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GUBBINS, D. 2004. Time Series Analysis and Inverse Theory for Geophysicists. xv+255 pp. Cambridge, New York, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. Price 70.00 (hard covers), 27.95 (paperback). ISBN 0 521 81965 2; 0 521 52569 1 (pb)
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Copyright Year | 2005 |
| Abstract | Time series analysis and inverse methods form an integral part of any geophysics degree programme, yet there are very few textbooks that either focus on these topics or are written with the geophysics student specifically in mind. Consequently, this excellent textbook fills a much neglected gap. The topics are often found difficult by students partly because a reasonable standard of maths (all too often lacking in today's students) is required before the material can be grasped. While in no way can this book be described as avoiding the mathematics it does at least focus on what is necessary and ancillary explanations and proofs are included in an extensive series of appendices. The approach taken is a pragmatic one in which many years of teaching and understanding of the capabilities of students have obviously been employed in refining the contents. Personally, I welcome this approach, which is justified in the book, although it may not be for the purist. For instance, time series analysis is explained from the premise that all that is strictly necessary is a knowledge of the discrete Fourier transform, because this form of the transform applies to the most common type of data handled by geophysicists which are discretely sampled. The book is divided into three sections (four if you include appendices). The first deals with time series analysis and is very clearly written and well illustrated. There are clear examples of filtering and convolution methods so that the reader is left in no doubt as to the application of the theory. Each chapter ends with a series of paper and computer exercises (purchasers of the book can access the computerbased material online on various websites, but some programs require a unix or linux based system and a FORTRAN compiler, and so will not be of much use to PC users). The second section deals with the basics of inverse theory. I found the problem-based approach very helpful in understanding the concepts and it kept the purpose of substantial amounts of matrix-based maths clear. Most of the chapters in this section, where appropriate, conclude with a box summarizing a 'recipe' for solving, for example, linear and non-linear inverse problems. Again, there is a set of exercises for the student to attempt. After the theory sections the final part of the book contains three chapters which demonstrate how the methods are used in examples of time series analysis (optimum filter design); seismic tomography, and earthquake location; and determination of the geomagnetic field over the surface of the core from historical and recent measurements. These concentrate on inverse methods and were well chosen to illustrate some of the problems which arose when applying techniques to real data and demonstrate their solutions. The appendices cover all mathematical details of the Fourier series and integral transform, sampling theory, linear (matrix) algebra and vector spaces, which would have otherwise made the main text rather unwieldy and heavy going. In addition there is a short but useful reference list and an index. I can envisage this book being used by anyone at a research level, employing inverse methods to solve problems, or requiring a background in time series analysis, while I expect that the group that will benefit most from its guidance will be future generations of geophysics students – provided they have mastered some mathematics. Richard England |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://static.cambridge.org/resource/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:binary:20180418101327587-0461:S0016756805290787:S0016756805000786a.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
