Physics of the Earth’s Interior - Geodynamics
| Title | ΦΥΣΙΚΗ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΓΗΣ-ΓΕΩΔΥΝΑΜΙΚΗ / Physics of the Earth’s Interior - Geodynamics |
| Code | NGGP 203Y |
| Faculty | Sciences |
| School | Geology |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Spring |
| Coordinator | Eleni Aidona |
| Common | No |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600019021 |
Programme of Study: PPS-Tmīma Geōlogías (2020-sīmera)
Registered students: 176
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORMOS | Compulsory Course | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Academic Year | 2024 – 2025 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Instructors from Other Categories |
|
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600257562
|
Course Type 2016-2020
- Scientific Area
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600257562
- At the Website of the School: http://www.geo.auth.gr/courses/ggp/ggp536y/
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
- English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1) Describe and explain basic knowledge of the genesis of the solar system and planets.
2) Understand the basic principles of radiocarbon dating.
3) Distinguish and interpret the two potential fields of the Earth (gravitational, magnetic).
4) Describe and explain how seismic waves propagate through the Earth's interior and structure.
5) defines the global fault systems, lithospheric plates and their movements.
6) Describes and explains how heat is generated in the interior of the Earth and how it propagates to the crust.
General Competences
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Make decisions
- Work autonomously
- Generate new research ideas
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
1) Earth and Solar System formation. Introduction to Radiometric dating- geochronology.
2) The Earth’s gravity field. The shape of the Earth – Geoid, ellipsoid.
3) The Earth’s magnetic field and its origin. Geomagnetic field variations. Paleomagnetism and its relation to Geodynamics.
4) Seismology and the internal structure of the Earth. Seismic wave propagation in the Earth.
5) Velocity structure, anisotropy. Crust, mantle and core of the Earth. Continental and ocean lithosphere.
6) Geodynamics: lithospheric plates and their kinematics.
7) Heat generation and conduction in the Earth.
Keywords
Physics of the Earth’s Interior, Crustal mantle and core structure, Radiometric dating-geochronology, The Earth’s gravity field, The Earth’s magnetic field, Thermal properties of the Earth, Lithospheric plates, Geodynamics
Educational Material Types
- Slide presentations
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
- Use of ICT in Student Assessment
Description
1) All class material is available in electronic form to all students through the course web page
2) The teacher communicates with students through email and Facebook
3) The class evaluation is performed through the Quality Assurance Unit (MO.DI.P.)
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 91 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Reading Assigment | 6 | ||||
| Exams | 3 | ||||
| Total | 100 |
Student Assessment
Description
Written Exam with short-answer questions on topics taught at both theory and laboratories. It makes up 90% of the overall score.
2. Possibility for two optional interim written examinations with short-answer questions covering half of the syllabus. Each makes up 45% of the total score.
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Formative, Summative)
- Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Formative, Summative)
- Written Exam with Problem Solving (Formative, Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
(1) Εισαγωγή στη γεωφυσική, Παπαζάχος Κωνσταντίνος, Παπαζάχος Βασίλειος 2η έκδ. βελτιωμένη/2013, ISBN: 978-960-456-386-9
(2) Fundamentals of Geophysics, Lowrie, W. (2007). Cambridge University Press, pp. 381.
(3) Geodynamics. Turcotte, D.L. and Schubert, G. (2014). Cambridge University Press, pp. 657.
Last Update
11-06-2025
