ClimateSeptember 4, 2026

geophysicist

jee-oh-FIH-suh-sist

Definition

A scientist who uses the principles of physics to study the Earth, including its internal structure, gravity, and magnetic fields.

Etymology

The word is a 19th-century construction from the Greek 'ge' (earth) and the English 'physicist', referring to one who applies physical methods to geological phenomena.

In the news

In the article, Michael Thorne is identified as a geophysicist who helped explain how gravitational measurements reveal the hidden ice stores within rock glaciers.

A Billion Tons of Ice Are Hiding Under Utah, Study Finds

Read the full article ↗

ScienceAlert

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