Undergraduate - UnitESC3332 - Global dynamics and crustal evolution

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Organisational Unit	School of Geosciences
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Fabio Capitanio

Synopsis

This unit covers the planetary scale structure and dynamics of the Earth, and the fundamental processes which create 'geology' as a natural consequence of Earth evolution. The unit will provide an understanding of the subtle interplay between Earth structure, planetary cooling, geomagnetism, mantle convection, plate tectonics, continental drift, heat flow, earthquakes, melt generation etc, and the diverse measurements/ models needed to gain this understanding including seismicity, seismic tomography, gravity, changing sea level, post-glacial rebound etc. It will concentrate on an integrated, quantitative, model-based approach to the geosciences.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Describe how the cooling of the Earth leads to internal convection;

Describe how a mobile surface and horizontal stresses arise from convective motion;

Visualise plate tectonics as an emergent phenomenon;

Describe the basic principles of plate tectonic reconstruction;

Describe how plate tectonics influences the rotation of the Earth and can change the global climate;

Identify from surface observations how the tectonic stresses are balanced in different geological settings;

Interpret maps of global gravity, stress, earthquake distribution, topography / bathymetry and the underlying mantle structure through seismic tomography.

Assessment

Practicals: 20%
Assignment: 20%
Examination (3 hours): 60%

Students must pass the theory examination to achieve an overall pass grade. Students who do not pass the theory examination will receive a mark of 45% unless their aggregate mark is lower, in which case that mark will be recorded.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Fabio Capitanio

Workload requirements

Two 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour practical per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Geosciences

Prerequisites

12 credit points at level two in ESC, PHS or MTH units