Volcanic plumbing systems are part of the global ‘engine’ that transfers heat and matter from the Earth’s interior towards the surface. Volcanic activity controls the chemical evolution of the Earth’s crust and the composition of the atmosphere, providing fundamental resources for the onset of life and, at the same time, representing a major natural hazard. A quantitative characterization of volcanic plumbing systems is possible today through geophysical surveys combined with geochemical and petrological analyses of volcanic products. However, our understanding of the evolution of plumbing systems in space and time is still incomplete. Recent advancements in experimental and analytical methods (e.g., 2D-3D micro-imaging, in-situ high pressure experiments, in-situ analysis of trace elements, isotopes and volatile species) have allowed the development of new theoretical models and robust empirical calibrations. In the last decades, significant progress has been made in the understanding of magmatic processes, including crystallization, differentiation, assimilation, mixing, storage, transport, and degassing. Still, much work is needed to attain a more precise evaluation of the interplay of these processes and the timescales at which they occur.
In this session, we welcome innovative and multidisciplinary contributions that aim to improve our understanding of volcanic plumbing systems through the analytical and/or experimental investigation of natural products or synthetic materials, as well as the numerical and thermodynamic modelling of the processes that control the evolution and transport of magma towards the surface.