WHOI

Volatile elements from Earth’s interior contain fundamental information about the origin of Earth and the complex processes that have subsequently shaped it into a habitable planet. The wide-ranging scientific interests of my research program – spanning topics from high-temperature igneous systems to low-temperature crustal systems – are united by the common theme of volatile cycling between deep and shallow terrestrial reservoirs. I broadly aim to understand the processes that determine the distribution of volatiles on Earth, both today and in the past. Specifically, I use isotope systematics of stable (carbon and nitrogen) and inert (helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon) volatile elements to determine the origin of terrestrial volatiles and the geochemical consequences of their movement between Earth’s reservoirs. Noble gases are excellent tracers of volatile sources because their inert nature renders them insensitive to chemistry and biology, allowing them to preserve information about the physical evolution of the planet. In contrast, reactive volatile elements are useful for understanding biogeochemical processes that induce fractionation, as volatiles move between reservoirs. Much of my recent research has been focussed on arc volcanoes in Chile, especially the hot and cold springs in the region.