ROTTnROCK - assessing the role of hydrothermal alteration on volcano morphology, instability, and unpredictable volcanic hazards
ROTTnROCK studies hydrothermal alteration, which develops progressively and imperceptibly at a given volcano and may be responsible for unexpected volcanic hazards.
Details
- Period: 2024-04-01 – 2030-03-30
- Budget: 14,999,998 SEK
- Funder: EU – Horizon Europe – ERC
- Type of funding: Project grant
Description
Volcanic eruptions threaten more than 10% of the world's population. Scientists monitor volcanoes to discover and understand possible risks and to provide early warnings of eruptions. But despite technological and scientific breakthroughs, certain volcanoes continue to surprise us with sudden and powerful eruptions or catastrophic collapses. These unforeseeable occurrences harm people and damage infrastructure.
Previous research has shown that a process called hydrothermal alteration, which changes the chemical and physical characteristics of rocks inside a volcano, can turn them rotten and unstable. However, scientists still don't understand how these "soft" volcanoes tend to have unexpected outbursts.
ROTTnROCK intends to change our knowledge of hydrothermal alteration and its influence on volcanic risks by merging multiple scientific disciplines such as remote sensing, mineralogy, chemistry, rock mechanics, and modelling. This understanding could help us predict and mitigate the hazards of unexpected volcanic explosions, eventually averting many tragedies worldwide.
Read more about the project at rottnrock.org