Table of Contents

1: About Computational Seismology
Part I: Elastic Waves in the Earth
2: Seismic Waves and Sources
3: Waves in a Discrete World
Part II: Numerical Methods
4: The Finite-Difference Method
5: The Pseudospectral Method
6: The Finite-Element Method
7: The Spectral-Element Method
8: The Finite-Volume Method
9: The Discontinuous Galerkin Method
Part III: Applications
10: Applications in Earth Sciences
11: Current Challenges in Computational Seismology
Appendix: Community Software and Platforms in Seismology

About the Author

Heiner Igel studied geophysics in Karlsruhe and Edinburgh. He obtained his doctoral degree in 1993 from the Institut de Physique du Globe in Paris developing parallel forward and inverse modelling tools for wave propagation problems. He then moved to the Institute of Theoretical Geophysics in Cambridge, UK, where he worked on wave simulation techniques for regional and global seismic wave propagation. In 1999 he became Professor of Seismology at the
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. His current interests include full-waveform inversion, high-performance computing, and rotational ground motions. He is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences.

Reviews

It is intended to work as an introductory handbook, containing a coherent balance of theory, concepts and applications, as well as a very rich source of references where to look at if the reader wishes deepening their understanding of what was presented... Unquestionably, it is a valuable and essential book that sets the foundations of this century's computational seismology.
*Carlos Medel-Vera, Contemporary Physics*

Computational Seismology is a very timely and readable textbook. ...very well supplemented with numerous figures and photos that help illustrate salient points...Recommended.
*CHOICE*

This book has been missing for years and will become an important asset for a broad readership of both students and practitioners in applied and theoretical geophysics. With insightful illustrations, code, practical examples and exercises, the reader will gain insight into the fundamental critical aspects of the wide range of methods used for solving seismic wave equations and problems in its many different disguises.
*Johan Robertsson, Institute of Geophysics, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland*

This essential book heralds the era of computational seismology. Any student of modern seismology should master its fundamental knowledge. Fortunately for them, the author makes this easy via this highly readable and educational book full of well-chosen examples and exercises.
*Jeroen Tromp, Princeton University*

Heiner Igel provides a broad survey of methods for calculating seismograms, contrasting the benefits and limitations of techniques through applications in 1-D, with indications of how extensions can be made to 3-D. The examples are well chosen and enable students to get a feel for computational procedures and hence understand the more complex packages they may encounter later. The book is to be highly recommended to both those starting in seismology and more established workers who wish to gain a broader understanding of the computational scene.
*Professor Brian L. N. Kennett, The Australian National University*

Heiner Igel's book fills an empty slot between books devoted to numerical algorithms and books more oriented to seismological topics. It has arrived at the right moment. Igel overcomes the difficulty of describing methods in a comprehensive way for students and researchers trained in seismology and Earth sciences disciplines while keeping the necessary specific ingredients of these approaches from the point of view of computer sciences. Applications to different seismological targets and future challenges, as well as a clear vision of the need of collaborative scientific interaction imbedded into the modern effort for sharing computer codes, makes this book a highly recommended one for anyone who wants to start or to improve his/her competence in quantifying seismic wave propagation.
*Jean Virieux, Institut des Sciences de la Terre ISTerre*

This valuable book provides a highly recommended platform for a new generation of seismologists and those of the older generation who are retraining. Very readable, it covers the classes of discrete methods in a balanced and appropriately detailed way, with pointers to texts on more traditional methods of seismic modelling as well as further reading on the new, more general and computationally intensive numerical methods, including code links.
*Colin Thomson, Schlumberger Cambridge Research*