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ESC-20094 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

ESC-20094 - Volcanoes and the Environment
Coordinator: Ralf Gertisser Room: WSF32 Tel: +44 1782 7 33181
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

ESC-10070 (Minerals and Rocks)

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

Volcanoes and the Environment provides you with a systematic and comprehensive understanding of volcanoes and volcanic phenomena, and how volcanism shapes and affects the environment. During interactive lectures and practical classes, you will acquire and deploy subject-specific skills and modern methods in volcanology to interpret and critically evaluate volcanological data and solve volcanological problems.

Aims
The aim of this module is to provide students with a systematic and comprehensive understanding of volcanic phenomena and processes, and how volcanism shapes and affects the environment.

Intended Learning Outcomes

systematically describe and explain volcanic phenomena and processes operating on the journey of magma from its source to the atmosphere and the effect of volcanism on the environment: 1,2
deploy subject-specific skills and modern methods in volcanology to interpret volcanological data, and apply and critically evaluate these to the formulation and solution of a problem: 1,2
evaluate, integrate, and apply appropriate information from various sources on aspects of 'volcanoes and the environment' to create cohesive and persuasive scientific arguments that are communicated clearly in various forms: 1,2
apply computer-based, numeracy and information handling skills to solve volcanological problems in the widest sense: 1,2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours:
60 hours scheduled teaching sessions (24 2.5-hour workshops)
Independent Study Hours:
90 hours independent study, incl. (i) completion of practical tasks and revision for assessment 1 (class test) (25 hours), and (ii) researching, image analysis, data processing and report preparation for assessment 2 (1,500 word illustrated report) (65 hours).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Class Test weighted 50%
Class Test
2-hour open book class test. Students will answer questions about selected aspects of volcanoes, volcanic processes and volcanoes and the environment covered in the teaching sessions of the module. The test may also include practical aspects, such as describing a volcanic rock under the microscope.

2: Report weighted 50%
1,500 word illustrated report
Students will produce a 1,500 word illustrated report about a topic in volcanology, such as a modern volcanic area or a volcanic eruption. The assessment will contain elements of virtual field/outcrop observations, descriptions and interpretation, and integration of these into a structured and illustrated report.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025