Module GEOL3457: Volcanic Hazards and Impacts

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL3457: Volcanic Hazards and Impacts

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

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

• Understand how eruptions construct volcanic edifices, and how volcanic hazards impact on human populations.

• 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.

• 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.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Classroom-based practical exercises and reports.