Barry Cameron

Associate Professor

340 Lapham Hall
(414) 229-3136
bcameron@uwm.edu

PhD: Northern Illinois University
MS: Dalhousie University
BS: Dalhousie University

Specializations: Petrology, Volcanology

Research:

My main fields of research are igneous petrology and volcanology. At the moment, I am focused on three main research projects: the origin of arc magmas, the explosive behavior of silicic lava domes, and the formation of subglacial volcanoes.

The Origin of Arc Magmas: Subduction environments host the most explosive volcanoes on Earth. One of the most enticing places to study these explosive volcanoes is in Central America. I have concentrated on the country of Guatemala to study arc magmas for a number of reasons. It currently has three active volcanic centers: Pacaya, Fuego, and Santiaguito. Guatemala also has the most extensive behind-the-front volcanic activity in all of Central America. Young cinder cone fields occur behind-the-front in southeastern Guatemala, whereas majestic stratovolcanoes occupy the volcanic front. Our research indicates that flux melting predominates under the volcanic front and decompression melting plays an important role in generating magma at the cinder cones. This year, I will travel to Nicaragua to continue our investigations into arc magmas that have been less contaminated by crustal rocks.

The Explosive Behavior of Lava Domes: Lava domes can experience explosive decompression eruptions that form dangerous pyroclastic flows when their high-pressure flow interiors are exposed. For many years, volcanologists targeted zones of high water content on lava domes. While at Arizona State University with Jonathan Fink, we wondered whether these high water contents were truly magmatic in origin or whether they contained significant secondary water. Consequently, we utilized step-heating hydrogen isotope analyses to distinguish between meteoric and magmatic water contents in glassy lavas from the domes. The step-heating technique showed that the high water contents in the surficial vesicular unit were largely secondary in origin. This NSF-sponsored project extends explorations into the nature of water in silicic lavas.

The Formation of Subglacial Volcanoes: We have just started a research project at UWM on the tempestuous relationship between volcanoes and glaciers. Graduate student Snejana Boscov-Parfitt is investigating how subglacial volcanoes release their gas and how this degassing process controls eruptive style beneath glaciers. Last summer, we conducted field studies on classic flat-topped volcanoes called tuyas in northern British Columbia. The remote location of the subglacial volcanoes required that we be transported by a twin-otter bush plane. The beauty and tranquility of the field area was memorable. The excitement continues in the summer of 2003 when we travel to Iceland to look at a number of mafic and silicic subglacial volcanoes.

For Further Information