Lancaster Environment Centre

Hugh is a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Lecturer, specializing in volcanic eruption mechanisms, and holds degrees from Cambridge, Clermont-Ferrand and the Open University. Hugh’s research addresses the deformation, degassing, crystallization and hydration of magma, using tools ranging from fieldwork, experimentation, numerical modeling and measurement of volatile concentrations.

Current projects include investigation of the enigmatic source of volcanic earthquakes, magma degassing during powerful phreatoplinian eruptions, the eruptive behaviour of ice-covered Icelandic volcanoes, how crystals grow in basaltic lavas, how columnar joints form and how lavas and meteoric water interact. Hugh works on both active and ancient volcanoes that include Torfajökull, Krafla, Taupo, Etna and Mt St Helens.

Hugh is currently Vice Chair of the IAVCEI-IACS Commission for Volcano-ice interactions and Director of Studies of the MSc in Volcanology and Geological Hazards and runs the thermogravimetric analysis lab at Lancaster. He has previously held a NERC Fellowship at Lancaster, a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at Lancaster and UCL and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at the University of Munich.