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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

If you are going to attend the #RAUGM2026 (Mexican Geophysical Union Annual Meeting) in October, consider taking our course on how to apply paleomagnetic techniques to study volcanoes! (Or if you know anyone going who might be interested, please share!)

Flyer for RAUGM course CU10: Application of paleomagnetic methods for the study of volcanic deposits, which will take place during the Mexican Geophysical Union Annual Meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, between 26-30 of October.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Si vas a asistir al congreso #RAUGM2026 en octubre, considera la posibilidad de apuntarte a nuestro curso sobre cómo aplicar técnicas paleomagnéticas al estudio de los volcanes. (O, si conoces a alguien que vaya a asistir y pueda estar interesado, ¡compártelo!).

Flyer que explica los contenidos del curso CU10: Aplicación de métodos paleomagnéticos al estudio de depósitos volcánicos, que se llevará a cabo durante el congreso Reunión Anual de la Unión Geofísica Mexicana en Puerto Vallarta durante la semana 26-30 de octubre.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

In terms of which volcanoes seem to have impacted airports the most, Etna (Italy), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat), and Popocatépetl (Mexico) have caused the most closures (besides Eyjafjallajökull, of course, which is estimated to have caused closures to over 300 airports all by itself in 2010).

The same map as the previous post, showing the countries with the most airport closures and relative number of airports affected. In the context of this post, the map also highlights the 10 volcanoes responsible for the most airport closures in our dataset (plus Eyjafjallajokul). Roughly from west to east: Popocatépetl, Turrialba, Tungurahua, Nevado del Ruiz, Soufrière Hills, Puyehue-Cordón Caulle, Etna, Agung, Rabaul, and Ruapehu.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

So where do the most closures seem to happen? Indonesia, Mexico, and New Zealand appear the most in our dataset, while Catania-Fontanarossa, Puebla (Mexico), and La Nubia (Colombia) Airports closed the most times due to volcanic-related events (typically either ashfall or airborne ash).

A map showing the relative impact of volcanic eruptions to airport closures in different countries. Countries with larger circles indicate a larger number of closure events within that country (for example, Indonesia, Mexico, and New Zealand have the largest circle, and Argentina, Italy, the United States, and Ecuador all have notably large circles). A darker (redder) color within the circle indicates a higher number of airports affected, while a lighter (yellower) color indicates fewer different airports affected (for example, Indonesia's large circle has a dark red color, indicating that the many closure events involved many different airports, while Italy's large circle is yellow, indicating that the many events affected mostly the same airports).

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The result was a collection of 334 volcano-related airport closures since the 1940s with varying degrees of qualitative and quantitative information available. Years with many closures are often linked to extreme or extended events (e.g., Pinatubo 1991, Puyhue-Cordón Caulle 2011).

Histogram showing number of volcano-related airport closures per 5-year period. Blue bars show all of the events contained in the 334-event dataset, while the red bars show only the events for which quantitative data regarding ashfall thickness and closure length were available.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Volcanic ash can cause a range of impacts to airborne and grounded airplanes, so most airports stop operations with even trace amounts of ash detected on the ground. This type of disruption requires cleanup and other logistics and might continue even after nearby airspace is safe to use.

Six photos of volcanic ashfall-related impacts to airports:
A: Cars in a parking lot covered in a dusting of ash so thin as to just barely be visible (Puebla Airport, Mexico, 2024)
B: An American Airlines passenger plane with a significant covering of ash on top (La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala, 2010)
C: A wet airport runway area with many people cleaning and sweeping and many small piles of ash (La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala, 2010)
D: A comercial passenger plane covered in volcanic ash. The runway is also covered in a layer of ash thick enough that no lines or markings can be seen (Chapelco Airport, Argentina, 2010).
E: A passenger plane on an ash covered runway with its tail touching the ground due to the significant weight of the wet ash on top (Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Philippines, 1991), F: Aerial photo of Clark Air Base (Philippines) with the roofs of all the buildings collapsed to the weight of wet volcanic ash deposited during the 1991 eruption of Pinatubo

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

El equipo necesario para este tipo de muestreo generalmente no es técnico ni caro. Así, es muestreo se puede hacer en cualquier momento en que hay necesidad o interés, por ejemplo, de nuevos depósitos de un erupción muy reciente (ya cuando es seguro acercarse).

