Spring 2011                           FIVE COLLEGE VOLCANOLOGY                      J. M. Rhodes

Phone 545-2841

jmrhodes@geo.umass.edu

Week Ending                                                Topic                                              Chapters in text

Jan. 28            Organizational Meeting - Videos                                                       1, 2, 4

Feb. 4             Introduction and types of eruptions                ,                                   5, 6, 16

Feb. 11            Lava flows - Aa, pahoehoe, blocky flows                                          3, 7

Feb. 18            Hawaiian volcanoes                                                                           6, 7

Feb. 25            Even more on Hawaiian volcanism                                                    -

March 4          Mid-Ocean ridge and Icelandic volcanism                                         15

March 11        Flood Basalts and Large Igneous Provinces                                       --

March 18                                SPRING BREAK

March 25        Pyroclastic phenomena and ashfall                                                    8, 9 

April 1          Pyroclastic flows and surges, debris and mudflows                           10, 11, 12, 13

April 8            Cascade volcanism                                                                             -

April 15          Mount St. Helens                                                                                4

April 22          Large caldera eruptions                                                                      14

April 29          Volcanic hazards, volcano monitoring                                               17

Course Requirements

We will focus on a particular aspect of volcanism each week, with a lecture early in the week (probably Monday or Tuesday), followed by a Friday afternoon discussion seminar.

Each week, you should read the relevant portions of the assigned chapters in the text . In addition you will select and read one paper from the weeks reading list. Come to the Friday session prepared to give a BRIEF (5-12 minute) oral summary of your paper, placing it in the context of the week’s general topic, and commenting on its merits and weaknesses (unless it was written by JMR, in which case the merits will suffice!). You should also be prepared to join in the discussion on other papers being presented. In addition you should prepare a typed, one to two page summary of your paper, and bring sufficient copies for distribution to the rest of the class. To help defray the cost of copying you may use the Geoscience Department copiers by inputting the code 051.

Textbook Volcanoes by Francis and Oppenheimer, Oxford University Press.

ISBN 0 19 925469 9

Class Website

Copies of lectures, reading lists, useful links and current volcanic activity can be found on the course website at www.geo.umass.edu/courses/volcanology/index.html.

Grades

There are no exams! Consequently grades will be assigned on the overall quality of your written summaries and oral presentations, and upon attendance and class participation.