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Overview

Professor Edward Llewellin

Professor of Volcanology and Director of Research


Affiliations
AffiliationTelephone
Professor of Volcanology and Director of Research in the Department of Earth Sciences
Member of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies 

Biography


2007 –2012 — Lecturer in Volcanology, Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University

2006 – 2008  NERC Blue Skies Research Fellow: BP Institute, University of Cambridge and Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham

‘Explosive volcanic eruption processes: from mesoscopic simulations to constitutive laws.’

2003 – 2006 — NERC Research Fellow:  BP Institute, University of Cambridge, transferred from Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, 2005.

‘Multiphase lattice-Boltzmann approaches to modelling the dynamics of volcanic eruptions.’

2002 – 2003  Lecturer, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol.

1998 – 2002  PhD: ‘The rheology of bubbly magmas.’, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol.


Career Research Highlights


My prime research goal is to quantify the physical controls on volcanic eruptive style. In particular, my research focuses on the fundamental role played by magmatic processes and properties at the mesoscopic scale: i.e. at the lengthscale of intra-magmatic bubbles and crystals; and how these processes interact to determine eruptive behaviour at the volcano scale. My ongoing research in this field includes laboratory and numerical investigation of:

  • the rheology of bubble- and particle-bearing magma,
  • the flow of volcanic gases through permeable magma,
  • Dynamics of strombolian eruptions

Committee and Society Service

Founder and Director of Action on Natural Disasters Doctoral Training Centre, Durham University

Editorial Board member, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

Peer Review College Member; NERC

PubVolc – volcanology publication database, manager and developer


Conferences and Workshops


2013 — ‘Dynamics of volcanic processes’ - Session convenor, IAVCEI General Assembly

2013 — ‘From conduit magma ascent to ash generation and dispersal’ -Session convenor: EGU General Assembly; 

2012 — Conference organiser; VMSG Annual Meeting – Durham 

2012 — ‘Volcanic conduits in nature, models, and experiments’ Session convenor - EGU General Assembly 

2008 — Session convenor: ‘Magma movement’ - IAVCEI General Assembly 


Invited Talks (selected)

2016 — "Slugs and plugs: multiphase magma flow in basaltic volcanic conduits", Leeds University Fluids group seminar series.

2016 — "Down-flow evolution of the rheology of
the June 27th lava flow", Hawaiian Volcano Observatory seminar series.

2016 — "Slugs and Plugs: Big experiments in volcano physics", IUGG Conference on Mathematical Geophysics invited keynote.

2015 — "Bubble, burp, bang! Big experiments in volcano physics", University of Hawaii, SOEST seminar series.

2015 — "Slugs and Plugs: the role of conduit boundary conditions in shaping Strombolian explosive activity", AGU Fall Meeting invited keynote.

2013 — "Bubble, burp bang! Big experiments in volcano physics", NTU Singapore EOS seminar series.

2012 — “Bubble, burp bang! The physics of Strombolian volcanic eruptions”, Open University, Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space & Astronomical Research seminar series.

2011: — “Magma in motion: bubbles, crystals and the physics of volcanic eruptions”, University of Geneva, Department of Mineralogy departmental seminar.

2011: — ‘Why build a volcano? The science of Mt Boom’, INGV Roma.

2011: — ‘Bubbles, burps and bangs! Experimental and physical modelling of eruptions at Stromboli volcano, Italy’, University of Bristol, School of Earth Sciences seminar series.

2010: — ‘Bubbles and crystals in magma’, ETH, Zurich, Department of Earth Sciences seminar series

2009: — ‘Bubbles, crystals and the physics of volcanic eruptions’, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment seminar series

2008: — ‘Development of magma permeability during an eruption’, University of Lancaster, Environmental School seminar series.


Prizes and Awards

Thermo-Fischer Scientific VMSG Award 2021

British Society of Rheology Annual Award 2016

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Most Cited Author 2003 – 2007 Award for Llewellin, E.W. and Manga, M., 2005


Recent and Current Grants

‘Quantifying disequilibrium processes in basaltic volcanism.’ NERC/NSF Large Grant NE/N018443/1, awarded April 2016 (Durham PI; Lead PI Mike Burton, Manchester)

‘Quantifying disequilibrium processes in basaltic volcanism.’ NERC Standard Grant NE/N002954/1, awarded July 2015 (PI; Co-I Madeleine Humphreys)

‘Fissures, fountains and flows: quantifying the evolution of basaltic eruptions.’ Royal Society International Exchanges grant, awarded November 2013 (PI; Co-I Bruce Houghton)

‘Quantifying the dynamics of bubble growth in magma using SIMS profiling of water content in glass’ 120 hours of instrument time at the NERC Ion Microprobe Facility in Edinburgh, awarded December 2011 (PI)

‘Fault lubrication during earthquake propagation in thermally unstable rocks.’ NERC Standard Grant Number NE/H021744/1, awarded July 2010 (Co-I; PI Nic de Paola)

‘The importance of crystal exchange and magma mixing in volcanic systems: eruption-triggering mechanisms and timescales’ NERC Standard Grant Number NE/G002401/1, awarded December 2008 (Co-I; PI Jon Davidson)


Publications

Journal Article

Supervision students