2018: Prof Kathy Cashman

Abstract:  “One of the most challenging problems in Earth Sciences is to “see” into the Earth. This problem is particularly important in Volcanology, where our assumptions about what lies below a volcano shape the ways in which we interpret precursory signals of volcanic eruptions, forecast the nature of eruptive activity, and develop long-term hazard assessments of volcanic regions. In this talk I will review ways in which our assumptions about sub-volcanic systems have changed over the past decade, and how those changes affect the ways which we approach volcanic hazard assessment. Although I will touch on information provided by geophysics and geodesy, my focus will be on what I like to call “reverse engineering” of material erupted from volcanoes, which provide direct evidence for subvolcanic structures and processes.”