, telecommunications and civil engineering fields
Where to study:
Universities: UKZN, UJ, Wits,
Universities of Technology: TUT
Companies to work for:
Educational institutions, research institutions, research laboratories, engineering firms, geological institutions
Useful Information
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Career Snapshot Seismologist |
In Demand
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Qualification Required |
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Work Outdoors |
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Maths Required |
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Science Required |
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This is a general guide - it is important to check admission requirements with the various training institutions first because entry requirements may vary.
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