Course Logistics: This new multidisciplinary course focuses on the structure and dynamics of Earth's mantle and its chemical evolution. After reviewing the fundamentals of thermal convection as well as igneous petrology and geochemistry, several outstanding issues are examined in detail from both physical and chemical points of view. Topics include: Mid-ocean ridge magmatism, plate-driven flow and multi-phase flow; Hotspot magmatism, Rayleigh-Taylor instability, and plume dynamics; Arc magmatism, thermal evolution of slab, and mantle wedge dynamics; Geoid, dynamic topography, and mantle rheology; Convective mixing and chemical heterogeneities; Long-term thermal and chemical evolution of the Earth.

Readings will come from excerpts of texts and current and classic papers. There will be two problem sets (one geophysical and one geochemical) in the first third of the course, mainly for reviewing basic physical and chemical principles and modeling approaches. There is no exam. Instead, an emphasis is placed on term-paper projects, through which students will develop quantitative skills as well as critical thinking in geodynamics and geochemistry.

Grades will be based on the following breakdown: Problem-sets: 25%; Term-paper and presentation: 50%; General participation and discussion contributions: 25%.

Tentative Schedule

Week	Days	Topics	PI
1	Week of 12 Jan	Fundamentals of thermal convection I: governing equations, nondimensional numbers, compressible and incompressible fluids, linear stability analysis.	JK
2	Week of 19 Jan	Fundamentals of thermal convection II: boundary layer theory, convection energetics, effects of mantle rheology	JK
3	Week of 26 Jan	Petrology Intro: Mantle phase equilibria	PR
4	Week of 2 Feb	Geochemistry Intro: Trace element partitioning; radioactive decay and growth	PR
5	Week of 9 Feb	Mid-ocean ridges: plate-driven flow, physics of melt generation and migration	JK
6	Week of 16 Feb	Mid-ocean ridges: Melting models	PR
7	Week of 23 Feb	Mid-ocean ridges: Trace elements, mafic components, isotopic constraints	PR
8	Week of 1 Mar	Plumes and hotspots: Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities and plume dynamics	JK
	SPRING BREAK	SPRING BREAK
9	Week of 22 Mar	Plumes and hotspots: Large-scale chemical mixing, differentiation, and primitive reservoirs in the earth	JK
10	Week of 29 Mar	Plumes and hotspots: Geochemistry of OIBs and mantle alphabet soup	PR
11	Week of 5 Apr	Subduction zones: Thermal structure and corner flow	JK
12	Week of 12 Apr	Subduction zones: Flux melting and arc basalts	PR
13	Week of 19 Apr	Geoid, dynamic topography, and the rheological structure of the mantle; Long-term thermal history of the earth	JK
14	Week of 26 Apr	Student presentations

Tentative Schedule

Week

Fundamentals of thermal convection II: boundary layer theory, convection energetics, effects of mantle rheology