Global Tectonics (U03376)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 9 ? Acronym : GEO-3-TECT

This course provides an introductory framework for explaining the major features of current and past tectonic and magmatic activity of the Earth. The Earth has a hot interior and loses heat continually to space. Temperature controls the mechanical properties of the Earth's materials. The outer part is consequently cold and forms a relatively strong and dense layer (the plates). Deeper down the hotter material has no finite yield strength and will creep under stresses as low as those caused by temperature - and thus density - differences. Tectonic events are a reflection of the motion of the outer part of the Earth, driven primarily by gravity acting on these density differences, which arise, in turn, from the past and present thermal energy of the Earth and its dissipation. As an extra important complication, earth materials can melt. This can occur if they are heated, if they are brought to low pressure while still hot, if the movement of plates takes water into the hot interior, or if radioactive 'self-heating' cannot be dissipated by conduction fast enough. Melts move material and heat, and have profoundly influenced both the composition and the thermal state of the Earth's outer layer.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Sedimentology A

? Costs : None.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Earth Science, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 5 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	09:00	09:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : 11 lectures and 5 practicals in total.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge of current plate tectonic theory and the evidence for this.
2. An understanding of modern tectonic processes
3. The ability to understand geological phenomena in a plate tectonic context.
4. An ability to critically appraise statements about tectonic processes.