EES 256 - Paleomagnetism and Global Plate Tectonics

Fall 2007
SCHEDULE

Part 1 - The History of Plate Tectonics and how it works

Part 2 - Paleomagnetism and Reconstruction Poles

Part 3 - The Opening of the Atlantic Basin

Part 4 - The Pacific Basin

Part 5 - The Iapetus Basin and Late Proterozoic Plate Tectonics

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Lab 1 - Intro to Generic Mapping Tools

Lab 2 - Transformations

Lab 3 - GMT : plotting different projections 

Lab 4 - APWP and Euler Poles

Lab 5 - Closing the Atlantic: Reconstruction poles

Lab 6 - Closing the Atlantic Part 2

Lab 7 - Plate Circuits

Lab 8 - Hotspot Tracks

Instructor:  Rory D. Cottrell

Office:  Hutchison Hall, Room 209C

Phone: x3-2172; email: rory@earth.rochester.edu

Office Hours:  MWF 9-10am, or by appointment

Lecture:  MW 10:00 - 10:50 am, Hutchison Hall 329

Practical: F 10am-??, Hutchison 206


Class Objectives: The purpose of this class is to introduce the student to the concepts of paleomagnetism and its application in the study of global plate tectonics. The study of paleomagnetism revolutionized how scientists theorized how lithospheric plates moved – from the simplistic approach of continental drift to the actual mechanism of sea floor spreading and using paleomagnetic poles to demonstrate how lithospheric plates have moved in the past. Lectures will be on Mondays and Wednesdays, with practical work reserved for Fridays.


Class Text: Rob Van der Voo's Paleomagnetism of the Atlantic, Tethys and Iapetus Oceans (required)

Recommended: Bob Butler's Paleomagnetism: Magnetic Domains to Geologic Terranes

Recommended: Cox and Hart, Plate Tectonics: How it Works

outside readings available on the class web page


Grade Breakdown: Your final grade will be based on class participation (15%), homework sets (35%) and a term project (50%) which will be in the form of a proposal for research in a topic related to paleomagnetism and global plate tectonics (to be approved by the instructor). The form of this proposal will follow that of the National Science Foundation. The final project is due Monday Decemeber 17, 2007, no later than 5 pm.


Graduate Students: You will be required to give a presentation on your project during one of the Friday time slots labeled as "Project Time" in the class schedule. Undergraduates, for extra credit, you may do the same.


Late Work Policy: Any assignment given in class is due the following week on Friday. Late work will receive a lower grade UNLESS prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.