ITA | ENG
B016078 - GEODYNAMICS
Main information
Teaching Language
Course Content
Suggested readings
Learning Objectives
Prerequisites
Teaching Methods
Further information
Type of Assessment
Course program
Academic Year 2019-20
Course year
First year - Second Semester
Belonging Department
Earth Sciences (DST)
Course Type
Single education field course
Scientific Area
GEO/03 - STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
Credits
6
Teaching Hours
48
Teaching Term
24/02/2020 ⇒ 12/06/2020
Attendance required
No
Type of Evaluation
Final Grade
Course Content
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Course program
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Lectureship
Mutuality
Course teached as:
B016078 - GEODINAMICA
Second Cycle Degree in GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Curriculum ANALISI ED EVOLUZIONE DEL SISTEMA TERRA
B016078 - GEODINAMICA
Second Cycle Degree in GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Curriculum ANALISI ED EVOLUZIONE DEL SISTEMA TERRA
Teaching Language
Italian
Course Content
Endogenous and exogenous geodynamics of the Earth.
Fix and variables strength field. Heat flow. Structure and compositions of continental and oceanic Crust, Mantle and Core. Theory of Plate tectonics. Wilson’s Cycle. Hot spots. Plates margins: divergent margins, convergent and collisional, transcurrent margins.
Fix and variables strength field. Heat flow. Structure and compositions of continental and oceanic Crust, Mantle and Core. Theory of Plate tectonics. Wilson’s Cycle. Hot spots. Plates margins: divergent margins, convergent and collisional, transcurrent margins.
Suggested readings (Search our library's catalogue)
Turcotte & Schubert -Geodynamics - Cambridge University Press.
Kearey, Klepeis & Vine - Global Tectonics - Wiley-Blackwell Publishing (3rd edition).
Anderson – Theory of the Earth - Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Kearey, Klepeis & Vine - Global Tectonics - Wiley-Blackwell Publishing (3rd edition).
Anderson – Theory of the Earth - Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Learning Objectives
This course aims to complete the knowledge on the internal dynamics of the Earth through a description of the main deformational contexts and their driving mechanisms.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Geology and Tectonics.
Teaching Methods
The course is based on frontal power point-aided lectures and practical lessons in classroom mainly focused on the interpretation of reflection seismic profiles.
Further information
Course attendance recommended
Type of Assessment
Oral exam regarding the topics illustrated during the course
Course program
Earth System
Endogenous and exogenous geodynamics. Fix and variables strength fields. Gravimetric and magnetic fields
Internal structure of the Earth
Heat flow. Internal structure of the Earth: Crust, Mantle and Core vs. Lithosphere, Astenosphere, Mesosphere, D-double prime layer, internal and external core. Rheology of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system. Seismic Tomography.
Mantle plumes and Mantle convection as engines for the formation of the hot spot magmatism and Middle Oceanic Ridge volcanism, respectively.
Plate Tectonics
Theory of plate tectonics, Wilson’s cycle, hot spots and plate margins.
Divergent plate margins. Stability of plate margins.
Continental rifting, symmetrical and asymmetrical model of crust opening. Hot spots and aulacogens. Seismicity and interactions between tectonics and magmatism during rifting. Examples of continental rifts.Continental break-up. Passive continental margins. Oceanic spreading and ridges. Paleomagnetic data and transform faults.
Convergent plate margins.
Seismicity distribution along the current convergent margins of the World.
Benioff-Wadati subduction zones. Thermal anomalies in the subduction zones. Trenches and accretionary prisms. Forearc basin or trench-arc gap, back arc basins. Driving and resisting forces in subduction zones. Megathrusts and megaearthquakes in subduction zones.
Collisional plate margins.
Collision among plates and orogenic evolution in collisional areas. Foreland basins. Exhumation of high pressure metamorphic rocks.
Collisional chains and the Alpine Cycle.
Transcurrent plate margins.
Current distribution of the main transcurrent margins around the World. Transcurrent and transform faults. Central atlantic transform zone, San Andreas Fault, Gulf of Aden, Alpine Fault, Dead Sea transform zone.
Structural interpretation of reflection seismic profiles.
Elements on seismic data acquisition and processing. Time-depth conversion.
Mechanics of earthquakes. Focal mechanism solutions. Static stresses produced by seismic events, and interactions with fault and magmatic systems. Use of numerical models.
Interpretation of seismic profiles in areas of continental rifting, passive margins, accretionary prisms and subduction zones, collisional margins and foreland basins.
Endogenous and exogenous geodynamics. Fix and variables strength fields. Gravimetric and magnetic fields
Internal structure of the Earth
Heat flow. Internal structure of the Earth: Crust, Mantle and Core vs. Lithosphere, Astenosphere, Mesosphere, D-double prime layer, internal and external core. Rheology of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system. Seismic Tomography.
Mantle plumes and Mantle convection as engines for the formation of the hot spot magmatism and Middle Oceanic Ridge volcanism, respectively.
Plate Tectonics
Theory of plate tectonics, Wilson’s cycle, hot spots and plate margins.
Divergent plate margins. Stability of plate margins.
Continental rifting, symmetrical and asymmetrical model of crust opening. Hot spots and aulacogens. Seismicity and interactions between tectonics and magmatism during rifting. Examples of continental rifts.Continental break-up. Passive continental margins. Oceanic spreading and ridges. Paleomagnetic data and transform faults.
Convergent plate margins.
Seismicity distribution along the current convergent margins of the World.
Benioff-Wadati subduction zones. Thermal anomalies in the subduction zones. Trenches and accretionary prisms. Forearc basin or trench-arc gap, back arc basins. Driving and resisting forces in subduction zones. Megathrusts and megaearthquakes in subduction zones.
Collisional plate margins.
Collision among plates and orogenic evolution in collisional areas. Foreland basins. Exhumation of high pressure metamorphic rocks.
Collisional chains and the Alpine Cycle.
Transcurrent plate margins.
Current distribution of the main transcurrent margins around the World. Transcurrent and transform faults. Central atlantic transform zone, San Andreas Fault, Gulf of Aden, Alpine Fault, Dead Sea transform zone.
Structural interpretation of reflection seismic profiles.
Elements on seismic data acquisition and processing. Time-depth conversion.
Mechanics of earthquakes. Focal mechanism solutions. Static stresses produced by seismic events, and interactions with fault and magmatic systems. Use of numerical models.
Interpretation of seismic profiles in areas of continental rifting, passive margins, accretionary prisms and subduction zones, collisional margins and foreland basins.