GEOPHYSICS

PROFILE

The idea of introducing Geophysics as a subject of study in Andhra University was conceived during 1946, and the Department of Geophysics was started in 1949 to train students in two branches viz. (1) Meteorology and Oceanography and (2) Physics of Earth. It is not a mere coincidence that the Geological Survey of India had commenced extensive geophysical surveys for oil in the cambay basin a couple of years later in 1948. It signifies the vision of successive Vice-Chancellor of the university to initiate new courses to provide trained man power to cater to the new needs of the nation although Banaras Hindu University (BHU, Varanasi) has the credit of starting for the first time in the country a full fledged M.Sc Course in Geophysics. Consistent with the healthy practices that the university had followed, the department was initially headed, in succession, for proper orientation and direction by retired directors of India Meteorological Department, Dr. N. K. Sur and Dr. S. R. Savier, and later by Prof M.S.Krishnan, the renowned geologist and retired Director of Geological Survey of India. The erstwhile Department of Geophysics was bifurcated into Department of Geophysics and Department of Meteorology and Oceanography in 1962. Prof. C.Mahadevan headed the department in 1962 for short time and later Prof.B.S.R.Rao, who was deputed and trained at the Imperial College, London for the purpose, was appointed as Head of the Department of Geophysics in 1962. Prof. B.S.R.Rao developed the Department in his long tenure from 1962-1975. He was succeeded by savants like Prof.V. Bhaskar Rao, Prof. V. V. J. Sarma,Prof. P. Sitapathi Rao, Prof. I. V. Radhakrishna Murthy, Prof. T.K. S. Prakasa Rao,Prof. P.Rajendra Prasad, Prof. M. Gangadhara Rao, Prof. C. Visweswara Rao, Prof. C. Subba Rao, Prof. A. Lakshmipathi Raju, Prof. D. Bhaskara Rao, Prof. NVVBS Prasad, Prof K. V. V. Satyanarayana, Prof. P.Rama Rao, Sri M.R.S. Sampath Kumar, and Prof. SK.Kareemunisa Begum acted as Heads of the Department and under their stewardship the Department achieved National and International recognition in research field and also developed rich traditions, new techniques of teaching to the students. At present Prof. C. V. Naidu is acting as Incharge Head of the Department.

The curriculum of the Geophysics course has always been balanced blend of topics concerning structure and composition of the earth and exploration methods for locating oil, minerals and water. When a compromise had to be made, the tilt was always towards the latter. When it has been increasingly released that root cause for the dynamics of the earth's crust lies with the oceans, the University was prompt in introducing the 2 year M.Sc course in Marine Geophysics in 1976, again for the first time in India.

Hydrology has always been a part of the syllabus of the Geophysics course. Frequent failures of monsoon increased dependency on groundwater for agriculture and unpredicted cyclone every year brought out the need for a better management of water resources and identification of groundwater at larger depths. A part-time PG diploma course in "Hydrology and Groundwater Exploration" was started during 1980, and later it was upgraded to 2 year M.Sc course in Hydrology in the year 1985. This course ran up to the year 2014 successfully.This course maybe restored within short time with the permissions of University authorities.

Well qualified and highly experienced faculty manages the academic programs of the Department.Almost all the faculty have been trained at National Laboratories and habit to present papers in National and International conferences in their specialized fields.

The Association of Hydrologists of India (AHI) was initiated in 1981 with senior faculty of Department of Geophysics. The senior faculty of Department of Geophysics were responsible for a research center named as Center for Studies on Bay of Bengal in Andhra University.