Module Information

Module Identifier
EA30420
Module Title
Volcanic Activity: Hazards and Environmental Change
Academic Year
2014/2015
Co-ordinator
Dr Carina Jacqueline Fearnley
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 30 Hours. 10 x 3 hour lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Extended Essay.  3,500 word extended essay submitted by week 10 of semester 2  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Written Examination  2 questions from a list of 6  50%
Supplementary Assessment Extended Essay.  Resubmit failed course work  50%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   Written examination.  Resit failed end of semester examination  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

*Conduct independent research

*Use and interpret numeric data sets

*Use and interpret palaeoenvironmental data sets

*Place hypotheses of volcanically driven environmental change in a global context

*Assess the impact of volcanic activity upon human cultural development

* Describe the hazards associated with different forms of volcanic activity and illustrate their mitigation with appropriate case studies

Aims

This module will investigate the interrelationship between volcanic activity and the planet's environment. We will explore this theme on several scales, from rare flood basalt eruptions associated with mass extinction events through massive explosive eruptions which have generated climate change to small scale events which erupt on a daily basis. Where appropriate we will draw on archaeological and historical data as well as satellite monitoring of volcanic processes. Students will be exposed to current research in all these areas. The hazards component will be explored by reviewing these and exploring appropriate case studies of disasters and successful mitigation.

Content

  • Volcanic activity and atmospheric evolution
  • Flood basalt volcanism and global environmental stress - mass extinctions
  • Super eruptions: glaciations, genetic bottlenecks, extinctions and extreme climate modification
  • Fissure eruoptions: climate change and atmospheric pollution
  • Explosive eruptions of the Holocene: climate change and social response
  • Health impacts of volcanic activity
  • Volcanic gasesand atmospheric chemistry
  • Volcanic activity and human cultural responses
  • Cities at risk
  • Hazard events - impacts and mitigation

Reading List

Recommended Text
Chester, D (1994) Volcanoes and society E. Arnold: London; New York Primo search Decker, R. and Decker, B (1998) Volcanoes Freeman: New York Primo search Firth, Callum, R. and McGuire, Bill (1999) Volcanoes in the Quaternary Geological Society: London Primo search Francis, P (1996) Volcanoes: a planetary perspective Clarendon Press: New York, Oxford University Press: Oxford Primo search Harington, C.R (1992) The Year without a summer? : world climate in 1816 Canadian Museum of Nature: Ottawa Primo search McCoy, F.W. and Heiken, G (2000) Volcanic hazards and disasters in human antiquity Geol. Periodical (SPE) n.345 Primo search McGuire, B (2000) The Archaeology of Geological Catastrophes Geological Society: Bath Primo search Scarth, A (1994) Volcanoes: an introduction UCL Press: London Primo search Scarth, A (1999) Vulcan's fury: man against the volcano Yale University Press: London Primo search Sigurdsson, H (2000) Encyclopedia of volcanoes Academic Press: San Diego; London Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6