| Unit name | Seismology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASCM0018 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
| Unit director | Professor. Wookey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Seismology is critical to our understanding of the Earth, as it provides a method of directly imaging structure and properties unreachable by other means. Furthermore, the study of earthquakes themselves lend insight to the invisible tectonic stresses which shape our planet’s ever-changing surface.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Seismology is used to probe the structure of Earth, and this unit outlines how the insights studied across the programme are derived. It draws on fundamental mathematics, physics and computational skills developed in years one and two of the programmes.
An overview of content
The course covers basic concepts in seismology and then applies them to the study of Earth structure. These concepts include the wave equation, ray theory, calculation of travel times and propagation distances, and the variation of amplitudes as waves propagate. Then a series of techniques are introduced to locate earthquakes, determine seismic wave speeds, illuminate structure in the deep Earth, and to infer the types of movements that occur at plate boundaries. Finally, we summarise what is known about the deep Earth from seismology.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
As well as gaining an appreciation of the principles of seismology and how seismology is used to understand the structure and evolution of the Earth, you will gain practical experience of processing and interpreting real seismic data under a Linux environment.
Learning Outcomes
On completion you should be able to:
The unit is taught via a combination of pre-recorded lectures and twice-weekly practicals.
Practicals predominantly comprise seismic data analysis and interpretation, both demonstrating the techniques discussed in the lectures, and encouraging an active learning approach. Demonstrators are on hand during practicals to help you. All practicals also have worked solutions and you are strongly encouraged to work through these independently. Opportunities (through office hours and in practical sessions) are provided to discuss questions about practical work.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Practical work will provide opportunities to practice the analysis, calculation and interpretation skills necessary for the final exam. Emphasis on the practicals encourages a more active approach to engaging with the course material, and worked examples and interactive feedback provide an opportunity for students to verify their learning.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
End-of-unit 2-hour examination (100%)
When assessment does not go to plan
The University’s Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes outline the requirements for progression on and completion of degree programmes. Students who miss an exam and self-certify their absence may complete a supplementary assessment for an uncapped mark as if taken for the first time. Resit and supplementary exams are habitually taken during the reassessment period later in the summer. As far as is practicable and appropriate, resit and supplementary assessments will be in the same form as the original assessment but will always test the same intended learning outcomes as the initial missed or failed assessment. In the case of group work, failure by a whole group would result in an appropriate group task being set and reassessed for all group members. If a single student fails a group assessment or is unable to participate for an evidenced reason, an individual reassessment will be set.
There are rigorous and fair procedures in place to support students who are ill or whose studies and assessments are affected by exceptional circumstances.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASCM0018).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
