Volcanic processes and hazards

Volcanoes are the visible expression of deep magmatic systems, extending from the upper mantle to the surface. Magmatic processes preceding volcanic activity take place at several kilometers below Earth’s surface. We use geophysical techniques to understand create new tools to monitor and forecast earthquake and volcanic activity. And, geological methods to constrain the rates and frequency of volcanic processes to assess the hazard it represents. We are interested in a wide variety of volcanic processes from catastrophic volcano flank collapses and tsunami propagation to dating and mapping eruptive volcanic products. In particular, our group is world leading in the use of satellite radar interferometric (InSAR) for imaging Earth’s surface to measure ground deformation due to a variety of geophysical processes. We develop analytical and numerical models for the propagation and storage of magma.