Marine Geology

Code:

MA115

Acronym:

GM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Geology

Instance: 2007/2008 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Aquatic Production
Course/CS Responsible:	Aquatic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCMA	39	Plan 2007 to 2011	1	-	5	48	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Understanding of the main geological phenomena through a global approach that involves the genesis, composition and evolution of our Planet assuming Earth as a dynamic system where processes occur as an interactive cycle involving both the Earth interior and their external effects in the atmosphere, biosphere and oceans. To be aware of the importance of Geology in the assessment and management of natural resources of the seafloor as well as in the prevention of natural hazards associated with marine activity in coastal systems.

Program

1- Geology as a science. The historical evolution of Geology. The problem of spatial and time observation scale of the geological phenomena

2- The Earth Planet: from the continental drift to Plate Tectonics. The geological and tectonic cycles. The continental drift and the Plate Tectonics theory. The Wilson cycle. Primary geochemical differentiation of the Earth. Average composition of the crust and the mantle.

3 – The continental drift and the Plate Tectonics theory
3.1. Arguments in favour of the seafloor spreading
3.2. Distribution of the continental and ocean forms and of volcanic and seismic activities: their relation with the plate boundary movements

4- Chemical and physical features of the Earth
4.1. Relative chronology: the principles of Stratigraphy
4.2. Absolute age: the most common isotope geochronology methods
4.3. Seismology: the behaviour of seismic waves and the Earth interior structure 4.4. Isostasy and gravity anomalies. Pratt and Airy isostasy models


5- From minerals to rocks
5.1. Most common minerals as building blocks of rocks
5.2. Magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks: their characterization in terms of structure, mineralogical composition, chemistry and genesis

6- Rock deformation: folds and faults

7- Landforms: the geological history of a region reflected on the landscape

8- Reference to the main projects developed by the Marine Geology Department of the Portuguese Geological Survey

9. Dynamics of coastal systems (Antonio Guerner Dias coordinator)
9.1. Mean Sea Level (MSL) changes in Earth history
9.2. 1st to 4th order eustatical levels
9.3. MSL changes during the XXth century
9.4. Natural causes of MSL changes
- glaciations
- Earth dynamics
- other natural factors
9.5. Anthropic causes for MSL changes
- climate changes as a consequence of the burning of fossil fuels - changes in the occupation of Earth surface
9.6. The Portuguese Continental littoral
9.7. The importance of littoral systems
9.8. Littoral types
9.9. Definitions of coast, coastline, beach and littoral
9.10. Morphologies in sandy littorals and in rocky littorals (of 1st and 2nd order)
9.11. Littoral at risk (zones of accelerating erosion)
9.12. The coastal processes in littoral evolution

Mandatory literature

Grotzinger, Jordan, Press, and Siever ; understanding Earth, W H Freeman & Co, 2007

Teaching methods and learning activities

Final theoretical and theoretical-practical written examination

Software

Windows Office

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Subject Classes	Participação presencial	200,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

According to the Institute rules

Calculation formula of final grade

Classification from zero to twenty

Classification improvement

Exam classification added by one value due to the interest and participation during the classes