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Geophysics, Lecture Notes- Physics - 1, Study notes of Physics

University of London (Lond)Physics

Basic characteristic of earth: size, shape, mass, structure ,age .Earth geometry, spherical co-ordinates, reference spheroid

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2010/2011
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PX266 Geophysics (2010/11)
Lecture 1 Handout
Dr. Gavin Bell
Aims:
To present an understanding of Earth in terms of simple physical principles.
Syllabus:
1. Introduction. (L 1/2)
Basic characteristics of Earth: size, shape, mass, structure, age
Earth geometry, spherical co-ordinates, reference spheroid
2. Geochronology (L 3/4/5)
Geological time
Radiometric dating
3. Gravity (L 6/7/8)
Consequences of spherical symmetry, geoid
Gravity measurement and anomalies
Isostasy and mountain heights
4. Seismology (L 9/10/11)
Types of seismic waves
Elasticity and elastic waves
Earthquake location and magnitudes
Seismology and Earth's interior
5. Plate tectonics (L 12/13/14)
Divergent, convergent and conservative plate boundaries
Plate movement on Flat Earth
Rotation poles and present day plate motions
Past plate movements, role of Earth's magnetic field
6. Heat (L 15/16/17)
Overview of heat budget and Earth
Heat flow and depth of oceans
Convection in the mantle
Thermal structure of the core, Earth's magnetic field
Commitment: 19 lectures (approximate schedule indicated above) plus independent study
Assessment: 1 hour examination
Main Texts: 1. C.M.R Fowler, The Solid Earth - An Introduction to Global Geophysics, CUP
2. W. Lowrie, Fundamentals of Geophysics, CUP
It does NOT matter which edition or which book you use since each contains more than enough
information to cover this introductory course. I recommend you choose one or other and stick with it.
Other useful texts in the library include:
Excellent historical and general view of plate tectonics –
W. Sullivan, Continents in Motion – The New Earth Debate
More detail on earthquakes – B.A. Bolt, Earthquakes
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/geophysics
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PX266 Geophysics (2010/11)

Lecture 1 Handout

Dr. Gavin Bell Aims: To present an understanding of Earth in terms of simple physical principles. Syllabus:

  1. Introduction. (L 1/2)  Basic characteristics of Earth: size, shape, mass, structure, age  Earth geometry, spherical co-ordinates, reference spheroid
  2. Geochronology (L 3/4/5)  Geological time  Radiometric dating
  3. Gravity (L 6/7/8)  Consequences of spherical symmetry, geoid  Gravity measurement and anomalies  Isostasy and mountain heights
  4. Seismology (L 9/10/11)  Types of seismic waves  Elasticity and elastic waves  Earthquake location and magnitudes  Seismology and Earth's interior
  5. Plate tectonics (L 12/13/14)  Divergent, convergent and conservative plate boundaries  Plate movement on Flat Earth  Rotation poles and present day plate motions  Past plate movements, role of Earth's magnetic field
  6. Heat (L 15/16/17)  Overview of heat budget and Earth  Heat flow and depth of oceans  Convection in the mantle  Thermal structure of the core, Earth's magnetic field Commitment: 19 lectures ( approximate schedule indicated above) plus independent study Assessment: 1 hour examination Main Texts: 1. C.M.R Fowler, The Solid Earth - An Introduction to Global Geophysics , CUP
  7. W. Lowrie, Fundamentals of Geophysics , CUP It does NOT matter which edition or which book you use since each contains more than enough information to cover this introductory course. I recommend you choose one or other and stick with it. Other useful texts in the library include: Excellent historical and general view of plate tectonics – W. Sullivan, Continents in Motion – The New Earth Debate More detail on earthquakes – B.A. Bolt, Earthquakes www.warwick.ac.uk/go/geophysics

Important Formulae

Common formulae which you should understand and remember (these will not be quoted for you in an exam): Distance x across the Earth’s surface (the arc length) between two points separated by an angular distance ≤  xRE  Speed v about a rotation pole at a point an angular distance  away from the pole. The vector version for velocity v x

   will not be used in exams but you should be aware of it. v   RE sin  Radioactive decay equation for N nuclei at time t with decay constant  () ( ) N t dt dN t    Half-life T ½ in terms of   ln 2 T 1 / 2  Magnetic inclination I at latitude for the Earth’s dipole field. tan I  2 tan  Free-air correction  gF at height h above sea level where g ≈ 9.8 ms-2. You should understand the derivation of this equation. E F R h g g 2  

Mind Map

These are the major topics of the course with the links between them.

Lecture 1 – Basic Characteristics of Earth & Spherical Geometry

Oblate spheroid approximating Earth shape:    2

R ( ) Req 1  f sin

f = (298.247)-1, Req = 6378 km Right: the difference between this oblate spheroid and the “actual” longitudinally averaged radius of the Earth (from Fowler, The Solid Earth ). Note this length scale is in metres – on average, the spheroid is rather accurate! Longitude and latitude: 0  latitude is the equator, a great circle ; all other lines of latitude form small circles. 0  longitude is the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian. 180 longitude (E or W) forms part of the International Date Line. Together these two meridians also form a great circle. Latitude  runs from +90° (N) to -90° (S). Longitude  runs from -180° to +180° with negative values west of the Prime Meridian and positive values east. The co-latitude  is defined by  = 90 -  and is the standard variable for spherical co-ordinates.