About

I am a volcano geophysicist who specializes in the application of seismic, infrasonic, lightning, and remote sensing data to better understand and contextualize the dynamics of volcanic systems and to improve eruption forecasting and detection capabilities. Volcanic eruptions are violent phenomena that can wreak havoc on local populations and infrastructure and threaten global air traffic and economies. Magma and gas movement in the subsurface generates seismic waves. When an explosive eruption occurs, it generates infrasonic waves (sound below human hearing), an eruption plume frequently observable with satellites, and often lightning. I use geophysical signals to understand the volcanic processes that generate them. My observations are from both designed field-based experiments and from permanent observational networks and satellites. My long-term vision is to advance our capability to characterize activity and quantify emissions, with the specific aims of 1) improving eruption detection and characterization for hazard mitigation and 2) understanding the mechanics of volcanic behavior.