00432 - Earth Physics

Learning outcomes

The student will learn how to deal with quantitative data and to formulate and test scientific hypotheses, how to estimate the stress field from direct observation and how to describe quantitatively the basic crustal processes. He will learn how to statistically test a scientific hypothesis.  He will also positively understand the importance of the heat flux, of geomagnetism and paleomagnetism in the planet dynamics. He will know the bases upon which seismic and volcanic risk are evaluated.

Course contents

The Scientific Method: Objectivity, Adequate Experimental Basis, Relativity, Falsification. Formulation and testing of scientific hypotheses. Statistical decision theory. The experimental errors and their treatment. Elements of tensor and matrix calculus. The forces that create mountains, faults and landslides. Faults as fractures. Calculation of the stress field from field observation. Seismic waves. Earthquakes. The bases of the heat flux in the interior of the Earth. An outline of how natural risks connected to seismic and volcanic phenomena are estimated.

Readings/Bibliography

Web links will be available to registered students.

F. Mulargia.  Un'introduzione alla meccanica delle faglie. Clueb, 2000.

W. Lowrie. Fundamentals of Geophysics, Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed., 2007.

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures. Exercises based on direct interaction with the students. Field measurements.

Assessment methods

Written and oral examination. The vote of the written exam, if sufficient, gives access to the oral and contributes equally to the final vote. Written and oral exams concern the whole program and may cover both theoretical and practical aspects

Teaching tools

Web. Reference books. Classroom discussion. 

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Mulargia