The module presents Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms as tools for the solution of a number of geophysical inverse problems. The module covers an introduction on inverse problem theory and basic concepts about Monte Carlo approach. Three MC algorithms will be presented to solve: (a) a fixed dimension inverse problem; (b) a trans-dimensional inverse problem and (c) an inverse problem using a "Hierarchical Bayes" approach. Algorithms presentation will put emphasis on the fundamental phases of the analysis of the inverse problem and the development of the MC algorithm. Students will be actively involved in the course, encouraged to present their own inverse problems with the aim of stimulating discussion about possible MC algorithms for their solution. A laptop running PYTHON (and, possibly, a FORTRAN compiler together with GMT, https://www.generic-mapping-tools.org/) is recommended, but all workflows and codes can be tested on the laboratory computers. Examples of the PhD courses can be found here (more related to geophysical sphere): https://gitlab.com/npa-jnotebooks/phd-course-repo

Evaluation: YES (The final test consists in a max 4-pages report on a Student project)