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This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the physical processes that influence volcanic deposits resulting from both effusive and explosive eruptions. Topics range from the magma reservoir and conduit to the final resting place of volcanic deposits and specifically include the physical properties of magmas, dynamics of lava flows and domes, structure and origin of calderas, explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows and surges, debris avalanches, lahars, submarine volcanism and magmatic hydrothermal/geothermal systems. There is a compulsory field trip for this course run early in February.
This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the physical processes that influence volcanic deposits resulting from both effusive and explosive eruptions. Topics range from the magma reservoir and conduit to the final resting place of volcanic deposits and specifically include the physical properties of magmas, volcano types and scales of volcanism, dynamics of lava flows and domes, structure and origin of calderas, explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows and surges, debris avalanches, lahars, submarine volcanism and magmatic hydrothermal/geothermal systems.The course begins with a 9-day field trip (including travel days) from late January to early February (provisional 27Jan-6th) in the Central North Island based on Mt Ruapehu where students will be introduced to field mapping in volcanic settings, making field observations and recording quantitative data, producing maps and cross-sections, and synthesising data into conceptual eruption models and volcano histories. In addition, students will be exposed to the physical volcanological context of geothermal systems. Following the field trip, the course transitions into the first Term of Semester 1 with 6 weeks of lectures. During this time, lectures will focus on building upon concepts in Physical Volcanology that are introduced during the field trip. Lectures and a final project will have a research focus in order to properly prepare students for Honours’ and Master’s theses.Pre- semester trip and 6 weeks semester 1 2 hour seminars
After this course students should be able to…. Describe and illustrate spatial and temporal variation in volcanic deposits and describe volcanic facies. Interpret volcanological facies to reconstruct volcanic histories Discuss the benefits and limitations of geological interpretations based on physical volcanology observations and experiments. Discover the importance of physical volcanology to related fields such as petrology, geochemistry, geothermal exploration, hazard management, geological engineering.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
Pre-semester Field Trip - Maps, exercises, notebooks due in the fieldTerm 1 - Reading - Lecture - AssignmentWeek 9 - Volatiles chapter 5 Parfitt and Wilson - Volatiles and viscosity - Before class “Learn” discussion Week 10 - Lava Dome and flows Chapters from Encyclopedia Volcanoes; Lava dome - Lava Domes and Flows - Before class “Learn” discussion. Week 11 - Pyroclastic flow reading - Pyroclatic flow case study - Before class “Learn” discussion. Article critique/summaryWeek 12 - TBA - TBA - Before class “Learn” discussion Article critique/summaryWeek 13 - TBA - TBA - Before class “Learn” discussionWeek 14 - No reading- prepare proposals (Canterbury) and prepare criteria for assessing proposals - How to structure and write research reports - 3 mins presentation on proposed research reports (Canterbury) (not assessed for grades)
Ben Kennedy
Darren Gravley
Sigurdsson, Haraldur; Encyclopedia of volcanoes ; Academic Press, 2000.
Course reading • Encyclopedia of volcanoes- on-line available through University of Canterbury library• Assigned journal articles
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Course AimsAfter this course students should be able to…. • Describe and illustrate spatial and temporal variation in volcanic deposits and describe volcanic facies.• Interpret volcanological facies to reconstruct volcanic histories• Discuss the benefits and limitations of geological interpretations based on physical volcanology observations and experiments.• Discover the importance of physical volcanology to related fields such as petrology, geochemistry, geothermal exploration, hazard management, geological engineering.
Entry RestrictionsNote: entry into this course is by application only. Please see Ben Kennedy for application form.
Domestic fee $1,054.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Earth and Environment .