Colección del equipo necesario para el muestreo paleomagnético de un afloramiento de un depósito volcánico.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

La guía se enfoca en el muestreo de depósitos piroclásticos para estudios paleomagnéticos: equipo básico necesario, pasos para seguir en el afloramiento, etc. Esperamos que sería útil para brindar colaboraciones entre laboratorios paleomagnéticos y observatorios volcanológicos.

Diagrama que explica los pasos de muestreo para tomar muestras paleomagnéticos de un afloramiento de depósito piroclástico.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

The equipment necessary for this type of sampling is generally not especially technical or expensive. As such, it can be conducted any time there is need or interest, for example, from new deposits of a recent eruption (once it is safe to approach).

Collection of equipment necessary to undertake paleomagnetic sampling of volcanic deposits.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

The guide focuses on the practicalities of how to sample pyroclastic deposits for paleomagnetic studies: basic equipment necessary, steps to take at the outcrop, etc. We hope it will be useful for building collaborations between paleomagnetic laboratories and observatories.

Flowchart of how to take paleomagnetic samples at an outcrop of a pyroclastic deposit.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Quieres hacer tu posgrado en México (o conoces a alguien que le interesa)? Está abierta la convocatoria para MSc y PhD para estudiantes internacionales (y doctorantes de México) aquí en el IPICYT en San Luis Potosí! Más información aquí: ipicyt.edu.mx/posgrado/pro... O me puedes contactar!

Anuncio de plazas de posgrado en el Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica en San Luis Potosí, México.

Te invitamos a participar en el proceso de selección de otoño 2025 para ingresar al posgrado en Geociencias Aplicadas del IPICYT!

Convoctatorias de Maestría y Doctorado dirigidas a aspirantes de nacionalidad mexicana y extranjera

Fecha límite para la recepción de solicitudes:
Maestría: 21 de noviembre de 2025
Doctorado: 8 de noviembre de 2025

Informes:
promocion-posgrado@ipicyt.edu.mx
coordinacion_ga@ipicyt.edu.mx

Anuncio para hacer investigación conmigo en el IPICYT!

Estoy buscando tesistas de doctorado (Mexicano y internacional) y maestría (internacional) para trabajar en temas de volcanología y paleomagnetismo.

Para mayor información pueden contactarme enviando sus CV y sus motivaciones e intereses por correo:
Dr. Geoffrey A. Lerner
geoffrey.lerner@ipicyt.edu.mx

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Anyone interested in doing their postgrad studies in Mexico? Applications are open for international MScs and PhDs here at the IPICYT in San Luis Potosí! More information here: ipicyt.edu.mx/posgrado/pro... Or get in touch with me! Pass on to any interested students you know!

Announcement for applications for the master's and PhD programs at the Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Translated from Spanish: We invite you to participate in the selection process for Fall 2025 to enter the postgraduate program in Applied Geosciences in the IPICYT! Call for applications for master's and doctorate for applicants of Mexican nationality and foreigners.

Deadline for reception of applications:
Master's: 21 November, 2025
PhD: 8 November, 2025

For more information:
promocion-posgrado@ipicyt.edu.mx
coordinacion-ga@ipicyt.edu.mx

Announcement for research with me at the IPICYT! Translated from Spanish: I am looking for graduate students to work on topics related to volcanology and paleomagnetism.

For more information you can contact me with your CV and your motivation/interests by email:

Dr. Geoffrey A. Lerner
geoffrey.lerner@ipicyt.edu.mx

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Busco estudiantes interesados en aplicar a nuestros programas de posgrado aquí en el IPICYT, en San Luis Potosí (México). Hay oportunidades para realizar investigaciones del estudio de depósitos y secuencias volcánicas mediante paleomagnetismo. Si conoces a alguien interesado, pásale la información!

