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This course is designed to introduce learners to modern GMT (Generic Mapping Tools) through command-line scripting, with a practical focus on geophysical applications in seismology and geodesy. Students will learn to work directly in the terminal, using GMT to process, analyze, and visualize real-world geoscience data.
The course blends theoretical foundations with hands-on technical training.
The theoretical component covers core geophysics concepts including the internal structure of the Earth, focal mechanisms, and principles of GNSS and GPS-based deformation analysis.
The practical component focuses on acquiring, manipulating, and visualizing public geophysical datasets using modern GMT from the command line. Students will learn to generate publication-quality figures, including maps, time series, and cross-sectional plots, using scripting workflows modeled on real scientific practice.
This course is ideal for students and researchers seeking to strengthen both their technical GMT skills and their geophysical interpretation abilities.
PRIMARY AUDIENCE: Undergraduate students and above, including graduate students, early-career researchers, and educators, who are interested in learning the fundamentals of GMT for geophysical applications.
SECONDARY AUDIENCE: Professionals in geoscience or related fields who are looking to expand their skill set by incorporating GMT into their data visualization or analysis workflows.
Learning Objectives
- Introduction to UNIX basics and shell scripting
- Learning the basic conventions of GMT
- How to access publicly available remote data
- Learn basics of Seismology and Geodesy content knowledge through data exploration
- Students will be able to produce publication-quality figures
Participant Commitment
This is an asynchronous, self-paced course that runs from September 2 to September 25, 2025. There are no scheduled class meetings, participants are expected to progress through the materials independently during this time. The course includes a combination of instructional videos, example notebooks, exercises, and short assessments to check your understanding. You should expect to spend approximately 30 hours over the duration of the course, working at your own pace. While you will not receive real-time feedback, instructors will be available via a course discussion board to handle any needed troubleshooting. This format is ideal for learners who are comfortable managing their own schedule and are ready to actively engage with technical content in a flexible, online environment.
Prerequisites, Computer and Data
Working computer and internet connection.
Brief Agenda
Tentative agenda is listed below, and subject to change.
| Module 1 | Course Environment Introduction |
| Module 2 | Basic Coding |
| Module 3 | Basic GMT / Introduction to GMT |
| Module 4 | GMT for Seismology |
| Module 5 | GMT for Geodesy |
| Module 6 | Advanced GMT |
Assessment
The course includes a pre- and post-course skill assessment to measure learning progress. Throughout the course, students will complete tutorial-based assignments embedded in each module. These activities will be graded automatically or through guided checks, allowing learners to earn credit as they build skills step by step.
Acknowledgements
Course Design: Federico Esteban, Ph.D. Researcher, IGEBA Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires, in collaboration with the EarthScope Consortium.
Questions
Please send questions to courses[at]earthscope.org