GEOL2014 Global Geophysics

Course organiser: Lidunka Vočadlo

Demonstrator: Ceri Middleton

·  Aim

The aim of the course is to introduce the concepts, methods and results of solid Earth geophysics. The course examines the theory, application and limitations of geophysical methods and reviews their contribution to our knowledge of the surface and interior of the Earth.

· Prerequisites:

(i) GEOL1004 Dynamic Earth;

(ii) 'A' level maths or equivalent.

· Course Unit Examination:

(i) One 2hr 30min examination paper (80% of the final marks)

(ii) Eight course assignments (20% of the final marks)

Course Content

1. Plate tectonics and Euler poles

2. Gravity, the shape of the Earth, isostasy and moment of inertia

3. Elasticity and equations of state

4. Seismic waves

5. Earthquakes

6. Thermodynamics

7. The deep Earth

8. Thermal evolution

9. Magnetism

10. Introduction to Remote Sensing

Coursework

1. Euler poles

2. Gravity1 and Gravity2

3. Elasticity and equations of state

4. Seismic waves

5. Earthquakes

6. Thermodynamics

7. Deep Earth

8. Thermal evolution

The pass mark is 40%.

Coursework should be handed in to LV at the Friday lecture following the Wednesday practical. There will be a penalty of 5% per day (including weekends) for coursework that is handed in late in accordance with Departmental policy.

Please put your name on the front of the assignment.

Books

Lowrie: Fundamentals of Geophysics

Fowler: The Solid Earth

Mussett and Kahn: Looking into the Earth

Brown and Mussett: The Inaccessible Earth

Stein: Introduction to Seismology, Earthquakes and Earth Structure

Poirier: Introduction to the Physics of the Earth's Interior