Earthquake Geology

School  Natural Sciences
Academic Unit
 Geology Department
Level of Studies
 Undergraduate
Course Code
 GEO_502E
Εξάμηνο σπουδών  7ο
Course Title
 Earthquake Geology
Independent Teaching Activities
 Lectures, laboratory work,  tutorial, Fieldwork
Weekly Teaching Hours
 2L+1Lab+1 Tutor 
Credits  5
Course Type
 Field of Science
Prerequisite Courses
 In general, there are no prerequisite courses. However, students knowing basic principles provided through the previously taught of theoretical courses ‘'Geomorphology’’,  ‘Structural Geology’’ and ''Seismology'' are strongly benefited in understanding the issues of the course.
Language of Instruction & Examinations
Greek. Teaching may be however performed in English in case foreign students attend the course.
Is the Course offered to Erasmus Students
 Yes
Course Web-Page (URL)  https://eclass.upatras.gr/courses/GEO344/
Learning Outcomes
 The course is aimed at undergraduate students who understand basic principles of Geomorphology, Structural Geology and Seismology. The aim of the course is to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in topics related to deformation of active faults as it is imprinted on the Earth's landscape. In particular, the educational objectives of the course will include recognition of the landscape changes that accompany different types of active faults in deformed geotectonic environments. Identification of active faults will be based on special landscapes close to the fault trace, on the fluvial geomorphology and on the drainage pattern. Furthermore, in order the students to understand the concepts and the key landscapes attesting to the active deformation a series of examples from active faults in Greece and key slides from active faults worldwide are presented. Furthermore we use examples of ground failures during recent earthquakes of Greece. The analysis and implementation of the concepts to be learned will also be done within the workshop with calculations and classifications of geomorphological indices. The composition and assessment of the knowledge in the course will result in students being able to recognize active faults and their capability in hosting strong earthquakes.
General Competences

By the end of this course the student will have develop the following skills (general abilities)

  • Search; analyze key observations regarding active faults. Synthesize geological  data and information using the necessary technologies,
  • Autonomous work,
  • Teamwork,
  • Promote free, creative and inductive thinking
Syllabus

The content of the course includes the following chapters:

  1. Introductory concepts
  2. Quotation of Earthquake Geology
  3. Methodologies for analysis of Active Structures
  4. Joints and Faults
  5. Rocks within Fault Zones
  6. The role of active faults and the Earthquake Processes
  7. Geomorphological expression of active faults
  8. Palaeoseismology
  9. Tectonic Geomorphology
  10. Morphotectonics
  11. Secondary effects of earthquakes
  12. Seismic hazard and geology of earthquakes
Delivery  Lectures, laboratory work and fieldwork face to face
Use of Information & Communication Technology
 Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) (e.g. powerpoint) in teaching. The lectures content of the course for each chapter are uploaded on the internet, in the form of a series of pdf files. The students can freely download them using a password which is provided to them at the beginning of the course
Teaching Methods
 
Activity Semester workload
Lectures (2 conduct hours per week x 13 weeks)  2 X 13 = 26
Seminars (1 conduct hour per week X13 weeks)  1 X 13 = 13
Tutorial  1 X 13 = 13
Students Report based on the data collected during the fieldwork.

11 (1 Χ 8 fieldwork)= 8 Total 19 hours

Hours for private study of the student and preparation of home-works (4 per semester). One report dealing for a recent earthquake sequence. One report from the fieldwork and two reports for the Laboratory exercises. 54
 Total number of hours for the Course 125 
 Student Performance Evaluation
  1. Optionally, preparation of four in total home-works from groups of two students each.  20% of the mean mark of the home-works is added to the grade obtained in the final written examination, provided that the student has secured at least the grade 4.
  2. Written examination after the end of the semester - final grade (GSOC), unless the student participated in the preparation of home-works during the semester. In that case, the 20% of the mean mark of the home-works is added to the final examination mark.
Minimum  passing grade:  5.
Attached Bibliography

Recommended Literature :

  1. Κουκουβέλας Ι., Κοκκάλας Σ., Ζυγούρη Β. 2010. Γεωλογία & Σεισμοί, Εκδόσεις Δίσιγμα, Θεσσαλονίκη, σελ. 415.
  2. Κουκουβέλας Ι. 1998. Τεκτονική Γεωλογία. Εκδόσεις Leader Books, Αθήνα.
  3. Yeats R., Sieh K., Allen C. 1997. The Geology of Earthquakes, Oxford University Press, pp. 568
  4. Keller E., Pinter N. 1996. Active Tectonics, Prentice Hall.
  5. Παυλίδης Σ. 2003. Γεωλογία των Σεισμών. Uiversity Studio Press, σελ. 378

Related Scientific Journals:

  1. Journal of Structural Geology
  2. Tectonics
  3. Tectonophysics
  4. Journal of Geodynamics