麻豆传媒

A Postdoctoral Bye Fellow in Earth Sciences; Director of Studies

Volcanic eruptions release vast quantities of ash, gas, and aerosols into the atmosphere. These emissions pose significant societal, environmental and climatic hazards that operate over a range of timescales from days to decades. My research focuses on constraining the magmatic processes that govern the magnitude and impact of volcanic emissions: my previous work investigated how volcanic ash is formed during eruptions, whilst my current research explores the geochemical controls on the outgassing of sulfur and metals from volcanoes, and the implications for the global sulfur cycle. A key aspect of my on-going work is the development and field application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for in-situ gas measurements within previously accessible volcanic plumes.

Degrees & Honours
MSci, Earth Sciences (Oxford)

PhD, Volcanology (Bristol)

Awards & Prizes
鈥楽ulfide saturation in mafic magmas: Implications for sulfur and metal outgassing鈥� project funded by The Leverhulme Trust (2017鈥損resent)

鈥楥ommunity-based monitoring of volcanic ash hazard at Volc谩n de Fuego, Guatemala鈥� project funded by the Cabot Institute Innovation Fund (2015鈥�2016)

Matt Watson is based in the School of Earth Sciences, where his work revolved around volcanoes, particularly ash clouds. His extensive studies include the volcanoes in Central and Southern America, and he was part of the post-eruption taskforce for the Fuego volcano eruption in Guatemala in 2018. His research involves the use of satellite images and other remote sources including drones to predict the movement of volcanic eruptions and of ash clouds. Among the projects Dr Watson has been involved in are studies of the impact of ash clouds on jet engines, developing new instruments to detect the movement of ash in the wind and to inform piloting decisions, examining the change in terrain that results from a volcanic eruption, and exploring the contentious process of deliberately using volcanic eruptions to cool the climate. His expertise is being used in a TV series called 'The Greatest Shown on Earth', which explores ash clouds linked to the Fuego volcano eruption.