Programme

Theoretical activities

Physical chemistry of magmas. Structure of silicate melts; significance of melt polymerization and its theoretical determination. Effects of temperature, pressure, and composition on melt structure. Glass transition temperature and structural relaxation.

Physical and thermodynamic properties of magmas. Density, viscosity, volatile solubility, diffusivity, compressibility, and electrical conductivity. Thermodynamic properties of magmas: enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity. Variations in density and viscosity as a function of composition, pressure, and temperature. Effects of deformation regime, crystallization, and vesiculation on magma rheology.

Influence of the physicochemical properties of magmas on magma ascent and eruptive styles. The magma ascent process. Bubble formation, growth, and evolution. Kinetics of bubble and crystal nucleation and growth. Magma fragmentation and explosivity. Evolution of the main physical parameters and rheological properties of magma during ascent toward the surface.

Effusive processes. Main types of lava flows and surface morphologies as a function of eruption rate and rheological properties. Effects of slope topography on lava-flow velocity and runout distance.

Explosive processes. Physical parameters controlling eruptive styles. Sustained explosive eruptions: formation of eruptive columns; sustained columns and tephra fallout; column collapse and generation of pyroclastic density currents. Transient explosive eruptions.

The course includes numerical exercises aimed at the quantitative determination of textural parameters of eruptive products (crystallinity, vesicularity, and size distributions) and at the simulation of volcanological processes.

Laboratory activities

Laboratory activities involve the direct performance of experimental measurements by students, followed by the independent processing and interpretation of the resulting data. These activities are aimed at determining the physicochemical properties of silicate materials and understanding their relationships with magmatic and eruptive processes.

The laboratory programme includes high-temperature experiments and the use of different analytical and experimental methods for the characterization of silicate materials, including:

determination of the density of glasses and magmas by dilatometry;
determination of viscosity by micropenetration, concentric-cylinder viscometry, and uniaxial compression;
determination of the glass transition, viscosity, and thermal properties by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and flash calorimetry;
determination of volatile contents by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Karl Fischer titration;
determination of H₂O and CO₂ contents and characterization of the structure of silicate materials by Raman spectroscopy, including high-temperature measurements.

Data acquired during the experimental activities are quantitatively processed and interpreted by the students through the application of the knowledge and methods acquired during the course.

Core Documentation

Part I – Physico-chemical Properties of Magmas
Sigurdsson, H., Houghton, B., McNutt, S.R., Rymer, H. & Stix, J. (Eds.) (2000). Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Academic Press.
In particular:
• Wallace, P.J. & Anderson, A.T. Jr. (2000). Volatiles in Magmas.
• Spera, F.J. (2000). Physical Properties of Magmas.
Part II – Magma Dynamics and Eruptive Processes
Parfitt, E., Wilson, L. & Kerber, L. (2025). Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology, 2nd ed. Wiley.
Sigurdsson, H., Houghton, B., McNutt, S.R., Rymer, H. & Stix, J. (Eds.) (2000). Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Academic Press.
In particular, chapters dealing with explosive volcanism.
Additional teaching materials provided by the instructor.
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Gonnermann, H.M. & Manga, M. (2007). The Fluid Mechanics Inside a Volcano. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 39, 321–356.
Fagents, S.A., Gregg, T.K.P. & Lopes, R.M.C. (Eds.) (2013). Modeling Volcanic Processes: The Physics and Mathematics of Volcanism. Cambridge University Press.
In particular:
• Gonnermann, H.M. & Manga, M. (2013). Dynamics of Magma Ascent in the Volcanic Conduit, Chapter 4, pp. 55–84.
• James, M.R., Lane, S.J. & Houghton, B.F. (2013). Unsteady Explosive Activity: Strombolian Eruptions, Chapter 6, pp. 107–128.
• Clarke, A.B. (2013). Unsteady Explosive Activity: Vulcanian Eruptions, Chapter 7, pp. 129–152.
• Woods, A.W. (2013). Sustained Explosive Activity: Volcanic Eruption Columns and Hawaiian Fountains, Chapter 8, pp. 153–172.

Reference Bibliography

FUNDAMENTAL OF PHYSICAL VOLCANOLOGY. ELISABETH A. PARFITT AND LIONEL WILSON. BLACKWELL PUBLISHING material furnished by the Professor

Type of delivery of the course

The course is organized with theoretical lectures and pratical teaching in the experimental volcanology and petrology lab (EVPlab).

