Dr Sue Loughlin

Dr Sue LoughlinHead of Volcanology

Location: Edinburgh

Tel: 0131 6500417

E-mail Dr Sue Loughlin

Biography

  • 2008–current: Head of Volcanology
  • 2004–2006: Director of Montserrat Volcano Observatory
  • 1999–2003: BGS Geologist (e.g. mapping ignimbrites)
  • 1997–1999: Deputy Chief Scientist (job share) of Montserrat Volcano Observatory
  • 1995–97: BGS Geologist, Borrowdale Volcanic Group, Lake District
  • 1995: PhD University of Durham, The Evolution of the Eyjafjöll Volcanic System, Southern Iceland

  • 1991: BSc University of Leicester, Geology

Research interests

  • Physical volcanology
  • Volcanic hazards (primary and secondary)
  • Risk and uncertainty
  • Lava dome eruptions
  • Explosive eruptions
  • Environmental and social impacts of volcanic eruptions
  • Science into policy and procedure
  • Communicating science

Skills

  • Physical volcanology
  • Geological mapping of volcanic terrains
  • GSI-3D, ArcGIS
  • Volcano monitoring
  • Igneous petrology/geochemistry

Current projects and collaboration

  • CARIBRISK
  • European Volcano Observatory Space Services (EVOSS) EU FP
  • VOGRIPA : Volcanic Hazards and risk
  • NERC Consortium : Characterisation of the Near-Field Eyjafjallajökull Volcanic Plume and its Long-range Influence
  • UK preparedness for eruptions in Iceland (UK Met. Office, Iceland Met. Office, NCAS, BGS)
  • Iceland volcanic hazards and monitoring : Iceland Met. Office and Nordic Volcanological Institute
  • Ash Dispersal Forecast and Civil Aviation Workshop
  • Co-supervised PhD projects:
    • Evolution of the crust and the magmatic system at Montserrat, Lesser Antilles (University of Bristol)
    • A multi-disciplinary approach to volcanic risk reduction under conditions of uncertainty: a case study on Tristan da Cunha (University of East Anglia)
    • Petrological and geochemical monitoring of the most active volcano in North America- Volcan Fuego de Colima, Mexico. (Leeds University)
    • The role of cold supraglacial volcanic deposits in controlling ice ablation rates of glaciers (Lancaster University)
    • Evaluating the role of community-based monitoring in improving the mitigation of natural hazards: a case study on Montserrat, West Indies (University of East Anglia)

Professional association

  • Member of IAVCEI and various  working groups
  • Member of ICAO Volcanic Ash Task Force (Science and Airworthiness subgroups)

Published outputs

Key Papers

LOUGHLIN, S. C., LUCKETT, R., RYAN, G., CHRISTOPHER, T., HARDS, V., De ANGELIS, S., JONES, L. and STRUTT, M. 2010. An overview of lava dome evolution, dome collapse and cyclicity at Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, 2005-7. Geophysical Research Letters,37, L00E16, doi:10.1029/2010GL042547  

RYAN, G., LOUGHLIN, S. C., JAMES, M., JONES, L., CALDER, E., CHRISTOPHER, T., STRUTT, M. and WADGE, G. 2010. Growth of the lava dome and extrusion rates at Soufriere Hills Volcano Montserrat, West Indies, 2005-8. Geophysical Research Letters,37, L00E08, doi:10.1029/2009GL041477.

LUCKETT, R, LOUGHLIN, S., DE ANGELIS, S., RYAN, G. 2008. Volcanic seismicity at Montserrat, a comparison between the 2005 dome growth episode and earlier dome growth, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 177 (4), 894-902.

LOUGHLIN, S.C., BAXTER, P.J., ASPINALL, W.P., DARROUX, B., HARFORD, C.L., MILLER, A.D. 2002. Eyewitness accounts of the 25 June 1997 pyroclastic flows at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, and implications for disaster mitigation. In: ‘The eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, from 1995 to 1999’. Memoir of the Geological Society of London. Druitt. T.H., Kokelaar B.P and. Young S.R (Eds).

See also