Tectonics in Earth's Oceans and Continents

EART32301 Tectonics in Earth's Oceans and Continents 10 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 6 Neil Mitchell Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <div>The theory of plate tectonics has, since the 1960s, completely revolutionized the Earth Sciences. It provides a basis for understanding a wide variety of Earth Science processes, from how sediments accumulate in foreland basins, to the rise of mountain ranges, to the cycling of chemical elements within the Earth. It is important for the analysis of sedimentary basins hosting petroleum reserves. It is also the background to many destructive geological events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.In this module, we will begin by learning about the methods used in tectonics. In the oceans, these involve interpretation of seafloor spreading magnetic anomalies, information from earthquakes, bathymetry and gravity. In the continents, the new methods of space geodesy have made significant contributions over the past 20-30 years, as well as earthquake seismology.We will then look into processes occurring at mid-ocean ridges, transforms, volcanic islands and at convergent margins. On the continents, we will investigate the extent that the crust is rigid or fluid-like, differences in earthquake behaviour, the response of the Earth to vertical loads and the role of surface processes (erosion and deposition).</div>  <div> The theory of plate tectonics has, since the 1960s, completely revolutionized the Earth Sciences.  It provides a basis for understanding a wide variety of Earth Science processes, from how sediments accumulate in foreland basins, to the rise of mountain ranges, to the cycling of chemical elements within the Earth.  It is important for the analysis of sedimentary basins hosting petroleum reserves.  It is also the background to many destructive geological events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.In this module, we will begin by learning about the methods used in tectonics.  In the oceans, these involve interpretation of seafloor spreading magnetic anomalies, information from earthquakes, bathymetry and gravity.  In the continents, the new methods of space geodesy have made significant contributions over the past 20-30 years, as well as earthquake seismology.We will then look into processes occurring at mid-ocean ridges, transforms, volcanic islands and at convergent margins.  On the continents, we will investigate the extent that the crust is rigid or fluid-like, differences in earthquake behaviour, the response of the Earth to vertical loads and the role of surface processes (erosion and deposition).</div>  To gain more advanced understanding of: 1. The processes modifying and moving the solid earth beneath the oceans and on the continents, and the character of that movement2. The techniques of oceanic and continental tectonic studies3. Geodynamic analysis used to reveal the forces driving tectonic motions  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width:496px;">On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </td> <td style="width:72px;">Developed</td> <td style="width:66px;">Assessed</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:59px;">ILO 1</td> <td style="width:432px;height:59px;">- for each sub-area, explain how historical research has led to our present state of understanding.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:59px;"> </td> <td style="width:66px;height:59px;">y</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:67px;">ILO 2</td> <td style="width:432px;height:67px;">- describe how technology has been key to developments in marine and non-marine tectonics.    </td> <td style="width:72px;height:67px;"> </td> <td style="width:66px;height:67px;">y</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:77px;">ILO 3</td> <td style="width:432px;height:77px;">- demonstrate ability to interpret tectonic structures from topographic and geophysical data and identify their origins.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:77px;"> </td> <td style="width:66px;height:77px;">y</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;">ILO 4</td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;">- apply a physical model that represents a tectonic system and carry out simple calculations based on it.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> </td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;">y</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  The course will be delivered with 1 hr lecture and 2 hr practical or workshop each week: Week 1: The techniques of tectonic analysis                P: introduction to GeomapappWeek 2: Creation of new oceanic crust at spreading centres 1                P: variations in crustal thickness from gravity data; volcanic geomorphologyWeek 3: Creation of new oceanic crust at spreading centres 2                P: Earthquake focal mechanisms and size-frequency graphsWeek 4: Volcanic islands and seamounts                P: videos of active eruptions; morphometric measurements of seamountsWeek 5: Landslides and other mass movements                P: Using shear vane measurements from Amazon submarine fan to assess how channels change course.Week 6: Subduction zones                P: sequence analysis of topographic profiles; gravity profiles and flexure; heatflow from bottom-simulating reflections (clathrates)Week 7: Continental seismology - what earthquake distributions and properties tell us about strain                P: Mapping earthquakes with GeomapappWeek 8: Forces driving plate motions                P: paper or computer-based exerciseWeek 9: Flexure of lithosphere in the oceans and continents                P: paper or computer-based exerciseWeek 10: Revision  As this module tackles both historical and more recent research in tectonics, to do well (achieve >70%) you need to be willing to tackle research articles and work out effectively how you would build arguments based on them. Achieving a modest mark (~60%) should be possible using only the lecture material and your results from the practicals.  