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THE ULTIMATE CLASS OUTSIDE
Virtually the entire course will take place outside on volcanoes. The catalog description is:
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NSC 250 Physical Science of Volcanoes
A study of the physical science of volcanoes, including types of volcanoes, types of eruptions, volcanic hazards and benefits, environmental effects, and historically significant eruptions. Other geothermal phenomena such as hot springs and geysers are studied. The course includes traditional lectures and field work. Conducted in New Zealand. Prerequisites are any physical science course or permission of the instructor. |
A more extensive list of topics is shown below
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I. Plate Tectonics and Volcanism
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VI. Volcanic Hazards |
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A. General Anatomy of a Volcano |
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A. Detection Methods |
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II. Types of Volcanoes |
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B. Pyroclastic Flows |
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A. Volcanic Fields |
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C. Lahar Flows |
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B. Calderas |
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D. Lava Flows |
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C. Composite Cones |
VII. Environmental Effects |
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III. Effusive and Explosive Eruptions |
VIII. Benefits of Volcanoes |
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A. Gas Eruptions |
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A. Geothermal Power |
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B. Hawaiian Eruptions |
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B. Volcanic Soil |
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C. Strombolian Eruptions |
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C. Construction Materials |
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D. Plinian Eruptions |
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D. Volcano Tourism |
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IV. Lava and Magma |
IX. Historically Significant Volcanoes |
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A. Lava Flow Properties |
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A. Thera (Bronze Age) |
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B. Basaltic Lava |
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B. Vesuvius (AD 79) |
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C. Andesitic Lava |
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C. Taupo, NZ (AD 181) |
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D. Rhyolitic Lava |
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D. Krakatoa (1883) |
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V. Other Geothermal Phenomena |
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E. Pelee (1902) |
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A. Geysers |
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F. Mount St. Helens (1980) |
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B. Hot Springs |
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Each of these topics will be covered in the context of the volcanoes and other geothermal phenomena in New Zealand. Grading for the course will consist of a daily journal, three short exams and a final, a paper you will write with two other people, and class participation.
Some useful links to volcanoes and New Zealand volcanoes are:
- The Smithsonian Institution web site which has a searchable database of volcanoes and weekly bulletins of activity.
- The New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences website which has a lot of information about New Zealand volcanoes and some web cams which will show you live pictures of where we are going.
- The Volcano World website which is geared towards high school students but still has some cool images.
- The US Geological Survey Cascade Volcanoes website which has a lot of information about Cascade Volcanoes, but some other ones around the US. Some of the New Zealand volcanoes are similar to those in the Cascades. They also publish a nice book with a lot of useful information in it. There is a list of volcano movies (including the Lord of the Rings which were filmed in New Zealand) on the website.
Here is the list of students who were part of the 2008 class.
| Dec 30-Jan 21 |
Dec 30-Jan 28 |
Dec 26-Jan 28 |
| Hannah Banks |
Eric Brown |
Matt Burton |
| Kyle Barnett |
Kyle Bumgarner |
Jason Chadwick |
| Chad Riney |
Brittany Camenish |
Barrett Green
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Carla Estridge |
Spears Hinkle |
| Conrad Shiba |
Ben Gowen |
Matt Hoskins |
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Jessica Harden |
Matt Kowaleski |
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Talia Harris |
Kim Leake |
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Cameron Hensman |
Laura MacDonald |
| Elijah Leed |
Heather Herring |
Luke Neubauer |
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Jake Jones |
John Perin |
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Stephanie Lawler |
Drew Randolph |
| Dec 26-Jan 21 |
Rhi Ledgerwood |
John Schuler |
| The Dunn Clan |
Molly Lindle |
Ali Sorrels |
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Kevin McGee |
Michelle Wade |
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Kenny Smith |
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Jeffrey SoRelle |
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Laura Steffen |
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Rebecca Todd |
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Jeffrey Williams |
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Lindsay Williamson |
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Kyle Young |
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Melanie Hauser |
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