Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide to the student the basic knowledge of Volcanology for understanding the volcanic deposits and relate them with the eruptive processes.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Volcanism and plate tectonic.
Magma: Origin of the magma and classification. Chemical-physical properties.
Volcanic materials: Volcanic gas, massive lavas, lava flows (subaerial), shape and measurement. Submarine basaltic lavas. Andesitic block lavas. Dacitic to rhyolitic lavas: obsidian flows, domes and spines. Pyroclastic materials and deposits. Classification and origin of the pyroclasts.
Volcanic eruptions: Effusive and explosive eruptions. Magmatic, Phreatic and Phreatomagmatic. Explosive eruption column.
Pyroclastic fall deposits and their eruptions: Classification of the eruptions. Transport and deposition of the pyroclastic fall.
Pyroclastic flows and their deposits: Origin, shape and mechanism of transport of the pyroclastic flows.
Pyroclastic surges and their deposits.
Lahars: Debris flows and high density flows.
Statistical methods used in investigating pyroclastic deposits.
Volcanoes and volcanic centres: Shield volcanoes, plateau and plains basalts, stratovolcanoes, scoria cones, tuff cones and tuff rings, maars, calderas.
Volcanic hazards
Field studies: Three days field trip in zones of active or recent volcanism.
Full programme
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Bibliography
GIACOMELLI L.. & SCANDONE R. : Vulcani e Eruzioni. Pitagora Editrice. Bologna. 2002
CAS R.A.F. & WRIGHT J.V.: Volcanic Successions. Modern and ancient. Allen & Unwin, London 1987.
FISHER R.V. & SCHMINCKE H.U. : Pyroclastic rocks. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1984.
WILLIAMS H. and MCBIRNEY A.R.: Volcanology. Freeman, Cooper & Co., San Francisco 1979.
MAC DONALD G.A.: Volcanoes. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1972.
SCANDONE R. & GIACOMELLI L. : Vulcanologia. Liguori editore, Napoli 2002
SIGURDSON H. ed. : Encyclopedia of VOLCANOES. Academic Press, 2000
GREEN J; and SHORT N.M. eds.: Volcanic landforms and surface features. Springer-Verlag,1971.
Teaching methods
ex cathedra teaching
and practical lesson
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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