Unit information: Volcanic Processes, Models and Hazards in 2021/22

Unit name	Volcanic Processes, Models and Hazards
Unit code	EASCM0065
Credit points	40
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Rust
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Teaching (but not assessment) associated with EASC30062 Physical Volcanology, EASC30076 Volcanic Hazards and EASCM0053 Modelling Volcanic Activity.
Co-requisites	N/A
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit assesses students’ knowledge and skills related to volcanic processes, hazards, observations, models and experiments. It will also assess students’ ability to combine their knowledge and skills in these areas to address theoretical and applied volcanic problems.

The Volcanic Processes component explores how volcanoes work. The overall aim is to develop an understanding of the physics of volcanic processes and apply this knowledge to understanding volcanic eruptions and the geology of volcanoes.

Topics such as the properties of magma and the kinetics of crystallization and vesiculation will be linked to the dynamics of various styles of volcanic eruptions. Students will learn how models built with basic physics, chemistry and fluid dynamics provide insights into how and why volcanoes erupt. They will also learn how to infer processes that occurred during volcanic eruptions from studying eruption products.

Finally, the field of volcanology will be related to other fields including climatology, petrology, engineering, natural resources and hazards.

The Volcanic Models component will focus on prediction of volcanic activity, using approaches based on the physics of volcanic processes. The overall aim is to develop an understanding of the application of the fundamental physical principles of conservation of mass, momentum and energy as the basis of quantitative predictions of the dynamics of effusive and explosive volcanic activity.

The teaching will develop the application of conservation principles to the motion (steady and unsteady) of volcanic fluids, including explosive conduit flow, lava dome growth and degassing, and to the hazardous flows that result, including volcanic plumes and ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, lahars and lava flows.

The practical work will focus on using state-of-the-art prediction tools to apply the principles and interpret predictions relevant to volcanic impacts.

The Volcanic Hazards component has five distinct parts, focused on a small number of case studies:

1. the underpinning principles of remote sensing, mapping and data handling
2. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and its applications to understanding and communication hazard
3. observing volcanic hazards
4. modelling volcanic hazards
5. risk and statistics

Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

• Describe and debate the fundamental principles that govern the different kinds of volcanic activity
• Describe the relationships among different types of volcanic activity, the types of volcanic flows that are produced, and the monitoring methods used to detect them
• Describe and debate the application of the fundamental physical conservation laws to the motion of volcanic fluids in the context of volcanic activity, volcanic flows and monitoring measurements
• Understand physics-based models of volcanic processes and hazards
• Understand the historical context of volcanic eruptions and their interaction with vulnerable populations
• Identify key observations from recent examples of hazardous volcanic flows and use the information as input to simplified models to determine the flow dynamics and transport
• Understand the underpinning principles of remote sensing, mapping and data handling
• Link modelling results and knowledge of eruption histories to hazard assessment and risk mitigation
• Recognise limitations of physics-based models and experiments

Skills:

• Apply basic quantitative skills: algebra, rearranging equations, logarithms and exponentials, dimensions, plotting data, fitting a curve to data
• Apply the principles of dimensional analysis to solve simplified problems relevant to volcanic processes
• Apply the principles of mechanics to determine the balance of forces that control the motion of volcanic flows
• Evaluate data with computer programmes through calculations and plots
• Recognise the fundamental components of a volcanic rock
• Design and evaluate an experiment methodology to test a specific hypothesis
• Apply models applied to volcanic processes and hazards and evaluate their limitations
• Use remote sensing to observe volcanoes
• Use ARC-GIS to produce a hazard map

Teaching Information

The unit will be taught through a combination of

• asynchronous online materials and, if subsequently possible, synchronous face-to-face lectures
• synchronous office hours
• asynchronous directed individual formative activities and exercises
• guided, structured reading
• practical work in the laboratory

Students who either begin or continue their studies in an online mode may be required to complete laboratory work, or alternative activities, in person, either during the academic year 2020/21 or subsequently, in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units or to satisfy accreditation requirements.

Assessment Information

Summative assessment:

• Basic quantitative skills test. Must-pass to gain credit points.
• 20% open-book test on quantitative and computer skills related to volcanic processes and models.
• 15% Analogue experiment report (5 pages) and laboratory notebook
• 25% Hazard map of a volcano and associated report (5 pages)
• 40% 3-hour exam covering understanding of concepts relating to volcanic processes, hazards and models

Formative assessment:

• Small-group discussions on practical work, including the experiments that will be the basis the Analogue experiment report, and draft Hazard maps
• Worked solutions to practical exercises

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASCM0065).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.