Volcanologist - Tasks and specialisations
Kaimātai Puia
Tasks & duties
Volcanologists may do some or all of the following:
- study how and why volcanoes erupt
- observe present-day eruptions
- monitor active and dormant (non-active) volcanoes
- study seismicity (earthquakes) and changes in the earth's surface
- take samples of gases to forecast when and how volcanoes will erupt
- study the patterns of eruption of active and dormant volcanoes
- study past eruptions and the deposits they leave
- write articles, reports and papers
- advise central and local government, civil defence and other organisations about the risks from volcanoes.
Volcanology is a reasonably small field in New Zealand so most volcanologists will also be involved in doing geological work.
Graham Leonard looking at the effects of volcanic gases on blood chemistry
Photo courtesy of Graham Leonard, GNS Science
Graham Leonard writing a report about lava samples taken near Waikato River
Updated
August 2008
