Programme

Introduction to the class, Earth’ structure, introduction to mineralogy, main Earth forming minerals. Main type of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary). Plate Tectonics Theory. Morphology of the sea floor. Principles of sedimentology. Costal geomorphology and depositional environments. Deep see depositional environments. Marine carbonates and evaporites. Tectonic, volcanism and sedimentation of plate margins and the oceanic floor. Gas hydrates. Natural hazard along costs. Chemical physical properties of water. Ocean and climate. Atmospheric and oceanic circulation. Geophysical methods for the sea floor. Geotechnical principles in sea floor systems. Oceanography of the Mediterranean Sea. Climatic and anthropic impact on costal dynamics. Benthic and Planktonic ecosystems. Climatic and anthropic impact on marine ecosystems Marine minerals and energy.

Core Documentation

- Understanding Earth (Edition 7), Thomas H. Grotzinger and John, Jordan, Editor: W. H. Freeman, ISBN-13: 978-1464138744

- Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science (Edition 9), Tom S. Garrison and Robert Ellis, Editor: Cengage Learning, ISBN-13: 9781305105164

Additional material will be provided during the semester

Type of delivery of the course

Frontal lectures

Type of evaluation

The class includes 3 major parts, thus the exams will include 3 written tests (each part will be a test): the first two tests will occur during the semester, while the third one will be in June and July. The final grade will represent the average of the three tests. Alternatively, the exam can be done during the examination sessions (June-July-September-January) in form of written test. This test will include the entire program.