BA MSci (2006) – University of Cambridge, Natural Sciences (Physical/Geological)
DPhil (2010) – University of Oxford, Department of Earth Sciences

2006-2010 DPhil, Oxford University Department of Earth Sciences

2010-2011 Postdoctoral Fellow in Geophysics, University of Southampton

2011-2014 NERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow (U. Southampton/U. Birmingham)

Awards

2014 EGU Arne Richter Award

Those interested in postgraduate research are encouraged to contact me via email to discuss potential projects and opportunities. Projects in topics covering volcanology and igneous petrology are also advertised on the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences web page.

Research interests

• Tephrochronology and long-timescale volcanic eruption records
• Volcanic edifice collapse, landslide processes and associated hazards
• Feedbacks between volcanic construction/destruction and magmatic processes, and the influence of external (e.g. climatic) processes on volcanism.
• Mafic and monogenetic arc volcanism
• Environmental impacts of volcanic eruptions
• The application of statistical methods to geological datasets

Current Projects

Volcanic flank collapse: diversity of behaviour, hazard generation and controls on volcano evolution (NERC Postdoctoral Fellowship NE/I02044X/1). This project explores the processes involved during the collapse of volcanic edifices. Volcano instability can generate extremely large landslides (among the largest on Earth). Although these are rare, they can cause widespread devastation to the surrounding region, and on volcanic islands these events may generate large tsunamis. This project aims to improve our understanding of the controls on the magnitude of collapse and subsequent landslide behaviour, and to also explore how edifice destruction, which removes a large load from above the magma storage system, may impact the subsequent eruptive behaviour of a volcano. Current results suggest that large-scale collapse plays a key role in the long-term evolution of volcano behaviour, and such events can thus be used to understand why the style and type of activity at a volcano changes through time, and to obtain clearer insights into volcano plumbing systems. This project combines field studies in Chile, Mexico and Montserrat with geophysical modelling of magma storage systems.

Emplacement dynamics of debris avalanches and submarine landslides at Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat (NERC New Investigator Grant NE/K000403/1). This project specifically investigates landslide processes around the island of Montserrat. Recent results have shown that multiple large collapses have occurred on Montserrat in the past. Several of these occurred in multiple stages, reducing the overall magnitude of associated tsunamis. This project seeks to improve our understanding of landslide emplacement, by combining geophysical data with analyses of  IODP core samples. It also investigates the timing of the largest landslide from Soufriere Hills, the currently active volcano on Montserrat, and how this impacted on subsequent landslide behaviour. Associated research is exploring the history of older volcanoes on Montserrat, using both IODP core data and subaerial field samples (including Ar-Ar dates funded via the NERC Argon Isotope Facility).

Mantle volatiles: processes, reservoirs and fluxes (co-investigator). This 5-year project aims to provide a new process-based understanding of volatile element (e.g. H2O, C, S, noble gases and halogens) fluxes into the deep mantle at subduction zones and out of the mantle at mid ocean ridges and ocean island settings. At Birmingham we are working with colleagues at the Universities of Oxford, Durham and Leeds on the subduction-zone component of the project, with a focus on understanding spatial patterns in volatile cycling through the thermally distinctive subduction zones of southern Chile and Kamchatka. More details of the consortium are at: http://www.deepvolatiles.org/mantle-volatiles-processes-reservoirs-and-fluxes1.html

2013- Subject Editor in Igneous Geology and Physical Volcanology, Journal of the Geological Society

Cassidy, M, J Trofimovs, SFL Watt, MR Palmer, RN Taylor, TM Gernon, PJ Talling, A Le Friant, 2013. Multi-stage collapse events in the South Soufrière Hills, Montserrat as recorded in marine sediment cores. Geological Society Memoir, The Eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat from 2000 to 2010, in press.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, TA Mather, JA Naranjo, 2013. Arc magma compositions controlled by linked thermal and chemical gradients above the subducting slab. Geophysical Research Letters 40, 2550–2556.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, TA Mather. The volcanic response to deglaciation: evidence from glaciated volcanic arcs and a reassessment of global eruption records, 2013. Earth-Science Reviews 122, 77–102.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, TA Mather, 2013. Evidence of mid- to late-Holocene explosive rhyolitic eruptions from Chaitén volcano, Chile. Andean Geology 40, 216–226.

Cassidy, M, J Trofimovs, MR Palmer, PJ Talling, SFL Watt, SG Moreton, RN Taylor, 2013. Timing and emplacement dynamics of newly recognised mass flow deposits at ~8-12 ka offshore Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat: how submarine stratigraphy can complement subaerial eruption histories. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 253, 1–14.

Crutchley, GJ, J Karstens, C Berndt, PJ Talling, SFL Watt, ME Vardy, V Hühnerbach, M Urlaub, S Sarkar, D Klaeschen, M Paulatto, A Le Friant, E Lebas, F Maeno, 2013. Insights into the emplacement dynamics of volcanic landslides from high-resolution 3D seismic data offshore Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. Marine Geology, 335, 1-15.

