This curriculum in Tectonics aimed at offering to students a complete formative path in tectonics and geodynamics. Students will be introduced to the quantitative analysis of geometries and kinematics of the local and regional tectonic structures. The methodological multidisciplinary approach integrates structural geology, geophysical, active tectonics, earthquake geology, seismology, seismotectonics, seismic hazard, volcanology and geodetic geological data. Several examples will be applied both in the professional and research fields. Finally, the course aims to develop a critical analysis of the scientific literature in the students.

1.  1. Introduction to the course; seismicity and focal mechanisms; seismic reflection and interpretation of seismic profiles; geophysical methods for structural analysis and tectonics.

2. Earth deep structures; rheology of the lithosphere; continental and oceanic crust; mantle and asthenosphere, convective movements and heat flow; heterogeneities in the mantle and seismic tomography; forces in plate tectonics;

3. Kinematics of the plates, Euler's theorem; triple junctions; models of rotation and translation of the plates; current and past reconstructions. Hot spots and plumes; global and space geodesy kinematics.

4. Divergent margins, ocean ridges; seismicity; marine magnetic anomalies; transform areas of oceanic fracture zones and direct measures of spreading; interactions between tectonics and magmatism; centers of overlapping accretion; the Tyrrhenian Sea; Provencal Ligurian Basin; the Jurassic extension in the Alpine Tethys and Apennine.

5. The extensional and passive continental margins; rifts, geometries and extensional mechanisms; the extensional basins; the Apennines, the Rhine Graben, the Basin and Range in North America.

6. transform continental margins; seismicity and geometries in the strike-slip faults; propagation of transform faults; examples from the fault Magellan Fagnano, Motagua Polochic and San Andreas.

7. convergent margins and subduction models. The geometry of subducting plates; subduction and volcanism; major subduction zones and kinematic regime; ocean trenches; and the back-arc basins; obduction and ophiolite ;. The orogenic belts; collision ocean / continent; collision continent / continent; collision arc / continent; Accretionary prisms and the foreland basins. The collisional systems of the Alps, the Apennines and the Cordillera of the Andes.

8. Tectonics and climate change; variations in sea level and ocean circulation; sedimentary basins and mineral resources.

9. Methods and laboratory for the analysis of geological structures in different tectonic contests using remote sensing images (Google Earth, Bing, etc).

It is strongly recommended that the student has passed the fundamental exams of the first year of the course.

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Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course, the student must have gained the fundamental knowledge in plate tectonics. The student would also master the ability to analyze the geometry, kinematics and dynamics of the different plates in different tectonic context. These skills will be evaluated through the oral interview.

Applying knowledge and understanding. The student must correctly use the geological terminology relating to geological structures. In particular, he must be able to know the methodologies for the study tectonics at regional and local scale. These skills will be tested through the oral exam.

Making judgements. The student must be able to know the main structures related to the plates intercations. Furthermore, he must able to frame the local structures in a geodynamic scenario. These skills will be verified through the final exam.

Communication skills. The student must be able to describe and synthesize the geological aspects of the tectonics, and apply this knowledge in different geological fields and in different plate tectonics contexts. He must be able to describe the tectonics of a region using a specific technical language.

Learning skills. The student must build the own path of scientific growth in the tectonics in a critical and autonomous way, being able to use the gained knowledge. These abilities, as far as possible, will be stimulated by the lecturer.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Laboratory activities and field trips.

Teaching

Lectures, laboratory exercises and field trips.

Attendance

There are no attendance obligations for frontal lessons. However the student is advised to attend at least 2/3 of the laboratory activities, exercises on the ground, seminars and seminar-type training activities.

Course books

Notes from the teacher's lessons.

recommended books:

Bally A.W., Catalano R., Oldow J. ( 1985) - Elementi di tettonica regionale. Pitagora ED., 276 p. .

Kearey P., Klepeis K.A., Vine F.V. (2008) – Global tectonics. Wiley-Blackwell Ed., 482 p. .

TurcotteD.L., Schubert G. (2013) – Geodynamics . Cambridge University press, 456 p. .

Schettino A. (2014) – Quantitative Plate tectonics. Springer Ed. 284 p. .

Assessment

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed with an oral exam based on an interview with several questions. The assessment aimed to evaluated the preparation of the student and in particular in the basic concepts of tectonics, the degree of articulation of the response, the mastery of specific language and the ability to analyze data . The exam involves an evaluation that is expressed as a grade of out of 30

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Study of recommended books and teacher's notes.

Course books

Notes from the teacher's lessons.

recommended books:

Bally A.W., Catalano R., Oldow J. ( 1985) - Elementi di tettonica regionale. Pitagora ED., 276 p. .

Kearey P., Klepeis K.A., Vine F.V. (2008) – Global tectonics. Wiley-Blackwell Ed., 482 p. .

TurcotteD.L., Schubert G. (2013) – Geodynamics . Cambridge University press, 456 p. .

Schettino A. (2014) – Quantitative Plate tectonics. Springer Ed. 284 p. .

Assessment

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed with an oral exam based on an interview with several questions. The assessment aimed to evaluated the preparation of the student and in particular in the basic concepts of tectonics, the degree of articulation of the response, the mastery of specific language and the ability to analyze data . The exam involves an evaluation that is expressed as a grade of out of 30

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.