Dr James Hickey
Senior Lecturer in Geophysics and Volcanology
01326 255988
Overview
Overview:
I am a geophysical volcanologist and member of the Active Earth research group. My primary research interests are in the processes controlling the dynamics of active and restless volcanoes and the geophysical and geochemical signals they produce, with an overarching aim of helping to improve eruption forecasting capabilities.
I have further research interests in disaster risk reduction, volcanic hazard modelling, slope stability, hazard assessment, and the use of big data and social media in tracking volcanic unrest.
You can read more on my personal webpage about my research interests and fieldwork locations.
Biography:
- 2020 - present: Senior Lecturer in Geophysics and Volcanology, University of Exeter, UK
- 2016 - 2020: Lecturer in Geophysics and Volcanology, University of Exeter, UK
- 2015 - 2016: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Bristol, UK
- 2011 - 2015: PhD, University of Bristol, UK - Volcanology & Geophysics
- 2007 - 2011: MSci (1st class Hons.), University of Bristol, UK - Environmental Geoscience
Publications:
Professional Bodies:
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- European Geosciences Union (EGU)
- International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Interior (IAVCEI)
- Member of the IAVCEI Early Careers Researcher Network (ECRNet) committee (2017-2021)
- Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group (VMSG)
- Member of the committee
Other Academic Activities:
Opportunities:
I am always interested to hear from prospective PhD/MSc research students, postdoctoral researchers, and research fellows. You can see the sort of projects I’m involved in on my past and current research pages, and lists of publications and team members. If you like the sound of my research and want to explore how to get involved then please get in touch.
Publications
Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.
| To Appear | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
To Appear
- Head M, Hickey J, Gottsmann J, Fournier N. Exploring the Impact of Thermally-Controlled Crustal Viscosity on Volcanic Ground Deformation, Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth.
2024
- Alshembari R, Hickey J, Pascal K, Mantiloni L, T. McCormick Kilbride B. (2024) Poroelastic Deformation at Soufrière Hills: A New Perspective on Volcano Deformation Dynamics , DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12793. [PDF]
- Alshembari R, Hickey J, Pascal K, Syers R. (2024) Declining magma supply to a poroelastic magma mush explains long-term deformation at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, volume 631, DOI:10.1016/j.epsl.2024.118624.
- Hickey J, Young J, Spruce M, Pandit R, Williams H, Arthur R, Stovall W, Head M. (2024) Social sensing a volcanic eruption: application to Kīlauea 2018, DOI:10.5194/nhess-2024-3. [PDF]
2023
- Johnson A, Hickey J, Pascal K, Williamson B, Syers R. (2023) Distinguishing shallow from mid-crustal magmatic processes at Soufrière Hills Volcano using Finite Element Modelling and co-analysis of EDM and GPS data, Volcanica, volume 6, no. 2, pages 265-282, DOI:10.30909/vol.06.02.265282. [PDF]
- Dalby CJ. (2023) Geological Controls on Upper Crustal Heat Flow for Deep Geothermal Energy in Cornwall.
- Alshembari R, Hickey J, Williamson BJ, Cashman K. (2023) Unveiling the Rheological Control of Magmatic Systems on Volcano Deformation: The Interplay of Poroviscoelastic Magma‐Mush and Thermo‐Viscoelastic Crust, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, volume 128, no. 7, DOI:10.1029/2023jb026625. [PDF]
2022
- Barbee O, Pankhurst M, Scarrow J, Chamberlain K, Hickey J, Morgan D, Neave D, Coldwell B, Butcher A, Rollinson G. (2022) The 2021 eruption of Cumbre Vieja volcano: Petrological insights gained from the initial rapid response to post-eruption study, Goldschmidt2022 abstracts, DOI:10.46427/gold2022.12864.
- Arens F, Coco A, Gottsmann J, Hickey J, Kilgour G. (2022) Multiphysics Modeling of Volcanic Unrest at Mt. Ruapehu (New Zealand), Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, volume 23, no. 12, DOI:10.1029/2022gc010572. [PDF]
- Alshembari R, Hickey J, Williamson BJ, Cashman K. (2022) Poroelastic Mechanical Behavior of Crystal Mush Reservoirs: Insights Into the Spatio‐Temporal Evolution of Volcano Surface Deformation, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, volume 127, no. 10, DOI:10.1029/2022jb024332. [PDF]
- Backhurst R. (2022) How Complex is the Magmatic System Beneath Sakurajima Volcano and Aira Caldera.
