Mon Dec 1 12:34:50 2008
| Effective Term: |
New:
1099 - Fall 2009 Old: 1089 - Fall 2008 |
|---|---|
| College: |
New:
TIOT - Institute of Technology Old: TIOT - Technology, Institute of |
| Department: |
New:
11130 - Geology & Geophysics Old: 11130 - IT Geology & Geophysics Admin |
|
Max-Min Credits for Course: |
New:
4.0 to 4.0 credit(s) Old: 3.0 to 3.0 credit(s) |
| Grading Basis: |
New:
A-F only
Old: Stdnt Opt |
|
Academic Progress Units: |
New:
Not allowed to bypass limits. 4.0 credit(s) Old: Not allowed to bypass limits. 3.0 credit(s) |
|
Financial Aid Progress Units: |
New:
Not allowed to bypass limits. 4.0 credit(s) Old: Not allowed to bypass limits. 3.0 credit(s) |
|
Repetition of Course: |
New:
Repetition not allowed.
Old: Repetition not allowed. |
| Proposal Changes: |
New:
Increase from 3 to 4 credits Old: <no text provided> |
|
Faculty Sponsor Name: |
New:
Jim Stout Old: |
|
Faculty Sponsor E-mail Address: |
New:
jstout@umn.edu Old: |
|
Provisional Syllabus: |
Please
provide a provisional syllabus for new courses and courses in which
changes in content and/or description and/or credits are proposed that
include the following information: course goals and description;
format/structure of the course (proposed number of instructor contact
hours per week, student workload effort per week, etc.); topics to be
covered; scope and nature of assigned readings (texts, authors,
frequency, amount per week); required course assignments; nature of any
student projects; and how students will be evaluated. The University policy on credits is found under Section 4A of "Standards for Semester Conversion" at http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/senate/documents/policy/semestercon.html . Provisional course syllabus information will be retained in this system until new syllabus information is entered with the next major course modification, This provisional course syllabus information may not correspond to the course as offered in a particular semester. New: GEO-2201 Geodynamics I COURSE CONTENT: Geodynamics-I (Geo 2201) is the beginning core course (with a co-requisite of Physics 1301 and Calculus I) for majors in geology and geophysics. In terms of content and concepts, it is at a slightly higher level than the non-prerequisite course, Geo 1001: Earth and its Environments, which is intended for non-majors. Geodynamics-I takes as its core the theory of plate tectonics and explores on a semi-quantitative basis our knowledge of whole earth properties, including a short introduction to thermal convection in the Earth’s mantle, the engine for plate tectonics. The geological components start with basics of mineralogy and petrology, emphasizing high pressure-high temperature behavior, and depth-dependent phase transitions of minerals and viscosity. The geophysical components start with whole Earth gravity and magnetism, earthquake generation and seismological evidence for internal structure of the Earth. The two approaches – geological and geophysical – merge in the latter part of the course to address (a) the quantitative evidence for plate tectonics: marine magnetic anomalies, continental drift, seismicity at plate boundaries, subduction of plates and heat flow, and (b) the geological surface expressions of plate tectonics: global-scale geology, tectonics at plate subduction zones, exhumation of deep crust and neotectonics. The goal of the course is a semi-quantitative understanding of the theory of plate tectonics, and its evidence throughout the solid Earth, from its core to the outermost crust. A list of topics to be covered in the course follows. CONTACT HOURS AND STUDENT EVALUATION: The course is comprised of three hours of lecture and one two hour laboratory per week, for a total of four semester credits. The two textbooks currently used in the course are given at the bottom of the lecture schedule which also follows. The assigned readings each week are also given in the lecture schedule: they require 4-5 hours of student effort per week. Students are evaluated on the basis of three lecture exams which count 75% of the course grade. The remaining 25% is based on performance in the lab. Topics in Geo 2201 (4 cr) Geodynamics I proposed for fall, 2009 Gravity and Isostasy Size and topography of the Earth Isostatic compensation, Isostatic Rebound Newton’s Law of Gravity Gravity field of the Earth (Geoid and Spheriod) Gravity Anomalies and corrections (Bouguer and Free Air anomalies) Gravity anomalies and isostasy Gravity anomalies over MOR and subduction zones Plate Tectonics Topography and heat flow of Mid Ocean Ridges Composition of Oceanic Crust Geophysical Properties of Mid Ocean Ridges Conductive cooling model of oceanic lithosphere (Diffusion Eq.) Transform faults, Fracture Zones, and Ridge Offsets Types of convergence zones Geophysical properties and Geological features of subduction zones Driving mechanisms Relative vs. Absolute motions, Hot spot tracks Motions on a sphere, Euler Poles, Velocity space diagrams Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Description and spatial variation of Present Day field (Magnetic Dipole Eq.) Time dependence (secular variation, Magnetic Reversals) Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale Marine magnetic Anomalies and Sea Floor spreading Geodynamo Models How Rocks get magnetized (Curie Temperature, TRM, DRM) Basic principles of Apparent Polar Wander and paleogeographic reconstructions Physical Properties of Earth Materials Basic thermodynamics related to phase transitions Effects of Pressure, Temperature, Equation of State Density profile of Earth Basic principles of stress and strain Elastic, Plastic, Brittle behavior of materials Viscosity Earthquakes and Seismic Waves Location (epicenter, focal depth) Global distribution of Earthquakes Magnitude and seismic moment Types of Seismic Waves Earthquake focal mechanisms (Beach ball Diagrams) and types of faults Seismic Waves and Earth Structure Refraction, Reflection, and Snell’s Law Travel time curves and seismic phases Seismic evidence for compositional, phase, and rheological layers Seismic tomography Thermal Properties of the Earth Heat flow sources and temperatures in the Earth Heat transfer mechanisms Basic heat conduction equation Temperature profile in Earth Adiabatic temperature gradient Mantle Convection (layered vs whole, effects of phase transitions) Igneous and Metamorphic Processes Magmas, volcanoes and the making of continents Eutectic melting Effects of composition and fluids on melting Decompression melting Melting in subduction zones Chemical differentiation of magma Metamorphic minerals and textures Metamorphic facies Geologic Time Sedimentary rocks Relative time relationships Isotopes, radioactive decay, Basics of radiometric dating Geologic Time scale Geologic history and catastrophic events Old: <no text provided> |