The solid earth geophysical program studies the interior and the surrounding environment of the Earth in the approach of physics. The program employ a variety of observational, experimental, and theoretical approaches to investigate the structure and dynamics of the Earth as well as the physical phenomenon associate with earthquakes. Its research topics include seismology, gravity, geoelectromagnetics, geoid, exploration geophysics and experimental physics.

Seismology uses elastic waves generated by natural earthquakes as well as controlled sources to probe the internal structure of the Earth. The structure and dynamics of the crust and mantle is elucidated using broadband seismic data in regions of tectonic interest, such as Tibetan Plateau and North China Craton. The electromagnetic field associated with earthquakes, the rupture process and dynamics of earthquakes sources are also our main focus. New methods and software for seismic and electromagnetic data modelling and inversion are developed in the past few years. Experimental geophysics uses laboratory experiments to study the properties of rocks at great pressures and temperatures. Information from these experiments is used to infer the properties of materials deep within the Earth.