1 Written exam 70% 3 Report 30% <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 20px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="height:68px; width:102px">Assessment type</td> <td style="height:68px; width:86px">% Weighting within unit</td> <td style="height:68px; width:66px">Hand out and hand in dates</td> <td style="height:68px; width:94px">Length </td> <td style="height:68px; width:170px">How, when and what feedback is provided</td> <td style="height:68px; width:123px">ILO tested</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height:102px; width:102px">Exam</td> <td style="height:102px; width:86px">70</td> <td style="height:102px; width:66px">Set in appropriate exam period</td> <td style="height:102px; width:94px">2 hours</td> <td style="height:102px; width:170px">Summative exam (marked scripts not viewable in year 3?)</td> <td style="height:102px; width:123px">1-2,4</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height:102px; width:102px">Report (individual)</td> <td style="height:102px; width:86px">30</td> <td style="height:102px; width:66px">Make aware in week 1, test in week 6</td> <td style="height:102px; width:94px">1 hour</td> <td style="height:102px; width:170px">Individual written feedback provided through Turnitin.</td> <td style="height:102px; width:123px">3</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height:102px; width:102px"> </td> <td style="height:102px; width:86px"> </td> <td style="height:102px; width:66px"> </td> <td style="height:102px; width:94px"> </td> <td style="height:102px; width:170px">Further formative feedback will be provided in practicals.</td> <td style="height:102px; width:123px"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>  EART28202 Structural Geology Pre-Requisite Compulsory <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Pre-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> EART28202 Structural geology</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Co-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> None</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geology) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Planet Sci) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geochemistr) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Resources) Third Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc(Hons)Earth&Plan Sci-Palaeo Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Eart and Plan (GPG) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geolo) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Plane) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geoch) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Resou) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Palae) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci(Hons)Ea&Pl Sci(G&PG) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS w IE (GeoChem) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS Yr Industry (ER) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarth Sci (Hons) EPS IE (GPG) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (PS) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS w YA (Geochem) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (ER) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Yr Abroad (Pala) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEaSci (Hons) EPSwYA (GPG) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEarthSci (H) EPS (ER) with Re Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w R (GeoChem) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w Res (GPG) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Plan Sci) w Res Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Paleo) with Res Third Year Optional Core reading will be based primarily on articles in academic journals, for which references will be given in the course. The following are useful general introductions or supplements.Cox A, Hart RB (1986) Plate tectonics: how it works. Blackwell, Oxford, England, p 392Searle RC (2013) Mid-ocean ridges. Cambridge University Press, New York, p 318  0 0 100 <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:68px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">Type</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:169.5pt;" width="226">Example student activity</td><td style="height:68px;width:75px;">Total Hours</td><td style="height:68px;width:160px;">New material</td><td style="height:68px;width:104px;">Consolidation and Practice</td></tr><tr><td style="height:39px;width:139px;">Contact time (students are in front of staff)</td><td style="height:39px;width:85px;">Lecture (new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">Mostly listening & taking notes (mostly new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">9</td><td style="height:39px;width:160px;">9</td><td style="height:39px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Lecture (revision/examples)</td><td>Mostly listening & taking notes (no new material- revision of course)</td><td>1</td><td> </td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Practical (new material and practice. Typically 25-50% of practical time is spent on new material)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive individual or group work (problem solving, experiments, watching demonstrations, describing and interpreting samples, paper-based exercises, computer-based exercises)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">20</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;">6</td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;">15</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Tutorial</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive small group work</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Seminar/examples class</td><td>Working on and discussing questions (here: field seminar)</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Independent study time</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:131.5pt;" width="175">Pre/post lecture work</td><td>Reading own notes, re-solving examples, prep work, revisit podcast</td><td>14</td><td> </td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Pre/post practical work/write up</td><td>Complete practical work, prep work, reading feedback</td><td>10</td><td> </td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Studio/workshop time</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>