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

I am looking for interested students to apply for our MSc and PhD programs here at the IPICYT in San Luis Potosí (Mexico). There are opportunities for research related to the study of volcanic deposits and sequences using paleomagnetism. If you know anyone interested, pass it on!

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

A little bit of news, as of last week I started as an assistant professor at the IPICYT (Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnología) in San Luis Potosí. Looking forward to getting to work with new people here and keep working with all the awesome people who helped me get here!

A nametag on a white wall next to a brown door. At the top, in white text on a blue background, it says “Geociencias Aplicacas IPICYT”. Below, in blue text on white, it says “Dr. Geoffrey Aaron Lerner”, and below, “Profesor Investigador Titular “A” “. Below are logos for the Mexican Government, CONACYT, and IPICYT.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

A couple days in the field working on a fun side project around Popocatépetl. Seems like he goes quiet every time I visit!

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Some great views of Galeras volcano, some Galeras-related deposits, and just views in general on our first day in the field. #7VGW

View of Galeras volcano in the distance with a few clouds but a mostly blue sky. Green hills and vegetation with some houses in the foreground.

Tall beige tephra deposits from Galeras volcano (and possibly other volcanoes). Some variation can be seen in the color between different layers.

$Avalanche deposit from older iterations of the Galeras volcano. A hummock with a brown matrix and many varying size rounded clasts and blocks, some with internal fracturing.$ View over fields of green corn stalks with highly changing topography, going down into a valley and back up the other side. Some farming buildings and other green vegetation.

View over fields of green corn stalks with highly changing topography, going down into a valley and back up the other side. Some farming buildings and other green vegetation.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Excited to be in Pasto for the IAVCEI 7th Volcano Geology Workshop. Already had some lucky views of Galeras, some great intro to the regional geology, ecology, culture, and more, and ready to go to the field tomorrow!

View of a green Galeras volcano in the distance with a cloudy sky. View across a green lawn with some trees and city buildings in the distance.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Time for a (re)introduction! I’m a volcanologist and paleomagnetist currently based in Mexico who studies a whole bunch of things with a whole bunch of methods, mostly related to volcanic hazards, especially pyroclastic flows! I’m a big fan of books, birds, tennis, yoga, and cooking! And cats!

A man standing on a flat dry area, looking into the distance where there are some trees and vegetation, and, further away, the cone of Popocatépetl volcano. He is wearing a khaki vest with a reflector strip, a brown wide brimmed hat, and has a pink and purple backpack

A geologist using a Brunton compass to measure the orientation of a larger rock within a pyroclastic density current deposit.

A geologist standing in front of the rock preparation lab wearing a white lab coat and a plastic aprons holding a rock he just cut. His face and apron are extremely dirty.

Me sitting in a house, wearing a beige and orange flannel shirt, trying to type on my laptop. My facial expression shows that this task is difficult due to the beautiful black cat sitting on my arms between me and the computer.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Ok, #VolcanoMonday is a good excuse to try to start being more active on here! Here's a sunrise photo of Iztaccihuatl (left) and Popocatépetl (right) taken from Mexico City just before heading to the field a couple weeks ago.

Sunrise photo of buildings in Mexico City. On the horizon are two volcanoes, Iztaccihuatl (left) and Popocatépetl (right), silhouetted against an orange sky.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 22/07/2024

Interested in what conditions cause phreatomagmatic eruptions? We have everything you could possibly want in this evaluation of PVs in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Super proud of Mélida's hard work that went into this paper and excited to share it! doi.org/10.1016/j.jv...

Map of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt showing the locations of all the phreatomagmatic volcanoes, separated into two groups: Maars/tuff rings and tuff cones. Volcanic fields are also highlighted. Some of the phreatomagmatic volcanoes are clustered within volcanic fields, while others are scattered throughout the volcanic belt.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 11/02/2024

Started things off with an amazing field trip talking to local communities about how they prepare for eruptions (and watching some little ones)! Now ready to start #CitiesOnVolcanoes12 tomorrow!

