Universidad de La Frontera

Our proposed student/early career exchange initiative aims to promote collaborative research in geohazard science, specifically focusing on the Southern Andes region centered around the Liquiñe-Ofqui fault system. Throughout their stay, participants will actively engage in evaluating the connections between landslides and volcanic/tectonic forcings. The goal is to optimize the deployment of instrumental networks for effective geohazard monitoring, aiming to constrain the frontiers of characterisation and enhance the mapping of these interactions. The program includes field visits dedicated to strategically assessing and refining the placement of monitoring instruments, with a particular emphasis on local seismicity related to landslide and debris flow close to Villarrica, Llaima volcanoes and Mocho-Choshuenco volcanic complex. This hands-on experience will provide valuable insights into the dynamics of surface processes and their intricate connections with volcanic and megathrust activities. Leveraging landslides as a proxy, the collaboration aims to unravel these complex interactions using data generated in recent years by the UFRO team in collaboration with other Chilean institutions. Through immersive fieldwork and collaborative research endeavours, the selected student will contribute to advancing our understanding of geohazards in the Southern Andes, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of SZNet and its implementation plan. This exchange opportunity not only enriches scientific knowledge but also fosters cross-cultural collaboration among emerging scientists and early career researchers. In conclusion, we assert that this final aspect is pivotal to the success of the SZ4D, as it enables foreign collaborators to gain insights into, among other things, the operational procedures, approach route selection criteria, permit management, and climatic constraints that are exclusive to the Andes according to the implementation plan.