Carolina Almeida Figueiredo
Doctoral candidate
PhD Candidate in Volcanology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) since 2023. I hold a Master of Science in Regional and Economic Geology from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, where I studied the evolution and dispersion of explosive subaerial volcanism on Trindade Island through the morphology of juvenile pyroclasts. During my undergraduate studies at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, I gained experience in petrography, geochemistry, volcanology, geological mapping, mineralogy, and mining through research projects and internships.
Research
My research focuses on understanding Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs), a major geohazard for populations living near active volcanoes. I perform (1) experiments with a tumbling device to mimic particle–particle interactions in granular flows in PDCs, and (2) fieldwork on selected volcanoes, specifically exploring morphology and porosity of pumice clasts, and how these attributes vary with grain-size distribution and deposition mechanisms (Fallout and PDC).
Analysis of Pyroclastic Deposits from Explosive Eruptions
Explosive volcanic eruptions have been responsible for tens of thousands of fatalities in the past two centuries emphasizing the need for precision of prediction, hazard assessment, and communication. Close investigation of the deposits of past eruptions is key to constrain the expected eruption scenarios, as pyroclasts textures record magma fragmentation and subsequent processes. The project addresses two main questions, (1) What controls variations in eruptive behaviour (style, intensity, duration)? by mapping size-dependent porosity variations across stratigraphic levels and (2) What affects (intrinsically) the mobility of PDCs? by comparing the morphology, porosity and volume of clasts from fall and PDC deposits. We have selected four (sub- )Plinian eruptions with related fall and PDC deposits: Laacher See, Montagne Pelée, Sete Cidades and Vesuvius. They vary in age and geographic location and allow us to shed light on the effect of post-depositional processes and the reliability of field data in case of incomplete deposit preservation. We aim to increase our understanding of explosive eruptions and extend the common field studies.
Running project
PYTON: PYroclast Textures to understand vOlcaNic behaviour. (2024-2027, DFG)