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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Seismology (EASC10035)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThe course covers two areas of seismology: Part I covers Wave theory and Part II Earthquake Seismology. The course content is given in more detail in the syllabus below.
Course description An advanced course in seismology provided by experts in mathematical geophysics and earthquake seismology.

Part I: Wave Theory
Fundamentals of wave motion; seismic wave types. Stress tensor, strain tensor, stress-strain relations; linearised equations of motion; elastic moduli.

The wave equation: dilatational and rotational solutions; separation of variables; plane and spherical waves.

Reflection and refraction of plane waves at a plane boundary; independence of SH and P and of SV waves; boundary conditions; P, SV and SH waves incident at the free surface of a homogeneous half-space and at general interfaces; energy conversions.

Rayleigh waves for a homogeneous half-space; Love waves for a two-layer half-space. Superposition of plane waves, group velocity, dispersion. Free oscillations, toroidal and spheroidal modes.

Part II: Earthquake Seismology
Introduction to Earthquake Seismology - an example from a recent event.

The Earthquake Source: Focal mechanisms, moment tensors, source time function.

Earthquake Mechanics: Friction and fracture, populations, dynamics, scaling.

Seismic Recording: Sensors, recorders, networks and arrays.

Seismograms: Natural and synthetic, time and frequency domain, combined influence of source, ray path, recording site and instrument.

Earthquake Location: Ray parameters (arrays) and the Geiger method (networks).

Global Earth Structure: Layered structure from travel time tables, 3D structure from seismic tomography.

Seismotectonics: Distribution of seismicity in space, regional stress and strain tensors, relationship to tectonics.

Seismic Hazard: Time-independent and time-dependent, can we predict individual earthquakes?
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Fields and Waves (EASC09033) AND Physics of the Earth (EASC08016)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements The above pre-requisites are for students intending to graduate in one of the stream of Geophysics degrees in the School of GeoSciences. The course is also open to students from elsewhere in Edinburgh or elsewhere who can demonstrate an equivalent grounding in mathematics and the physics of fields and waves up to at least the level of year 2 of a 4-year BSc programme in Scotland.
Additional Costs None.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesSee above.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 21, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 6, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 60 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 100 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam: 100%, Course Work: 0 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
A single two-hour written exam.
The exam is two hours long. Students must answer two questions from a choice of four in Section A (taking approximately thirty minutes in total), one question from two in Section B (approximately forty-five minutes) and one question from two in Section C (approximately forty-five minutes).
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Learning Outcomes
Students who take this course will gain a thorough, critical understanding of advanced seismology and the range of techniques employed in this field. They will gain a detailed understanding of earthquake seismology and a detailed understanding of wave equations and their solutions. Students will be able to use, interpret and evaluate these. Students will be able to offer professional level insights because much of this course is informed by recent developments. Their ability to critically review and consolidate this knowledge will be showcased in the degree exam, in tutorials and in two practical exercises.
Reading List
Shearer, P.M. (1999) Introduction to seismology, Cambridge University Press.
Stein, S. & Wysession, M. (2003). An introduction to seismology, earthquakes and earth structure, Blackwells.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Lectures
Mondays at 11:10-12:00, Wednesdays at 11:10-12:00 and Fridays at 09:00-09:50, Weeks 1-11.

Practical Class
A group computer-based exercise, to be arranged subject external speaker¿s availability.

Six hours of tutorials, some of which will take place during the Friday lecture slot.
KeywordsSeismology
Contacts
Course organiserDr Andrew Bell
Tel: (0131 6)50 4918
Email: A.Bell@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: koneill3@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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