This
class is intended as a tutorial on research in volcanology, with
emphasis on research in the field as defined in the broadest possible
way. The class will explore how a researcher picks a research topic
in volcanology. Each student will follow how a student goes about
this important process of research initiation, starting with their
first ideas about a research theme and developing their own guide for
the selection and successful planning of a research topic. Steps in
this process might include some of the following:
Selecting a general theme, such as is the topic of many chapters in the text.
Finding the key pieces of real knowledge which constrains this topic.
Stating clearly the supposed conventional wisdom.
Identifying the key uncertainties in this conventional wisdom.
Picking a likely research topic from a selection of alternatives, and explaining why it is a good choice.
The work will be recorded and shared as a web addition to the MTU Volcanoes Page, intended to encourage others to get involved in volcanological research.There is no single text that covers all of volcanology, which is a very broad, interdisciplinary topic. We will use a new volume as our primary text: Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, ed by H Sigurdsson (Academic Press, 2000--ISBN# 0-12-643140-X). There is an online index of this volume: http://www.apnet.com/volcano/netscape4/index.htm
Additional general books on
volcanology: A very good source for physical volcanology is Volcanic
Successions: Ancient and Modern, by Cas and Wright ( Unwin-Hyman,
1988), . Another good general book that covers a scope similar to
this class is Volcanoes: A Planetary Perspective, by Peter
Francis (Clarendon Press, 1993). We will also use readings from the
recent literature by scientists, to get used to that form of
writing.
Readings
Outline for primary text articles:
August 27: Introduction Haraldur Sigurdsson; Basaltic Volcanoes and Volcanic Systems George P.L. Walker; Lava Flows and Flow Fields Christopher R.J. Kilburn; Flood Basalt Provinces Peter R. Hooper.
September 4: Physical Properties of Magmas Frank J. Spera; Magma Chambers Bruce D. Marsh.
September 10: Earth's Volcanoes and Eruptions: An Overview Tom Simkin and Lee Siebert; Sizes of Volcanic Eruptions David M. Pyle; Volcanic Episodes and Rates of Volcanism Haraldur Sigurdsson.
September 17: Volcanism on the Moon Paul D. Spudis; Mineral Deposits Associated with Volcanism Noel C. White and Richard J. Harrington; Debris Avalanches Tadahide Ui, Shinji Takarada, Mitsuhiro Yoshimoto.
September 24: Pyroclast Transport and Deposition Colin J. N. Wilson and Bruce F. Houghton; Pyroclastic Fall Deposits Bruce F. Houghton, Colin J. N. Wilson, David M. Pyle; Volcanic Ash Hazards to Aviation Thomas P. Miller and Thomas J. Casadevall.
October 1: Magmatic Fragmentation Katherine V. Cashman, Brad Sturtevant, Paolo Papale, Oded Navon; Hawaiian and Strombolian Eruptions Sylvie Vergniolle and Margaret Mangan;
October 8: Melting the Mantle Paul D. Asimow; Migration of Melt Martha J. Daines; Plate Tectonics and Volcanism Michael R. Perfit and Jon P. Davidson; Composition of Magmas Nicholas W. Rogers and Chris J. Hawkesworth.
October 15: Rates of Magma Ascent Malcolm J. Rutherford and James E. Gardner; Plumbing Systems Charles R. Carrigan; Magma Ascent at Shallow Levels Claude Jaupart
October 22: Composite Volcanoes Jon P. Davidson and Shan Da Silva; Scoria Cones and Tuff Rings Dirk Vespermann and Hans Ulrich Schmincke; Calderas Peter W. Lipman; Lava Domes and Coulees Jonathan H. Fink and Steven W. Anderson.
October 29: Vulcanian Eruptions Meghan M. Morrissey and Larry G. Mastin; Plinian and Subplinian Eruptions Raffaello Cioni, Paola Marianelli, Roberto Santacroce, Allesandro Sbrana; Surtseyan and Related Phreatomagmatic Eruptions James D. L. White and Bruce F. Houghton; Phreatoplinian Eruptions Bruce F. Houghton, Colin J. N. Wilson, Richard T. Smith, Jennie S. Gilbert.
