Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025
Module GEOL4247: Volcanic Hazards and Impacts IV
Department: Earth Sciences
GEOL4247: Volcanic Hazards and Impacts IV
Type | Open | Level | 4 | Credits | 10 | Availability | Available in 2024/2025 | Module Cap | Only 33 students in total may register to take GEOL3051, GEOL3457, GEOL4221 and GEOL4247 | Location | Durham |
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Prerequisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combination of Modules
- GEOL3051 Volcanology and Magmatism, GEOL3457 Volcanic Hazards and Impacts and GEOL4221 Volcanology and Magmatism IV
Aims
- To develop an understanding of volcanic hazard, risk and impact assessment and how these feed into eruption preparedness, warning and communication.
- To learn about how past volcanic events can be deciphered through interpretation of field stratigraphy, with reference to Tenerife.
- To develop the capacity to interrogate field data, and to integrate this with understanding gained through classroom learning and from the literature.
Content
- Pyroclastic dispersal and deposits.
- Structure of volcanoes and the construction of a volcanic edifice.
- Volcanic hazards, risks,and their assessment.
- Impacts of volcanic eruptions.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Understand how eruptions construct volcanic edifices, and how volcanic hazards impact on human populations.
Subject-specific Skills:
- Acquire and develop the intellectual and practical skills to observe, record accurately and account for volcanological features in the field.
- Acquire and develop the intellectual and practical skills to synthesize information/data from a variety of sources.
- Acquire the intellectual and practical skills to analyse, evaluate and interpret volcanological data.
Key Skills:
- To understand and use formal scientific reasoning.
- Synthesize and respond to a variety of information sources.
- Develop skills necessary for self-managed learning (including independent working, time management).
- Develop understanding through observation, analysis and interpretation in the field.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Teaching is delivered via a mixture of lectures and extended guided practical classes, supported by handouts, directed reading, feedback and a one-week residential field trip.
- The principles of the subject will be re-enforced with classroom and field exercises and academic literature.
- Summative assessment is 100% continual and comprises assessed field work and report writing, through which students can demonstrate their problem solving skills, practical skills and theoretical comprehension.
- Formative assessment is provided via feedback to practical assignments.
- Two timetabled meetings during term designed specifically to ptomote advanced critical reasoning, scientific research, and writing skills.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
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Lectures | 8 | Weekly | 1 hour | 8 | ■ |
Practicals | 5 | Weekly | 2 hours | 10 | ■ |
Advanced skills practical sessions | 2 | Twice per term | 2 hours | 4 | ■ |
Fieldwork | 1 | 70 | ■ | ||
Preparation and Reading | 8 | ||||
Total | 100 |
Summative Assessment
Component: Continuous Assessment | Component Weighting: 100% | ||
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Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
Field notebook | 60% | ||
Essay | 2000 words | 40% |
Formative Assessment:
Classroom-based practical exercises and reports.
■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University