ErSE 211: Global Geophysics (usually in the Fall semester)
The course provides introductory descriptions of the Earth solid and fluid natural systems and their interaction. It discusses Earth early geological history, plate motions, magnetism and sea floor spreading, earthquakes and earth structure, gravity, geochronology, heat flow, mantle convection and earth's magnetic field; history of earth climate, formation of oceans and atmosphere, biological history, energy balance climate model, general circulation of ocean and atmosphere, climate change, coupled ocean-atmosphere-biosphere climate models. The course introduces descriptions of solid and fluid Earth systems and their interaction, and is divided in two (2) parts. Part I covers the history of Earth climate, formation of oceans and atmosphere, biological history, energy balance in climate model, general circulation of ocean and atmosphere, climate change, and coupled ocean-atmosphere-biosphere climate models. Part II discusses Earth early geological history, plate motions, sea floor spreading, earthquakes and Earth structure, gravity, geochronology, heat flow, mantle convection and Earth's magnetic field.
ErSE 310: Seismology II
Part I: Whole Earth wave propagation (body waves, surface waves, normal modes); imaging Earth 3D structure with ray-based methods; introduction to methods beyond ray-theory; attenuation and scattering of seismic waves. Part II: Earthquake source mechanics; earthquake kinematics and scaling laws; earthquake dynamics, fracture modes and crack propagation; introduction to probabilistic seismic hazard assessment. The course provides an introduction to global seismology and earthquake physics, and consists of two (2) parts. Part I: Whole Earth wave propagation (body waves, surface waves, normal modes); imaging Earth 3D structure with ray-based methods; introduction to methods beyond ray- theory; attenuation and scattering of seismic waves. Part II: Earthquake source mechanics; earthquake kinematics and scaling laws; earthquake dynamics, fracture modes and crack propagation; introduction to probabilistic seismic hazard assessment. Throughout the semester, students work in teams towards a term project, with intermediate discussion sessions and short reports leading up to a final project report and presentation.
ErSE 394: Contemporary Topics in Earth Science – Earthquake Physics
In this course, the students will be exposed to the fundamentals and latest developments in the field of Earthquake Physics. Based on continuum mechanics and dynamic elasticity, we first develop quantitative descriptions of kinematic point-source and finite-fault representations of earthquake ruptures, and study the associated seismic radiation. Introducing then concepts of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), we discuss the dynamics of the earthquake rupture process under various frictional models. Conditions for nucleation, propagation and arrest of earthquake ruptures will be discussed, introducing also small-scale and large-scale geometrical complexities as boundary condition. Earthquake scaling, earthquake statistics, the long-term earthquake cycle and short-term earthquake predictability will be further topics of the course. Seismic hazard and tsunami generation will be discussed in the context of earthquake-engineering applications. Induced Earthquakes that are generated as part of industrial activities/exploitation of geo-reservoirs (oil, gas, geothermal) and waste-water injection will be discussed, and in more general, the topic of fluids in the earthquake cycle and for earthquake processes. Furthermore, the course will present numerical methods used in studying earthquake physics, and the students will learn to use one (or more) computer codes. The focus in this course is on inquiry-based learning & teaching, and students will engage in a term-long research project using numerical methods to study earthquake source processes.
Short courses on specialized subjects (taught at various occasions/institutions; can be offered upon request)
Previous classes (taught at ETH Zurich, 2002-2009)
For more information, contact Martin Mai (martin.mai@kaust.edu.sa).