Karstens, J, GJ Crutchley, C Berndt, PJ Talling, SFL Watt, V Hühnerbach, A Le Friant, E Lebas, J Trofimovs, 2013. Emplacement of pyroclastic flow deposits offshore Montserrat from 3D seismic data. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 257, 1–11.

Trofimovs, J, PJ Talling, JK Fisher, RSJ Sparks, SFL Watt, MB Hart, C Smart, A Le Friant, M Cassidy, SG Moreton, MJ Leng, 2013. Timing, origin and emplacement dynamics of mass flows offshore of SE Montserrat in the last 110 ka: implications for landslide and tsunami hazards, eruption history, and volcanic island evolution. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 14, 385-406.

Watt, SFL, PJ Talling, ME Vardy, DM Masson, TJ Henstock, V Hühnerbach, TA Minsull, M Urlaub, E Lebas, A Le Friant, C Berndt, GJ Crutchley, J Karstens, 2012. Widespread and progressive seafloor-sediment failure following volcanic debris avalanche emplacement: landslide dynamics and timing offshore Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. Marine Geology, 323–325, 69–94.

Watt, SFL, PJ Talling, ME Vardy, V Heller, V Hühnerbach, M Urlaub, S Sarkar, DG Masson, TJ Henstock, TA Minshull, M Paulatto, A Le Friant, E Lebas, C Berndt, GJ Crutchley, J Karstens, AJ Stinton, F Maeno, 2012. Combinations of volcanic-flank and seafloor-sediment failure offshore Montserrat, and their implications for tsunami generation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 319–320, 228–240.

Martin, RS, MLI Witt, GM Sawyer, HE Thomas, SFL Watt, E Bagnato, S Calabrese, A Aiuppa, P Delmelle, DM Pyle, TA Mather, 2012. Bioindication of volcanic mercury (Hg) deposition around Mt. Etna (Sicily). Chemical Geology 310–311, 12–22.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, TA Mather, 2011. Geology, petrology and geochemistry of the dome complex of Huequi volcano, southern Chile. Andean Geology 38, 335–348.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, JA Naranjo, G Rosqvist, M Mella, TA Mather, H Moreno, 2011. Holocene tephrochronology of the Hualaihue region (Andean southern volcanic zone, ~42° S), southern Chile. Quaternary International 246, 324–343.

Alfano, F, C Bonadonna, ACM Volentik, CB Connor, SFL Watt, DM Pyle, LJ Connor, 2011. Tephra stratigraphy and eruptive volume of the May, 2008, Chaitén eruption, Chile. Bulletin of Volcanology 73, 613–630.

Lebas, E, A Le Friant, G Boudon, SFL Watt, PJ Talling, N Feuillet, C Deplus, C Berndt, ME Vardy, 2011. Multiple widespread landslides during the long-term evolution of a volcanic island: insights from high-resolution seismic data, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 12, Q05006.

Martin, RS, MLI Witt, DM Pyle, TA Mather, SFL Watt, E Bagnato, S Calabrese, 2011. Rapid oxidation of mercury (Hg) at volcanic vents: Insights from high temperature thermodynamic models of Mt Etna’s emissions. Chemical Geology 283, 279–286.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, TA Mather, 2009. The influence of Great Earthquakes on volcanic eruption rate along the Chilean subduction zone. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 277, 399–407.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, TA Mather, RS Martin, NE Matthews, 2009. Fallout and distribution of volcanic ash over Argentina following the May 2008 explosive eruption of Chaitén, Chile. Journal of Geophysical Research 114, B04207.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, JA Naranjo, TA Mather, 2009. Edifice destruction on strike-slip fault zones: Landslide and tsunami hazard at Yate volcano, Chile. Bulletin of Volcanology 71, 559–574.

Carn, SA, JS Pallister, L Lara, JW Ewert, S Watt, AJ Prata, RJ Thomas, G Villarosa, 2009. The unexpected awakening of Chaitén volcano, Chile. EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union 90, 205–212.

Martin, RS, TA Mather, DM Pyle, SFL Watt, JA Day, SJ Collins, TE Wright, A Aiuppa, S Calabrese, 2009. Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) leaves as a bio-indicator of volcanic gas, aerosol and ash deposition onto the flanks of Mt Etna in 2005-2007. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 179, 107–119.

Martin, RS, SFL Watt, DM Pyle, TA Mather, NE Matthews, RB Georg, JA Day, T Fairhead, MLI Witt, BM Quayle, 2009. Environmental effects of ashfall in Argentina from the 2008 Chaitén volcanic eruption. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 184, 462–472.

Watt, SFL, TA Mather, DM Pyle, 2007. Vulcanian explosion cycles: patterns and predictability. Geology 35, 839–842.

Watt, SFL, DM Pyle, TA Mather, TA, JA Day, A Aiuppa, 2007. The use of tree-rings and foliage as an archive of volcanogenic cation deposition. Environmental Pollution 148, 48–61.