PhD Scholarship in Volcanology/Igneous Petrology

Hydrothermal activity may have a significant role in promoting caldera-forming volcanic eruptions. This is because hydrothermal fluids can alter rocks, weakening the edifice and promoting failure. Most recently, hydrothermal activity is suggested to have caused temporary sealing leading to magma volatile build up and a more explosive eruption for the 2022 Hunga eruption in Tonga. Alternatively, hydrothermal circulation can facilitate magmatic volatile outgassing, which in turn decrease explosivity of eruption. To explore these concepts, this project will focus on the Santorini caldera where active hydrothermal activity is known, the volcano is active, last experiencing a caldera-forming eruption in 1600 ybp, is well-studied and has a substantial eruptive history preserved in the caldera wall. A NERC (UK)-funded scientific cruise to investigate hydrothermal history and activity in the Santorini caldera is scheduled for 2025 that will provide a framework for this PhD Study. We seek a PhD candidate with physical volcanology and igneous petrology expertise.