Andrea Todde

Email:<http://www.privatedaddy.com/?q=SU0hawU1Z21HKnx-2FUSAkTWtcQ1dSM2NL_684>

Tertiary education

Bechelors and Masters Research

View of Mt. Ruapehu and Mt. Ngauruhoe, New Zealand (May 2017)

2016: ”The Plinian activity of Sakurajima volcano (Japan) in the last six centuries: stratigraphy and dynamics of Bunmei, Anei and Taisho eruptions.” Supervisors: Raffaello Cioni and Marco Pistolesi

2013: ”Proximal products of the 16 march, 2013, eruption of Mt. Etna” Supervisors: Raffaello Cioni and Daniele Andronico

PhD Research

Title:

“Understanding eruption scenarios and scaling future volcanic events of the Okataina Volcanic Centre”

Research Summary and Objectives

The Okataina Volcanic Centre (OVC) is one of the most complex silicic eruption-dominated volcanic areas of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. It includes the Haroharo Caldera, peripheral silicic lava domes, and two younger intracaldera lava massifs defined as the Haroharo and the Tarawera Volcanic Complexes, both erupted in the past 25 ka along two subparallel linear vent zones. While the tephra-stratigraphy of the region is fairly well known, there is a paucity of information that categorizes the styles of volcanic eruptions and the eruptive scenarios we might expect. The past 25 ka volcanic history of these two volcanic complexes exhibited representative examples of the entire spectrum of volcanic eruption styles associated with silicic volcanism at the OVC, and therefore it is an ideal area to scale the likely future volcanic events the region may face. This PhD research will conduct a detailed physical volcanology study of selected key eruptions from the Haroharo and the Tarawera Volcanic Complexes, with the aim to establish a geology-based eruptive scenario for future eruptions from the OVC.

First, this study will explore the two youngest rhyolitic eruptions known as the Whakatane eruptive episode (ca. 5600 yr BP) and the Kaharoa eruptive episode (ca. 1314 AD), to define their eruption styles, intensities, dynamics and variations over time. Later on, the project will scale these events and compare them with past eruptive episode associated with the tephra record.

Methods

• Field work to reconstruct the eruptive sequences, distribution of the erupted materials and their link to source vents.
• Characterize the main sedimentological features of the tephra deposits and their particle contents at key localities.
• Characterize the main physical, geochemical and textural properties of the erupted materials (Electron Microprobe
          Analysis, X-ray Fluorescence, FTIR-microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, 3D Tomography, Pycnometry)

Research Interests

• Physical volcanology


• Field studies of tephra deposits


• Textural and geochemical characterization of volcanic rocks


• Calderas


• Volcanic hazard

Photos


Dome complex of Mt. Tarwera, New Zealand. From left to right: Wahanga Dome, Ruawahia Dome and Tarawera Dome. (Apr 2017)

Large ballistic ejecta and associated impact crates after an episode of lava fountain at the summit craters of Mt. Etna, Italy (Oct 2013)