PHYSICS OF VOLCANOES
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: ANDREA CANNATAExpected Learning Outcomes
To provide knowledge and skills in the field of volcanology, with particular reference to the physical processes occurring in volcanic environments, including magma generation, magma ascent, and eruptive dynamics. This knowledge is fundamental for the assessment of volcanic hazard and, consequently, for risk mitigation.
Knowledge and understanding
- theoretical foundations of the physics of magma generation and ascent processes;- theoretical foundations of the physics of eruptive processes;
- theoretical foundations of the main methods for volcanic monitoring and volcanic hazard assessment.
Applying knowledge and understanding
- ability to analyse pre-eruptive and syn-eruptive processes;- ability to analyse volcanic monitoring systems and to integrate multiparametric data acquired by such systems.
Making judgements
- ability to critically evaluate data and models of volcanic systems, formulating independent judgements on eruptive dynamics and volcanic hazard, also through practical exercises and seminar activities.Learning skills
- ability to independently consult scientific literature, databases, and relevant technical-scientific sources, periodically updating one’s knowledge of volcanic processes and monitoring methods, also through practical exercises and seminar activities.
Course Structure
The course is delivered through lectures, guided exercises, analysis and discussion of case studies, seminar activities, and opportunities for discussion with students. If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Mandatory.
Detailed Course Content
- Introductory Alignment Module: Review of the basic concepts essential for a proper understanding of physical processes in volcanic environments. Revision of fundamental physical quantities, including pressure, temperature, density, and viscosity, as well as basic principles of thermodynamics. Review of the main geological processes: the internal structure of the Earth and lithospheric dynamics. Scientific methodology: reading and interpretation of graphs and simple quantitative relationships.
- Origin of magmas: structure of the Earth, mantle melting processes, melt migration.
- Magma chambers: evidence for magma storage within the crust, magma crystallization, heat transfer and magmatic intrusions, crustal stresses and magma chambers, magma chamber convection, magmatic systems as mush columns.
- Magma migration: thermodynamic and transport properties of silicate melts and magma, porous flow model of melt migration, permeability, mechanical properties of the matrix, melt localization and flow focusing, rates of magma ascent and storage, magma transport in dikes, dynamics of magma ascent in the volcanic conduit.
- Lava flows: origin of lava flows, lava flow dynamics, lava flow heat budget and cooling, lava flow modelling.
- Strombolian eruptions: slug-bubble formation, ascent of a gas slug, burst of a gas slug.
- Vulcanian eruptions: eruption initiation, vent conditions, shock waves, pyroclastic phase.
- Sustained explosive activity: physical processes, quantitative modeling of eruption columns, atmospheric dynamics, basaltic systems and lava-fountaining eruptions.
- Modeling tephra sedimentation from volcanic plumes: plume dynamics and particle sedimentation, empirical and analytical models used for the characterization of tephra deposits, models based on the Advection–Diffusion–Sedimentation (ADS) equation, limitations of input parameters and parameterizations adopted by ADS models, case study.
- Pyroclastic density currents: PDCs generated by various mechanisms, insight from Recent Eruptions, PDCs - encompassing a range of particle concentration, buoyancy reversal, temporal evolution of particle concentration, erosion, anatomy of a pyroclastic density current.
- Volcano seismology: classification, model of occurrence of volcano seismic signals, volcano seismology in laboratory, infrasound, seismo-volcano monitoring, volcano seismology at Mt. Etna.
Textbook Information
1. Parfitt and Wilson (2008). Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology. Blackwell.
2. Sigurdsson et al. (2015). The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, 2nd Edition. Academic Press.
3. Fagents et al. (2013). Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cambridge University Press.
4. Lecture notes.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory Alignment Module | Dispense |
| 2 | Origin of magmas | Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology. Cap. 2. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Cap. 1. Notes |
| 3 | Magma chambers | Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology. Cap. 4. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Cap. 8. Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 2. Notes. |
| 4 | Magma migration | Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology. Cap. 3. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Cap. 2, 5, 9, 10, 11. Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 3, 4. Notes. |
| 5 | Lava flows | Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology. Cap. 9. Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 5. Notes. |
| 6 | Strombolian eruptions | Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 6. Notes |
| 7 | Vulcanian eruptions | The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Cap. 28. Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 7. Notes. |
| 8 | Sustained explosive activity | The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Cap. 28. Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 8. Notes. |
| 9 | Modeling tephra sedimentation from volcanic plumes | Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology. Cap. 8. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Cap. 33. Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 9. Notes. |
| 10 | Pyroclastic density currents | The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Cap. 35. Modeling Volcanic Processes. Cap. 10. Notes |
| 11 | Volcano seismology | Dispense |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The exam consists of an oral interview lasting approximately 30 minutes, aimed at assessing the student’s knowledge of the theoretical and methodological topics covered in the course, as well as their ability to connect the main physical processes occurring in volcanic systems. Students may start the exam by presenting a topic of their choice.
The assessment will take into account the correctness and completeness of the answers, the ability to analyse and connect different topics, the appropriate use of technical and scientific language, and the ability to interpret processes, data and models related to volcanic dynamics and hazard.
Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it.
To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
What are the main mechanisms of magma formation?
Talk about heat transfer processes in magma chambers.
What are the main thermodynamic and transport properties of silicate melts?
How does the
transport of magmas into the dikes take place?
Talk about modeling lava flows.
What is a gas slug and how do the formation and rising processes of the slugs take place?
What are shock waves?
Talk about the physical processes underlying sustained explosive activity.
Talk about pyroclastic density currents and their "anatomy".
What are the main seismic signals that are recorded in a volcanic environment?