UE Physics and Chemistry of the Earth

This course offers a guided tour of the Earth's interior, from the crust to the core. The main observables and tools for investigating the Earth's interior (seismology, mineralogy, heat transfer, geochemistry, gravity, geomagnetism) are presented and used to describe and explain key processes (crust formation, plate tectonics and mantle convection, magnetic field generation). A historical approach is often privileged: the emphasis is put on the construction and evolution of our understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and its behaviour, by presenting the discoveries and conceptual advances that have led to our current vision of the Earth. The course includes two sessions of group presentations of historical or recent papers.

Teaching language: English