Benoit TAISNE
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, Asian School of the Environment
Phone:
(+65) 6592 2527
Fax:
(+65) 6790 1585
Email:
Btaisne@ntu.edu.sg
Office Location:
N2-01b-25
Research Group:
- Volcano
Team:
Research:
Benoit Taisne’s current research focuses on the early anticipation of the style and size of volcanic eruptions. He uses new tomographic methods (muon telescopes) to shed light on two crucial parts of the volcanic system that have so far remained elusive for volcanologists and hazard managers, and which are key inputs for ash dispersal models:
- The structure (i.e. density distribution) and geometry of the volcanic conduit,
- The characteristics of ash columns.
Results from the muon tomography experiments will be complemented by more traditional data and methods from different disciplines like geophysics (seismologic studies), geodesy (GPS studies), and geochemistry (petrology and gas chemistry). All these data will be jointly inverted in near real-time with physics-based models of magma migration to get quantitative values for key physical parameters controlling the eruption style, and hence anticipate the style and size of eruptions to come.
His main research interests are:
- Magma migration
- Eruption dynamic
- Development of realtime monitoring technics
- Numerical simulation
- Laboratory experiments in fluids dynamics
Education:
- 2004-2008 Ph.D. in geophysics (with distinction) on the "Vicissitudes of ascending magma through the terrestrial crust". Directors : Pr. C. Jaupart and Pr. S. Tait, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS
- 2001-2004 Magister in Earth sciences (M.Sc) (with distinction), Ecole Normale Superieure de Paris
- 2003-2004 Master in geophysics (M.Sc) (with distinction), Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris
- 2002-2003 Master in Earth sciences (M.Sc) (with distinction), Ecole Normale Superieure de Paris, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
- 2001-2002 Bachelor diploma in Earth sciences (with distinction), Ecole Normale Superieure de Paris, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
Professional Experience:
- 2012-present Principal Investigator at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, Assistant Professor at the Division of Earth Sciences, NTU
- 2010-2012 Postdoctoral researcher at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, IPGP. Study of the lava dome stability.
- 2008-2010 PostDoctoral researcher, Seismological laboratory at the Institut de Physique
du Globe de Paris (with N. Shapiro). Modelling of the seismic activity linked to dyke propagation. - 2009 Seismologist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, IPGP
- 2007 Volcanological monitoring at the Piton de la Fournaise Observatory. Quantitative analysis of seismic signal.
- 2005 GPS measurements in Jordan. Measurements for Dead Sea fault studies.
- 2004 Graduate Research Project in volcanology at the Institut de Pysique du Globe de Paris (Advisor Pr. C. Jaupart). Subject : Gas precursory to volcanic eruption.
- 2003 Graduate Research Project in volcanology at the Bristol University, UK (with Pr. S. Sparks, Dr. J. Phillips). Subject : Mingling of two magmas in dierent geometrical congurations.
- 2002 Undergraduate Research Project in volcanology at the Institut de Pysique du Globe de Paris (Advisor Pr. C. Jaupart). Subject : Study of the mechanics for intermittent lava dome growth
- 2001 Undergraduate Research Project in volcanology at La Reunion Island (Advisors Pr. P. Bachelery, M. P. Mairine). Subject : Mapping volcanological risk within the Plaine des Cafres.
Professional Activities:
- Member of the American Geophysical Union
- Member of the European Geophysical Union
Courses Taught:
- ES7002 - Research skills in Earth System Science
Past courses:
- 2011 One week courses, Centro de Geociencias, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Mexico. Physics of dyke propagation (field, theory and experiments).
- 2007-2008 Teaching assistant position at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. Computer Programming in Matlab for master students.
Publications:
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(2018). Necking and fracking may explain stationary seismicity and full degassing in volcanic silicic spine extrusion. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 503, 47-57.
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(2018). Anatomy of phreatic eruptions. Earth Planets and Space. 70,
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(2016). Deep fluid transfer evidenced by surface deformation during the 2014-2015 unrest at Piton de la Fournaise volcano. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 321, 140-148.
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(2015). Magma Transport in Dikes. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes (Second Edition).
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(2015). Magma migration at the onset of the 2012-13 Tolbachik eruption revealed by Seismic Amplitude Ratio Analysis. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 307(SI), 60-67.
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(2015). On the use of remote infrasound and seismic stations to constrain the eruptive sequence and intensity for the 2014 Kelud eruption. Geophysical Research Letters. 43(16), 6614-6621.
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(2015). A review of mechanical models of dike propagation: Schools of thought, results and future directions. Tectonophysics. 638, 1-42.
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(2015). Deposit loading and its effect on co-eruptive volcano deformation. Earth And Planetary Science Letters. 413, 186-196.
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(2015). Toward continuous quantification of lava extrusion rate: Results from the multidisciplinary analysis of the 2 January 2010 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise volcano, La Reunion. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 120(5), 3026-3047.
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(2015). Seismic anisotropy and its precursory change before eruptions at Piton de la Fournaise volcano, La Reunion. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 120(5), 3430-3458.
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(2015). Fractal degassing from Erebus and Mayon volcanoes revealed by a new method to monitor H2O emission cycles. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 120(5), 2988-3002.
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(2014). On depressurization of volcanic magma reservoirs by passive degassing. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 119(12), 8667–8687.
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(2013). Experimental models of hydraulic fissures with application to the propagation of magmatic dykes. Modeling Volcanic Processes.
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(2012). Scales of columnar jointing in igneous rocks: field measurements and controlling factors. Bulletin of Volcanology. 74, 457-482.
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(2012). A new comprehensive classification of the Piton de la Fournaise activity spanning the 1985-2010 period. Search and analysis of short-term precursors from a broad-band seismological station. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 241, 78-104.
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(2011). Imaging the dynamics of magma propagation using radiated seismic intensity. Geophysical Research Letters. 38,
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(2011). Effect of solidification on a propagating dike. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 116, B01206.
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(2011). Conditions for the arrest of a vertical propagating dyke. Bulletin of Volcanology. 73, 191-204.
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(2011). Magma Expansion and Fragmentation in a Propagating Dyke,. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 301, 146-152.
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(2009). Dike propagation through layered rocks. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth. 114,
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(2009). Eruption versus intrusion? Arrest of propagation of constant volume, buoyant, liquid-filled cracks in an elastic, brittle host. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth. 114,
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(2008). Magma degassing and intermittent lava dome growth. Geophysical Research Letters. 35,