- Hickey J, al. E. (2022) Supplemental Material: Magma pressurization sustains ongoing eruptive episode at dome-building Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, DOI:10.1130/geol.s.20465427.v1. [PDF]
- Hickey J, al. E. (2022) Supplemental Material: Magma pressurization sustains ongoing eruptive episode at dome-building Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, DOI:10.1130/geol.s.20465427. [PDF]
- Head M, Hickey J, Thompson J, Gottsmann J, Fournier N. (2022) Rheological Controls on Magma Reservoir Failure in a Thermo‐Viscoelastic Crust, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, volume 127, no. 7, DOI:10.1029/2021jb023439. [PDF]
- Head M. (2022) Viscoelastic Controls on Volcanic Ground Deformation and Reservoir Failure.
- Alshembari R, Hickey J, J. Williamson B, Cashman K. (2022) Exploring the mechanical influence of mush poroelasticity on volcanic surface deformation , DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu22-216. [PDF]
- Chamberlain KJ, Scarrow JH, Pankhurst MJ, Barbee OA, Neave DA, Morgan DJ, Wieser P, Coldwell BC, Hickey J, Martín-Lorenzo A. (2022) Time series petrological insights into magmatic evolution during the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu22-9661. [PDF]
- Scarrow JH, Chamberlain KJ, Pankhurst MJ, Barbee OA, Coldwell BC, Hickey J, Neave DA, Morgan DJ, Martín-Lorenzo A, Rodríguez F. (2022) Time series compositional insights into magmatic evolution during the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu22-9557. [PDF]
- Arens F, Gottsmann J, Coco A, Hickey J, Kilgour G. (2022) Numerical modelling of unrest signals at Mt. Ruapehu (New Zealand), DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu22-5637. [PDF]
- Alshembari R, Hickey J, Williamson BJ, Cashman K. (2022) Exploring the role of fluid-solid interactions for modelling volcano deformation, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, volume 426, pages 107535-107535, article no. 107535, DOI:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2022.107535. [PDF]
- Johnson A. (2022) UTILISING THE CO-ANALYSIS OF EDM AND GPS DATA IN MODELLING SURFACE DEFORMATION AT THE SOUFRIÈRE HILLS VOLCANO, MONTSERRAT.
- Pankhurst MJ, Scarrow JH, Barbee OA, Hickey J, Coldwell BC, Rollinson GK, Rodríguez-Losada JA, Martín Lorenzo A, Rodríguez F, Hernández W. (2022) Rapid response petrology for the opening eruptive phase of the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption, La Palma, Canary Islands, Volcanica, volume 5, no. 1, pages 1-10, DOI:10.30909/vol.05.01.0110. [PDF]
2021
- Hickey J, Pascal K, Head M, Gottsmann J, Fournier N, Hreinsdottir S, Syers R. (2021) Magma pressurisation sustains eruptive episode at dome-building Soufrière Hills Volcano, DOI:10.31223/x5rk7r.
