Program > Browse abstracts by speaker > Di Genova Danilo

Volcanism transports melts, solids, and gases from a planet's interior to its surface and atmosphere, playing a fundamental role in shaping planetary surfaces and influencing long-term habitability. The physicochemical properties of magma—particularly its viscosity—control the timescales and energy of this transfer by governing the evolution of magma as a function of temperature, pressure, and oxygen fugacity. This, in turn, dictates the style of volcanic eruptions. As a result, the measurement and numerical modeling of magma properties have been a focus of research for over five decades. Despite significant progress, challenges remain, particularly in the measurement of magma properties under realistic conditions. Uncertainties in these measurements propagate into numerical models of eruptions, affecting the probabilistic assessment of volcanic activity.

Here, we present a novel combination of ex situ and in situ methodologies, applied both in laboratory and at synchrotron light sources experiments, to investigate magma properties. By integrating a materials science approach, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of magma transport processes and eruption dynamics, with a particular focus on magma viscosity and textural heterogeneities. These new observations are compared with previous studies to identify open questions and future research directions. Furthermore, we highlight recent efforts in developing new experimental infrastructure for the direct observation of volcanic processes, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory studies and natural systems.