For additional information send E-MAIL to: mccafr@rpi.edu

Instructor: R. McCaffrey,

Class Time and Place: TBA

Office hours: TBA

Objectives: This course will introduce students to the basic theories of geophysics and examine what geophysical methods have taught us about the Earth. The level will be higher than that of Introduction to Geophysics. The focus will be on a global scale and on what we call 'solid-earth' geophysics. Hence we will not discuss the ocean and atmosphere, although studies of these are also important branches of geophysics. We will discuss seismology and plate tectonics only insofar as they relate to the interior of the Earth. We have separate classes on these topics. We will do problem sets that combine observations with derivations. A working knowledge of basic physics and familiarity with differential equations is necessary.

Topics to be covered:

Introduction to Geophysics

Review of basic physics and mathematics

Radioactivity and Dating

Earth rotation and gravity: Potential fields, Shape of the Earth and geoid anomalies, Isostasy, Rotation of the Earth, Earth-Moon system, Tides

Seismology and Interior of the Earth: Seismic Waves, travel-time curves, and instruments, Earth's interior, Exploration with seismic waves

Heat of the Earth: Earth's heat budget and evolution, Heating and cooling of lithosphere, Mantle convection

Magnetic field: Earth's internal and external fields, Paleomagnetism and field reversals, Core dynamics
 
Last update 1-05-2008