I teach 4 undergraduate and graduate courses in alternate semesters. Here is a summary of course topics. Please contact me if you would like to check your eligibility for my courses.
Earth 105 Tectonic Earth (1 credit, UMMA Auditorium)
This mini-course explores how plate movement in Earth causes natural hazards, rock formation, mountain building and structure in deep Earth. Class topics include plate tectonics theory, earthquakes, volcanoes, rock cycles, mountains, earth structure, and plate tectonics in US.
Earth 146 Plate Tectonics (3 credit, North University Building 2502)
This first-year seminar introduces the backgrounds, examples and scientific importance of plate tectonics. Emphases are on development of scientific skills (e.g., reasoning, presentation, discussion) and deeper understanding of earth processes. The instructor assigns readings before classes and present different topics in classes. Students are expected to read the assignments and participate in class discussions.
Earth 483 Seismology (4 credit, North University Building 2502)
When, where, and why do earthquakes occur? How can we use the data from earthquakes to understand Earth better? What is the physics of earthquakes? This upper-level undergraduate course will give an overview of the current understanding of earthquake source, wave propagation and ground motion. Concepts covered in this course include spatial and temporal distribution of global and regional earthquakes, elastic wave propagation, seismic instrumentation and data, earthquake magnitude and location, tomography, earthquake physics, ground motion, building response, induced earthquakes, and earthquake “prediction.” The instructor presents different topics using both PPTs and chalkboards. Readings and homework are given biweekly. Students are expected to participate in class discussions and finish the assignments.
Earth 526 Earthquake Hazard and Fault Mechanics (4 credit, North University Building 2502)
The mechanical processes on faults cause the start, growth and arrest of earthquakes, which in turn pose great hazards to societies worldwide. This multidisciplinary graduate course aims at illustrating the fundamental mechanisms underlying earthquake phenomena and their relationship to fault mechanics. The course will encompass previous findings and current progresses in theoretical studies, field observations, laboratory experiments, and seismic data analysis to demonstrate how we can apply earthquake physics to estimate and predict the associated hazards. Course topics include brittle failure process, fault stress and friction, constitutive laws of faults, earthquake nucleation, kinematic rupture process, dynamic rupture process, energy balance, earthquake source parameters, earthquake cycle, and earthquake prediction and hazard analysis.