Nighttime photo of a volcano erupting. The volcano is a black silhouette of a cone against a starry dark blue sky. There is red and orange glow from the eruption at the summit

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

Hola a todos los ECR que planeen asistir a COV12! IAVCEI ECR-Net ha organizado un evento divertido de mentoría durante la conferencia. Contamos con un grupo de vulcanólogos experimentados con quienes puedes conversar (y conocer a otros ECR al mismo tiempo!). Espero que vengas!

Flyer del ECR-Net Evento de Mentoría durante el congreso Cities on Volcanoes 12. El flyer dice: "Todos los ECR son bienvenidos a unirse a nuestro evento de mentoría bilingüe donde pueden recibir asesoramiento profesional sobre una variedad de temas, que incluyen: crear un CV impactante, gestión de emergencias y gobierno, escribir una propuesta de financiamiento, trabajar en observatorios, equilibrar el trabajo y la vida, publicar en la academia, mentoría."

"Estás al comienzo de tu carrera? Hay lugares garantizados para las primeras 100 personas. No pierdas tu cupo!"

"El evento es martes, 13 febrero, a las 18:45-20:00 CST en Room San José (en Hotel Porta)."

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

Hey to any volcano ECRs planning to attend COV12! IAVCEI ECR-Net has organized a fun mentoring event during the conference. We have an amazing group of experienced volcanologists who you can chat to about a variety of topics (and meet other ECRs at the same time!). I hope you'll come!

Flyer for the ECR-Net mentoring event taking place during the Cities on Volcanoes 12 conference. The flyer says: "All ECRs are welcome to join our bilingual mentoring event where they can receive career advice on a variety of topics, including: creating an impactful CV, emergency management and government, working in observatories, writing a grant proposal, balancing work and life, getting published in academia, mentoring."

The event takes place on Tuesday, February 13 from 18:45-20:00 CST in Room San Jose (in Hotel Porta).

"Attendance for the first 100 Early-career researchers (first-come-first-serve basis)"

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 13/01/2024

Did a mug-themed gift exchange with a group of non-volcano friends and my person got me this perfect espresso cup 😍

White espresso cup on a base made of vesicular black volcanic rock, sitting on a brown wooden table

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 08/01/2024

Volcán Popocatépetl sunset looking forward to a year of more volcanoes!

Volcán Popocatépetl on the horizon, coloured pink due to sunset. To the right are some clouds and some ash drifting from the volcano, also coloured pink. The sky is clear and mostly pale blue, in the foreground the is a brownish cleared agriculture field with dried yellowish corn stalks in the distance.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 05/01/2024

Sunset colors over a quarry full of Popocatépetl debris avalanche deposits.

A large wall of a quarry with yellow and various shades of brown volcanic deposits. On the bottom right are the shadows of two geologists standing on a hill.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 03/01/2024

Starting off the new year with some directed blast pyroclastic density current deposits and tacos de suadero in the shadow of volcán Popocatépetl.

Light grey volcán Popocatépetl in the distance under a blue slightly cloudy sky. Also in the distance a several dark green debris avalanche hummocks. Closer are a variety of green vegetation and concrete buildings.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

A bit late to the baking game but have been having a bit of fun experimenting over the holiday period. Anyone have experience baking at altitude (e.g., over 2000m) and anything that needs to be accounted for? And/or any tips for compensating for a poor quality, bottom-heating-only oven?

Cut-in-half loaf of ciabatta bread. The crust is good but the crumb is somewhat more dense than it should be.

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Dr Geoff Lerner @tyranakisaurus.bsky.social · 04/10/2023

Hi all! Just got here from the other places! For those who already know/"know" me, I still do volcano-y stuff with hazards, magnetism, eruptions, etc. For those who don't know me, I do those things I just said. Can you help my find my volcano community, please?

Nighttime image of Yasur volcano in Vanuatu. The lower half of the photo is the black silhouette of the volcano. In the center are the orange arcs of ballistic lava bombs flying through the air. The sky is a greenish navy blue with a few clouds and stars visible.

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