Undergraduate Course: Introduction to Physical Volcanology and Tephra (EASC09044)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Earth Science |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Volcanic eruptions are one of the principal forces that affect and modify the Earths surface. The resulting volatile emissions not only replenish and maintain our atmosphere, but are also known to have significant impact atmospheric properties and its circulation. Volcanism has also played a critical role in forming a significant fraction of mineral resources currently exploited by man. As such, volcanic phenomena influence directly or indirectly many (if not all) sub-disciplines of Earth Sciences. Consequently, a basic understanding of how volcanoes work and how they contribute to the Earth systems cycles is a valuable knowledge to any student in geosciences.
This course is designed as a spin of the Introduction to Physical Volcanology in order to make the option more feasible for 3rd year GPG and Geography students and to extend their education on the physical volcanology of tephra deposits in a manner that will complement the activities in Andy Dugmore - Volcanoes, Environment and People course. A 10 credit point module (identified as D1-2 etc. in the Provisional Course Plan and Content provided below) has been added to the original course which is focused on tephra studies and structured around reading assignment of seminal papers on the topics outlined in the Provisional Course Plan and Content plus class presentations and discussion of each paper. One paper will be assigned to every two students one week before the Thursday classes; one student will outline the results of the paper in a short (5-10 min) and the other will lead a discussion of the paper (5-10 min). The role assigned to each student will reveal on the day of the class.
This activity will be complemented by a more substantial essay assignment compared PV I and will be weighted at 40% compared to 30% in PV I.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this Course, students will have knowledge of the basic principles of volcanism and its integration with other disciplines of Earth Sciences. They will be able to explain the mechanism of various types of volcanic eruptions, interpret volcanic deposits and their stratigraphic successions. They will develop understanding of potential impacts of volcanic eruptions and their links to natural hazards and human activities.
Prerequisites: Completion of 2nd year in GeoSciences is required plus equivalent to University entry level knowledge of chemistry and physics.
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Assessment Information
| Assessment: Final exam = 60%; Essay = 40%. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
The primary purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the principles of physical volcanology by examination into the physics and chemistry of magmas, inspection of the forces / mechanisms that drive eruptions and determine their behaviour (style), assessment of dispersal and emplacement mechanisms of eruption products and evaluation of the environmental and atmospheric effects of volcanic events.
As this course is planned as an introduction to the field of physical volcanology any student that has successfully completed year 2 of the Earth Science program should be able to cope with the set course material and requirements. It will build on principles and methods introduced in year 1 and 2 courses such as Earth Dynamics, Earth Surface Systems and Earth Materials.
The only part of this course that may provide a challenge for disabled students is the planned ˝ day field trip. Solution: In cases where field trip attendance is not possible, the student will be provided with an in-house practical designed to cover the essentials of the field trip through assigned exercises with maps and rock samples from the area in question.
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| Syllabus |
Course will be taught in the autumn semester; Lecture time is Thursdays 15:00-17:00 (two lectures (back to back) and one discussion session - Date/Time tbc
Ll-2. Volcanic Environments: Global distribution of volcanic environments and their relation to Plate Tectonics; volcano types and their characteristic structures.
D1-2. Introduction: Establish the outline and structure of this component of the course (i.e. reading, analysis and discussion of assigned papers) and the first assignment.
L3-4.Physics and Chemistry of Magmas: Types of magmas and their rheology in the near surface environment with particular emphasis on changes in state induced by magma degassing and crystallization.
D3-4. Volcanic Successions: Principles of volcanic stratigraphy examined via classical papers on the topic.
L5-6. The Forces Driving Volcanic Eruptions: The principles of magma discharge, degassing and fragmentation and their control on eruption mechanisms. Classification schemes for common eruption types and styles.
D5-6. Mechanisms of magma fragmentation examined through groundbreaking papers on the subject.
L7-8. Mechanism of Explosive Eruptions and Nature of Volcanic Plumes
D7-8. Methods for tephra source identification: Examination of the literature on geochemical fingerprinting of tephra layers and its utilization as source identifier.
L9-10. Fall Deposits: Mechanisms of atmospheric dispersal and fallout of tephra; types of fall deposits and how they can be used to reconstruct eruption processes.
D9-10. Modes of tephra deposition from volcanic plumes: Analysis of model based papers dealing mechanisms of atmospheric removal of tephra grains.
L11-12. Pyroclastic Density Currents: Types, mechanisms of formation and emplacement modes.
D11-12. Tephra dispersal patterns: Critical reading of papers concerning reconstruction of tephra dispersal (i.e. isopach maps) and how these can be used to obtain key eruption parameters.
L13-14. Effusive Volcanism I: Types and styles of effusive eruptions. Mechanisms of heat loss during passive extrusion of magma and the role it plays in modifying the magma rheology. Emplacement modes of mafic lava flows - the pahoehoe versus a &Ša story. Emplacement mechanisms of intermediate and silicic lava flows.
D13-14. Tephra stratigraphy in Iceland: Critical reading of papers using tephra stratigraphy to extract information on eruption histories and evolution of selected volcanoes in Iceland.
L15-16. Volcano-Climate Interactions: Sulfur degassing, generation of sulphuric aerosols, principles of volcanic forcing and its impact on the atmospheric system.
D15-16. Volcanic signals in ice cores: Critical reading of papers dealing with the nature of the volcanic signals in the Greenland ice cores and its implication for volcano-atmosphere/climate interactions.
Course also includes:
A. Week 9: One day field excursion to the volcanic succession exposed along the shore at North Berwick to exercise logging of pyroclastic and lava flow sequences..
B. An assessed 4000 word essay based on literature research on a recent explosive eruption and its deposits (a list of eruption will be provided). Assigned in Week 8 and handed in at end of Week 10.
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Volcanology eruptions hazards ore deposits climate change |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Thorvaldur Thordarson
Tel: (0131 6)50 8526
Email: thor.thordarson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Katie Leith
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: Katie.Leith@ed.ac.uk |
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