Volcanic eruptions are fueled by rising magma that acts as carrier for geochemically important volatile components, notably H2O. In addition to the macroscopic physical effects of outgassing, for example the magma may explode, the loss of magmatic H2O and other components (especaially halogens) can greatly influence the physicochemical properties of magma (melt viscosity, liquidus/solidus temperature, heat capacity). This in turn means that the release of volatiles during magma’s transport through the solid earth feeds back with its deformation behavior, or rheology, with the important implication that how much a magma degasses depends very much on whether it “flows or breaks”. Part of the strategy of this research theme will therefore be to experimentally constrain relations between magma rheology and degassing behavior.
Degassing rhyolite magma at Chaiten Volcano, Chile (2009)
To learn more about the research on the physics of volcanic eruptions led by Prof. Jon Castro, please click HERE.
You can click HERE for more information on monitoring volcanic eruptions by Prof. Thomas Wagner and the satellite remote sensing group.