The Physics and Dynamics of the Earth
Syllabus, Master's level, 1GE063
- Code
- 1GE063
- Education cycle
- Second cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Earth Science A1N, Physics A1N
- Grading system
- Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass with credit (4), Pass with distinction (5)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 7 November 2022
- Responsible department
- Department of Earth Sciences
Entry requirements
120 credits including (1) 80 credits physics and mathematics, or (2) 60 credits earth science, 15 credits mathematics and 15 credits physics. In both cases, participation in course Introduction to the Physics and Dynamics of the Earth, 5 credits. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- explain the development of plate boundaries over time on a flat and a spherical earth, respectively, and relate these concepts to geomagnetic observations.
- calculate how the Earth responds to simple loads, compare with observations and evaluate different models for isostatic compensation.
- describe the different elastic wave types, calculate how they are transmitted, reflected and refracted in the Earth, and give examples of how they provide information on the Earth's large-scale internal structure.
- explain how earthquakes are located and calculate travel time curves for simple earth models.
- develop the equations that describe convection in the interior of the Earth and explain the basic concepts of mantle convection, including its link to plate tectonics.
- relate convection in the core to the Earth's magnetic field.
- motivate the development of, and the dynamics behind, the Earth's subduction zones, mid-oceanic ridges, continental bases and sedimentary basins.
Content
Plate tectonics. Earth's magnetic field and paleomagnetism. Earth formation. Dating methods and radioactive isotopes. Earth's shape and gravity field, the geoid, isostasy. Seismicity, source mechanisms, stress fields. Heat flow in continental and oceanic plates. Convection in the Earth's mantle and core. Earth composition from core to lithosphere. Structure and formation of oceanic and continental crust.
Instruction
Lectures, exercises, seminar presentations.
Assessment
Written examination and active participation at seminar.
If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.
Other directives
1GE063 and 1GE009 cannot be included in the same degree.