651-4015-00L  Earthquakes I: Seismotectonics

SemesterAutumn Semester 2018
LecturersA. P. Rinaldi, I. Molinari
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish



Courses

NumberTitleHoursLecturers
651-4015-00 GEarthquakes I: Seismotectonics28s hrs
Wed/210:15-12:00NO E 39 »
Thu/213:15-15:00NO E 11 »
A. P. Rinaldi, I. Molinari

Catalogue data

AbstractIf you're interested in knowing more about the relationship between seismicity and plate tectonics, this is the course for you. (If you're not that interested, but your program of study requires that you complete this course, this is also the course for you.)
ObjectiveThe aim of the course is to obtain a basic understanding of the physical process behind earthquakes and their basic mathematical description. By the conclusion of this course, we hope that you will be able to:
- describe the relationship between earthquakes and plate tectonics in a more sophisticated and complete way
- explain earthquake source representations of varying complexity;
- address earthquakes in the context of different tectonic settings;
- explain the statistical behaviour of global earthquakes
- describe and connect the ingredients for a seismotectonic study
ContentThe course features a series of 14 meetings, in which we review some fundamentals of continuum mechanics and tensor analysis required for a complete understanding of the relation between earthquakes and plate tectonics. Our goal is to help you understand deformation the small scale (fault) to the scale of plate tectonics. We will tell you about several ways to represent an earthquake source; we'll present these in order of increasing sophistication. You will enjoy (at least) a computer/class exercise and a guest lecture.

Topics covered in the course include:
review of stress and deformation in the Earth, stress and strain tensors, rheology and failure criteria, fault stresses, friction and effects of fluids
earthquake focal mechanisms; relationship between stress fields and focal mechanisms;
seismic moment and moment tensors;
crustal deformation from seismic, geologic, and geodetic observations;
earthquake stress drop, scaling, and source parameters;
global earthquake distribution; current global earthquake activity;
different seismotectonic regions; examples of earthquake activity in different tectonic settings.
Lecture notesCourse notes will be made available on a designated course web site. Most of the topics discussed in the course are available in the book mentioned below.
LiteratureS. Stein and M. Wyssession, An introduction to seismology, earthquakes and earth structure, Blackwell Publishing, Malden, USA, (2003).
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic knowledge of continuum mechanics and rock mechanics, as well as notion of tensor analysis is strongly suggested. We recommend to have taken the course Continuum Mechanics (generally taught during the Fall semester).


This course will be taught in fall 2017 and it will be followed by Earthquakes 2: Source Physics in Spring 2018.

The course will be evaluated in a final written test covering the topics discussed during the lectures.

The course will be worth 3 credit points, and a satisfactory total grade (4 or better) is needed to obtain 3 ECTS.

The course will be given in English.

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits3 credits
ExaminersA. P. Rinaldi, I. Molinari
Typesession examination
Language of examinationEnglish
RepetitionThe performance assessment is offered every session. Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Mode of examinationwritten 120 minutes
Written aidsKeine.
This information can be updated until the beginning of the semester; information on the examination timetable is binding.

Learning materials

No public learning materials available.
Only public learning materials are listed.

Groups

No information on groups available.

Restrictions

There are no additional restrictions for the registration.

Offered in

ProgrammeSectionType
Earth Sciences MasterEarthquake Seismology: Compulsory CoursesOInformation
Earth Sciences MasterSeismologyW+Information