Attendance

Attendance at lectures and practical activities at the Experimental Volcanology and Petrology Laboratory (EVPlab) is regulated according to the Teaching Regulations of the Degree Programme, which should be consulted for the minimum attendance requirements and any specific provisions applicable to particular categories of students.

Type of evaluation

The examination consists of an individual oral examination, lasting approximately 40 minutes, covering the entire course syllabus. The examination begins with a question on one of the topics covered during the course and develops through a series of subsequent questions aimed at assessing the student’s ability to connect different aspects of the subject and to relate theoretical knowledge to the physico-chemical properties of magmas, experimental data, and the dynamics of eruptive processes. The examination always includes a question on the experimental component of the course, in which the student is required to describe the operating principle and application of one of the instruments or experimental methods used during the laboratory activities and to discuss its role in determining the physico-chemical properties of silicate materials. During the examination, students may also be asked to interpret experimental data, graphs, and diagrams; reproduce and discuss the trends shown in relevant graphs presented during the course; and recall and use the main quantitative relationships and equations relevant to the description of the processes studied. These elements are also used to assess the student’s ability to apply the knowledge and methods acquired during the course to the interpretation of problems or data not previously examined. The assessment takes into account the student’s knowledge and understanding of the course content, the ability to apply acquired knowledge to the interpretation of magmatic and eruptive processes and experimental data, understanding of the operating principles and applications of experimental methods, the ability to critically analyse data and formulate well-supported interpretations, as well as clarity of presentation, ability to develop and justify scientific arguments, and appropriate use of scientific terminology. Taken together, the assessment methods allow the evaluation of competences related to the five Dublin Descriptors: discussion of theoretical topics primarily assesses knowledge and understanding; discussion of experimental methods and interpretation of data, graphs, diagrams, and quantitative relationships assess applying knowledge and understanding and making judgements; the independent application of acquired knowledge and methods to problems or data not previously examined assesses learning skills; finally, the oral examination as a whole assesses communication skills through clarity of presentation, the ability to justify interpretations, and the appropriate use of scientific language.

Programme

Practical teaching which will be conducted throughout the entire duration of the course. The practical teaching will include laboratory activities for the experimental determination of physical-chemical properties of magmas (high temperature experiments and spectroscopic measurements) and numerical exercises aimed at the quantitative determination of the textural parameters of juvenile products (crystallinity, vesicularity, crystal and bubble size distribution) and at the numerical simulation of the conduit and eruptive dynamics.

Core Documentation

First part (Physical and chemical properties of magma)
Encyclopedia of Volcanoes Haraldur Sigurdsson - Academic Press
Origin and Transport of Magma - Volatiles in Magmas (Paul Wallace and Alfred T. Anderson, Jr.)
Physical Properties of Magmas (Frank J. Spera)

Second part (magma dynamics)
Fundamental of Physical Volcanology Elisabeth A. Parfitt and Lionel Wilson - Blackwell publishing
Encyclopedia of Volcanoes Haraldur Sigurdsson - Academic Press
Explosive Volcanism

Reference Bibliography

Annual review of fluid mechanics “The Fluid Mechanics Inside a Volcano” (Helge M. Gonnermann and Michael Manga) Modeling volcanic processes “The Physics and Mathematics of Volcanism” edited by Sarah Fagents Tracy GreggRosaly Lopes - Cambridge publishing Chapter 4 Dynamics of magma ascent in the volcanic conduit (Helge M. Gonnermann and Michael Manga) Chapter 6 Unsteady explosive activity: strombolian eruptions (Mike R. James, Steve J. Lane, and Bruce F. Houghton) Chapter 7 Unsteady explosive activity: vulcanian eruptions (Amanda B. Clarke) Chapter 8 Sustained explosive activity: volcanic eruption columns and hawaiian fountains (Andrew W. Woods) Scientific papers Water speciation in magmas Sowerby and Keppler, 1999 Structural role of water in magmas through spectrscopic studies Xue and Kanzaki, 2008 Anhydrous and hydrous magma viscosity Giordano et al., 2009 Effect of crystals and bubbles on magma viscosity Mader et al., 2013 Pyroclast textures Shea et al., 2010

Type of delivery of the course

In order to acquire the projected skills, the course is organized with theoretical lectures and practical teaching which will be held in the experimental volcanology and petrology lab (EVPlab).

Attendance

Attendance of theoretical lectures and practical teaching in the experimental volcanology and petrology lab (EVPlab) is mandatory.

Type of evaluation

The exam consists in a oral examination focusing on the entire teaching program.