Earth and Environmental Sciences

Photo of Dr James Hickey

Dr James Hickey

Senior Lecturer in Geophysics and Volcanology

 J.Hickey@exeter.ac.uk

 01326 255988

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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:

List of 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. 

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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

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

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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)

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