Mike Cassidy
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mikevolc.bsky.social
Mike Cassidy
@mikevolc.bsky.social
Volcano Scientist | Associate Prof @unibirmingham.bsky.social | Research Affiliate @cser.bsky.social | Co-founder @gvra.bsky.social | Geology | Environmental change and sustainability | Dad of 2 | First gen
Pinned
🌋 Excited to share my new essay in Aeon: one of the most underappreciated global risks isn’t an asteroid or supervolcano—it’s the eruptions we don’t see coming:
The science of volcanoes and their relationship with the climate is hard to keep up with. Why do some volcanoes give us little warning before they blow? Are we ignoring the next big eruption?
Hidden volcanoes: are we ignoring the next big eruption? | Aeon Essays
The next global disaster may be triggered by a catastrophic eruption. How can we prepare for the fire beneath our feet?
buff.ly
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
Really cool summary of a recent paper in Geology (gift link 🎁): www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/s...
If the Volcanic Eruption Doesn’t Scare You, the Mudflow Should
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
Campi Flegrei and Vesuvius in the Bay of Naples area are extremely hazardous. Millions of people live in or near restless volcanoes. Not sure if we're looking at a catastrophic eruption in our lifetime, but a repeat of 1538 Monte Nuovo would still be dramatic.
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
New study found the largest lahar of the last millennium occurred at Mt Rainier (4.392 m, WA) at the end of the year 1507! 🏔️🌊⌚

Wonderful tree rings... 🥰🌲💍

pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
December 12, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
This is a must read.

A point that resonates with me: the hubris of administrators to decide what is worthy of a degree.

You want to create a school where students can study climate change, yet you plan to fire all the geographers, paleontologists, climatologists, and sedimentologists??
December 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM
While I was writing an article for the @uk.theconversation.com about why the world's little-known volcanoes may pose the greatest threat, an eruption from a volcano that has had no major documented eruption since the ice age erupted: #HayliGubbi volcano, Ethiopia theconversation.com/the-worlds-l...
The world’s little-known volcanoes pose the greatest threat
In regions like the Pacific, South America and Indonesia, an eruption from a volcano with no recorded history occurs every seven to ten years.
theconversation.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
Fascinating and timely work on the intrusion that preceded the #HayliGubbi eruption - this will turn out to be a very valuable example for volcanologists!
The #HayliGubbi eruption came after a period of unrest that started in June-July 2025 with a large dike intrusion in the southern sector of the Erta Ale rift. Our InSAR study will be out soon but you can have a summary at the link below. @earth-science.bsky.social #geoscience
Basaltic dike in Erta Ale triggers explosive eruption in Hayli Gubbi. Read our new paper!
www.frontiersin.org/journals/ear...
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
I whipped up a new post/newsletter extra for the Hayli Gubbi eruption. First time I've had to post an extra edition! #volcano #eruption eruptions.beehiiv.com/p/eruptions-...
Eruptions Newsletter Extra for November 23, 2025
Unexpected eruption from Hayli Gubbi in Ethiopia.
eruptions.beehiiv.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
#volcan #volcano #Taal 🇵🇭 Des explosions phréatiques ou préatomagmatiques parfois assez spectaculaires sont observées dans le lac/Some relatively impressive phreatic or phreatomagmatic explosions are observed in the lake www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enjx...
Multiple minor eruptions rock Taal Volcano on Oct. 26
YouTube video by Manila Bulletin
www.youtube.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:23 AM
An important vote for volcanologists/IAVCEI members that you might have missed (see page 49 in Newsletter), about a "proposal change to allow a president to run for multiple terms of office" Vote here: www.iavceivolcano.org/proposal-cha...
October 20, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
Over the last six weeks, SEES scientists Mengwen, Patrick, Helen & Andrea jointed the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project, which aims to analyse the oldest ice on Earth – up to 1.5 million years old, beyond the 800,000 years previously covered – to understand more about Earth's climate 🧊🧪🥼 @bas.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
So, no more Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report until the government reopens ...
a man in a maroon shirt with the words this is why we dont have nice things
ALT: a man in a maroon shirt with the words this is why we dont have nice things
media.tenor.com
October 2, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
Great to see @mikeaclare.bsky.social @noc.ac.uk quoted in this piece in the Guardian today www.theguardian.com/news/2025/se... about the Hunga Volcano eruption and the subsequent telecommunications outage in 2022.
Extremely offline: what happened when a Pacific island was cut off from the internet | Samanth Subramanian
A colossal volcanic eruption in January 2022 ripped apart the underwater cables that connect Tonga to the world – and exposed the fragility of 21st-century life
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/missi...
Volcanic crises! Archives! The ‘real story’ between the lines.

