Seminar in Geophysics: Thermal and Chemical Evolution of the Earth
An MIT OpenCourseWare seminar examining how the Earth's mantle behaves and evolves thermally and chemically over geologic time. The course traces the historical development of competing models of mantle flow, from early convection theories to current geochemical and geophysical constraints, and asks whether seismology, mineral physics, and geochemistry can be reconciled into a single coherent picture. Students read and discuss primary research papers across these subfields, working through the evidence each discipline brings to the mantle-dynamics debate and where that evidence conflicts. Materials include a syllabus, readings, and discussion-based session notes rather than recorded lectures, reflecting its format as a graduate research seminar. No tuition is required to access the materials through MIT OpenCourseWare, though no certificate is offered. Suited to advanced students already familiar with geophysics or planetary science.