Numerical Methods in Geosciences (16.-20.02.2026)

The course focuses on numerically solving problems in geosciences using finite difference techniques. The programming language will be Matlab. During the course the theoretical background on finite difference techniques will be given and combined with practical exercises that will be solved during the class. Problems that will be considered include the thermal state of the lithosphere, the thermal effect of an impinging plume, fluid flow in porous media, flexure of the lithosphere and thermal advection/convection.

Understand how to solve a variety of geoscientific problems using finite differences.

The participants in the course will be required to complete the exercises given in each class. Additionally, at the end of the course a geoscientific problem will be given which the students will have to code and present orally. The final note requires the class exercises to be completed and will be based on the oral presentation.

Referat

1. Numerical Geodynamic modelling. Taras Gerya.
2. Geodynamics. D. L. Turcotte and G. Schubert.
3-. Isostasy and Flexure of the Lithosphere. A. B. Watts

1st Day: Introduction to finite differences and Matlab. 1D explicit finite differences. Exercise: Thermal diffusion.
Introduction to finite differences and Matlab. 1D explicit finite differences. Exercise: Thermal diffusion.
Introduction to Finite Differences
2nd Day: 1D explicit and implicit Finite Differences schemes. Boundary conditions.
3rd Day: 2D Finite Differences. Exercise: Thermal Diffusion.
4th Day: Advection. Exercise: Convection problem.
5th Day: Non-linear problems. Exercise: Fluid flow in porous media.
6th Day: Flexure of the lithosphere. Exercise: 1D flexural equation.
7th Day:
8th Day:
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10th Day:
11th Day:
12th Day:
13th Day:
14th Day:

Notebook-Pool