GMPV
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

#Volcanoes

Geo-Fantasy – between Fantasy Novel and the Real World

February 8, 2023
Geo-Fantasy – between Fantasy Novel and the Real World
Kirkjufell Mountain and its waterfall (from www.icelandtravelguide.is)

When reading fantasy novels, we are usually brought to worlds of elves, dragons, and epic battles, all surrounded by breathtaking magical forests, or castles above impervious cliffs. However, even fantasy stories take inspiration from the real world and its geology. Who does not remember the ascent of Mount Doom of Frodo and Sam, or the importance of Dragon Glass (Obsidian) in Game of Thrones? So, ...[Read More]

Machine Learning and Volcanic Crystals: a journey with Corin Jorgenson into Random Forest Thermobarometry

September 15, 2022
Frontpage_CorinJorgenson_Thermobarometry

Thermobarometry: a bit of background Being able to understand the eruptive style of a volcano, how the eruptive behavior can evolve over time and managing to better interpret the signals that a volcanic system gives us before an eruption are of fundamental importance for mitigating the risk associated with eruptive activities. In this context, it is extremely important to understand trans-crustal ...[Read More]

Volcanoes and social media make us (more?) crazy

and April 20, 2022
Volcanoes and social media make us (more?) crazy
South-East Crater of Mount Etna, 13.2.2022. Photo by Daniele Musumeci

Many people are drawn to danger and behaviors that can harm their health or finances. Dangerous activities include the attraction that humans have always had towards natural events, such as volcanic eruptions, or towards gambling, adventure, challenging travels or physical activities without the ability or the necessary preparation. In today’s life many people face risks, however these risks ...[Read More]

An Overview on the 15 Jan 2022 Hunga Tonga-Huna Ha’apai Eruption

February 9, 2022
front_picture_Hunga
Picture taken on 5th June 2017 by Damien Grouille together with Cécile Sabau, during an geological and photographic expedition carried out for the NASA. The shot is done from the summit of Hunga Tonga -Hunga Ha'apai island (HTHH), giving a view to the East and the island of Hunga Tonga. Photo credit: Damien Grouille, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Since 15 January 2022, the islands of the Tonga archipelago and surrounding territories have been suffering the effects of what has turned out to be one of the biggest eruptions of this century. The eruption occurred on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, an island created by the emergence of a large submarine volcano. HTHH is located among the ~170 islands of the Kingdom of Tonga and about 65 km nor ...[Read More]