Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of Maryland/Mantle Dynamics (Spring 2025)

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Course name
Mantle Dynamics
Institution
University of Maryland
Instructor
Laurent Montesi
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Geodynamics
Course dates
2025-01-27 00:00:00 UTC – 2025-05-21 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
10


This class is designed to introduce major concepts and recent advances related to mantle dynamics. Organized as a seminar course, this class is aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students. We will cover topics of active research, some of which may be seen as controversial. The specific topics covered in the class will be adjusted to be most useful to the students enrolled in the class with regard to their professional interests. Due to the nature of the topic, the class will feature extensively geophysics and geodynamics, although geochemistry and mineral physics will be used as needed to provide constraints on mantle dynamics. Mathematical treatments of geophysical concepts will be addressed in detail as needed. General topics covered may include: the mechanics and planform of mantle convection, what controls plate motion, plate boundaries, buoyancy sources in the Earth’s interior, structure of the Earth’s deep interior, generation, preservation, and sampling of heterogeneities, and thermal evolution of the Earth. We may also occasionally discuss other planets and moons, but the focus will be on the Earth.