Fluids and fluid motion play major roles in numerous geologic processes on Earth's surface and interior. This course provides a quantitative introduction to the geologic fluids that shape our dynamic planet. We emphasize mastering basic concepts in fluid mechanics and applying these concepts to a wide range of geologic problems. Students will learn fundamental physical laws that govern fluid-earth systems and learn how to use those relationships to quantitatively address fluid-earth problems. Goals include: (i) exploring important fluid systems of the Earth, such as rivers, coastal processes, groundwater, glaciers and magmas; (ii) providing an introduction to basic concepts in fluid mechanics, such as laminar versus turbulent flow, viscosity and convection; (iii) illustrating applications of basic ideas, such as derivatives and integrals in mathematics to earth science problems; and (iv) developing the habit of thinking analytically and quantitatively.
A strong understanding of Solid Earth Dynamics or concurrent coursework in the area is recommended.
Gopher Grades is maintained by Social Coding with data from Summer 2017 to Summer 2026 provided by the University in response to a public records request