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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.
After this course students should be able to…. 1. Describe and illustrate spatial and temporal variation in volcanic deposits and describe volcanic facies.2. Interpret volcanological facies to reconstruct volcanic histories3. Discuss the benefits and limitations of geological interpretations based on physical volcanology observations and experiments.4. Discover the importance of physical volcanology to related fields such as petrology, geochemistry, geothermal exploration, hazard management, geological engineering.
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
For further information see School of Earth and Environment Head of Department
Course reading • Encyclopedia of volcanoes- on-line available through University of Canterbury library• Assigned journal articles
Entry RestrictionsNote: entry into this course is by application only. Please see Ben Kennedy for application form, applications due in November of 2012.The course begins with a 12-day field trip (excluding travel days) from January 23rd to February 3rd in the Central North Island 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.
Domestic fee $874.00
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 .