ErSE 211 Global Geophysics

Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of fluid/elastic processes in continuous media or consent of instructor. The course provides introductory descriptions of the Earth solid and fluid natural systems and their interaction. It discusses Earth early geological history, plate motions, magnetism and sea floor spreading, earthquakes and earth structure, gravity, geochronology, heat flow, mantle convection and earth's magnetic field; history of earth climate, formation of oceans and atmosphere, biological history, energy balance climate model, general circulation of ocean and atmosphere, climate change, coupled ocean-atmosphere-biosphere climate models. The course introduces descriptions of solid and fluid Earth systems and their interaction, and is divided in two (2) parts. Part I covers the history of Earth climate, formation of oceans and atmosphere, biological history, energy balance in climate model, general circulation of ocean and atmosphere, climate change, and coupled ocean-atmosphere-biosphere climate models. Part II discusses Earth early geological history, plate motions, sea floor spreading, earthquakes and Earth structure, gravity, geochronology, heat flow, mantle convection and Earth's magnetic field.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Approval by course instructor