3171.22 - Earth Sciences for Engineers


Course number
3171.22
Title
Earth Sciences for Engineers
ECTS
7.5
Prerequisites
Mathematics at the level B, physics at the level B, chemistry at the level C
Purpose
To give the students an introduction to the physical environment on planet Earth from a broad natural scientific background with relevance for engineers. This will be achieved by introducing the three basic geosciences: geology, oceanography and meteorology. Emphasis will be on highlighting how the geology in the Faroe Islands, the oceanography on the shelf and inner fjords together with the meteorology play active parts in engineering subjects. The environment will be studied physically, and processes taking place in the solid earth, oceans and in the atmosphere will be described and discussed with focus on local examples from the Faroese environment.
Content
Part 1: Geology Rock types, minerals, volcanic processes, Faroese Geology, erosion, structural geology, geological maps, soil, ground water. Part 2: Oceanography Characteristics and content of seawater, , light and sound in the sea, waves, current, mixing, tidal currents and drift, general dynamics of the World oceans, the seas around the Faroe Islands, on the Faroe shelf and in straits and fjords. Part 3: Meteorology The goal is to understand the basics of the weather systems around the Faroe Islands, their related weather events and how these are affected by the geography. Key words: Thermodynamics of the atmosphere, thermodynamical diagrams and stability, atmospheric boundary layer, types of clouds and associated precipitation, formation of high/low pressures and associated weather events, Foehn effect, weather events in mountainous areas, wind profiles and climate normals.
Learning and teaching approaches
Lectures, problem solving, field trips in the Farooes and written assignments
Learning outcomes
Having passed the course, the student should be able to: o describe and explain physical and chemical properties mineral and rock types o demonstrate knowledge on specific minerals and rock types common in the Faroese geology o demonstrate knowledge on the Faroese stratigraphy o describe the features of weathering in relation to the Faroese landscape o describe the geological time scale and how the physical envirnoment and biology have changed accordingly o describe and explain the main features in the hydrological cycle and basic principles in groundwater geology o describe the basic properties of seawater and explain stability, stratification and mixing in the ocean including to read and us TS-diagrams o describe the equations of continuity and about the terms in the equations of motion (Navie-Stokes) o Describe and use the hydrostatic and geostopic balance equations, and to explain Ekman transport. o Describe the terms in the sea surface heatbalancedescribe the tides and the tidal forces o describe the large scale wind driven circulation and the thermohaline circulation o describe key watermasses and the main circulation in the Faroese area (North East Atlantic) , the circulation on the Faroe shelf and in fjordsand straits. o Describe wind generated surface waves, tsunamies and internal waves in the ocean o describe temperature, humidity, pressure and stability, and how this relates to different types of cloud formation o use thermodynamics to describe different situations in the troposphere o describe the formation of low pressures and their associated frontal systems o describe the weather by looking at weather maps o describe the possible effects of the geographical circumstances of the Faroe Islands.
Assessment method
A 4-hour test. The existing grade scale is used. No help devices or other materials are permitted.
Examination
External
Marking scale
7-
Bibliography
Earth Science 15th Edition (Tarbuck, Lutgens and Tara, 2018) Føroya Jarðfrøði (J. Rasmussen, 2005) Havfrøði fyri verkfrøðingar, egið kompendium, K. Simonsen Veðurlæra (H. Kjølbro) Veðurførði fyri verkfrøðingar, own compendium, A. K. Gregoriussen
Contact
Knud Simonsen