Physical volcanic processes, including explosive eruption processes, volcanic edifice stability, volcanic landslides and volcanic tsunami hazards

Long-term controls and variation in the development and eruptive behaviour of volcanic systems

Impacts and records of volcanism in coastal, island and marine settings, and the influence of island and marine environments on volcanic hazard generation

Seb Watt's research investigates the physical and chemical processes that control the behaviour and long-term development of volcanoes. After completing a DPhil at the University of Oxford, investigating explosive eruption records in southern Chile, he moved to Southampton to study volcanic landslide processes offshore Montserrat, and was a NERC Postdoctoral Research fellow there from 2011. He moved to the University of Birmingham in 2013. He was awarded the EGU Arne Richter award in 2014, and the Murchison Fund of the Geological Society in 2015.

His research on explosive volcanic processes, volcanic landslides and volcanic tsunamis investigates complex and poorly predictable volcanic hazards, particularly in marine or coastal environments. Much of this research draws on fieldwork, including projects in Chile, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. He has participated in several marine research expeditions and in international drilling programmes. His research draws on a wide range of methods, combining physical and chemical analyses with modelling and geophysical datasets. There are also interdisciplinary elements to this research, including work with social scientists and collaborations with hazard management and geological agencies. 

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