- Pankhurst MJ, Scarrow JH, Barbee OA, Hickey J, Coldwell BC, Rollinson G, Rodriguez-Losada JA, Martín-Lorenzo A, Rodríguez F, Hernández W. (2021) Petrology of the opening eruptive phase of the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption, La Palma, Canary Islands, DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-963593/v1. [PDF]
- Head M, Hickey J, Thompson J, Gottsmann J, Fournier N. (2021) Thermomechanical Controls on the Timing of Magma Reservoir Failure in a Viscoelastic Crust, DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu21-11191. [PDF]
- Gottsmann J, Flynn M, Hickey J. (2021) 2003-2005 intra-eruptive  deformation at Soufrière Hills Volcano (Montserrat) modulated  by volcano-tectonics and weak crustal rocks  , DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu21-10709. [PDF]
- Hickey J, Pascal K, Head M, Gottsmann J, Fournier N, Hreinsdottir S, Syers R. (2021) Magma system pressurisation and long-term surface deformation at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu21-14889. [PDF]
- Alshembari R, Hickey J, Williamson B, Cashman K. (2021) Insights into the poroelastic mechanical behaviour of a crystalline magma reservoir and its influence on modelling volcano surface deformation , DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu21-9258. [PDF]
- Johnson A, Hickey J, Pascal K, Williamson B, Syers R. (2021) Modelling the Soufrière Hills Volcano; Investigating the Montserrat magmatic system with co-analysis of EDM and GPS data, DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu21-7517. [PDF]
- Dalby C, Shail R, Batchelor T, Cotton L, Gutmanis J, Rollinson G, Wall F, Hickey J. (2021) Deep geothermal energy from the Cornubian Batholith: preliminary lithological and heat flow insights from the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project. , DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu21-15875. [PDF]
2020
- Arens F, Gottsmann J, Strehlow K, Hickey J, Kilgour G. (2020) Electrokinetic Contributions to Self‐Potential Signals From Magmatic Stressing, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, volume 21, no. 12, DOI:10.1029/2020gc009388. [PDF]
- Gottsmann J, Flynn M, Hickey J. (2020) The Transcrustal Magma Reservoir Beneath Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat: Insights From 3‐D Geodetic Inversions, Geophysical Research Letters, volume 47, no. 20, DOI:10.1029/2020gl089239. [PDF]
- Hickey J, Lloyd R, Biggs J, Arnold D, Mothes P, Muller C. (2020) Rapid localized flank inflation and implications for potential slope instability at Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, volume 534, DOI:10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116104.
2019
- Head M, Hickey J, Gottsmann J, Fournier N. (2019) The Influence of Viscoelastic Crustal Rheologies on Volcanic Ground Deformation: Insights From Models of Pressure and Volume Change, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, volume 124, no. 8, pages 8127-8146, DOI:10.1029/2019JB017832.
- Zawalna-Geer A, Hickey J, Williamson B, Pickles J, Petrone C. (2019) Magma evolution at Sakurajima Volcano, Japan, VMSG 2019, St Andrews, Scotland, 7th - 10th Jan 2019.
2018
- Ebmeier SK, Andrews BJ, Araya MC, Arnold DWD, Biggs J, Cooper C, Cottrell E, Furtney M, Hickey J, Jay J. (2018) Synthesis of global satellite observations of magmatic and volcanic deformation: implications for volcano monitoring & the lateral extent of magmatic domains, Journal of Applied Volcanology, DOI:10.1186/s13617-018-0071-3.
2017
- Hickey J, Gottsmann J, Mothes P, Odbert H, Prutkin I, Vajda P. (2017) The Ups and Downs of Volcanic Unrest: Insights from Integrated Geodesy and Numerical Modelling, DOI:10.1007/11157_2017_13.
2016
- Hickey J, Gottsmann J, Nakamichi H, Iguchi M. (2016) Thermomechanical controls on magma supply and volcanic deformation: application to Aira caldera, Japan, Scientific Reports, volume 6, DOI:10.1038/srep32691.
2015
- Hickey J, Gottsmann J, Mothes P. (2015) Estimating volcanic deformation source parameters with a Finite Element inversion: the 2001-2002 unrest at Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador, Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, volume 120, DOI:10.1002/2014JB011731.
2014
- Hickey J, Gottsmann J. (2014) Benchmarking and developing numerical Finite Element models of volcanic deformation, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, volume 280, pages 126-130, DOI:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2014.05.011. [PDF]
- Muir DD, Blundy JD, Rust AC, Hickey J. (2014) Experimental Constraints on Dacite Pre-eruptive Magma Storage Conditions beneath Uturuncu Volcano, Journal of Petrology, volume 55, no. 4, pages 749-767, DOI:10.1093/petrology/egu005. [PDF]
2013
- Hickey J, Gottsmann J, Potro R. (2013) The large‐scale surface uplift in the Altiplano‐Puna region of Bolivia: A parametric study of source characteristics and crustal rheology using finite element analysis, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, DOI:10.1029/2012gc004510.
