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GEOLOGIA DEL VULCANICO

Degree course: 
Corso di Second cycle degree in ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2020/2021
Year: 
1
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2020/2021
Course type: 
Supplementary compulsory subjects
Credits: 
6
Period: 
Second semester
Standard lectures hours: 
60
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (36 hours), Exercise (24 hours)
Requirements: 

The knowledge acquired by the students at the undergraduate level, with particular regard to Earth Sciences, will be the necessary background for understanding the scientific topics dealt with during the course.

Final Examination: 
Orale

The final exam will be designed to test students’ knowledge and understanding of the topics covered during the course, as well as their ability using the appropriate scientific terminology. In will be a written test (duration: 1 hour, 5 questions) during which students will be expected to demonstrate in-depth knowledge about the topics illustrated in the slides.

Assessment: 
Voto Finale

This course is aimed at providing the students with state-of-the-art knowledge about the following topics, relative to volcanic geology:

· Volcanism and geodynamics;
· Volcanism and tectonics;
· Regional volcanology;
· Volcanic hazard and volcanic risk;
· Volcanic eruptions and their impact on climate.
The expected learning outcomes are fully consistent with the overall purposes of the MSc in Environmental Science.

The course contents will be developed as follows:

- Introduction. An overview will be provided, illustrating the role of volcanic processes within the wider picture of Environmental Sciences (duration 4 hours).
- Volcanism and geodynamics. Volcanism and its relations with plate tectonics. The Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcanic ranges in North America, Central America, and South America. Volcanism in the Philippines and Indonesia. Hot-spot volcanism: the Hawaiian Archipelago. Mid-oceanic ridge volcanism, combined with hot spot volcanism: the geological evolution of Iceland (duration 12 hours).
- Volcanic edifices. Shield volcanoes; stratovolcanoes; monogenic cones; calderas; supervolcanoes: examples from Indonesia (Toba supervolcano) and the United States (Yellowstone supervolcano). Morphologic evolution of volcanic edifices. Lateral collapses at volcanoes (duration 8 hours).
- Volcanic deposits. Lava flows; lava domes; pyroclastic flow deposits; pyroclastic surge deposits. Volcanic mudflow deposits (lahars). Volcanic landslide deposits (duration 6 hours).
- Regional volcanology. The tectonic arrangement of volcanoes across the Italian peninsula. Volcanoes from Latium; volcanoes from Campania; volcanism in Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. Submarine volcanoes in the Tyrrhenian Sea (duration 6 hours).
- Volcanic hazard and risk. Volcanic monitoring and surveillance. Volcanic hazard and risk in the Neapolitan area. Public perception of volcanic risk. Volcanic risk communication: case studies from the Vesuvian and Phlegrean areas (duration 6 hours).
- Volcanoes and climate. The impact of major volcanic eruptions on global climate: Laki, Iceland (1783); Tambora, Indonesia (1815); Krakatoa, Indonesia (1883); Pinatubo, the Philippines (1991). Supervolcanoes and global climate change in the geological record: the giant eruptions at Yellowstone (U.S.A.) and Toba (Indonesia). (Duration 6 hours)

PowerPoint slides shown during classes will be made available at the end of the course and uploaded onto the University’s E-learning platform.

MAIN TEXTBOOK: Giacometti L., Scandone R. Vulcani e Eruzioni. Pitagora Editrice Bologna, 2002.

FURTHER READING ON SELECTED VOLCANOES

- Rosi M., Papale P., Lupi L., Stoppato M. Tutto Vulcani. Mondadori Milano 2°ed., 2003.

- Smith R.B., Siegel L.J., Windows into the Earth. Oxford University Press, 2000.

The course will consist of classroom lessons, with the aid of remote video connection.

Upon appointment via email.

Professors

DI CAPUA ANDREA

Borrowers