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| Eruption column from the explosive phase of the Eyjafjallajokull eruption drifting over a farm - image by Bristol volcanologist Susanna Jenkins |
The University of Bristol’s volcanology group has
been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its contribution to research excellence. The
Queens Anniversary Prize is the most prestigious form of national recognition
an institution can receive. When I tell members of the public that, not only am
I a volcanologist, but that I am part of the one of the largest and most
successful volcanology groups in the world, the first reaction is always
surprise: ‘Why is the UK interested in volcanoes? We don’t have any of our
own!’
They are right of course, the Bristol volcanology group
spends its time travelling all over the world to address volcanic risk in many
countries, from the first to the third world. When one looks back on volcanic
eruptions in recent history, especially the big, memorable ones like Mount St Helens, Eyjafjallajokull and Montserrat one
realises that Bristol volcanologists were there at every stage.
There are, of course, many layers to handling a volcanic
crisis. First there’s initial monitoring; will this volcano erupt at all? Often
this involves going to volcanoes that have been little studied in remote
places, or monitoring them from satellites: something which Bristol volcanology
has taken in its stride, by trailblazing projects on understudied African volcanism.
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| InSAR image showing volcanic uplift in the Great Rift Valley as part of research by Bristol volcanologist Juliet Biggs |
Then there’s handling eruptions as they happen. Who will be
affected? What are the primary risks? How should we respond to the media? Bristol
has a glowing history of aiding in volcanic crisis by supplying the information
when the world needs it. During the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull ash and aviation
crisis, Bristol led the way in supplying expert opinion on managing the situation.
Still there is no rest for our volcanologists. Afterwards
there’s the post-eruption work: Working out what made the volcano erupt and understanding
the physical processes surrounding an event. How does it fit into the wider setting?
Are the volcanoes linked? These questions have been asked and answered by our
volcanologists who have also reached out to form a global database with other
institutions. This has resulted in more cohesion in the community, and a
greater understanding of how volcanoes interact.
A wealth of different specialities have populated the group
since it was started by Professor Steve Sparks including
petrologists, geophysicists and geochemists. It is a result of this diverse
environment that Bristol has been able to excel in so many areas. With natural
hazards occurring on a near-daily basis, it's safe to say the group has played
its part in reducing the uncertainty of volcanic hazard across the globe. The Queen’s Anniversary Prize is an amazing
recognition of the work that has been done over the years and a well-deserved
reward for the hard work of the Bristol volcanologists.
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This blog is written by Cabot Institute member Keri McNamara, a PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol.
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| Keri McNamara |