Undergraduate Course: Mathematical and computational methods in Geophysics (EASC09054)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces and develops mathematical and computational techniques commonly used in geophysics. The mathematics and computing are taught in an integrated manner so, for example, methods for finding an analytical solution to a differential equation are followed immediately by computing techniques for achieving the same aim. |
| Course description |
Geophysics students need to gain computing skills and to continue exercising and extending their mathematical skills as they enter the JH year. Currently, this is done via two un-connected 10-credit courses with very different histories. Integration between the courses is poor and both courses contain some redundant material. The proposed course will replace these two courses and will teach mathematical and computing skills in an integrated manner. An aim is to retain the learning outcomes of the two courses to be replaced, while reducing both staff and student workload a little. The intention is to have much of the programming teaching at the start of the semester so that it may be applied to the mathematical problems later on.
The content of the course will be
¿ an introduction to programming using Python / NumPy
¿ A range of mathematical topics as applied in geophysics
¿ The use of numerical methods as applies to the same mathematical topics
The learning experience will be varied, mixing practical programming classes with traditional lectures and problem-solving tutorials.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Mathematics including partial differentiation and differential equations. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2016/17, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 18,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 30,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
134 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 50%, exam 50%. The exam will test the mathematical skills more than the computational ones, the coursework will do the reverse. Assessed Coursework will consist of one computing exercise (30% of course) and one set of mathematics problems (20% of course) One further set of maths problems and one further computing exercises will be marked for formative purposes.«br /»
Completion of online Coursecademy exercises is compulsory.«br /»
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| Feedback |
Mathematical problems will be set every week, discussed in the tutorial and answers provided thereafter. In addition to the assessed coursework, one further set of maths problems and one further computing exercises will be marked for formative purposes. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- solve a variety of mathematical problems as applied in a geophysical context
- write clear, working, well documented programs in Python
- solve ordinary and partial differential equations using numerical techniques
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Reading List
Sneider, R., Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences, 2004, Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 978-0-521-83492-6.
Turcotte, D.,L. and Schubert, G. Geodynamics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 0-521-66624-4.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Programming in a high-level computing language (Python) |
| Keywords | Mathematics,geophysics,heat flow,programming,python |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mark Naylor
Tel: (0131 6)50 4918
Email: Mark.Naylor@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sarah Thomas
Tel: (0131 6)51 1473
Email: Sarah.Thomas@ed.ac.uk |
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