1. Objective: This course is designed to give graduate & advanced undergraduate students an introduction to physical volcanology. The main topics covered are the rheological properties of lavas, the geomorphology of volcanic landforms, the dynamics and monitoring of volcanic eruptions, and the emplacement of volcanic deposits. Other topics include planetary volcanism, volcanic hazard assessment, remote sensing/GIS applications to volcanoes, and the effects of eruptions on the environment.

2. Text Books:
    REQUIRED: "Encyclopedia of Volcanoes" by Sigurdsson et al. (Academic Press, 2000, ISBN 0-12-643140-X)
    SUPPLEMENTAL: "Volcanology: A Planetary Perspective" by Peter Francis (Oxford University Press, 1993, ISBN: 0-19-854033-7)

3. Lecture Times: Tu & Th from 2:30pm - 3:45pm in SRCC 214. Attendance is required at all scheduled class meetings. Please see the schedule for topics, dates and instructors.

4. Course Requirements:

• Exams: There will be two exams, which are not comprehensive and may include short answer, essay questions and quantitative problem solving. Questions will be based on material covered in the lectures and any additional assigned material.

• Project: The term project will be your chance to perform a research study on a current volcano assigned by the instructors. The purpose of this four-part project (three for the undergrads) is to better understand how a volcano works and how volcanologists conduct their science. It will constitute 40% of your final grade and therefore should be given a serious effort. Over the course of the semester, each student will complete a series of parts that are detailed below. We will grade each of these and provide feedback. The final project (including the oral presentation and revised earlier sections) will be submitted in a completely digital format on December 11th.

  1. Geologic History: Upon beginning any geologic study of a new area (volcanic or otherwise), the first priority is to perform a complete literature search and develop a geologic history. For volcanologists, this also entails the eruptive history and hazard potential. This section should be no longer than 5 typed pages (10-12 point font, double spaced, exclusive of figures). It should include a brief description of your volcano, summary of all human observations, any quantitative data available, range of compositions, eruptive products, and the current state of activity/monitoring. This should serve as complete summary of your literature search (you will use this information for all subsequent sections!!). Part #1 is due on September 25th.

  2. Hazard Assessment: The second part of the project is a thorough hazard assessment of your volcano. You should look at the eruptive history and impact on the local/regional/global environment as well as the present-day topography in order to evaluate the future hazards. You should be able to estimate the eruptive style, volume and products based on your geologic history and make predictions for several different "what-if" scenarios. There is no set format for this part because each volcano is different. Use your imagination and present your assessment in the most clear, concise manner possible. This section should not exceed the length requirements of part #1, but should include maps and figures of hazard prone areas. Part #2 is due on October 23rd.

  3. Research Proposal (graduate students only): The third part of the project is designed to get graduate students thinking about how to propose and perform research. As you work your way through the first two parts, you should take note of what research has been (and is currently being) done. There will be areas that are not well understood and are potential targets of future research. This three-page proposal should be original in nature (do not duplicate research already done!!) and contain the following elements: the question to be addressed, the plan of action, the expected results, and the linkage to current work. Unlike "real" research proposals, you have an unlimited budget -- so be creative! You will be judged on: the originality of the proposed research, the feasibility of it, and whether your research plan is sound and will truly address the question proposed. Part #3 is due on November 13th.

  4. Oral Presentation: The final part of the semester project is an oral presentation of your results. Those of you who have had classes with me in the past know that all oral presentations must be made in Power Point (or a non-Microsoft product of your choice). I require oral presentations in general, and Power Point specifically, in order to (a) prepare you for future talks at national conferences and (b) to get you up to speed on current technology. It is far easier to hone those public speaking skills in a classroom filled with friends than in a conference room filled with hundreds of scientists! Presentations will be 20 minutes in length with 5 minutes of Q&A and be conducted during the next to the last week of class (December 2nd & 4th).

• Course Schedule (Last Updated: Wednesday, 06-Jul-2005 10:49:52 EDT)
• Original Class Announcement