This course aims at learning the elements of material science, and important pieces for learning solid Earth science, such as plate tectonics and plume tectonics which control dynamics inside the solid Earth.
At the end of this course, students will acquire the basic knowledge to officially learn solid state Earth and planetary sciences.
Crust, Mantle, Core, Plate tectonics, Plume tectonics
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Before coming to class, students should read the course schedule and prepare for the topics with handouts and references.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Overview of solid state Earth science | To investigate the characteristic topography on the Earth's surface |
Class 2 | Mid Oceanic Ridge | To investigate the distribution of mid-oceanic midge, and its role in Earth's dynamics. |
Class 3 | Hotspot | To investigate the distribution of hotspot and its role in Earth's dynamics. |
Class 4 | Subduction zone | To investigate the distribution of subduction zones, and its role in Earth's dynamics |
Class 5 | Plate tectonics | To investigate the details of birth of plate tectonics theory. |
Class 6 | Japanese islands as a tectonic belt | To investigate the tectonic history of the Japanese islands. |
Class 7 | Summary of first half and drills | To be announced in class |
Class 8 | Plume tectonics | Review the contents of previous classes. |
Class 9 | Earth's materials and phase transition 1~ mantle | To investigate the structure of the Earth's mantle and constituent minerals in each layer. |
Class 10 | Earth's materials and phase transition 2~ core | To investigate the structure of the Earth's core and constituent materials in each layer. |
Class 11 | Magmatism (igneous rocks) | To investigate the creation process of igneous rocks. |
Class 12 | Interaction between atmosphere, ocean, and solid Earth (sedimentary rocks) | To investigate the creation process of sedimetary rocks. |
Class 13 | Collision of continents (metamorphic rocks) | To investigate the creation process of sedimetary rocks. |
Class 14 | Introduction of planetary material science 1 | To investigate the structure, constituent materials, and tectonics of terrestrial planets. |
Class 15 | Introduction of planetary material science 2 | To investigate the structure, constituent materials, and tectonics of terrestrial planets. |
Handouts will be provided during class
Introduction of Earth and Planetary Sciences (Iwanami-koza Earth and Planetary Sciences vol. 1)
Students will take a short test to increase the depth of understanding of contents in the course. At the 13 and 14th classes, students will discuss materials and dynamics of planets on the basis of the knowledges learned before the class. Students' course scores are based on short exams (65%) and the discussion (35%).
No prerequisite