3.00 Credits
Plate tectonics is the study of the motion of the lithosphere and deformation of the earth's crust on a regional scale. The course will evaluate the plate tectonic paradigm in terms of its historical evolution and modern application to understanding earth processes. The course examines a broad range of tectonic phenomena and considers the specific geological and geophysical processes involved. Topics covered include the uplift, deformation and metamorphism of mountain belts, the formation of ocean basins, the subsidence of sedimentary basins, the collision of continents and volcanic arcs, earthquake seismology of plate boundaries, magmatism related to plate processes, and tectonics and landscapes.