- Hickey J, Gottsmann J, del Potro R. (2013) The large‐scale surface uplift in the Altiplano‐Puna region of Bolivia: A parametric study of source characteristics and crustal rheology using finite element analysis, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, volume 14, no. 3, pages 540-555, DOI:10.1002/ggge.20057. [PDF]
Further information
Research
My primary research interests are in the processes controlling the dynamics of active and restless volcanoes and the geophysical and geochemical signals they produce, with an overarching aim of helping to improve eruption forecasting capabilities.
Current Projects
Reconciling eruption timescales and volcanic unrest at Aira caldera and Sajurajima volcano, Japan
Regular small eruptions belie the volcano’s fierce past, including regular Plinian eruptions, the latest of which in 1914 killed 58 people. This ambitious project aims to combine insights from geophysical and geochemical monitoring with those from igneous petrology to unravel the processes dictating eruption size and style, and link them to precursory monitoring signals for improved eruption forecasting.
Surface deformation and volcanic unrest at Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat
Soufriere Hills volcano sprang back to life in 1995, and has been periodically active since then with cycles of quiescence and eruption. These cycles are well matched with geochemical and geophysical indicators of unrest, including surface deformation. In collaboration with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory we are investigating past and present unrest episodes to explore the evolution of the magmatic system and magma supply.
I presented some preliminary results of this project at the 2021 VMSG Annual meeting. My quick 1 minute flash talk can be viewed on YouTube or by clicking on the above image.
Previous Research
You can read about my past research projects, including from my PhD and postdoc days on my personal webpage.
Impact
Sakurajima Volcano / Aira Caldera, Japan
My publication on Aira caldera and Sakurajima volcano generated a lot of media interest and international impact. I am currently working with the Sakurajima Volcano Research Centre (SVRC) to advance this research and feed directly into their daily volcano monitoring and eruption forecasting activities.
Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat
I am also working with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) on a number of projects that aim to improve their daily volcano monitoring and eruption forecasting activities.
External Engagement
Media Coverage
- 2020: Numerous online news articles and interviews following Tungurahua volcano publication.
- 2020: Live and recorded TV (BBC World News), radio (BBC World Service, Outside Source), and online (National Geographic) interviews as international expert for 2020 Taal volcano eruption.
- 2019: Live and recorded radio interviews (e.g., BBC Radio Wales) as international expert for 2019 White Island volcano eruption.
- 2016: Live and recorded TV (BBC World News) and radio (e.g., US stations, Canadian stations, Radio Scotland) interviews following Sakurajima volcano publication, plus numerous online news articles.
Editorial Responsibilities
- Editor for Earth, Planets and Space journal.
- Peer-reviewer for numerous disciplinary and inter-disciplinary journals.
Committees / Panels
- Member of the VMSG committee (current).
- Member of the IAVCEI Early Career Researchers Network committee (2017-2021).
- EGU GMPV Twitter team (2015-2019).
Teaching
I teach on a variety of modules, as listed below:
Year 2
- CSM2190 Geophysics
Year 3
- CSM3068 Geology Overseas Fieldclass (Tenerife)
- CSM3379 Summer Vacation Project (research projects)
- CSM3070 Volcanology
Year 4
- CSMM423 Year 4 Fieldclass
- CSMM440 Research Frontiers
Masters
- Mining Professionals Applied Geophysics
- Mining/Exploration Geology Research Project
- CSMM218 Mineral Exploration Geophysics
Supervision
This page briefly lists some of the people in the research team I manage, including undergraduate, masters and PhD students, and postdoctoral research fellows. The team mostly sits under the Active Earth research group at the University of Exeter, but I also include researchers based in other groups or institutions who I co-supervise.
PhD Students
MByRes Students
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Research Projects (2020/2021)
- Rachael Smith
- Ashleigh Smith
- Joe Thompson
- Rebecca McCann
- Elinor Brooker
- Millie Chamberlin
- Krishna Reddy
- Konstantinos Patounis
Former Team Members
- Dr Aleksandra (Ola) Zawalna-Geer (NERC-funded Daphne Jackson Trust Research Fellow)
- Molly Flynn (Summer research placement)
- Phoebe Meredith (Undergraduate research project)
- Jordan Healey (Undergraduate research project)
- Armando Vazquez (Postgraduate research project)