Earthquake Source Physics

10 credits

Syllabus, Master's level, 1GE027

This course has been discontinued.

A revised version of the syllabus is available.

Code: 1GE027
Education cycle: Second cycle
Main field(s) of study and in-depth level: Earth Science A1N, Physics A1N
Grading system: Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail (U)
Finalised by: The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 17 May 2013
Responsible department: Department of Earth Sciences

Entry requirements

120 credits including 80 credits in physics and mathematics.

After having followed the course the student is expected to be able to :

Account for the basic mechanism of fracturing in rocks.
Describe important models for the development of fractures in rocks.
Describe the dGPS technique and INSAR measurements and account for their measurement uncertainties.
Derive the relation between the seismic moment tensor and the deformation in a homogeneous medium.
Derive expression for the deformation around an edge dislocation in a homogeneous medium.
Determine source parameters from observations of deformations in the near field of an earthquake.
Determine source parameters for large earthquakes using broad band seismological observations, including the eigenoscillations of the Earth.

Fracture mechanics applied to rocks.

Dynamic description of fracture development.

Represenation of earthquake sources using idealised point sources.

Green's functions for elastic waves.

Determination of parameters by means of near field data.

Determination of parameters for point sources by means of teleseismic data.

Measuring deformations on the Earth's surface by means of GPS and INSAR.

The relation between deformations on the Earth's surface and equivalent point sources.

Distributed sources and mathematical models thereof.

Lectures, home work, problem solving and computer exercises

Written examination (8 ECTS) and compulsory part (2 ECTS).