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Erik Klemetti

Volcanologist, Denison University

I write the Eruptions blog on Big Think. I've been mesmerized with volcanoes (and geology) all my life. It helps that part of my family comes from the shadow of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, where I could see first hand the deadly effects of volcanic eruptions. Since then, I've taken a bit of a winding path to become a volcanologist. I started as a history major at Williams College, almost went into radio, but ended up migrating to geology, including an undergraduate thesis on Vinalhaven Island, Maine. I followed this up by changing coast to get my Ph.D. from Oregon State University. Then I ran a MC-ICP-MS lab at University of Washington for a spell (and wrote for an indie rock website). I spent three years as a postdoctoral scholar at University of California - Davis studying the inner workings of magmatic systems. I am now an assistant professor at Denison University and have projects in New Zealand, Chile and Oregon.

I am fascinated by volcanoes, their eruptions and how those eruptions interact with the people who live around the volcanoes. I started this blog after getting frustrated with the news reports of volcanic eruptions. Most of them get the information wrong and/or are just sensationalistic. I will try to summarize eruptions as they occur, translate some of the volcanic processes that are happening and comment on the reports themselves.

And no matter what people tell you, I definitely do not have a cat named Tephra. (OK, I do).

You can find out more about my research by visiting my website. If you have any comments, questions or information, feel free to contact me at eruptionsblog at gmail dot com.

Wednesday Whatzits

Have fun interpreting some recent geologic events!

Llaima, Popocatepetl, Redoubt Updates for 4/14/2009

A few brief news items in the world of volcanoes for today.

Things settling down at Redoubt

The eruption at Redoubt might have not seemed that destructive, but the economic effects might be more significant than expected on Alaska’s economy.

Increasing seismicty at Chaiten as the one-year anniversary approaches

We’re almost at the one-year mark for the Chaiten eruption and the volcano doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all.

Fernandina and Llaima Eruption Updates for 4/13/2009 – Updated!

The Fernandina eruption appears to be an impressive fissure eruption. Meanwhile, Llaima is still steaming as Chilean geologists worry what might come next. Now updated with satellite images!

First eruption at Fernandina since 2005

Watch out turtles, Fernandina in the Galapagos is erupting again!

Stimulus through volcanic monitoring becomes reality

$15 million dollars for volcano monitoring! That’s just throwing money into the caldera! (Just kidding.) The money has started to flow to the USGS to improve our ailing volcano and earthquake monitoring infrastructure.

Llaima eruption from space

NASA has been keeping an eye on the current eruption of Llaima from space.

194 years since the great Tambora eruption

Almost 200 years later, you still have to just be awestruck by the magnitude of the “Great Eruption” of Tambora that produced the “Years without a Summer”.

Llaima vent “blocked with debris”

The tephra building up near the summit vent at Llaima could cause a more explosive eruption to occur says the Chilean Geological Survey.

Send me your questions … and spreading the Eruptions word

Send me your mailbag questions!

SI/USGS Weekly Volcano Activity Report for 4/1-7/2009

Get Google Earth placemarks for the Weekly Volcano Activity Report.

Could geothermal drilling cause an eruption?

Geothermal energy has a lot of promise, but does the potential of causing an eruption negate that? No, because based on what we know, human drilling doesn’t cause volcanic eruptions.

Active volcanism in the Kuril Islands

The Kuril Islands are chock full o’ volcanoes, most of which I only become familiar with because they erupt. Add Ebeko to that last – see why!

Impressive eruption at Llaima slowing down

After producing some spectacular fire fountaining and ash, the eruption at Llaima appears to be slowing down a bit … and why has the coverage of this eruption been missing in English-speaking media?

Redoubt Eruption Update for 4/7/2009

Chevron’s oil production in Cook Inlet has been shut down indefinitely as Redoubt continues to rumble, albeit in a much more fashionable shade of Orange (for the time being).

Popocatépetl continues to puff away

Mexico’s tongue-twister of a volcano, Popocatépetl, has been steaming away all year, but now things might be heating up.

The Decade Volcanoes

They might not truly be the “World’s Most Deadly Volcanoes”, but IAVCEI’s “Decade Volcanoes” are a list that shows just intertwined human society and volcanoes really are.

Redoubt Eruption Update for 4/6/2009

Ash from Redoubt is beginning to get in the way of life near the volcano in Alaska as the eruption continues

Llaima eruption intensifies

Almost two days of vigorous eruption from Llaima in southern Chile are prompting more evacuations.

More eruptions at Redoubt and Llaima

New eruptions at Redoubt and Llaima are keeping officials in both countries on their toes.

Too many tourists in Tonga

The Tongan volcano is still erupting but people are already venturing out to the new island to explode … er, that is, explore.

Mount Saint Helens in review

The USGS has finally released the research volume for the 2004-2006 eruptions of Mt. Saint Helens – and it can be yours to download for free!

Oil from the Drift River Terminal near Redoubt to be moved

Finally, after months of inaction, the Coast Guard has ordered the emptying of the Drift River Oil Terminal at the base of Redoubt.

Redoubt settles down – and gets a new webcam!

Things have settled down a bit at Redoubt and a new dome is beginning to form. That brings a whole new set of potential hazards to the volcano. Also, the volcano gets a new webcam!

SI/USGS Weekly Volcano Activity Report for 3/25-31/2009

Your weekly dose of all things volcanic from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.

Redoubt Update for 4/1/2009

The eruptions at Redoubt are wreaking havoc on the air in the Anchorage area, we might have the first signs of a new dome and if you love looking a pictures of reacted minerals (and who doesn’t?), you better check these out.

Eruption at Yellowstone Lake

With Redoubt and Tongan eruptions in full swing, Yellowstone has decided to join the eruptive fun.

Bombay Beach/San Andreas earthquake swarm: Arglebargle or Fooforall?

The Salton Sea earthquake swarm: likely tectonic, but magma-related seismicity is not that far-fetched.

Signs pointing towards eruption at Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira

Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira in the Congo are showing increased seismicity. An eruption at these volcanoes could become a humanitarian disaster.