USF Geology Recent Graduate
Alain Volentik, with giant pumice from Chaiten!
Alain Volentik
Alain Volentik is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Hawaii (Department of Geology and Geophysics, at SOEST (School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology), sponsored for 2 years by the Swiss National Science Foundation. His appointment started in July 2009 and he is working with Dr. Bruce Houghton on volcanic hazard assessment for Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii. More specifically, his project focuses on modeling radial vent distribution on Mauna Loa and to couple linked volcanic hazards (i.e. vent formation, lava flow emplacement, tephra fallout) in order to better understand the global volcanic hazard picture that a community faces upon volcanic unrest at an active volcano.
Alain graduated with a PhD from the Department of Geology at USF in May 2009. His research focused on the transport, sedimentation and hazards of tephra fall. He modeled tephra dispersion and characterized total grainsize distribution in eruption columns. His field areas included mainly Pululagua volcano (Ecuador), but also Mount St. Helens and Mount Spurr (USA). Another aspect of Alain's research during his PhD dealt with volcanic hazard assessments for critical facilities (i.e. nuclear power plants).