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Seismotectonics
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:14:35
Objective
To gain understanding of earthquakes and their relation to regional and global tectonics.
Content
Stress and deformation in the Earth; stress and strain tensors; rheology and failure criteria; fault stresses, friction and effects of fluids; stable and unstable sliding; earthquake focal mechanisms; relationship between stress fields and focal mechanisms; seismic moment and moment tensors; relationship between moment- and deformation tensors; crustal deformation from seismic, geologic, and geodetic observations; earthquake stress drop, scaling, and source parameters; earthquake induced stress changes; global earthquake distribution; current global earthquake activity; different seismotectonic regions; examples of earthquake activity in different tectonic settings, such as in subduction zones, California, the Mediterranean, and in Switzerland.
Resources
Lecture Notes
See webpage
Literature
S. Stein and M. Wyssession, An introduction to seismology, earthquakes and earth structure, Blackwell Publishing, Malden, USA, (2003). T. Lay and T.C. Wallace, Modern Global Seismology, Academic Press, London, U.K., (1995). C.H. Scholz, The mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting (2nd edition), Cambridge University Press, New York, USA, (2002). D.L. Turcotte and G. Schubert, Geodynamics (2nd edition), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (2002). B.A. Bolt, Earthquakes (5th edition), W.H. Freeman and Co., New York (2003). G. Ranalli, Rheology of the Earth (2nd edition), Chapman & Hall, London (1995). K. Aki and P.G. Richards, Quantitative Seismology (2nd edition), University Science Books, Sausalito, California (2002). D. Gubbins, Seismology and Plate Tectonics, Cambridge University Press, New York, USA, (1992).
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- None
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Seismotectonics |
|
4 h weekly |