Fire and Ice: Volcanic and Glacial Interactions, a Marine Research Expedition

Part of the Lapworth Lecture series

Speakers: Dr Sebastian Watt, University of Birmingham, and Schmidt Ocean Institute

Monday 16th September at 5:30pm

Fire and Ice: Volcanic and Glacial Interactions, a Marine Research Expedition

On May 2, 2008, Chile’s Chaitén volcano erupted without warning, spewing ash 30 kilometres into the air, blanketing the landscape. Subsequent heavy rain triggered devastating volcanic mudflows down mountainsides and into fjords below. The nearby town of Chaitén evacuated as the eruption transformed the surrounding landscape. Dr. Sebastian Watt of the University of Birmingham, will lead an international team to study the underwater effects of the Chaitén eruption from the research vessel Falkor (too). Understanding the imprint of the Chaitén eruption in the marine environment will also help unlock deeper-time records of major volcanic eruptions in the region, allowing scientists to reconstruct volcanic behaviour in Southern Chile over geologic time. 

This talk will join the R/V Falkor (too) live from Chile, where you will learn about the science onboard, meet the crew and scientists, as well as tour the ship’s lab spaces, hangar, aft deck, and mission control room!

All are welcome to attend and there is no admission charge.

The Lecture will be held in Aston Webb A Block, Lecture Theatre WG5.