Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2017 - EASC 317 D100

Global Geophysics (3)

Class Number: 1636

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Tue, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Andy Calvert
    acalvert@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-5511
    Office: TASC 1 Room 7415

  • Prerequisites:

    EASC 207 or permission of instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Application of geophysical methods to the study of the Earth's evolution and its interior structure: geometrical nature of plate tectonics on a sphere; the Earth's magnetic field and its use in reconstruction of past plate motions; earthquake seismology and understanding the deep interior, gravity and lithospheric flexure, radioactive decay and an absolute geological time scale; heat loss and mantle convection; structure of oceanic lithosphere; structure of continental lithosphere; the early Earth and the tectonics of other planets. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description Application of geophysical methods to the study of the Earth and its interior structure: the geometrical nature of plate tectonics on a sphere; the Earth's magnetic field and its use in reconstruction of past plate motions; earthquake seismology and understanding the deep interior; gravity and lithospheric flexure; heat loss and mantle convection; the structure of oceanic lithosphere; continental lithosphere and its evolution.

Course Topics
·  Geometry of plate tectonics
·  Past plate motions
·  Earthquake seismology
·  Isostasy and gravity anomalies
·  Heat flow
·  Oceanic lithosphere
·  Continental lithosphere

Grading

  • Midterm Examination 15%
  • Assignments 40%
  • Final Examination 45%

NOTES:

Course work will usually be problem sets, which will sometimes require the use of basic computer applications such as Excel.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Fowler, C.M.R., The Solid Earth, Cambridge University Press. 2004 2nd Edition 
ISBN: 9780521893077

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS