Carina Poetsch
Doctoral candidate
I am a PhD student in volcanology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) since 2023, researching volcanic plume electrification and the generation of volcanic lightning. Before that, I completed a Master’s in Geology at the University of Freiburg, where I worked on numerical simulations of lava flows from the 2021 Tajogaite eruption in the Canary Islands, Spain. During my undergraduate studies in Geosciences at LMU Munich and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), I conducted experimental research on gas-particle jet dynamics in the fragmentation laboratory.
CV
2023 - Ongoing PhD candidate at LMU Munich, Germany (Supervisor: C. Cimarelli) Volcanic plume electrification and generation of volcanic lightning
2020 - 2023 Master of Science in Geology at the University of Freiburg, Germany Simulation of lava flows of the 2021 Tajogaite Eruption on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain (Supervisor: S. Hergarten)
2016 - 2019 Bachelor of Science in Geosciences at LMU Munich and TUM, Germany Investigations of gas-particle jets in the fragmentation lab (Supervisor: U. Kueppers)
- 2025 2nd Place Poster at Charged Matter 2025 conference in Vienna, Austria
- 2024 Carl-Theodor-Kromer Preis for an outstanding Master’s thesis in Geology at the University of Freiburg, granted by "Verband der Freunde der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität e.V."
- 2023 Alumni-Preis awarded to the top graduates in the Master’s program at the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, granted by "Alumni Freiburg e.V."
- 2020 Council Commendation for Exceptional Performance granted by the University of Otago, New Zealand, for outstanding academic achievements
Research
My research focuses on understanding the electrical processes in volcanic plumes and the factors influencing lightning generation within the spectrum of volcanic explosivity. My work aims to constrain the size of explosions detectable by our customized monitoring array through on-site measurement of electrical activity, in correlation with ash emission observations and geophysical signals generated by volcanic explosions.
Lightning detector deployed at Stromboli, Italy | © Carina Poetsch
Exploring the detection limits of plume electrification
Explosive volcanic eruptions frequently produce visible lightning caused by the electrification of the emitted ash. The resulting detectable variations in the atmospheric field reveal apparent correlations with eruption magnitude and style. Throughout a 3-year, primarily field-based study, I aim to determine the conditions under which explosive eruptions generate detectable electrical signals. My study centers around deploying a multiparametric array, comprising electrical, visual, and acoustic sensors, at volcanoes characterized by frequent, mild explosive activity, such as Stromboli (Italy) and Fuego (Guatemala). This integrative approach aims to develop a prototype system for permanent electrical monitoring of active volcanoes, enabling near real-time detection and assessment of ash emission dimensions during future eruptions.
My PhD project is part of the ERC-funded project “VOLTA” (https://volta-erc.com/)