Thursday 24 September, 4 PM CET
Dr. Pierre-Yves Tournigand
ABSTRACT: Explosive eruptions are dangerous events capable of impacting human lives on a broad range of scales. Volcanic vent-and-crater area, from which eruptions are produced, continuously change in shape due to erosion and material deposition. Recent studies have shown that morphological changes of this area can strongly impact the volcanic activity type. However, little has been done to understand the morphological properties of these vents and their interactions with eruption dynamics. Answering these questions is crucial to better forecast the intensity of future eruptions and help prevent disasters like the last paroxysm of Stromboli volcano in 2019.
In this project, we tackle this gap through a novel approach combining ground-based high-speed and high-resolution cameras and unoccupied aircraft system imaging of Strombolian explosions. First we will design and test a methodology capable of imaging the vent-and-crater area before and after the occurrence of eruptive events while simultaneously characterizing the eruptive event itself. Data will be acquired during field campaigns targeting volcanoes with permanent Strombolian activity. Acquired data will then allow to investigate the interdependence of source morphology and explosive eruption style. The outcome of this project will be empirical quantitative models providing new insights on the existing interrelation between vent evolution and eruptive dynamics with crucial applications in volcano monitoring and hazard assessment.