Volcanology

Academic unit or major

Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences

Instructor(s)

Yasuo Ogawa / Wataru Kanda

Class Format

Lecture/Experiment

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

Intensive (Ishikawadai Bldg. 2, 318 room)

Class

-

Course Code

EPS.A332

Number of credits

101

Course offered

2020

Offered quarter

2Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 10, 2025

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course outlines volcanoes and volcanic activity, which characterize the Japanese Archipelago, introducing the latest eruption examples and observation examples. This course is comprised of (1)six lectures and a three-day outdoor training session which will be held during the exam period or the summer vacation. The main lecture contents are "Introduction to the Volcanology: volcano and subduction zone", "Volcanic eruptions 1: variety of eruptions", "Volcanic eruptions 2: volcanic ejecta", "Volcanic hazards and risk mitigation", "Surveying volcanoes: structure of a volcano", "Monitoring volcanoes: volcanic activity". The main training contents are "Observation of the lava flow, pyroclastic flow, volcanic ashes, and other geographical features of a volcano", "Collection of the volcanic gases or hot-spring water and its chemical analysis", "Exploration of the underground structure by electrical resistivity measurement".

Course description and aims

[Goal]
Students will learn about the volcano and volcanic activity, which characterize the Japanese Archipelago, from lectures and outdoor training. Students will understand the basic knowledge about volcanic eruptions, expected volcanic disasters, and a hazard mitigation system, in order to take an appropriate action when they encounter eruptions. In addition, students will learn about several methods of the volcanic observation to understand the present state of the volcano, and will deepen their understanding of it through the outdoor training.
[Theme]
This course gives the fundamental knowledge about the volcano widely. The contents cover many topics including the origin of volcanoes, eruption styles, volcanic ejecta, and observation methods. Students will learn about disasters caused by volcanic eruptions and the disaster prevention, as a natural disaster. In the outdoor training, students will visit an active volcano and observe volcanic ejecta and geographical feature of a volcano, through which they will experience a live volcano.

Keywords

volcanic eruption, volcanic activity, volcanic hazard, volcanic observation

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Attendance is taken in each class. To deepen students' understanding, a homework assignment is given for each lecture. Report assignment given for three-day outdoor training.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Lecture notes (in Japanese) are provided at the time of every class.
Reference books (in Japanese): 「地球の観測」（岩波講座第4巻）、「火山学Ⅰ,Ⅱ」（古今書院）、「火山噴火と災害」（東京大学出版会）

Evaluation methods and criteria

No examination. Two credits will be awarded both with (1) attendance to the lectures (six lectures and each report problem) and with (2) participation to the outdoor trainings.

Related courses

• LAS.A110 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (geophysics)
• LAS.A111 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (earth materials)
• EPS.A204 ： Introduction to Earth and Planetary Physics
• EPS.A201 ： Introduction to Material Sciences of Earth and Planet
• EPS.A336 ： Dynamics of the Earth and Planet

Prerequisites

None