Dr. Graham Ryan

Director

BIO

Dr Graham Ryan is the director MVO with multiple years’ experience in volcanology and geothermal geophysics. He uses geophysics to better understand the nature and behaviour of magmatic systems and fluid flow through geothermal systems.

He started out as a volunteer at the volcano observatory in 1996. Following his undergraduate studies in Physics he completed a PhD in volcanology. During his PhD research he performed controlled explosions in the laboratory to simulate repetitive volcanic explosions and magma flow in volcanic conduits.

After his PhD he returned to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and where he worked as a volcanologist for five years combining volcano monitoring with research. His research covered remote gas sensing, ground deformation associated with the magmatic system and dome volume estimation.

His current interests include ground deformation associated with the volcanic systems of the Eastern Caribbean and the use of joint interpretation and inversion to determine the architecture of geothermal and magmatic systems in the region. He has published over 20 articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed international publications.

RESEARCH INTEREST

• Ground deformation associated with active magmatic systems
• Volcano geophysics
• Geothermal geophysics
• Geothermal exploration and monitoring
• Joint interpretation and inversion to determine the structure of magmatic and geothermal systems
• Seismic velocity as a proxy for temperature in geothermal systems
• Magnetotellurics for imaging magmatic and geothermal system

JOURNAL ARTICLES (PEER-REVIEWED)

Ryan, G. A., and E. Shalev (2014.), Seismic velocity / temperature correlations and a possible new geothermometer: insights from exploration of a high-temperature geothermal system on Montserrat, West Indies, Energies, 7(10), 6689-6720. (invited article for special issue “Geothermal Energy: Delivering on the Global Potential”)

Ryan, G.A., S.A., Peacock, J., Rugis, J., Shalev, E. (2013) Montserrat geothermal system: a 3D conceptual model, Geophysical Research Letters, 40, 2038-2043, doi: 10.1002/grl.50489.

Bertrand, E. A., T. G. Caldwell, G. J. Hill, E. L. Wallin, S. L. Bennie, N. Cozens, S. A. Onacha, G. A. Ryan, C. Walter, A. Zaino, and P. Wameyo (2012), Magnetotelluric imaging of upper-crustal convection plumes beneath the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, Geophysical Research Letters, 39, pp. 6, L02304, DOI:10.1029/2011GL050177.

Ryan, G. A., S. C. Loughlin, M. R. James, L. D. Jones, E. S. Calder, T. Christopher, M. H. Strutt, and G. Wadge (2010), Growth of the lava dome and extrusion rates at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies: 2005-2008, Geophysical Research Letters, 37, pp. 5, L00E08, DOI: 10.1029/2009GL041477.

Loughlin, S. C., R. Luckett, G. Ryan, T. Christopher, V. Hards, S. De Angelis, L. Jones, and M. Strutt (2010), An overview of lava dome evolution, dome collapse and cyclicity at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, 2005-2007, Geophysical Research Letters, 37, pp. 6, L00E16, DOI: 10.1029/2009GL041477.

Mattioli, G. S., R. A. Herd, M. H. Strutt, G. Ryan, C. Widiwijayanti, and B. Voight (2010), Long term surface deformation of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat from GPS geodesy: Inferences from simple elastic inverse models, Geophysical Research Letters, 37, pp. 6, L00E13, doi:10.1029/2009GL042268.

Le Friant, A., C. Deplus, G. Boudon, N. Feuillet, J. Trofimovs, J. C. Komorowski, R. S. J. Sparks, P. Talling, S. Loughlin, M. Palmer, and G. Ryan (2010), Eruption of Soufrière Hills (1995-2009) from an offshore perspective: Insights from repeated swath bathymetry surveys, Geophysical Research Letters, 37(11), pp. 6, L11307, doi:10.1029/2010GL043580.

Paulatto, M., T. A. Minshull, B. Baptie, S. Dean, J. O. S. Hammond, T. Henstock, C. L. Kenedi, E. J. Kiddle, P. Malin, C. Peirce, G. Ryan, E. Shalev, R. S. J. Sparks, and B. Voight (2010), Upper crustal structure of an active volcano from refraction/reflection tomography, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, Geophysical Journal International, 180(2), 685-696.

Wadge, G., G. Ryan, and E. S. Calder (2009), Clastic and core lava components of a silicic lava dome, Geology, 37, 551-554, DOI: 10.1130/G25747A.1.
Wadge, G., R. Herd, G. Ryan, E. S. Calder, and J. C. Komorowski (2009), Lava production at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat: 1995-2009, Geophysical Research Letters, 37, pp. 5, L00E03, doi: 10.1029/2009GL041466.

Hale, A. J., E. S. Calder, S. C. Loughlin, G. Wadge, and G. A. Ryan (2009), Modelling the lava dome extruded at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, August 2005-May 2006. Part II: Rockfall activity and talus deformation, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 187, 69-84.

Hale, A. J., E. S. Calder, G. Wadge, S. C. Loughlin, and G. A. Ryan (2009), Modelling the lava dome extruded at Soufrière Volcano, Montserrat, August 2005-May 2006. Part I: Dome shape and internal structure, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 187, 53-68.

Wadge, G., Macfarlane, D. G., Odbert, H. M., James, M. R., Hole, J. K., Ryan, G., Bass, V., De Angelis, S., Pinkerton, H., Robertson, D. A. & Loughlin, S. C. (2008) Lava dome growth and mass wasting measured by a time series of ground-based radar and seismicity observations. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, pp. 15, B08210, doi:10.1029/2007JB005466.

Luckett, R., Loughlin, S., De Angelis, S. and Ryan, G. (2008) Volcanic seismicity at Montserrat, a comparison between the 2005 dome growth episode and earlier dome growth. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 177(4): 894-902.

Rodríguez, L. A., Watson, I. M., Edmonds, M., Ryan, G., Hards, V., Oppenheimer, C. M. M. and Bluth, G. J. S. (2008) SO2 loss rates in the plume emitted by Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 173, 135-147.

De Angelis S., Bass V., Hards V., Ryan G. (2007). Seismic characterization of pyroclastic flow activity at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, 08 January 2007. Natural hazards and Earth System Sciences, 7(4), 467-472.

Trofimovs J., Amy L., Boudon G., Deplus C., Doyle E., Fournier N., Hart M.B., Komorowski J.C., Le Friant A., Lock E.J., Pudsey C., Ryan G., Sparks R.S.J., Talling P.J. (2006). Submarine pyroclastic deposits formed at the Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat (1995-2003): What happens when pyroclastic flows enter the ocean? Geology, 34 (7), 549-552.

Lane, S.J., Chouet, B.A., Phillips, J.C., Dawson, P., Ryan, G.A., Hurst, E. (2001). Experimental observations of pressure oscillations and flow regimes in an analogue volcanic system. Journal of Geophysical Research, 106(B4), 6461-6476.

See more in MVO Research

• graham@mvo.ms
• 1-664-491-5647