A geophysicist is a scientist who studies the physical properties and processes of the Earth, while an engineer is a professional who applies scientific and mathematical principles to design and develop solutions for practical problems. While there is some overlap between the two fields, they are distinct disciplines.
A geophysicist may use engineering principles and technology in their research, such as designing and building instruments to measure the Earth’s physical properties, but their primary focus is on understanding the Earth and its processes. Engineers, on the other hand, may use geological and geophysical data in their work but their primary focus is on designing and building structures and systems.
However, there is a subfield of geophysics called Applied Geophysics that has a closer relationship with engineering. This subfield is a cross-disciplinary field that combines engineering and geophysics to solve practical problems. Engineers in this field use geophysical methods to investigate the subsurface, to detect and locate resources, and to assess and monitor the subsurface environment.
In summary, while there is some overlap between the fields of geophysics and engineering, they are distinct disciplines. Geophysicist primarily focus on understanding the Earth and its processes, while engineers focus on designing and building structures and systems. However, there is a subfield of geophysics called Applied Geophysics that has a closer relationship with engineering, where engineers use geophysical methods to solve practical problems.