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651-3521-AAL 3 Credits MSC D-ERDW

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Tectonics

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Taras Gerya, Prof. Dr. Whitney Behr

Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement. Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:16:17

Abstract

Comprehensive understanding of role and evolution of oceanic and continental lithosphere in global plate tectonics and evolution of earth. Understanding principles of theoretical and experimental geothermics and fundamentals of mantle and lithosphere rheologies.

Objective

Content

Concept of lithosphere-asthenosphere system in plate tectonics. Physics, chemistry, and rheology of crust and uppermost mantle. Thermal, chemical, and mechanical evolution and destruction/subduction of oceanic lithosphere and evolution of continents. Continental growth, example Europe. Fundamentals of rheology and geothermics of the mantle-lithosphere-crust system.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Detailed scriptum in digital form and additional learning moduls (www.lead.ethz.ch) available on intranet.

Literature

see list in scriptum.

General Information

Language: English
Levels: MSC
Frequency: Semesterly recurring

Examination

Type: graded semester performance

Course Components

Type	Title	Time & Place	Hours
revision course / private study	Tectonics Self-study course. No presence required. Please contact Prof. T. Gerya for further information.	No time listed	90 h semesterly

Offered In

Earth Sciences Master
- Course Units for Additional Admission Requirements (The courses below are only available for MSc students with additional admission requirements.)