Where will magma erupt?

Understanding how magma is transported in the Earth’s crust and what associated signals are generated is key to forecast the occurrence of volcanic eruptions and, in particular, knowing where and when magma will erupt.

LMU researcher, Dr. Kyriaki Drymoni, was awarded a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Postdoctoral Fellowship to study the precursory signals associated with volcanic eruptions – a project entitled CARAVAGGIO (Coupling volcAnotectonics, numeRical modelling, experimentAl constraints, and Volcanic thermAl emissions to unravel crustal maGma migratIOn). In this fellowship, undertaken between the University of Alaska–Fairbanks and the LMU–Munich, Dr. Drymoni will combine satellite-based thermal imagery, seismicity, and novel laboratory measurements of magma and rock properties with sophisticated numerical models to simulate how magma is transported in the crust and what signals preceed the eruption of magma at the surface. The target site for this study will be Fagradalsfjall volcano, in Iceland, which has received important media attention in the last 4 years, and caused disruption to infrastructure in and around the city of Grindavík this winter. The work led by Dr. Drymoni will help provide a robust, science-based framework to increase the preparedness of communities in times of volcanic unrest.