VOLCANOLOGIST
Emma is standing close to a recently erupting fissure at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, a deep gash in the Earth's surface allowing molten rock to escape, often explosively. She and her team develop and deploy customised drones carrying gas and temperature sensing equipment to collect scientific data during eruptions such as this, all over the world. They pilot their instruments right into the mouth of the volcano. Join us on a journey of discovery about the science of risk. Inigo is partnering with Dr Emma Nicholson, volcanologist and associate professor at UCL, to understand how she is able to de-risk
the seemingly impossible, transforming it into something exceptionally well executed. We will learn about the science that keeps her and her team safe. From the technical aspects of understanding the hazardous environment she operates in, to the complex scientific experiments she carries out to help detect and forecast changes in behavior at active volcanoes. Emma’s measured approach is remarkably similar to ours.
Let’s fly in.
Emma is standing close to a recently erupting fissure at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, a deep gash in the Earth's surface allowing molten rock to escape, often explosively. She and her team develop and deploy customised drones carrying gas and temperature sensing equipment to collect scientific data during eruptions such as this, all over the world. They pilot their instruments right into the mouth of the volcano.
Join us on a journey of discovery about the science of risk. Inigo is partnering with Dr Emma Nicholson, volcanologist and associate professor at UCL, to understand how she is able to de-risk the seemingly impossible, transforming it into something exceptionally well executed. We will learn about the science that keeps her and her team safe. From the technical aspects of understanding the hazardous environment she operates in, to the complex scientific experiments she carries out to help detect and forecast changes in behavior at active volcanoes. Emma’s measured approach is remarkably similar to ours.
Sometimes unexpected opportunities appear that you simply have to run with because you know that you may never get another chance. I had the unique opportunity to travel south to Antarctica as a visiting scientist on board the National Geographic Resolution.
I have been working at Etna Volcano in Italy, working with a fantastic team, developing new technologies for sampling high temperature volcanic gases using drones. Volcanic gases really are the fuel that drives explosive eruption. They govern the style of activity the volcano produces, and they are also a fantastic monitoring tool.
By measuring the amount of gas being released and its chemistry, we can place constraints on where magma is being stored and whether it's rising towards the surface.
We wear a range of personal protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, to try and protect ourselves, particularly from the volcanic gases that we're trying to sample.
Emma employs a range of specialised tools and instruments to study volcanoes and monitor their activity. These tools help gather data on various volcanic processes and provide valuable insights into volcanic behaviour.
(top) Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala; (bottom left and right) Fagradalsfjall, Iceland.
Volcanoes release gases including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Ultraviolet cameras and spectrometers use sunlight passing through the volcanic gas cloud to measure the composition and quantity of gases being emitted to the atmosphere. These data are a key element in eruption forecasting, as volcanic gases can indicate the arrival of new magma beneath a volcano, and also in assessing hazards related to air quality.
Earthquakes generate ground vibrations in the form of seismic waves that are detected and recorded by buried sensors. The frequency, type and location of earthquakes provide crucial information on magma movement, gas release and rock fracturing, all of which can track the ascent of magma towards the surface ahead of an eruption.
By detecting heat anomalies, Emma and her team can identify areas of elevated volcanic activity, such as lava flows or hot fumaroles (gas vents). Measuring changes in temperature over time at these gas vents is a valuable monitoring tool, whilst heat imaging during active lava flows helps with emergency management and the creation of hazard maps.
Volcanic ash is made up of tiny fragments of broken magma. Ash samplers, such as filters, are used to collect ash particles for detailed laboratory measurements of their size, shape and chemistry. Analysing these magma fragments provides important clues about what triggered an eruption and also the potential hazards to aviation, health and the environment from airborne ash.
Remote sensing techniques, including satellite imagery and radar, enable volcanologists to study changes in volcanic activity at the global scale and detect volcanoes showing new signs of unrest. These observations from space help to map volcanic structures, identify new “hotspots”, detect movement of the Earth’s surface, and monitor the transport of ash and gas in the atmosphere.
Some measurements need to be made as close to the volcanic vent as possible, and this is especially important when sampling volcanic gases. As soon as these gases mix with the atmosphere they are diluted and can change their chemistry. Emma needs to capture them at high temperature to get the most accurate information.
Emma collects gas measurements from inside the crater shortly after the end of the La Palma eruption. She needs to wear a gas mask to protect herself from the toxic gases and a helmet in case of falling rocks.
Emma prepares to pilot a multi-rotor drone equipped with gas sensors over an active vent of Stromboli volcano, Italy.
Drones enable Emma and her team to gather real-time data from areas that were previously inaccessible or dangerous for her. She has learned through experience that volcanic activity can change rapidly and unexpectedly, potentially placing her in danger. By developing new sensors that are smaller and lighter, and working with engineers to create drones that are more resistant and more stable, Emma is now able to collect gas measurements from right inside volcanic vents from a safe distance, sometimes from up to ten kilometres away.
Keeping people safe from volcanoes, whilst working safely in this environment yourself, requires good communication not only within your team but also with emergency managers, local monitoring agencies, and the media.
Developing effective resilience to volcanic hazards requires long-term commitment to identify areas of greatest exposure and work directly with the communities most at risk. Building these relationships before eruption crises rather than in direct response to them is crucial.
Emma has worked at and published research on many volcanoes globally, all of which have informed and shaped her perspective on risk.
Location
Kīlauea, Hawai’i
Research conducted
Eruption response assessing the impacts of the volcanic activity on regional air quality.
Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala
Initiated a collaborative citizen science programme for volcanic ash sampling spanning multiple years.
Masaya, Nicaragua
Assessing the societal and environmental impacts of persistent volcanic gas emissions on local communities.
Villarrica, Chile
Volcanic gas sampling from lava lake volcano, including the earliest trials of drone-based sensor equipment.
Cumbre Vieja, La Palma, Canary Islands
Eruption response deploying drone technology for operational measurements of the volcanic gas chemistry.
Stromboli, Italy
Volcanic gas measurements at individual active vents using drones to compare passive and explosive emissions.
Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania
Lava sampling from molten lava pools using highly experimental rope and pulley system suspended across the 300 m wide crater.
Manam and Bagana, Papua New Guinea
Developing custom technology for long-range volcanic gas measurements using fixed-wing drones capable of flying beyond visual line of sight.
Kīlauae, Hawaii
Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala
Developed a citizen science programme for volcanic ash sampling spanning multiple years.
Stromboli - Italy
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