Syllabus
* Constitution of the Earth
Spherically symmetric model of the Earth. Composition and physical properties of the crust, the mantle and the core. Nature of interfaces in the Earth's interior. Phase transition and their impact of the processes in the mantle. Seismic tomography and a 3d structure of the Earth. Seismic anomalies and 3d temperature distribution in the mantle. Core-mantle boundary layer (D").
* Plate tectonics
History. Wegener's theory, continental drift. Sea floor spreading. Plate tectonics. Classification of plate boundaries. Physical characteristics of plate boundaries: seismic activity, heat flux, gravity etc. Determination and description of plate motions. Intraplate deformations. Hotspots. Forces acting at the lithosphere. Plate tectonics in the past.
* Dynamics of the mantle and the lithosphere
Crust and lithosphere: definitions. Oceanic and continental lithosphere. Cooling of the oceanic lithosphere. Asthenosphere. Heat transfer in the mantle. Convection, conduction, heat sources. Subduction of the lithosphere. Mantle plumes.
* Magnetic field of the Earth
Basic characteristics. Maxwell equations. Magnetovariational and magnetotelluric methods. Models of electrical conductivity in the Earth mantle. Core: composition and physical properties. Generation of the magnetic field in the core.
* Gravity field
Spectral representation of the gravity potential. Density anomalies in the Earth and the gravitational potential. Inverse gravimetric problem. Seismic tomography. Inferences of viscosity and density from the geoid.
* Tools
Spherical harmonic analysis. Correlation analysis. Data interpretation. Forward and inverse problem. Models and simulations.
Annotation
Physical processes and parameters of the Earth interior. Basic principles of global seismology, geodynamics and geomagnetism.
Data and numerical modelling of dynamical processes in the Earth interior.