June Meeting

Exploring Volcanoes on Earth and in other parts of the Solar System

Volcanoes have a played a fundamental role in the evolution of the Earth. They build new landmasses, contribute gases to the ocean and atmosphere, impact global climate, and pose significant geohazards to human populations. Interplanetary exploration has provided a wealth of information about volcanic activity on planets and moons in other parts of our solar system. Although some similarities exist, there are fascinating differences in the way volcanoes grow and behave far from Earth. This talk will provide of tour of volcanism throughout our Solar System and examine what controls the shape, composition, and eruptive behavior of volcanoes on different planets and moons. An interesting observation is that no other planet or moon in the Solar System, apart from the Earth, appears to be governed by the phenomenon of plate tectonics. Why is that?

Bio

URI Graduate School of Oceanography geological oceanographer Steven Carey is an internationally recognized expert on explosive volcanism. During the past three decades he has studied volcanoes in 12 different countries including Mt. St. Helens in the United State, Mt. Vesuvius in Italy, and Krakatau in Indonesia. He has authored more than 100 publications in the field of volcanology and is active on committees of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior. Currently he serves on the Science Advisory Committee for the Ocean Exploration Trust and sails frequently as the chief scientist on the research vessel E/V Nautilus. This summer he will be co-leading a cruise of the Nautilus to the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific.