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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Global Tectonics (EASC09027)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaEarth Science Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis 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 (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Stratigraphy and Sedimentology (EASC08015)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 09:00 - 09:50
King's BuildingsLaboratory1-11 10:00 - 12:00
First Class Week 18, Monday, 09:00 - 12:00, Zone: King's Buildings. MLT/201, Grant Institute
Additional information 1 hour(s) per week for 5 week(s). 11 lectures and 5 practicals in total.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1. The integrated knowledge required to explain the major features of current and past tectonic and magmatic activity on the Earth
2. An understanding of modern tectonic processes, current plate tectonic theory and the current views of the driving force of plate motion
3. The ability to understand geological phenomena in a plate tectonic context
4. An appreciation of how thermal models, constrained by observations, can successfully account for many basic lithospheric features and asthenospheric behaviour
5. An ability to critically appraise statements about tectonic processes
6. An understanding of the principles applied to reconstruct plate configuration
7. How to unravel continental collisional zones and orogenic belts to assist in continental reconfiguration
Assessment Information
100% by degree exam.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jennifer Tait
Tel:
Email: Jenny.Tait@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Emma Latto
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: emma.latto@ed.ac.uk
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 5:53 am