The gravity of volcanoes: using gravity data to probe magma reservoirs

Gravity, the fundamental force that shaped our planet, varies across the Earth’s surface, both from place to place and over time. For more than three centuries, scientists have made gravity measurements to define the shape of the Earth. Today, very precise measurements of gravity provide crucial information on the mass distribution and transport within the planet. In this talk, Dr. Le Mével will highlight the long history of the determination of the gravity field, from the first field expeditions to the era of satellite measurements, and will discuss the evolution of the instrumentation. She will then show how gravity studies are used to image magmatic systems under volcanoes and their great potential for investigating magma dynamics leading up to eruptions.

Dr. Hélène Le Mével: Staff Scientist, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution for Science

#Volcanoes