How does a volcano work?

27 May 2025, by mh

The Stromboli is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe. It erupts with great regularity, continuously ejecting ash and rock fragments. Today, a group of prospective geophysicists from the University of Hamburg, accompanied by their mentor Dr. L. Scharff, boarded a ferry in Naples to travel to the volcanic island of Stromboli, where they will conduct geophysical observations of volcanic activity.

The excursion is a student research project that the students independently applied for at the University of Hamburg. The funding comes from a grant program supporting student research groups.

The students will spend 8 days on the island of Stromboli, carrying out measurements using a seismometer, a pressure sensor, a thermal camera, an SO₂ camera, and a regular video camera. Power for the equipment is provided by a small solar station.

One of the main objectives of the measurements is to determine how quickly ash, rocks, lava, and gases are transported within the volcano and eventually reach the surface.