Tectonics and Geodynamics

By Prof. Saibal Gupta | IIT Kharagpur

Learners enrolled: 776 | Exam registration: 92

ABOUT THE COURSE:

The course in Tectonics and Geodynamics is specifically designed for M.Sc./ Ph.D. students in geology and geophysics, but can even be taken by final year geoscience students. This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the dynamic processes shaping the Earth, with emphasis on the principles of plate tectonics. It will delve into the forces driving plate movements, the kinematics of plate interactions, the role of heat and its transfer in driving these processes, and a deeper understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying tectonic activity. The final part of this course will focus on the different tectonic regimes on Earth and their associated geodynamic processes.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: M.Sc. (PG)and Ph.D.students of Geology and Geophysics

PREREQUISITES: B.Sc. / BS in Geology or in Geophysics, or any equivalent geoscience bachelors degree

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Any company working on resource exploration on Earth – hydrocarbon or mineral exploration

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Earth Sciences
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	20 Jan 2025
End Date :	11 Apr 2025
Enrollment Ends :	03 Feb 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	28 Feb 2025
Exam Date :	26 Apr 2025 IST

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Introduction to Plate Tectonics: evolution of plate tectonic theory

Week 2: Geometry of plate tectonics: tectonic plates and plate boundaries.

Week 3: Plate motions on a flat Earth. Triple junctions – stability and evolution with time

Week 4: Plate motions on a spherical Earth: Euler poles and rotation vectors

Week 5: Earth’s magnetic field and past plate motions

Week 6: Tectonic plates, plate boundaries and driving forces

Week 7: Heat generation and transfer of heat inside the Earth: concept of equilibrium geotherms

Week 8: Mantle contribution to crustal heat flow; the mantle adiabat

Week 9: Divergent margins and rifting

Week 10: Transform Faults

Week 11: Convergent boundaries – subduction zones and active continental margins

Week 12: Collision tectonics

Books and references

The Solid Earth: An Introduction to Global Geophysics by C.M.R Fowler
Tectonics by Eldridge M. Moores and Robert J. Twiss
Geodynamics by Donald L. Turcotte and Gerald Schubert

Instructor bio

Prof. Saibal Gupta

IIT Kharagpur

Saibal Gupta is a professor of Geology at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. He is primarily interested in the nature and evolution of orogeny through time, and the factors influencing the thermal evolution of orogens. This interest has led him to explore the nature and composition of the lower crust, its behavior during orogeny, and the process of its exhumation to the surface through a combination of structural, metamorphic, geochemical, and geophysical studies. Currently, he is actively working to investigate the extent to which the exposed upper crust and its geological evolution can provide insights into the present-day lower crust. He has also investigated the role of tectonics in influencing groundwater contaminants, in seismic and landslide hazard investigation, and mineral exploration.He is alsoworking on problems related to planetary geology, and processes that shape other planetary surfaces.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: EXAM DATE : April 26, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Kharagpur .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

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