Volcanoes are amongst the most powerful and dangerous natural manifestations on Earth, and basaltic volcanism is the most common form of volcanic activity. Bettering our current understanding of volcano system behaviour to improve hazard assessment and risk mitigation is therefore imperative for scientists and governmental authorities operating in active basaltic volcanic areas. The primary goal of this PhD project is to create an empirically constrained quantitative description of magma vesiculation and crystallisation kinetics for basaltic volcanoes and to apply this to address key volcanological questions through a numerical model framework and observations of the natural system. The student will combine recent advances in the field of in situ 4D (time+3D space) synchrotron x-ray tomographic experiments to visualise and quantify crystallisation and degassing at HPHT (high pressure and high temperature) with state-of-the-art numerical modelling and observations of natural volcanic phenomena and products. He/she will use a new x-ray transparent IHPV (internally heated pressure vessel), deployed within the Manchester Volcanology group, to address fundamental questions that have puzzled Earth scientists for decades: 1) what is the relationship between magma dynamics and transport at depth and the volcanic activity that we watch at the surface? 2) how and why do transitions between explosive and effusive volcanic activity occur and how can we model and predict them?
By exploiting the new IHPV, the student will perform studies on magma vesiculation and crystallisation kinetics by applying in situ 4D x-ray synchrotron computed microtomography imaging to basaltic magmas of different compositions (e.g., tholeiitic, alkaline), volatile and crystal content. The results of the 4D experiments on magma kinetics will be used to derive improved empirical laws of magma rheology and then will be implemented into a large scale multiphase, multicomponent numerical model of the physical behaviour of magma in volcanic conduits in use at the University of Manchester. The model outputs will be validated by, and compared with, observations and measurements from well-studied natural basaltic eruptions from Italy (Mt Etna volcano) and Reunion (Piton de la Fournaise volcano). The PhD project outcomes will be shared with volcano observatories and used during on-going eruptions for tracking changes in eruptive behaviour and make predictions on the eruption evolution.
The student will be part of the thriving Manchester Volcanology group, which includes an interdisciplinary and enthusiastic group of scientists. He/she will be engaged into a novel and challenging line of research, which is expected to significantly improve our understanding of basaltic eruption dynamics and evolution, and generate several outstanding, unprecedented results in the field of experimental and numerical modelling of magmatic and volcanic processes. The student will receive training in experimental petrology and analytical techniques, x-ray microtomography, 3D/4D imaging, and numerical modelling of volcanic processes. He/she will participate into field campaigns in Italy and Reunion, encouraged to attend national and international conferences/workshops, and write first author papers.
The project is funded by the University of Manchester through a competition for Home (UK nationals) students. The project has a duration of 3.5 years.
Please email [Email Address Removed] for queries.
Continue with Facebook
