Elijah Ash ’19
Geosciences
Geophysical Studies of Princeton and Beyond
I worked with several geophysicists to study the seismic properties of Princeton. My adviser, Jessica Irving, uses seismometers to study the properties of the Earth’s core and mantle. Now that Princeton has a seismometer on campus, we can conduct studies that are closer to home. I used a variety of statistical methods to understand Princeton’s seismic noise, which is the ground motion not caused by earthquakes. I demonstrated that seismic noise has a diurnal cycle due to human activity, an annual cycle due to the tides, and that it correlates with high wind speed. This was my first research experience and an incredible learning opportunity. I became familiar with many of the computational tools geophysicists use. I also learned a lot about the mathematical and physical theories used to describe the interactions of the earth, the ocean and the atmosphere. Finally, I learned about the research process, and how to effectively interpret and present data. I am excited to apply geophysical methods to understanding the human environment for my undergraduate research and in my scientific career.
* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Guyot Physics: Princeton University as an Urban Science Node.”
2017
Resilient Cities
Department of Geosciences, Princeton University
Jessica Irving, Assistant Professor of Geosciences