Undergraduate Course: Mathematical Methods for Geophysicists (EASC09021)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Earth Science |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course takes the mathematics which students have learned in the pre-honours Mathematics for Physics courses and applies it to the study of the Earth, extending mathematical skills and exploring the insights that can be developed through quantitative modelling of geological processes. Many examples and applications are drawn from the book "Geodynamics" by Turcotte & Schubert.
Topics covered include
Vectors and their use in describing positions and directions on the Earth's surface
Spherical geometry and plate tectonics
Potential fields and the gradient and divergence operators applied to gravity and heat flow
Ordinary differential equations applied to heat flow in the Earth
The diffusion equation applied to time-dependent heat flow into the Earth
Teaching is by means of a series of "workshops", in which short lectures on the underlying mathematical techniques and their geological and geophysical applications are mixed with example classes. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will:
1. Have a broad and integrated understanding of how to apply their mathematical skills in an Earth science context and what insights can be gained from the quantitative modelling of geological processes.
2. Have a critical understanding of vectors and how they are implemented in this field
3. Be able to solve a variety of ordinary and partial differential equations and to apply them in a variety of Earth science contexts. |
Assessment Information
| Continuous assessment (no written examination). |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Geodynamics, Turcotte, D. L. and Schubert, G 0-521-66624-4
Geophysical Theory, Menke, W. and Abbott, D. 978-0-231-06792-8
Mechanics in the Earth and Environmental Sciences, Middleton, G. V. and Wilcock, P. R, 0-521-44669-4
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Math_Methods |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Hugh Pumphrey
Tel: (0131 6)50 6026
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Katie Galbraith
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: |
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