Learning objectives
Providing theoretical tools to study and understand the evolution of the geological forces responsible for plate motions and their temporal changes. The course will focus on global plate tectonics, with a specific focus dedicated to the Mediterranean geological setting.
Course unit content
Plate tectonics and plate motions, Earth’s viscous mantle convection, plate dynamics at various time-scales.
Full programme
Birth of the theory of plate tectonics, contributions by Alfred Wegener and Tuzo Wilson, evidence of mobility of Earth's crust, reconstructions and measurements of past/present-day plate motions, case studies of plate kinematics (India, South America, Arabia, Apulia, Adria plates , Anatolia), heat content and transfer, heat balance equation (with conductive, advective and source terms), divergence equation, Newtonian fluids, dynamic balance equation (torques and forces) of Newtonian fluids, application of equations (of heat, dynamic balance and divergence) to the convective motion of Earth's mantle, Couette and Poiseuille flow styles, stability of convective-advective margins (mantle/outer core margin), Rayleigh number of Earth's mantle, characteristic times of heat diffusion and viscous motion, dynamics of tectonic plates described as a rigid bodies gliding on viscous fluids, estimate of the dynamic transient-time of tectonic plates, forces acting on Earth's plates and their temporal variations, case studies of dynamics (Nazca plates, South America, Africa , Antarctic, Pacifica, India, Philippines, Apulia, Anatolia, Adria).
Bibliography
Course notes.
Scientific literature (articles) from international journals.
Dynamic Earth: Plates, Plumes and Mantle Convection by G. F. Davies, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Teaching methods
Lectures and team work. Lectures will cover both theory and discussion of examples. Laboratory work will be organized in groups of three-four students focusing on the solution of practical problems.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam comprising questions that focus on the topics covered in class. Based on graphs/images selected from the course material, the candidate may be asked to elaborate and expand on the topic. It remains the possibility of asking the candidate, during the exam, to carry out an exercise on topics covered in class.
