Contact
Associate Professor, Faculty of Science - Physics
- mheimpel@ualberta.ca
- Phone
- (780) 492-3519
- Address
-
3-092 Centennial Ctr For Interdisciplinary SCS II
11335 Saskatchewan Drive NWEdmonton ABT6G 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 223 - Environmental Geophysics
Near-surface geophysical imaging techniques with focus on applications in hydrogeology, glaciology, and environmental studies; rock properties; imaging methods covered include: shallow seismic exploration, magnetic exploration, radiometric techniques, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT); electromagnetic (EM) methods; ground penetrating radar (GPR), application to environmental monitoring, climate change, environmental legislation. Prerequisites: Mathematics 30 and Physics 20. Note: Not available to students in Honors or Specialization Geophysics.
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; deep Earth structures; heat transfer and convection in the Earth; dynamics of the core; planetary magnetism and the geodynamo; application to other planets. Prerequisites: Any 200-level GEOPH course, or any 300-level GEOPH course, or any 200-level PHYS course. Note: credit may only be obtained for one of GEOPH 440 and GEOPH 521.
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; deep Earth structures; heat transfer and convection in the Earth; dynamics of the core; planetary magnetism and the geodynamo; application to other planets. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Note: credit may only be obtained for one of GEOPH 440 and GEOPH 521.Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Featured Publications
Gastine T, Heimpel M, Wicht J
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors. 2014 January; 232
Heimpel M, Evans ME
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors. 2013 January; 224
Heimpel M, Gomez Perez, N
Geophysical Research Letters. 2011 January; 38 (L14201):1-6
Heimpel M, Kabin K
Nature Geoscience. 2008 January; 1 (9):564-566
Heimpel M, Aurnou J, Wicht, J
Nature. 2005 January; 438
Moritz Heimpel, Thomas Gastine, Johannes Wicht
Nature Geoscience.