A long-standing question about volcanic eruptions is what determines their intensity and duration. To provide a sensible answer, we need to reconcile observational data on erupted products and deposits, and geophysical and geochemical signals with magma dynamics at depth.
Volcanic plumbing system dynamics can be inferred using a variety of different methodologies, such as experimental petrology to derive magmatic chemical and physical properties and their evolution; field campaigns to determine eruptive mechanisms; monitoring data analysis and inversion to pinpoint magma movement; analog and numerical modeling to reproduce magma feeding system processes. Further, AI and machine learning algorithms are now widely used to boost the performances of each single method. Most often, single techniques can provide a range of plausible explanations for eruptive phenomena; combining different approaches, however, better constrains our interpretations. Interdisciplinary studies are often harder to generalize; on the other hand, they are very effective when applied to any specific volcano, also in terms of hazard and risk mitigation.
This session will showcase multidisciplinary studies of volcanic plumbing system processes, highlighting success stories as well as limitations and criticalities.