Module Identifier EA30420  
Module Title VOLCANIC ACTIVITY: HAZARDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr John P Grattan  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Harry Toland, Dr John P Grattan  
Course delivery Lecture   22 Hours 11 x 2 hour lectures  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Written Examination 2 questions from a list of 650%
Semester Assessment Extended Essay. 5000 word extended essay submitted by week 10 of semester 250%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours Written examination. Resit failed end of semester examination50%
Supplementary Assessment Extended Essay. Resubmit failed course work50%

Learning outcomes

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





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

Brief description

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.

Reading Lists

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

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6