Lecture Schedule

  1. Introduction
    2. Organization meeting; course overview.
  2. Plate Tectonics (CH-2 & 3; Week 1-3)
    3. introduction to plate tectonics theory
    plate tectonics theory on a flat earth, plate velocity, relative motion, vector additions.
    plate tectonics theory on a sphere, rotation vector of a plate; calculation of velocity from rotation vector.
    determine rotation vectors; the current plate motion model.
    absolute plate motion, hot spots.
    triple junction and its stability; evolution of the SAF.
    quiz 1.
    HW1-I: CH-2: 1,2,6,7,8,10,11. answers.
    earth's magnetic field, inclination and declination; field produced by a dipole.
    magnetization of rocks; determine paleomagnetic pole, APW.
    reversal of earth's magnetic field; marine magnetic anomaly; geomagnetic time scale.
    reconstruction of past plate motions.
    quiz 2.
    HW1-II: CH-3: 2,3,6.
    HW1 due on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. Results: min. 44; max. 80; average 57. answers.
  3. Seismology and Interior of the Earth (CH-4; Week 4-5)
    4. introduction; seismic waves; seismic body waves and surface waves; wave speed, period and wavelength, wave energy.
    exploration seismology; seismic rays, refraction and reflection, Snell's law.
    travel-time curves; a two-layer model; CDP stacking and NMO.
    HW2-I: CH-4: 16,18,20,24,33.
    earthquake seismology; earthquakes; location; magnitudes, Gutenberg-Richter relationship.
    earthquake focal mechanisms; interior structure of the Earth.
    quiz 3.
    HW2-II: CH-4: 5,7,8,14,15.
    HW2 due on Wed. Feb. 25, 2009. Results: min 47; max 92; average 68. answers.
  4. Gravity (CH-5; Week 6-7)
    5. gravitational force; gravitational field of a finite body.
    Earth's density structure; gravity of the Earth; the shape of the Earth.
    geoid and gravity anomalies; isostasy.
    HW3: CH-5: 4,8,9,10,12,14,15,16,17,19.
    HW3 due on Friday Mar 27, 2009 Results: min. 76; max 95; average 85. answers.
  5. Midterm Exam (March 2-7, 2009) (Results: min 26; max 87; average 60)
  6. Geochronology (CH-6; Week 8-10)
    7. atom structure; elements and isotopes.
    cosmic abundance of elements; composition of the Earth.
    radioactive decay of atoms; radioactive clock.
    often used systems; the age of the Earth.
    quiz 4.
    HW4: CH-6, 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10.
    HW4 due on April 8, 2009. Results: min. 81%; max 93%; average 88%. answers
  7. Heat (CH-7; Week 11-13)
    8. Introduction: heat, different forms of heat transfer, the heat budget of the solid Earth.
    Heat conduction in Earth's lithosphere.
    Convection in the mantle.
    Heat transfer by radiation; Greenhouse effect.
    quiz 5.
    HW5: CH-7, 1,2,3,6,7,10,16,18,21,22.
    HW5 due on Apr. 29, 2009. Results: min 81; max 95; average 90. answers
  8. The Oceanic and Continental Lithospheres (CH-8,9 and 10; Week 14)
  9. Final Exam (May 6-12, 2009)