| Unit name | Global Geophysics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC30085 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Werner |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Successful completion of a Year 2 Earth Sciences programme. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Global geophysical methods provide key insights into our dynamic Earth, including its origin and evolution, from the solid inner core to the outer crust. Imaging and modelling the Earth’s interior using geophysical principles and techniques reveals a dynamic system driven by heat escaping from the planet, from the liquid outer core that powers the geomagnetic field, to plate tectonics atop a convecting mantle. This unit will review and apply global geophysical techniques and principles to image the structure and physical properties of the Earth and interpret these in terms of the evolution of the Earth. Seismology, as the queen of geophysical methods, plays a key role because of its non-invasive, deep and extraordinary imaging capability. Furthermore, the study of earthquakes lends insight to the invisible tectonic stresses which shape our planet’s ever-changing surface.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit provides a detailed perspective of the properties, processes and evolution of the deep and shallow Earth revealed by geophysical methods. It reviews the methods and results from the application of geophysical methods that provide our fundamental understanding of the Earth’s interior processes. The unit complements other units that focus on shallow geophysical imaging, surface geology, global tectonics and geochemical geodynamics by providing a whole-planet perspective of the geophysical processes that shape the Earth. The unit draws on physics, mathematics and computational skills developed in prior years.
An overview of content
The course covers basic concepts in global geophysics and applies them to the study of Earth’s development, evolution and current structure. We will address the initial development of the Earth and its evolution to the present mode of heat transport, including convection in the mantle and core. The unit will review geophysical principles that help elucidate the Earth’s interior, including the density, pressure, temperature, gravity, compositional and other depth profiles of Earth, leading to insights into phase changes in the mantle, heat production and flow including mantle convection, and properties of the core. Seismological concepts include the wave equation, ray theory, calculation of travel times and propagation distances, and the variation of amplitudes as waves propagate. Specific seismological techniques comprise locating earthquakes, determining seismic wave speeds, and illuminating structure and dynamic processes in crust, mantle and core.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
As well as gaining an appreciation of the principles of geophysics and how global geophysics is used to understand the structure and evolution of the Earth, you will gain practical experience of processing, modelling and interpreting geophysical data.
Learning Outcomes
On completion you should be able to:
The unit will comprise of lectures, computer-based practicals, office hours and guided structured reading.
Practicals predominantly comprise global geophysical and seismic data analysis, modelling and interpretation, both demonstrating the techniques discussed in the lectures, and encouraging an active learning approach. Demonstrators are on hand during practicals to help you. All practicals also have worked solutions and you are strongly encouraged to work through these independently. Opportunities (through office hours and in practical sessions) are provided to discuss questions about practical work.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Practical work and a formative piece of coursework will provide opportunities to practice the analysis, calculation and interpretation skills necessary for the assessed coursework. Emphasis on the practicals encourages a more active approach to engaging with the course material, and worked examples and interactive feedback provide an opportunity for you to verify your learning.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
End-of-unit exam (100%), comprising a timed computational exercise.
When assessment does not go to plan
The University's Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes outline the requirements for progression on and completion of degree programmes. Students who miss an exam and self-certify their absence may complete a supplementary assessment for an uncapped mark as if taken for the first time. Resit and supplementary exams are habitually taken during the reassessment period later in the summer. As far as is practicable and appropriate, resit and supplementary assessments will be in the same form as the original assessment but will always test the same intended learning outcomes as the initial missed or failed assessment. In the case of group work, failure by a whole group would result in an appropriate group task being set and reassessed for all group members. If a single student fails a group assessment or is unable to participate for an evidenced reason, an individual reassessment will be set.
There are rigorous and fair procedures in place to support students who are ill or whose studies and assessments are affected by exceptional circumstances.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASC30085).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
