2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE2212 Tectonophysics
10 creditsClass Size: 50
Module manager: Prof Tim Wright
Email: t.j.wright@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
Pre-requisite qualifications
Students are required to have taken all pre-requisite modules, and to have obtained a mark of 60+ for SOEE1150.Pre-requisites
| SOEE1150 | Fundamentals of Geophysics |
| SOEE1301 | Intermediate Mathematics for Environmental and Geophysical S |
| SOEE1311 | Advanced Mathematics for Environmental and Geophysical Scien |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Objectives
On completion of this module, students should be able to understand the mechanisms governing the dynamics of tectonic plates and how the continents deform, and a variety of related geophysical phenomena and interpret related observations in terms of the fundamental underlying physics of the system.Syllabus
1. The Earth as a Heat Engine: Introduction to Thermodynamics; Conduction of Heat; Mantle convection and the geotherm; plate cooling model; McKenzie model for formation of sedimentary basins; Hot spots
2. Measuring Earth Deformation: Introduction to satellite geodesy; GPS; InSAR; Accuracies and sources of error
3. Rheology of Earth Materials: Definition of Rheology; Elasticity; Viscous Creep; Visco-elasticity; Stress and Strain; Glacial Isostatic Adjustment; Flexure of the lithosphere
4. The Earthquake Deformation Cycle: Observations and models of co-seismic; post-seismic and inter-seismic deformation; The deep structure of fault zones.
5. Continental Deformation and Seismic Hazard: How do continents differ from oceans; The thin viscous sheet model for continental deformation; Jelly Sandwich / Creme Brulee / Banana Split models for continental rheology; How do we map seismic hazard in the continents?
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Problem Based Learning | 2 | 1.00 | 2.00 |
| Lecture | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Practical | 5 | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Private study hours | 78.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100.00 | ||
Private study
30 hours: 3 hours reading per lecture20 hours: completion and writing up of practical labs (5 x 4 hours)
8 hours: 2 x 4 hour prblem sets
20 hours: revision
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
The laboratory sessions allow student progress to be monitored by in class monitoring. Comments will be given on three labs, and formal assessment of two labs write-ups will take place. In addition, two problem sets will be given and assessed, and the answers discussed in problem classes.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Written Work | Lab write-ups: formal write ups of two labs will be assessed | 40.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 40.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 1 hr 30 mins | 60.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 60.00 | |
Resits for this module will be assessed by a single unseen examination.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 26/04/2017
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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