November 5: Volatiles in Magmas Paul J. Wallace and Alfred T. Anderson; Volcanic Gases Pierre Delmelle and John Stix; Geothermal Systems Fraser Goff and Cathy J. Janik; Hazards of Volcanic Gases Hazel Rymer and Glyn Williams-Jones.
November 12: Pyroclastic Surges and Blasts Greg A. Valentine and Richard V. Fisher; Ignimbrites and Block-and-Ash Flow Deposits Armin Freundt, Colin J. N. Wilson, Steven N. Carey; Lahars James W. Vallance; Volcaniclastic Sedimentation Around Island Arcs Steven N. Carey.
November 26: Seismic Monitoring Stephen R. McNutt; Ground Deformation, Gravity and Magnetics John B. Murray, Corinne A. Locke, Hazel Rymer; Gas, Plume, and Thermal Monitoring John Stix and Hélène Gaonach; Synthesis of Volcano Monitoring Stephen R. McNutt, John Stix, Hazel Rymer.
December 3: Volcano Warnings Christopher G. Newhall; Volcanic Crises Management Servando de la Crùz-Reyna, Roberto Meli, Roberto Quaas; Volcanic Hazards and Risk Management Russell Blong; Risk Education and Intervention David Johnston and Kevin Ronan
December 10: Volcanic Aerosol and Global Atmospheric Effects Mike J. Mills; Impacts of Eruptions on Human Health Peter J. Baxter; Volcanic Contributions to the Carbon and Sulfur Geochemical Cycles and Global Change Michael A. Arthur; Volcanism and Biotic Extinctions Michael R. Rampino and Stephen Self.
Field Aspects and
visitors: The class will incorporate several field trips,
campus visits to labs of critical interest to volcanology and will
also be helped by several visiting volcanologists. The schedule is
now being developed, and the following are tentative.
Field trips (the plan is to use some of the first weekends of the semester for these):
August 31-Sept 3: Isle Royale exposures of Keweenawan flood basalts--Anatomy of large lava flows (magma oceans).
Sept 21-24: Sudbury Astrobleme and the Onaping Tuff (volcanology and geological time)
Sept 28-Oct 1: Ashfall Fossil Beds, Nebraska--distal ashfalls and their hazards--do we understand them?
Lab Visits:
Atmospheric Chemistry Lab (Rich Honrath, host)
MTU Minerals (Colleen Riley, Komar Kawatra, hosts)
MTU Paleomagnetics Lab (Jim Diehl and Sue Beske-Diehl, hosts)
MTU Electron optics facility (Owen Mills, host)
ESEM facilities (Larry Sutter, Tom Van Dam, hosts)
Atmospheric particles lab (Raymond Shaw, host)
Visitors:
Internal "visitors" will include faculty from across the campus who have an interest in volcanological topics. The list of people we will invite to class includes: Raymond Shaw, Alex Kostinski, Will Cantrell (Physics); Rich Honrath, David Watkins (Environmental Engineering); Gregg Bluth, Matt Watson, Jimmy Diehl, Sue Beske-Diehl (GES).
We will have a series of external visitors aimed at exploring research in volcanology. The schedule that follows is still tentative:
~Oct 19?: James Vallance, Mc Gill Univ; USGS/CVO
Sept 29-Oct 1: Tom Casadevall, USGS
Oct 6-9: Kathy Cashman, University of Oregon
October 12-14: Lina Patino, Michigan State University
October 27-30: Shan de Silva, University of North Dakota
November 5-7: John Stix, Mc Gill Univ
December 1-9: Oleg Melnik, V G Gromov, Moscow State University
Grades
You
will be expected to develop a web based communication, which traces
the selection of a research topic in volcanology. There will also be
a final oral exam. Grade will be based on class participation, your
class presentations, the web communication and the final.