G-081 - Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory
PI: Dr. Phil Kyle
Project Lead: Philip Kyle
Funding Source: NSF/PLR 1142083
Location: Ross Island, Antarctica
Dates: 2008-12-15 to 2015-11-02
Project Summary
Mount Erebus on Ross Island is the most active volcano in Antarctica. Its persistent convecting lava lake of anorthoclase phonolite magma is unique among volcanos. The lake and underlying magmatic system emit volcanic gases into the pristine Antarctic atmosphere. Because of the access researchers have to the mountain and the nature of its small strombolian eruptions, Mount Erebus has become a model volcano for study. This project is a continuation of research conducted over the past seven field seasons, during which the team installed six integrated geophysical/geodetic surveillance observatories, monitored other seismometers, made measurements of gas emissions, and took GPS measurements to observe deformation of the volcano. The seismic networks allow an understanding of the eruptive behavior and dynamics of Mount Erebus, and inversion of the seismic data will allow topographic imaging of the magma chamber and plumbing inside the volcano. (Taken from www.usap.gov)
Project Sites
Related Publications
- Laura K. Jones, Philip R. Kyle, Clive Oppenheimer, Jedediah D. Frechette, Marianne H. Okal (2015), Terrestrial laser scanning observations of geomorphic changes and varying lava lake levels at Erebus volcano, Antarctica, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, vol. 295, p. 43-54, doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.02.011