教科書 (Textbook)：
The Solid Earth: An introduction to Global Geophysics, 2nd ed. by C.M.R. Fowler, Cambridge University Press, 2005.

課程大綱 (Course Outline)：
This course will provide a quantitative introduction to solid earth geophysics. We will discuss the fundamental basics of various geophysics topics and will emphasize how different types of data are used to contrain Earth structure at a variety of scales. We will illustrate these concepts with examples of global and regional structure and will cover relevant tectonic phenomena (e.g. earthquakes, seismic wave propagation, glacier rebound, isostasy, plate motions, lithospheric cooling, thermal structure, geomagnetic field, etc.).

課程內容 (Course Syllabus)：
(1) Plate tectonics
rotation of the plates on a sphere
type of plate boundaries
driving forces
(2) Seismology and earth structure
introduction to continuum mechanics and wave propagation in an elastic earth
body waves, surface waves and normal modes
inferring earth structure from seismic data
earthquake focal mechanism, fault-plane solution
(3) Gravity and the geoid
the Earth`s mass and moment of inertia
inferring earth structure from geoid and gravity data
isostasy and elastic plate flexture
(4) Heat flow and the Earth`s thermal structure
mechanisms of heat transfer
the Earth`s geotherm and thermal history
convection in the earth`s interior
thermal structure of the oceanic lithosphere -- plate cooling
thermal structure of the continental lithosphere -- basin subsidence
(5) Geomagnetism
the Earth`s magnetic field
internal and external sources of geomagnetic field
electromagnetic induction and the Earth`s conductivity structure
magnetic anomalies and the age of the seafloor

成績評量方式(Grading Policy):
Homework (40%)
Two exams in class (40%)
Team term project or paper (20%)

Homeworks will be assigned every week or once in two weeks from the class materials and reading assignments in the textbook. They must be handed in by the due date in order for you to get the full credit. Late homework will receive penalty of partial credit reduction. In addition, 5-6 people will team up to finish a term project or paper relating to the topics we cover in the course. At the end of semester, each group will hand in a short report and present the project results in class.