Dr. Janine Birnbaum
Postdoc
I obtained a PhD (2023), MPhil (2021) and MA (2020) from Columbia University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. I completed a BSH in Geophysics and in Geological Sciences at Stanford University in 2018 with a Notation in Science Communication.
Research Interests
I am a physical volcanologist with a particular interest in multi-phase fluid dynamics and lava flow hazards. I apply numerical simulations, experiments on analogue and natural materials, and field observations to understand the properties and dynamics of multiphase lavas and magmas. In particular I am interested in vesiculation processes and their implications for volcanic hazards and engineering volcanic systems.
Sample vesicle textures from a natural rhyolite (upper left), experimentally vesiculated rhyolite (upper right), and experimentally vesiculated sugar solution (lower center). | © Janine Birnbaum
Multi-phase dynamics of crystal- and bubble-bearing magmas
Eruption dynamics and magma transport are controlled by the competition between viscous resistance to flow and bubble-dominated buoyancy that promotes magma ascent. Compounding these effects, the presence of bubbles under different ascent conditions directly impacts magma rheology and the resultant deformation and connection between bubbles promotes vapor loss. The processes of bubble growth and texture development are revealed through a combination of direct numerical simulations and observations on experiments of analogue and natural materials. Insights gained into bubble processes help to interpret natural bubble textures and invert for volcanic and magmatic processes.
Janine Birnbaum, Fabian Wadsworth, Jackie Kendrick et al. Directly tapping crustal magma reveals storage conditions, 16 May 2025, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square /v1]https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6455688/v1
J. Birnbaum, J. Schauroth, J. Weaver, J. E. Kendrick, A. Lamur, Y. Lavallée (2025) Shear-enhanced permeability development of magma vesiculating in cylindrical conduits. arXiv:2505.10103, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2505.10103
Birnbaum Janine, Lev Einat and Llewellin Edward W. (2021) Rheology of three-phase suspensions determined via dam-break experiments. Proc. R. Soc. A.47720210394 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2021.0394