Dynamics of the earth's mantle

By the end of the course, the student will

Mantle processes (e.g. deep mantle flow, plate tectonics & subduction) drive surface change not only on geological time scales (oceanic basins and continental platforms, sedimentary basin formation, mountain building, plate boundary deformation, genesis of natural resources, ….) but also on the human time scale (natural disasters as earthquakes & volcanoes, sea level change, stability/mobility of the crust, …). In this course, the focus is on how we can study mantle dynamics from a mathematical-physical point of view. This will give students the proper entry to scientific papers on the subject and constitutes the proper basis for follow up courses in computational geophysics and guided research or master research in mantle dynamics. The lectures are accompanied by an exercise class and a computer practical.
 

Part 1: The course starts with a qualitative summary of current views on mantle convection in the Earth, which includes inferences on the style of mantle flow as "observed" with seismic tomography. The course continues with a brief review of continuum mechanics and rheology followed by a mathematical-physical treatment leading to the basic equations describing the dynamics of the crust-mantle system. This also encompasses a derivation of the energy (heat, Temperature) equation from first principles. Next the steps are made toward real-Earth application encompassing basic approximations, and scaling of differential equations leading to non-dimensional quantities with important coefficients, such as the Rayleigh number that characterize the style of flow and dynamics. The last subject is a treatment of linear stability analysis leading to a solution of the onset-of-convection problem. This more theoretical part is supported by extensive handout includes many exercises.

Part 2: The second part of the course concerns the practical scientific implementation of the basic theory for studies of crust-mantle dynamics. This comprises the step from mantle dynamics theory to numerical modelling and particular topics of application and discussion of scientific papers from the recent literature. This part ends  with the presentation by students on various topics of choice, e.g. generation of mantle plumes, thermo-chemical convection, plates, subduction & convection, interaction between mantle flow and slab subduction, surface evolution and mantle dynamics, dynamics topography, ..., all based on recent literature. This final seminar will be cast as a typical conference session.

Part 3: In parallel with Part 2, students are actively getting experience in a computerlab dealing with e.g. the basics of thermal convection and solid-state phase transitions in mantle.
 

Grading
The final mark results from a normal weighed average of the results of 3 parts with the following weights:

In part 1 the students will be primarily tested on their mathematical-physical understanding of the quantitative formulation underlying mantle convection. Particularly, in parts 2 and 3 the students will be tested and graded on their ability in critical and analytical reasoning, on creativity in building sensible connections between the topics treated and other topics in mantle dynamics and the broader earth sciences. The exercise and computerlab also assesses students creativity in constructing solution strategies, in solving problems and on providing proper argumentation for solutions found.
 
Development of transferable skills:
Ability to work in a team: students work in teams of two for preparation and presentation of materials and presentations
Written communication skills:  Students are expected to hand in a report per team about the computer practicals.
Verbal communication skills: at the end of the course a student “conference” is organized in which each students presents a recent paper from the literature within 12 minutes, as in real scientific meetings
Problem-solving skills: exercises and computer practicals are generally challenging the students to further develop or devise new problem solving strategies
Initiative:    the closing student “conference” promotes personal initiative to browse the scientific literature for additional information and for developing a critical attitude
Analytical/quantitative skills: the course develops quantitative skills for assessing geodynamic problems
Flexibility/adaptability: some of the lecture materials draws from a wide range of (computational) geodynamics and (geo)physics topics and is intended to be thought provoking  and trigger the student curiosity.
Technical skills: The course computer practical sessions make use of the Linux operating system. Students have to modify, compile a computer code, gather data and plot them with the Gnuplot and Paraview softwares.