GEOPHYSICS
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- ENZO RIZZO
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- GEO/10
Training objectives
- Knowledge of the main fields associated with Earth planet: gravitational field, magnetic, tectonic stress, the basic elements of seismology and seismic risk assessment. The main skill acquired is the ability to correlate the instrumental observations with the structure of the Earth from global to regional scales.
Prerequisites
- knowledge of Mathematics and of General Physics
Course programme
- The course includes 60 hours of lectures and tutorials.
Introduction of the course (2h)
Geodynamics (8h)
Rheology (8h): Principles of rheology; Theory of elasticity, Definition of stress and strain; Elastic, inelastic, plastic materials; Stress and deformation sensor; Elastic constants.
Elements of seismology (20h). Kinematic and dynamic parameters of earthquakes; PREM model of the Earth interior; focal mechanisms. Basic elements of seismometry. Definition of seismic risk. Notions of seismic zoning: meaning of macrozonazione and micro-zoning. Main geophysical instruments for microzoning field activities.
The Earth's magnetism (8h). Magnetic properties of minerals and rocks, working methods of paleomagnetism. Definition of the geomagnetic field, its spatial structure, time variations and origin. Modern measuring instruments.
The Earth's gravity (8h). Definition of normal gravity, Bouguer and free air anomalies and and their structural significance. Isostasy. Hints to the methods of measurement of gravity acceleration.
Geothermal (4h): The Earth's heat; Temperature and heat gradient; Origin of endogenous heat flow; Heat sources in the Earth. Production of radioactive heat. The radiative heat balance of the Earth. Transporting heat to the Earth. Conduction; convection; radiation; Earth heat flow: continental, oceanic, global. Heat equation: Halfspace model, plate model; Geothermal in the oceanic and continental crust. The convection of the Earth's mantle.
Introduction to Applied Geophysics (2h) Didactic methods
- in room lectures and exercitations in the classroom and in the field
Learning assessment procedures
- oral examination at the end of the course: exposure of topics selected by the teacher is requires. Acquired skill and the completeness of exposure.
Reference texts
- Books and Lecturer's notes
Lowrie W. - Fundamental of Geophysics.
Turcotte D.L., Schubert G. - Geodynamics.
