Dr Stephen Lane

Senior Lecturer

Research Overview

Steve is deeply interested in the physics of volcanoes, the eruptions of which can be spectacular but also present risk to contempory economic activity.

ResearcherID Google Scholar

He has spent the last 20 years working on developing understanding of unobservable volcanic processes through field measurement and the use of analogue laboratory experiments and computer simulation.

The most important journals in volcanology

Putting science into the assessment of research

Published research

His published work includes over 40 refereed journal papers focused in three main areas:

  • identifying the fluid dynamic sources of seismic and acoustic signals at volcanoes that result from flow processes, with the motivation here being to improve forecasting of volcanic events by establishing a link between flow within volcanic conduits and the ground displacements generated by those flows;
  • understanding the transport of fine volcanic ash in Earth's atmosphere influenced by the aggregation of ash particles into larger clusters, a process that significantly changes aerodynamic behaviour and is key to predicting the atmospheric transport of volcanic ash and, therefore, managing the impacts of ash on air transport and ground deposition; and
  • investigating the processes resulting from magmatic intrusion into the Martian crust where identifying the dominant processes will give insight into the nature of the Martian cryosphere and aquifer, as well as provide analogous insight into the consequences of magma intrusion into Earth's crust.

Current research

Steve’s current research projects include NEMOH, an Initial Training Network under the European Community FP7. The training objective of NEMOH is that of forming the next generation of European volcanologists, capable of extending further the knowledge and understanding of volcano dynamics and the methods and paradigms for volcanic hazard evaluation. Training is conceived to develop in the context of internationally coordinated research structured in closely interconnected research activities.

Teaching and administration

Steve's teaching includes:

Steve is Programme Director for LEC's Environmental and Earth Science BSc and MSci degrees.

AGU Fall Meeting 2012
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

EGU General Assembly 2012
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

William Howard School
School Engagement

Kirkham Grammar School
School Engagement

Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Bulletin of Volcanology (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Geophysical Research Letters (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Geological Society Special Publications (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (Journal)
Publication peer-review

AGU Fall Meeting 2011
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Lancaster Girls' Grammar School
School Engagement

IUGG 2011
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

EGU General Assembly 2011
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

IoP 13th International Conference on Electrostatics
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Visiting Research Associate
Types of External academic engagement - Hosting an academic visitor

William Howard School
School Engagement

42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2011)
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

NERC Scoping Meeting (Event)
Membership of committee

Kirkham Grammar School
School Engagement

AGU Fall Meeting 2010
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Furness College
School Engagement

EGU General Assembly 2010
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Kirkham Grammar School
School Engagement

40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2008
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

EGU General Assembly 2008
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (Journal)
Editorial activity

The Physics of Fluid Oscillations in Volcanic Systems
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

  • Earth Science
  • Innovation for a better environment