Unit information: Modelling Volcanic Activity in 2019/20

Unit name	Modelling Volcanic Activity
Unit code	EASCM0053
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Phillips
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Undergraduates: Successful completion of years 1, 2 and 3 of the Environmental Geoscience, Geology or Geophysics degree programme curriculum MSc Volcanology students: none
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

The focus of this unit is the prediction of volcanic activity, using approaches based on the physics of volcanic processes. The overall aim is to develop an understanding of the application of the fundamental physical principles of conservation of mass momentum and energy as the basis of quantitative predictions of the dynamics of effusive and explosive volcanic activity.

The unit teaching will develop the application of conservation principles to the motion (steady and unsteady) of volcanic fluids, including explosive conduit flow, lava dome growth and degassing, and to the hazardous flows that result, including volcanic plumes and ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, lahars and lava flows. The physical basis of volcano monitoring measurements (volcano seismology, gas emissions, thermal monitoring and volcano acoustics) and the physical impacts of volcanic activity (on infrastructure, aviation and agriculture) will be studied.

The practical work will focus on using state-of-the-art prediction tools to apply the principles and interpret predictions relevant to volcanic impacts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Describe and debate the application of the fundamental physical conservation laws to the motion of volcanic fluids in the context of volcanic activity, volcanic flows and monitoring measurements
• Apply the principles of dimensional analysis and basic calculus to solve simplified flow problems relevant to volcanic processes
• Describe the relationships between different types of volcanic activity, the types of volcanic flows that are produced, and the monitoring methods used to detect them
• Recognise limitations of physics-based methods and models
• Apply the principles of mechanics to determine the balance of forces that control the motion of volcanic flows
• Identify key observations from recent examples of hazardous volcanic flows and use the information as input to simplified models to determine the flow dynamics and transport
• Evaluate data with computer programmes through calculations and plots

Teaching Information

Lectures and practicals

Assessment Information

2 hour written examination (70%)

Coursework based on practicals (30%)

Reading and References

Recommended

• Parfitt and Wilson (2008) Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology, Blackwell, 256pp
• Fagents,Gregg and Lopes (2013), Modelling Volcanic Processes, Cambridge University Press, 421pp ISBN 978-0-521-89543-9

Further Reading

Relevant journal articles will also be included on Blackboard.