Earth and Planetary Physics

Earth and planetary physics is an academic field that seeks to elucidate the physical principles governing the various phenomena that occur on Earth and other planets, either individually or as part of a unified system.

In the modern era, human activities have begun to exert a significant influence on the Earth's surface. Consequently, environmental changes such as climate change and global warming have become subjects of study within the field of Earth and planetary physics.

Students engage primarily with the core physics and mathematics that underpin Earth and planetary physics and undertake practical training in techniques such as computer simulations, observations, and experiments, which are essential for research in this field.

【Academic features】

A discipline that encompasses both pure science and applied science

Thanks to advances in observation, experimentation, and simulation, our understanding of the atmosphere, oceans, and Earth's interior continues to deepen, and space exploration has expanded to include exoplanets. Additionally, the desire to understand and predict the essence of weather patterns, earthquakes, and natural disasters to mitigate their impact serves as a powerful motivator for Earth and planetary physics. This discipline encompasses both pure science and applied science. In the contemporary world, human activity influences the Earth's surface on a global scale, with natural disasters such as typhoons, heavy rainfall, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, as well as environmental changes like climate change, becoming central concerns of Earth and planetary physics.

Until their third year, students learn physics and mathematics alongside students from the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, and study the foundational theories, observations, experiments, and simulations necessary for research in Earth and planetary physics through department-specific courses and exercises. In their fourth year, students delve deeper into specific topics such as solid Earth, atmosphere and oceans, and space planets. During the S-term, students engage in small-group reading and practical exercises to study the research topics of Earth and planetary physics, while in the A-term, they focus on cutting-edge research of their own choosing.

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