MWp Dynamik der Lithosphere - SoSe 2026

Welcome to the OLAT page for Mwp Geodynamics 2: Dynamics of the lithosphere !

This course provides skills about the dynamics of the lithosphere. Notions such as deformation, isostasy, flexure, elasticity, viscosity and plasticity are presented. Exercises are provided at each appointment and involve either hand calculations or computer programming. An exam is scheduled at the end of the semester.

The appointments are set on Tuesdays at 09.15.

Link to the ZOOM room for remote attendance and virtual appointments:

https://uni-frankfurt.zoom-x.de/j/61948293335?pwd=XKkUqZAUXTUdQsEEaao3beAqQZLgzG.1

-------------------------- LECTURES -------------------------- 

00) 14.04.26: get started - install and test the programming tools

There is no appointment but there is a tasks: please install some of the basic tools for programming if you don't have them already. The main aim is that you learn how to use basic programming for making simple caclulations and diagrams.

The steps are provided in the following videos (from BP13):  video#01 video#02 video#03 video#04

01) 21.04.26: Earth structure and lithosphere(s)  (in presence + online)

Video lecture - slides in folder

Exercise: DensityComputation_stud.ipynb 

02) 28.05.26: Local isostasy  (online)

Video lecture - slides in folder 

Exercise: see slides and template (LocalIsostasyIndiaAsia_stud.ipynb)

03) 05.05.26: Elasticity and regional isostasy #1  (in presence + online)

Basic elasticity - Video lecture - slides in folder 

Exercise: see slides and template

04) 12.05.26: Elasticity and regional isostasy #2 (online)

Derivation of flexure equation - Video lecture - slides in folder 

Exercise: see template

05) 19.05.26: Elasticity and regional isostasy #3  (in presence + online)

Flexure in a laccolith - Video lecture - slides in folder 

Exercise: see slides and template

06) 26.05.26: Elasticity and regional isostasy #4  (online)

Flexure of the lithosphere: Regional Vs. Local isostasy - Video lecture - slides in folder 

Exercise: see slides and template

07) 02.06.26: Viscosity and creep  #1: linear creep (online)

Viscosity, incompressibility, deviatoric stress and strain rate - Video lecture - slides in folder 

Exercise: see slides and template

08) 09.06.26:  Viscosity and creep #2: power-law creep  (in presence + online)

Power law creep and effect of ambient conditions (P, T, fH2O, d) - Video lecture - slides in folder

Exercise: see slides and template

09) 16.06.26: Combined creep models (online)

Combine creep mechanisms and make a visco-elastic model - Video lecture - slides in folder

Exercise: see slides and the 2 notebook templates

Please fill the evaluation form: the teaching evaluation team needs the four of you to fill in the document. It is accessible in folder 09. Thanks in advance!

10) 23.06.26: Channelised viscous flow (online)

Couettte and poiseuille flow as well as their power-law extension - Video lecture - slides in folder

Exercise: see slides and template

11) 30.07.26: Mohr circle and Byerlee's law (online)

Introduction to frictional plasticity: Mohr circles and Byerlee's law. Video lecture - slides in folder

Exercise: see slides and template

12) 07.07.26: Faults and tectonic regimes (in presence + online)