I was fortunate enough to be a participant in the SAGE (Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience) 2003 program.  SAGE is offered through the IGPP (Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics) at Los Alamos National Laboratories.   It is a program designed to give students from all disciplines experience in Geophysical Exploration, the tools used in exploration, and the practical skill of interpreting exploration data.  The program this summer was approximately 4 weeks in length running from mid-June to mid-July.  This years group was comprised of 12 REU undergrads, 7 graduate students, 3 professional students and 4 TA's.  In addition to the 4 Teaching Assistants, there were 7 Instructors who worked closely with the students and 12 industry representatives who made their presence known during the program, even taking the time to spend some time with the students in the field.

   In other documents that have been made available to me about the SAGE program there was a phrase that I wasn't sure about the meaning of until I had the opportunity to attend this program:  "Geophysics by Immersion".   Upon arrival at the College of Santa Fe, which was the home base for all who were participating in the program, we were allowed that afternoon and evening to get a little acclimated to surroundings and to the environment.  For those who haven't had the joy of visiting the Santa Fe area it is very dry there and Santa Fe is situated at roughly 7000 ft so it takes a little time to get used to the thin air.  Not to worry though, it doesn't take that long to acclimate and you can be certain that you will be captivated by the region.  The next morning we were off to classes, and we learned in the classroom through the next nine days all about Geophysics, from Seismic Reflection and Refraction to Gravity and Electromagnetic methods.   Additional topics were Geodynamics of the Rio Grande Rift and the Geologic Setting of the Rift, Digital Acquisition and Filtering (these lectures were very good and could easily benefit anyone interested in signal processing),  and Ground Penetrating Radar.  There were also wonderful lectures on Magnetotellurics, Transient EM, and TEM and again these lectures would benefit anyone interested in Electromagnetics.  Additional topics included a great lecture on Geophysical Inversion as well as Experimental Design.  During these nine days of lecture, we also had an opportunity to investigate a new Archeological Site at Bandelier National Monument.  This was truly an enjoyable time as most students had never handled the equipment used in Exploration Geophysics.  The site was absolutely beautiful and we ended up getting some very good seismic profiles of the site which helped to located some of the subsurface structures that were of archeological interest.  We were also able to compile some interesting magnetic maps of the area.  

   Over the next six days we all had the joy to be working in the field.  To the left you see the "vibe" truck that we used in the seismic investigations.  We all had an opportunity to perform all of the duties associated with a seismic investigation, from hustling jugs (geophone planting) to driving the vibe truck.   Even though we were all given the opportunity to choose the Exploration technique we wished to participate in, we were all rotated so that we would have a good exposure to all techniques being utilized that year.  I myself had the pleasure of working mainly on the seismic crew and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We all had the opportunity of being in the field at close to daybreak and I have to say that certainly is a pleasure, the desert is very peaceful at that time of the day.  Also, during these six days, various industry representatives spent the day with us, giving us an opportunity to get a good feel of what the industry is all about.  Other Geophysical methods utilized in the 2003 SAGE program were Magnetotellurics, TEM and other Electromagnetic methods, Magnetics and Gravity.  At the end of our rotation in the field, we all then headed back to the labs that were set up at the College of Santa Fe to process the data we had acquired.  This was of course a new experience for most but there was a very good instructor presence  to help with any questions or problems that arose.  It was truly an enjoyable to see the data transformed into actual subsurface geological cross-sections and anomaly maps.  In addition to working to complete these maps we all were to complete a presentation that was to be given by the groups that had been assigned to particular geologic areas.  For instance, in the group that I was in there was a focus on Seismic Reflection and Refraction, Gravity, Magnetics and TEM.  We all worked together to attempt to come up with a plausible explanation of what the subsurface characteristics were in each of our geologic areas.  We then, individually prepared a written report that we handed in to concluded our Geophysical Immersion. 

   In between all of this activity we all had the opportunity have a few days or R & R.  Some went to Bandelier and others went to other local hotspots.  A few of us went rock climbing near Los Alamos.  Others spent time near Taos and enjoyed a day of hiking and swimming in the Rio Grande.  Another wonderful aspect of this experience was the time spent on three separate, day long field trips organized by one of the co-directors of the SAGE program, W. Scott Baldridge.  These were truly wonderful experiences, as Geology Field trips usually are.  These field trips served as a good introduction to the Rio Grande Rift and offered a good introduction to the geology of the region which guided the bounds of our interpretations of our data.

   For those of you interested in attending the SAGE program, or for those who are going to attend, I offer you my congratulations.  This was truly one of the best academic experiences I have ever had and to this day I am still grateful to all those who have, over the years developed this program into what it is today.  They have done a truly wonderful job !  Also, one of the greatest aspects of this course was the fact that all the students that attended were of wonderful character.  It was truly a pleasure getting to know everyone that attended and I am positive that the experience will be the same for you.  If you have any questions in regards to this program I will be happy to offer to you any answers I am able to give.  If I cannot answer any of your questions I will be happy to try and find someone who can !  Please be sure and check out some of the photographs I have posted on the link above as it will give you an idea of the what the area is like.  It is truly beautiful !

Valle Grande (the Valles Caldera)

This page last updated 04/11/07