Preliminary Geology 4800/7800 Syllabus

08/25   -           Introduction to Course

08/27  -           Review of Vectors, Scalars, and Differential Operators (Appendix A)

I.          Review of Plate Tectonics (Chapters 2 and 3)

08/29   -           Review of the Theory of Plate Tectonics (sections 2.1 and 2.2)

09/03   -           riple Junctions and Absolute Plate Motions (sections 2.5 and 2.6)

09/05   -           Euler Poles and Vectors (sections 2.3 and 2.4)

09/08   -           Seismicity and Plate Tectonics (Chapter 3) (HW#1 Due)

II.        Seismology (Chapters 4)

A.  Earthquake Seismology (Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and Appendices 2 and 3)

09/10   -           Introduction to Seismology and Earth’s Interior

09/12   -           Seismic Waves and Elasticity (section 4.1 and Appendix 2)

09/15   -           Seismic Waves and Sources (Earthquake Location and Mechanisms) (section 4.2)

09/17   -           Seismic Waves and Travel Times (section 4.3)

09/19   -           Earthquake Seismology Lab(Appendix 3 and section 4.3) (HW#2 due)

B.  Refraction Seismology (Sections 4.4)

09/24   -           Refraction Seismology (section 4.4)

09/26   -           Refraction Seismology II (section 4.4)

09/29   -           Refraction Seismology Lab

C.  Reflection Seismology (Section 4.5)

10/01   -           Reflection Seismology Introduction (section 4.5)

10/03   -           Reflection Seismology Survey Design

10/06   -           Reflection Seismology Processing  (section 4.5)

10/08   -           Reflection Seismology Processing II  (section 4.5)

10/10   -           Reflection Seismology Lab I

10/13   -           Reflection Seismology Lab II

10/15   -           Reflection Seismology Lab III

10/17   -           Reflection Seismology Interpretation and Examples

III.             Geochronology and Heat (Chapters 5 and 7)

A.  Heat Flow and the Geothermal Gradient (chapter 7)

10/20   -           Conductive Heat Flow and Simple Geotherms (sections 7.1 and 7.2)

10/22   -           Mid term Exam (Reflection Lab Due)

10/24   -           Heat Flow and Geotherms in the Oceans (section 7.5)

10/27   -           Continental Heat Flow (section 7.6)

10/29   -           Adiabatic Heating and Mantle Convection (sections 7.7 and 7.8)

B.      Geochronology (Chapter 6)

10/31   -           Radiometric Dating Basics (section 6.1 and 6.2)

11/03   -           Standard Radiometric Techniques (sections 6.3-6.8)

11/05   -           Fission Track and Age of the Earth (sections 6.9)

IV        Gravity (Chapter 5)

11/07   -           Basic Theory of Earth’s Gravitational Field (sections 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3)

11/10   -           Gravity Anomalies (sections 5.4 and 5.5)

11/12   -           Modelling Gravity I (section 5.5)

11/14   -           Gravity Lab

11/17   -           Modelling Gravity II  (section 5.5)

11/19 -           Lithospheric Flexure (section 5.7)

11/21   -           The Geoid (section 5.6)

V.        The Structure of the Earth (Chapters 8 and 9)

A.  Oceanic Lithosphere (Chapter 9)

12/01   -           A Review of Oceanic Lithospheric Thickness (chapter 9)

B. The Deep Structure of the Earth (Chapter 8)

12/03   -           Structure of the Earth - (sections 8.1)

12/05   -           Mantle Convection and Earth Structure (sections 8.1 and 8.2)

12/08   -           Mantle and Core Convection (sections 8.2 and 8.3)

12/10   -           Review

Final Exam (Comprehensive)

            12/19 - 8:00am - 10:00am