GEO4-14097.5 ECTSQ3EnglishMaster
Tectonophysics
FaculteitFaculty of Geosciences
NiveauMaster
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
After successful completion of the Tectonophysics course the student has a working knowledge of the principal (thermal and mechanical) physical processes in the crust, lithosphere, and upper mantle. She/he is able to analyze these processes without deferring to fully numerical methods, which forms a critical basis for working with such methods. The student understands the value of various types of observations at a range of spatial and temporal scales. She/he has an overview of the classical concepts in the field of Tectonophysics, and is able to assimilate new findings as reported in the literature.
This course is the entry requirement for an MSc thesis in the field of Tectonophysics.
Professional skills acquired during this course
There is a strong focus on confronting observations with the outcomes of analytical models, contributing to quantitative & problem-solving skills. Another focus is on scientific reading, which adds to the students' writing skills.
This course is the entry requirement for an MSc thesis in the field of Tectonophysics.
Professional skills acquired during this course
There is a strong focus on confronting observations with the outcomes of analytical models, contributing to quantitative & problem-solving skills. Another focus is on scientific reading, which adds to the students' writing skills.
Content
The course focuses on the physical aspects of plate tectonics and geological processes in its broadest sense, and on a wide range of scales. There is a strong emphasis on analytical (but also on numerical) models, and on geophysical, geodetic and geological observations that constrain these models: e.g., seismic velocity structure, seismicity, gravity, geoid, sea level, heat flow, stress indicators, paleo-magnetic and geological data, geodesy. The course involves careful study of selected research papers. The course consists of two classes of topics:
- General processes in the Earth's crust/lithosphere. A selection of relevant topics in this context are: heat flow and geotherm in the lithosphere and upper mantle; rheology of the lithosphere; forces that drive the motion and deformation of the lithosphere, stress; lithosphere-asthenosphere coupling; isostasy, flexure, dynamic topography, sea level and topography.
- Plate boundary processes and plate boundary evolution. Topics are the earthquake cycle; volcano deformation; dynamics of subduction, deformation in convergent plate boundary regions, thermal-dynamic aspects of continental collision and orogenic processes. Extensional processes: oceanic spreading and transforms, formation and evolution of rifts, back-arc basins, passive margins and sedimentary basins; Ephemeral plate tectonics and their geological imprints (initiation of subduction, triple junctions).
Assessments and grading
(a) Requirements for a positive course result
- Active participation in the course
(b) Course mark.
The final grade is composed of the following components:
The final grade is composed of the following components:
- Final exam: 60%
- One intermediate test, contributing 20% to the final grade
- One writing assignment: 20%
The final grade will be computed in accordance with the “Master AW OER” regulations.
(c) Repair.
The student is eligible to a repair assignment during the current academic year if she/he has fulfilled the following requirements:
(c) Repair.
The student is eligible to a repair assignment during the current academic year if she/he has fulfilled the following requirements:
- all the above course obligations, but the final grade is a 4 or a 5,
- all additional requirements as stated in the “Master AW OER”.
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