The purpose of the Volcanoes and Atmosphere in Magmatic Open Systems (VAMOS) Research Unit at JGU is to explore, quantify, and, where possible, predict the chemical and physical processes that occur in volcanoes and their magma chambers, as well as the effects that volcanoes are likely to have on the areas where they are located. For this, the researchers will model the formation and movement of magma under the Earth’s crust and construct theories relating to the origin of eruptions.
The generation of magma in the presence of high pressures and temperatures and its crystallization will be simulated on the laboratory level, the question being why most magma remains below the Earth’s crust and does not come to the surface in eruptions. Another aspect considered will be the effect of the volatile substances produced during eruptions on the atmosphere. The larger the amount of volatile substances emitted, the greater and more far-reaching are the interactions with the atmosphere.