Course: GEOL 546/L. Geodynamics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors and Lab (3/1)
Prerequisites: MATH 255A, GEOL 101. Corequisite: GEOL 546L. Recommended Preparatory: MATH 280, GEOL 307. This course provides fundamental concepts necessary for understanding of the interior and surficial processes of the Earth and other planets through quantitative analysis of elastic plate flexure, heat flow, heat production, convection, geophysical fluid dynamics, gravity, surface stresses, and rheology and deformation of planetary materials. Geological areas of application include earthquakes, tectonic plate flexure, volcanic eruptions, magma plumbing, mountain building, mantle convection, Earth’s interior heat budget, core dynamo, upper mantle flow and deformation mechanisms. Designed for senior-level undergraduate and graduate students in geology, geophysics, physics, or astronomy. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab.