| Unit name | Physical and Chemical Geodynamics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC30045 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Helffrich |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites | |
| Co-requisites | |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
The Earth is a dynamic system that is driven by heat escaping from the planet. The objective of this unit is to learn how the process works and what imprints the process makes on the Earth's physical and chemical structure. The course will address the initial development of the Earth and its evolution to the present mode of heat loss, which gives rise to plate tectonics. Plate structure and motion will be explored. Tools to describe the constitution of metamorphic and igneous rocks will be presented through the concepts of chemical equilibrium, the phase rule, and crystallization from liquids.
