Moritz Heimpel, PhD

Associate Professor, Faculty of Science - Physics

Contact

Associate Professor, Faculty of Science - Physics
Email
mheimpel@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-3519
Address
3-092 Centennial Ctr For Interdisciplinary SCS II
11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2H5

Overview

About

My main research interest is dynamics of planetary interiors. This involves theoretical and numerical modelling of fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics applied to planetary atmospheres and interiors. Work on planetary dynamos have implications for the dynamical evolution of several of the solar system planets, particularly Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, as well as exoplanets.


Courses

GEOPH 421 - Seismology and the Physical Structure of the Earth

Seismology; solutions to the elastic wave equation in layered media; three-component seismic field and ray theory: body and surface waves; normal modes and free oscillations; source mechanism; structure of the Earth; seismometers; inversion of seismic data. Pre or corequisite: Math 334. Prerequisites: PHYS 281.


GEOPH 440 - Global Geodynamics

Topics to be discussed include plate tectonics, continental breakup and assembly; faulting and earthquakes; mantle and lithosphere rheology; global gravity and Earth's rotation; heat transfer and convection in the Earth and planets; hotspots and mantle plumes, plate accretion and subduction; dynamics of the core, planetary magnetism and the geodynamo. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 337. Prerequisites: PHYS 281.


GEOPH 521 - Global Geodynamics

Topics to be discussed include plate tectonics, continental breakup and assembly; faulting and earthquakes; mantle and lithosphere rheology; global gravity and Earth's rotation; heat transfer and convection in the Earth and planets; hotspots and mantle plumes, plate accretion and subduction; dynamics of the core, planetary magnetism and the geodynamo. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.


Browse more courses taught by Moritz Heimpel

Publications

Zonal flow scaling in rapidly-rotating compressible convection

Author(s): Gastine T, Heimpel M, Wicht J
Publication Date: 2014
Publication: Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors
Volume: 232
Page Numbers: 36-50
External Link: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/abs/2014PEPI..232...36G

Testing the geomagnetic dipole and reversing dynamo models over Earth's cooling history

Author(s): Heimpel M, Evans ME
Publication Date: 2013
Publication: Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors
Volume: 224
Page Numbers: 124-131
External Link: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/abs/2013PEPI..224..124H

On the relationship between zonal jets and dynamo action in giant planets

Author(s): Heimpel M, Gomez Perez, N
Publication Date: 2011
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 38
Issue: L14201
Page Numbers: 1-6
External Link: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/abs/2011GeoRL..3814201H

Mercury Redux

Author(s): Heimpel M, Kabin K
Publication Date: 2008
Publication: Nature Geoscience
Volume: 1
Issue: 9
Page Numbers: 564-566
External Link: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/abs/2008NatGe...1..564H

Simulation of equatorial and high-latitude jets on Jupiter in a deep convection model

Author(s): Heimpel M, Aurnou J, Wicht, J
Publication Date: 2005
Publication: Nature
Volume: 438
Page Numbers: 193-196
External Link: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/abs/2005Natur.438..193H

Simulation of deep-seated zonal jets and shallow vortices in gas giant atmospheres

Author(s): Moritz Heimpel, Thomas Gastine, Johannes Wicht
Publication: Nature Geoscience
External Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2601