We’re performing a ‘staged reading’ and exploring two crises on #montserrat - with two wonderful playwrights as part of #beinghumanfestival. Come see us in London and also 1/2
Missives - London
A crisis unravelling in letters. Many enquiries have tried to ‘learn lessons’ from crises provoked by natural hazards. Often, disaster is rooted in the misfiring communication and stalled decision-mak...
www.beinghumanfestival.org
September 26, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
New paper alert. Volcanic crisis reveals coupled magma system at Santorini and Kolumbo. Great work led by Marius and Jens, thanks all for working on that together! It can be found in today’s issue of Nature.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
We are advertising for a 3-year "Senior Research Associate in Volcanic Petrology and Stratigraphy". Part of a Leverhulme-funded interdisciplinary research grant "Volcanic Histories", focused on research in the Eastern Caribbean.

Closing: October 15th
www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
September 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
PAGES September newsletter is out!
Find out what the 2k Network, CRIAS, Human Traces, PO2, SISAL and VICS working groups are up to, and much more on the paleoscience calendar!

ℹ️ pastglobalchanges.org/news/138628

@pastoxygen.bsky.social
September 17, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
I shared this earlier, but this is *exactly* the point I try to make whenever I get the question about "which volcano will be the next to have a big eruption?" It is rarely the ones that are in the headlines at the time.
The science of volcanoes and their relationship with the climate is hard to keep up with. Why do some volcanoes give us little warning before they blow? Are we ignoring the next big eruption?
Hidden volcanoes: are we ignoring the next big eruption? | Aeon Essays
The next global disaster may be triggered by a catastrophic eruption. How can we prepare for the fire beneath our feet?
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
🌋 Excited to share my new essay in Aeon: one of the most underappreciated global risks isn’t an asteroid or supervolcano—it’s the eruptions we don’t see coming:
The science of volcanoes and their relationship with the climate is hard to keep up with. Why do some volcanoes give us little warning before they blow? Are we ignoring the next big eruption?
Hidden volcanoes: are we ignoring the next big eruption? | Aeon Essays
The next global disaster may be triggered by a catastrophic eruption. How can we prepare for the fire beneath our feet?
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 10:40 AM
We think applying to grad school should be free. App fees create barriers to equity in academia—especially in the US, where students can pay $1,000+ just to be considered. Even waivers don’t fix this. We make the case in our Nature piece: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
It should be free to apply to graduate school
Letter to the Editor
www.nature.com
July 16, 2025 at 10:40 AM
SIgn up to our newsletter if you haven't already!
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Here's a summary of our June edition:
Global Volcano Risk Alliance Newsletter Subscription
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docs.google.com
June 16, 2025 at 8:40 AM
If anyone's going to the @undrr.bsky.social Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva next week, please reach out. Several of us from the charity @gvra.bsky.social will be there and would be keen to chat about it!
May 29, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The St Vincent eruption shows that preparedness and early anticipatory action can avert a volcanic disaster!
Today marks the 4th anniversary of the explosive phase of the 2020-2021 St Vincent eruption. Effective monitoring, good coordination, extensive education campaigns and efficient communications contributed to the successful evacuation of over 20,000 people with no recorded deaths.
April 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Now that it's thought the sesimic activity around Santorini is caused by magma, authorities plan an emergency port. Important to note that the vast proportion of magmatic unrest on volcanoes doesn't lead to eruptions, but preparation is key in cases where they might.
February 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
It does look like the Washington VAAC (Volcanic Ash Advisory Center) is still up and issuing alerts, but if that stops ... ho boy, that could get messy. The VAAC is a NOAA operation.
February 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Reposted by Mike Cassidy
Did you know that several @iavcei.bsky.social AWARDS are open for nominations at the moment! Re-vamped instructions can be found here www.iavceivolcano.org/call-for-nom...

Each nomination needs 1 lead and 3 supporters. LEAD must be IAVCEI member. Awards support different career stages! 🧵
Call for nominations for the 2025 IAVCEI awards
The call for nominations for the following 2025 IAVCEI medals and awards is now open: Nominations must be submitted by 7 March 2025 (midnight Central European Time) and sent to the IAVCEI secretariat…
www.iavceivolcano.org
February 3, 2025 at 2:39 PM