IMPORTANT UPDATE: EMSC 8016 will start on Tuesday February 22nd in the Hales room (Jaeger 7), with the following tentative schedule: Tuesday from 1:00pm to 4:15pm, Wednesday from 1:30pm to 4:45pm, Thursday from 9:00am to 12:15pm. The timetable will change as of 14/03/11 due to clashes with other courses.
This course provides an account of the mechanics and thermodynamics of the Earth mantle and its upper thermal boundary layer: the lithosphere. It is intended for students with a background in classical physics. The course will initially survey the evidence for a mobile lithosphere and the distinctive ways in which lithospheric plates move and evolve. A review of heat conduction and viscous fluid flow will lead into a simple but fundamental theory of thermal convection, emphasizing the key role of thermal boundary layers and extracting simple scaling rules. The distinctive behavior of the upper thermal boundary layer, controlled by significant changes in the mechanical properties of the material, will then be explored to arrive at a comprehensive description of what forces drive and resist global plate motions. The course will conclude with an overview of recent findings in Plate Tectonics and mantle dynamics
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Discuss qualitatively and quantitatively the theory of Plate Tectonics, its strengths, and its limitations.
- Provide a physical description of the mechanics and thermodynamics of the Earth mantle and lithosphere, and apply it to simple but realistic scenarios.
Indicative Assessment
- 3 assignments (30%)
- 1 presentation of a paper from the literature (10%)
- Participation to discussion in class (10%)
- Final exam (50%)
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Requisite and Incompatibility
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $3660 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $4878 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
