Faculty of Science

Objectives

To introduce the Physics of Solid Earth, and Geophysical Exploration.

Contents

The Earth: Origin of solar system, Radioactivity and the age of the Earth, Distribution of continents and Oceans, Major features of the earth’s surface, Active belts, Deformation of rocks, Regional movements, Mountain building; Earth’s Interior: Seismic wave types, Stress and strain, Density and elastic properties of earth materials, Earthquakes (distribution, magnitudes, energy), Travel time and velocity/depth curves, Major subdivisions of earth’s interior. The earth’s Magnetism, Magnetic field, Magnetization, Magnetism; The earth’s magnetic field and its variation and Gravity; The earth’s gravity field, crustal structure and Isostacy Earth’s Heat: Heat production and transfer within the earth, Introduction to Exploration methods: Seismic methods (reflection and refraction), Gravity and magnetic methods, Electrical methods.