The physical volcanology group at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) at Columbia University is focused on the physical processes that control volcanic eruptions and their impact on the environment, both the natural and the human-made. Our studies span the range of scales, from miniature bubble-particle interaction and magma rheology, through emplacement of lava flows, to magma transport and storage in the crust. We are now at the summary stage of a big project (AVERT) that aimed to advance volcano monitoring with new technology and methods. Our last test site was Villarrica in Chile, making it a prime target for a project by an exchange student. .

Our group usually includes a combination of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, software engineers and academic staff, working on a range of projects.