Super-eruptions: what do they do and when do they do it? (funded by the E3 NERC DTP).

Super-eruptions: what do they do and when do they do it? (funded by the E3 NERC DTP). Large explosive caldera-forming volcanic events, known as ‘super-eruptions’, are one of the greatest geological threats to mankind. A super-eruption releases within hours to days more energy than any other naturally occurring terrestrial phenomena. Although super-eruptions have not been directly observed and described in modern times, from the study of the geological record they are thought to erupt hundreds or even thousands of cubic kilometres of magma over days or weeks. As the ultimate goal of volcanological research is to anticipate better the timing and impact of volcanic eruptions on civilization it is critical that we understand the time-size distribution of super-eruptions as well as the magmatic processes that control magma residence and trigger the evacuation of vast amounts of magma from relatively shallow crustal reservoirs. Such information is essential to provide the most important first step in determining both long- and short-term volcanic hazard. Long-term hazards relate to eruption frequency whereas short-term hazards relate to variance in behaviour of a volcanic system during the course of a single eruption. For so called ‘super-eruptions’ no individual studies have produced sufficient robust quantitative data to facilitate interrogation of the magmatic processes that control repose interval, eruptive style, duration and intensity. This project aims to plug gaps in our fundamental understanding of super-volcanoes and the magmatic processes that control magma recharge, magma storage, accumulation of super-eruption volumes of magma as well as eruption frequency and eruption triggers.
https://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/PhD/getDocument?SerialNo=1229

E3 DTP: http://e3dtp.geos.ed.ac.uk

Specifics concerning the application process can be found at the links above to the specific DTP websites. Please contact Professor Mark for further details of each project ([Email Address Removed])