Field areas
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Links to pages containing information and pictures of the areas studied by VGRG members are provided below. Some of the equipment used and laboratory experiments are pictured lower on this page. |
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Areas of recent or current fieldwork are indicated by VGRG logos on the map below.
Select a logo for images and further information on that area.
For image-free browsers (although the links are to image-based pages), they are:
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Equipment
Many of the field experiments carried out involve equipment designed and built at Lancaster. The picture to the right shows Dr. Harry Pinkerton with a field viscometer, constructed specifically to measure the viscosity of molten lava in-situ. This work was carried out on Hawaii, and similar apparatus has also been used on Oldoinyo Lengai. |
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The apparatus shown here is used for recording atmospheric electric potential gradients and has been used on Sakurajima volcano, Japan, by Dr Jennie Gilbert, Dr Steve Lane and Mike James. Detecting perturbations to the natural atmospheric electric potential gradient is a possible technique for the detection and tracking of volcanic plumes. The sensor (a JCI 121 electrostatic fieldmeter) is mounted inverted at the end of the scaffold mast. This provides noise-free amplification of the signal and helps prevent the ingress of particles into the sensing aperture. Batteries and a data logger (in the box at the base of the mast) allow data to be collected from remote locations without the need for mains power.
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Dr Steve Lane is also involved with the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR). The photo on the right shows the data recording and printing units of a GPR system designed by Steve for use on Sollipulli. He has since designed and built a new system with Roy Middleton, which is currently being used for hydrological projects in the U.K. and on the Arolla glacier, Switzerland. |
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Laboratory Experiments
In order to understand phenomena observed in the field, experiments are carried out in controlled environments. The laboratory shown on the left is equipped with a furnace capable of reproducing magmatic temperatures and Haake rheological equipment. This equipment was used by Gill Norton and Harry Pinkerton to measure the rheological properties of lavas from Oldoinyo Lengai and Mount Etna.
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Fieldwork in Japan measuring the electrification of volcanic plumes has been followed up by laboratory experiments. The apparatus shown is a fieldmeter-monitored Faraday cup, cabable of detected charges down to 10-12 C. This has been used to determine the charges held on small particles produced by collisions of pumice samples. During experiments, the apparatus is shielded from external electrical noise and, because it is build in a vacuum chamber, can be put in a low pressure environment. Thus, experiments with relevence to the eruptions on Io (a satellite of Jupiter) have also been carried out. |
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Last modified 16/03/99. Maintained by Hugh Tuffen.