Physics of the Earth's Interior
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Undefined
Expected learning outcomes
Undefined
Lesson period: First semester
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
THEORY: Rheology of the Earth, at different time scales. Constitutive laws. Elastic, Creep, Brittle, Plastic and viscoelastic deformation. Mass, energy and momentum conservation equations. Deformation energy function.
PRACTICE: exercises on a) elastic, viscoelastic and elasto-plastic flexure of the lithosphere; b) unidirectional viscous flow in a thin channel c) thermal convection; d) strenght profile in the lithosphere.
PRACTICE: exercises on a) elastic, viscoelastic and elasto-plastic flexure of the lithosphere; b) unidirectional viscous flow in a thin channel c) thermal convection; d) strenght profile in the lithosphere.
Prerequisites for admission
Good knowledge of the basic concepts of continuum mechanics.
Teaching methods
The lessons will take place using the classic chalk blackboard and, only occasionally, by projecting powerpoints.
Teaching Resources
Personal notes of the students and textbooks suggested by the teacher and present in different copies in the library of the Department of Earth Sciences A. Desio:
G. Ranalli, Rheology of the Earth, Deformations and flow processes in geophysics and geodynamics.
D. Turcotte and G. Schubert, Geodynamics, Application of continuum physics to geological problems.
G. Ranalli, Rheology of the Earth, Deformations and flow processes in geophysics and geodynamics.
D. Turcotte and G. Schubert, Geodynamics, Application of continuum physics to geological problems.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be in written form and will be aimed at ascertaining the student's knowledge of the physical mechanisms that regulate the dynamics of deformation processes involving the crust-mantle system on different scales, both spatial and temporal.
The test lasts 2 hours and consists of open-ended questions, both on theoretical topics and related to the exercises, with the reproduction of one of the exercises solved during the practical lessons and the discussion of its implications.
The test lasts 2 hours and consists of open-ended questions, both on theoretical topics and related to the exercises, with the reproduction of one of the exercises solved during the practical lessons and the discussion of its implications.
GEO/10 - SOLID EARTH GEOPHYSICS - University credits: 6
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor:
Marotta Anna Maria
Professor(s)
Reception:
every day, by appointment via e-mail
Office - Botticelli 23 - R054