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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Physics of the Earth (EASC08016)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA comprehensive introduction to the physics of the Earth, concentrating on earthquake and controlled-source seismology, physical geodesy and the Earth's gravity field, and geomagnetism and geo-electricity. The course emphasises interpretation and understanding using the techniques of physics and mathematics.
Course description This course is a general introduction to the quantitative techniques needed to understand the planet we live on, drawing upon the methods and theory of physics to build up a picture of the interior of the Earth and the processes which generate its structure and surface features.

Part 1: Seismology: vibrations, waves and earthquakes (Ian Main)
L1. Basic elasticity: stress & strain tensors, elastic moduli
L2. Elastic waves: derivation of the 1-D wave equation for plane P and S waves
L3. Seismic refraction: two-layer problem for flat and dipping layers
L4. Seismic refraction: linear velocity change, Ray Tracing, Travel Time Curves
L5. Seismic recording: basic principles of the mechanical seismometer
L6. Seismic reflection: calculation of reflection coefficient at normal incidence
L7. The convolution model for a seismogram
L8. Seismic attenuation: geometric spreading, anelastic attenuation, and scattering
Part 2: Electricity and Magnetism (Wyn Williams)
L9. Fundamental units in magnetism and electricity
L10. The geomagnetic field; The magnetic field of a dipole; Multipole and spherical harmonic representation of the geomagnetic field
L11. Introduction to hydromagnetic dynamos
L12. Geomagnetic instrumentation and design
L13. Solar-terrestrial interactions of the geomagnetic field
L14. Telluric currents and the conductivity structure of the Earth.
L15. EM methods of prospecting
L16. Magnetic properties of rocks
Part 3: Gravity (Kathy Whaler)
L17. Gravity and the gravitational constant, G
L18. The geo-potential
L19. Theory of the reference Earth model
L20. Earth's gravity field
L21. Interpretation: theory
L22 Interpretation: modelling

Practicals
P1. Seismograms ¿ first motions and earthquake focal mechanisms
P2. Seismograms ¿ seismic phases, travel-time curves, and earthquake location
P3. EM survey interpretation
P4. Interpreting gravity and magnetic anomalies
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Mathematics for Physics 1 (PHYS08035) AND Mathematics for Physics 2 (PHYS08036) AND
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Introduction to Geophysics (EASC08008)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students must demonstrate a good understanding of first-year level mathematics, and be interested in applying physics to the study of the Earth.
Additional Costs None.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesSee above
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  20
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 9, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 149 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 30 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The exam consists of a single 3hr written paper May.

Coursework consists of three reports based on practical exercises, each contributing 10% to the overall mark.
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)3:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)3:00
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, you should have a broad, comprehensive overview of the physical processes operating in the solid Earth and its core and a quantitative understanding of the principles of the geophysical techniques by which this information is derived. You will also have gained practical experience and understanding of geophysical exploration techniques and how observations can be interpreted. These practical sessions will give you experience of carrying out routine lines of enquiry into professional level problems. You will be able to critically evaluate evidence based solutions to these problems. The assessed scientific report and degree exams will give you practise conveying complex information to a range of audiences for a range of purposes which is a valuable transferable skill.
Reading List
Recommended purchase:
Lowrie, W., 1997. Fundamentals of Geophysics, Cambridge Univ. Press.
Additional texts where funding allows:
Kearey, P.K., 1991. An introduction to Geophysical Exploration, Blackwell.
Stein S. and M. Wysession, 2003. Introduction to seismology, earthquakes and Earth structure, Blackwell. (Recommended purchase for those continuing to honours in geophysical subjects).
Shearer, P. 1999. Introduction to Seismology, Cambridge University Press.
Reference texts:
Fowler, C.M.R., 2005. The Solid earth: an introduction to Global Geophysics, Cambridge University Press.
Mussett, A. and A. Khan, 2000. Looking into the Earth, Cambridge University Press.
All of these are available in the reserve collection of the KB library.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Quantitative analysis, report writing, science communication.
Additional Class Delivery Information Two hours lecture plus 1 hour tutorial per week for 11 week(s), and four 3-hour practical classes (weeks and times to be confirmed, starting week 2).
KeywordsPhysics_of the_Earth
Contacts
Course organiserDr Andrew Bell
Tel: (0131 6)50 4918
Email: A.Bell@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Nicola Muir
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: Nikki.Muir@ed.ac.uk
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