PhD opportunity in forecasting volcanic eruptions at The University of Leeds
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Dear Colleagues,
Could you please advertise the following PhD opportunity at the university of Leeds (UK). Any enquiries can be directed to Prof. Jurgen Neuberg at the address below, the application deadline is fast approaching!
Using seismic and tilt measurements to forecast eruptions of silicic volcanoes
Prof Jurgen Neuberg (SEE), Dr Mark Thomas (SEE)
Contact email: J.Neuberg@xxxxxxxxxxx
Independent interpretations of seismic swarms and tilt measurement on active silicic volcanoes have been successfully used to assess their eruption potential. Swarms of low-frequency seismic events have been associated with brittle failure or stick-slip motion of magma during ascent and have been used to estimate qualitatively the magma ascent rate which typically accelerates before lava dome collapses (Neuberg et al, 2006). Tilt signals are extremely sensitive indicators for volcano deformation and have been often modelled and interpreted as inflation or deflation of a shallow magma reservoir (Hautmann et al., 2009) This project aims to combine these two independent observations, seismicity and deformation, to design and implement a forecasting tool that can be deployed in volcano observatories on an operational level.
Aims of the project:
(i) Improving the modelling of tilt signals by taking the full stress tensor into account. So far tilt has been interpreted as caused by inflation or deflation of magma reservoirs, hence, as a volume or pressure change. These models often lead to unrealistically high pressures and fail to explain the observations (Fig 2). An alternative interpretation where tilt is caused by shear stress across the conduit wall during magma ascent acting as an ascent rate indicator, can explain the observations easily (Green et al, 2006). The amount of tilt caused by the ascending magma is controlled by its viscosity.
(ii) (ii) Quantifying magma ascent rates through seismic low-frequency swarms. Models linking magma ascent and seismicity have remained mainly conceptual, but latest laboratory experiments of magma properties, their shear strength and rheological properties allow an improved estimate of processes leading to the generation of seismicity during magma ascent. Advances in seismic moment tensor analysis together with better understanding of wave propagation of seismic low-frequency events enable us now to calibrate and quantify magma ascent rates from seismic records.
(iii) (iii) Combining seismicity and tilt. While the observation of seismicity and tilt are independent, their generating processes are not. Shear stress across the conduit wall can either lead to deformation of the edifice manifesting itself through tilt or, exceeding a certain threshold, can lead to the generation of seismicity, reducing the remaining shear stress that caused the tilt (Fig 3, Thomas & Neuberg, 2012). This interference between processes in the conduit leading to both seismicity and deformation will be exploited to design a technique to estimate whether magma ascent rates reach a critical value which can lead to eruptions.
PhD Training
According to background and specific research interests, the student will be provided with training in analytical and numerical modeling techniques, applied to seismic wavefields and pressure variations in magma-gas mixtures, and will use and further develop tools in volcano seismic analysis, numerical magma flow modelling, and deformation models. Volcanic monitoring experience will be gained at Soufriere Hills volcano, on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat at the volcano observatory (MVO) as well as on Tungurahua and Cotopaxi with the Geophysical Institute (IG) in Quito, Ecuador (IG). We have maintained with both institutions very good links over many years and have an existing Memorandum of Understanding controlling data exchange and co-operation. Visits to both institutions will be necessary to implement forecasting tools at these observatories in co-operation with observatory staff. The student will be supervised by Prof Jurgen Neuberg and Dr Mark Thomas, and will be part of a colourful and multi-disciplinary group of scientists in the UK and abroad, due to the multi-national co-operation and research contacts of the Volcano Study Group at Leeds.
Funding
This project has been shortlisted for potential funding from the Leeds York NERC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). We welcome applications from UK and EU students. All of our funded studentships are available to applicants who qualify for NERC awards; normally that means full funding for UK students. In addition, some of our fully funded studentships are available to EU students from outside of the UK. We will allocate the studentships at the time of making offers.
Start Date – October 2016, see the full project information at: http://www.nercdtp.leeds.ac.uk/projects/index.php?id=321
Details for how to apply can be found at: http://www.nercdtp.leeds.ac.uk/how-to-apply/
Deadline for applications is January 11th 2016
Interviews to be held in Leeds week beginning February 22nd 2016
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ASU - http://www.asu.edu/ PSU - http://pdx.edu/ GVP - http://www.volcano.si.edu/ IAVCEI - http://www.iavcei.org/
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