Volcanology Group

The emphasis of the work of the Volcanology Group of Section "Earthquake Risk and Early Warning" is on processes related to volcanism interacting with adjacent tectonic and environmental systems.

Focus:
Evidences increase worldwide that volcanic eruptions depend on short-term geological processes at large distances to the volcano. Changes in the stress field within the crust may be responsible for such a clustering of events, where for instance volcanoes erupt after large tectonic earthquakes. The understanding of the coupling of volcanoes to their environment is crucial for assessing the potential for volcanic unrest and eruptions. Current research projects of the volcanology group focus on the interaction of volcanism and earthquakes.

Main goals:
The aim is to contribute to
• Identification of volcanic activity and potential hazards
• Process understanding of sheet intrusions and propagation paths
• Evolution of magma chambers and calderas
• Flank instability and giant volcanic landslides
• Stress field development and stress transfer in volcanic regions

Spatial and temporal scope:
The focus of our work is on large-scale volcanic processes, with deformation on the order of several kilometres at individual edifices or extended zones of the plate boundary observatories. As we analyse co-, post- and pre-seismic effects, the time window covers seconds to several hundred years.

Data sources:
We use data from permanent and temporary monitoring networks. Methodologies include structural field work, deformation measurement using space based and ground based geodetic techniques, and experimental and numerical simulations in order to study volcano-tectonic interactions. Through InSAR (see also InSAR research website), a ground based radar interferometer, strain meters, GPS, as well as GeoInformaticSystems the operational range and expertise of the Research Group is extended, and complements other research efforts at the host institution.

Through analytical and numerical models we investigate near-surface, endogenous and deep seated processes occurring within volcanic regions. Using inversion modeling of deformation data we obtain detailed information about the location and volume change of magmatic reservoirs and constrain the complex shape of dikes, sills and chambers. Using boundary element and finite element numerical modelling we investigate effects of material heterogeneities, non-linear rheologies and more complex geometries. Analogue experiments help to see and understand processes, for instance at collapse calderas. 

Figure: Volcano deformation measured at Uturuncu, South America

Figure: Computer model simulation of detected ground displacement caused by an inflating magma chamber

Cooperations:
Close cooperation exist with the Modelling Group, the German TaskForce Earthquakes, and collaborators from other sections of the GFZ as well as from national and international cooperation.

Current projects:
Project title: VOLCANOSTRESS - Stress field development and stress transfer at volcanoes
Funding period: 01/09/2003 -- 30/08/2009, Funding: DFG Emmy Noether

Project title: CEVI - Chile earthquake-volcano interaction : A radar satellite interferometric time series analysis of volcanoes in Chile. Postdoc project with Dr. M. Motagh
Funding period: 01/01/2007 -- 30/12/2009, Funding: DFG

Project title: VOLCANORIFT - Interaction between rift zones and unstable flanks on ocean island volcanoes. Joint project with Dr. A. Freundt, Geomar Kiel
Funding period: 01/01/2008 -- 30/12/2011, Funding: DFG

Project title: EXUPERY - Managing Volcanig Unrest - The Volcano Fast Response System
Funding period: 01/07/2007 -- 30/09/2010, Funding: BMBF, Geotechnologien

Project title: The 26 May 2006 Yogyakarta Earthquake, its associated aftershocks and stress diffusion
Funding period: 01/06/2007 -- 30/5/2010, Funding: by BMBF within project GITEWS

Project title: TerraSAR-X satellite radar pre launch proposal: Volcano-earthquake interaction in Nicaragua GEO0141, data
Funding period: 2006 -- 2010

Project title: ALOS ADEN AO satellite radar pre launch proposal: Understanding volcano-earthquake interaction in African Rift Valleys through space geodesy.
Funding period: 2007 -- 2012, Funding: European Space Agency

Project title: ENVISAT Category-1 Project: Stress transfer and volcano-earthquake interaction analyzed by ASAR interferometry.
Funding period: 2006 -- 2010, Funding: European Space Agency

Project title: ESA Category-1 Project: InSAR observations of flank deformation and giant landslides on ocean island volcanoes
Funding period: 2005 -- 2008, Funding: European Space Agency

Co-workers:
Dr. Thomas R. WALTER (Head of the group)
Dr. Mahdi MOTAGH (Postdoc)
Dipl. Eng. Andrea MANCONI (PhD candidate)
Dipl. Geol. Joel RUCH (PhD candidate)
Dipl. Eng. Manoochehr SHIRZEI (PhD candidate)
Dipl. Geoph. Ade ANGGRAINI (PhD candidate)
Dipl. Geol. Sebastian MÜNN (PhD candidate)
Katja MÜLLER (Msc candidate)
Christoph BACH (Msc candidate)
Hannes BATHKE (Msc candidate)

Former co-workers:
Veronika BIERBAUM
Silke EGGERT
Nicolas LECORVEC
Manuel QUEISSER
Lionel DUCHOISELLE