Heat transfer plays a major role in most geological processes. This course introduces 1) The basic theory of heat transfer, 2) Thermal structures of the Earth, and 3) heat transfer in selected geological process. The first two parts are lectures with home works. The last part involves both lectures and discussion of papers.
PART I. BASICS OF HEAT TRANSFER
(15 hrs)
1. Introduction
• Overview: heat transfer in geological processes
• Basic concepts: temperature, heat, energy
• Heat transfer and thermodynamics
• Mechanism of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation
• Heat flu and heat flux
• Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy
• Methods of studying heat transfer
2. Heat Conduction
• Fourier’s law and rate equation
• The heat diffusion equation
• Boundary and initial conditions
• One-Dimensional, steady-state conduction
• Two-Dimensional, steady-state conduction
• Transient conduction
3. Heat Advection and Convection:
• Advection, convection, and boundary layers
• The convection transfer equations
• Boundary layer similarity and dimensionless numbers
PART II. THERMAL STATE OF THE EARTH
(15 hrs)
4. Earth as a heat engine
• Earth’s thermal history and internal heat sources
• Heat flux measurements and energy budget of Earth
• Earth’s internal thermal structure
• Heat transfer and plate tectonics
5. Oceanic Lithosphere
• Thermal evolution of oceanic plates
• Ocean floor topography
• Hotspot and other thermal perturbations
6. Continental Lithosphere:
• Heat flow and heat sources
• Steady-state geotherms
• Thermal effects of tectonic processes
o crustal thickening
o underplating
o delamination
o lithospheric extension
7. Mantle Convection
• Driving mechanisms and convection patterns
• Mantle convection and plate tectonics
• Approaches of studying mantle convection
• Numerical simulations
• Geophysical observational constraints
PART III. APPLICATIONS
(11 hrs)
8. Magmatic intrusions
• Cooling of lava flow
• Thermal consequences of magma intrusion
• Contact metamorphism
• Analytical and numerical solutions
9. Thrusting belts
• Thermal processes associated with crustal thickening and thinning
• Mantle thermal perturbations
• PTt paths
• Heat sources for anatexis
10. Extension and basin formation
• Tectonic models and thermal consequences of basin formation,
• Lateral heat transfer in basins
• Thermal advection by fluid flow
11. Environmental problems
• Record of climate change in temperature profiles
• Ice sheet and glaciers
Other topics can be added if there are enough interests.
PART I. BASICS OF HEAT TRANSFER
(15 hrs)
1. Introduction
• Overview: heat transfer in geological processes
• Basic concepts: temperature, heat, energy
• Heat transfer and thermodynamics
• Mechanism of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation
• Heat flu and heat flux
• Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy
• Methods of studying heat transfer
2. Heat Conduction
• Fourier’s law and rate equation
• The heat diffusion equation
• Boundary and initial conditions
• One-Dimensional, steady-state conduction
• Two-Dimensional, steady-state conduction
• Transient conduction
3. Heat Advection and Convection:
• Advection, convection, and boundary layers
• The convection transfer equations
• Boundary layer similarity and dimensionless numbers
PART II. THERMAL STATE OF THE EARTH
(15 hrs)
4. Earth as a heat engine
• Earth’s thermal history and internal heat sources
• Heat flux measurements and energy budget of Earth
• Earth’s internal thermal structure
• Heat transfer and plate tectonics
5. Oceanic Lithosphere
• Thermal evolution of oceanic plates
• Ocean floor topography
• Hotspot and other thermal perturbations
6. Continental Lithosphere:
• Heat flow and heat sources
• Steady-state geotherms
• Thermal effects of tectonic processes
o crustal thickening
o underplating
o delamination
o lithospheric extension
7. Mantle Convection
• Driving mechanisms and convection patterns
• Mantle convection and plate tectonics
• Approaches of studying mantle convection
• Numerical simulations
• Geophysical observational constraints
PART III. APPLICATIONS
(11 hrs)
8. Magmatic intrusions
• Cooling of lava flow
• Thermal consequences of magma intrusion
• Contact metamorphism
• Analytical and numerical solutions
9. Thrusting belts
• Thermal processes associated with crustal thickening and thinning
• Mantle thermal perturbations
• PTt paths
• Heat sources for anatexis
10. Extension and basin formation
• Tectonic models and thermal consequences of basin formation,
• Lateral heat transfer in basins
• Thermal advection by fluid flow
11. Environmental problems
• Record of climate change in temperature profiles
• Ice sheet and glaciers
Other topics can be added if there are enough interests.
