20401976 - INTRODUCTION TO VOLCANOLOGY

The aim of this course is to provide students with the basic keys for the study of volcanic processes, ranging from the generation of magma, to its transport, migration, eruption, and formation of volcanic deposits. The course also provides basic knowledge on how volcanoes are monitored in order to evaluate and mitigate volcanic hazard.
teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

PART I – THE BIG PICTURE
1 – Introduction
2 – Plate Tectonics and Volcanism
3 - Nature of Magmas – The physical properties
4 – Magma Transport and Triggers for Volcanic Eruptions

PART II – VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
5 – Classifying Volcanic Eruptions
6 – Effusive Eruptions and Their Products
7 – Explosive Eruptions and Their Products

PART III – VOLCANIC LANDFORMS
8 – Constructional (“Positive”) Volcanic Landforms
9 – Destructive (“Negative”) Volcanic Landforms
10 – Mass-wasting Processes and Products

PART IV – VOLCANOES AND MANKIND
11 – Hazard, Risk and Monitoring

PART V – ITALIAN VOLCANOES
12 – The Roman Magmatic Province
13 – The Campanian Volcanic Province
14 – The Aeolian Arc and the Sicilian Magmatic Province

Core Documentation

PART I - IV
Italian langauge: Scandone R., Giacomelli L. - Vulcanologia. Principi fisici e metodi d'indagine. (Liguori ed.)
English language: Lockwood J.P., Hazlett R.W. - Volcanoes. Global Perspectives. (Wiley-Blackwell eds.)

PART V
Italian langauge: Giacomelli L., Scandone R. - Vulcani d'Italia (Liguori ed.)

Reference Bibliography

Cas, R.A.F., Wright, J. V, 1998. Volcanic Successions: Modern and Ancient, A geological approach to processes, products and successions, Chapman and Hall, UK. Sigurdsson, H., Houghton, B.F., McNutt, S.R., Rymer, H., Stix, J. (Eds.), 2015. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, Second Edi. ed. Academic Press. Peccerillo, A., 2017. Cenozoic Volcanism in the Tyrrhenian Sea Region. Springer International Publishing.

Type of delivery of the course

In order to acquire the projected skills, the course is organized with theoretical lectures and brief pc-based practical teaching (MS Excel).

Attendance

The attendance to the lectures is mandatory.

Type of evaluation

The exam involves a first part in which the candidate presents a slideshow (PowerPoint) on the eruptive dynamics of a specific volcano (at the choice of the candidate). Then, the oral exam continues with questions regarding the presentation and the entire course programme to verify the overall comprehension of the key concepts.