My primary research interests are focused on the dynamics of eruptive activity at volcanoes, and how we can improve current monitoring strategies. During my studies, I have used tools including statistical analysis, infrasound and volcano-seismology. I am also interested in the use of seismology and infrasound for studying other natural phenomena such as earthquakes, lightning, and glaciers.

Below you will find details of research carried out during my PhD and postdoctoral projects.

Seismo-acoustics of ice-covered volcanoes

Volcanoes and glaciers are prodigious sources of seismic and/or infrasonic activity and can be difficult to separate in the geophysical record. This project aims to collect and analyse seismo-acoustic data at an ice-covered volcano in Chile to improve current methods for monitoring.  The current focus of the project are Llaima and Villarrica volcanoes, two of the most active glacially covered volcanoes in Chile. This project is being carried out as part of my NRC Research Associateship that began in June 2018. If you are interested in this project and would like to know more, please get in contact!

Publication:
Lamb, O.D., Lees, J.M., Franco Marin, L. et al. (2022). Persistent shallow micro-seismicity at Llaima volcano, Chile, with implications for long-term monitoring. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 107528. doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2022.107528

Lamb, O.D., Lees, J.M., Franco Marin, L. et al., (2020) Investigating potential icequakes at Llaima volcano, Chile, Volcanica, 3(1), pp. 29-42. doi: 10.30909/vol.03.01.2942
Picture
Llaima volcano, Chile. 23 February 2019.

african elephant seismo-acoustics

African elephants (Loxodonta africana and Loxodonta cyclotis) are known to make broad use of low-frequency vocalisations for communications. These 'rumbles' are often loud enough to be recorded by geophysical sensors such as seismometers and infrasound microphones, opening their potential use for monitoring wild populations for their conservation. This project has so far tested multiple sensors in South Africa, and we look forward to more opportunities to carry out more tests in the near future.

Publication:
Lamb, O.D., Shore, M., Lees, J.M., et al. (2021) Assessing Raspberry Shake and Boom sensors for recording African Elephant acoustic vocalizations. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 1, 630697, doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2020.630967
Picture
The elephants of the Adventures with Elephants reserve, October 2019.

Infrasound from high-altitude balloons

Infrasound studies are generally restricted to ground-based instruments, while greater acoustic intensities may be found above the source due to propagation behaviour patterns. In this study we used infrasound collected by a microphone package hosted on a NASA Ultra-Long Duration Balloon mission in mid-2016 to see if natural phenomena such as volcanoes or lightning may be recorded at high altitudes in the atmosphere. This project has demonstrated the potential for using high-altitude balloons for recording naturally-generated infrasound during future missions on Earth and Venus.

Publication:
Lamb, O.D., Lees, J.M., & Bowman, D.C. (2018) Detecting lightning infrasound using a high-altitude balloon. Geophysical Research Letters, 45, doi: 10.1029/2018GL078401
Picture
Path of Wanaka High-Altitude Balloon as it flow over Lightning storms in the Tasman Sea in May 2016. Adapted from Lamb, Lees & Bowman (2018).

Seismic, acoustic and experimental studies of lava dome eruptions

 Multiple approaches over the past few decades have improved our understanding of dynamic eruptive processes associated with active lava domes. In my PhD thesis for the University of Liverpool, multi-disciplinary approaches are used to analyse unrest at four different volcanoes: Volcán de Colima, Unzen, Santiaguito, and Mt. Redoubt. These case studies demonstrated how this approach can provide more robust interpretations of dynamic processes prior to or during lava dome eruptions. Therefore, multi-disciplinary approaches to studying volcanic activity can have important implications for hazard assessments at active volcanoes worldwide.

Publications:
Lamb, O.D., De Angelis, S., Umakoshi, K., et al.  (2015) Repetitive fracturing during spine extrusion at Unzen volcano, Japan. Solid Earth, doi: 10.5194/se-6-1-2015

Lamb, O.D., De Angelis, S. & Lavallée, Y. (2015). Using infrasound to constrain ash plume height. Journal of Applied Volcanology, 4(1), doi: 10.1186/s13617-015-0038-6

Lamb, O.D., De Angelis, S., Wall, R.J., et al. (2017) Seismic and experimental insights into eruption precursors at Volcán de Colima. Geophysical Research Letters, 44, doi: 10.1002/2017GL073350

Lamb, O.D.,  Lamur, A., Díaz-Moreno, A., et al. (2019) Explosive disruption of long-term eruptive activity at Santiaguito, Guatemala. Frontiers in Earth Sciences, doi: 10.3389/feart.2018.00253
Picture
Santiaguito on 11 January 2016

Statistical analysis of volcanic time-series

For my masters studies at the University of Oxford, a statistical toolkit was used on two seismic event time-series datasets from Volcán de Colima (Mexico) and Soufrière Hills volcano (Montserrat), two long-lived silicic eruptions. The analysis demonstrated how common temporal patterns existed in each time-series, probably produced by similar processes. This finding highlighted the potential for using statistical tools for volcano monitoring and for contributing to a general model of volcanoes.

Publication:
Lamb, O.D., Varley, N.R., Mather, T.A., et al.  (2014). Multiple timescales of cyclical behaviour observed at two dome-forming eruptions.  Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 284, pp.106–121. doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2014.07.013
Picture
Volcán de Colima in August 2012