(Production Pablo Cantudo)
We interview Janire Prudencio, Juan de la Cierva researcher at the University of Granada. His work focuses on the study of volcanoes, an activity that has led him to visit more than fifteen volcanic regions and travel around the world, including a field campaign in Antarctica. In addition, Janire was one of the winners in the first edition of the Very Young Scientific Awards (2019), organized by Muy Interesante, and which recognize the work of young Spanish scientists. The researcher is a member of the Dissemination Commission of the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics and Seismic Disaster Prevention, and also stands out in her informative work on the volcanic phenomenon.
In this interview we have commented on the latest news related to volcanoes, since during these months the volcanic activity has not stopped. Janire has highlighted the news related to the Yellowstone volcano: “they say that it is weakening and other things, that they are very good to make a theory, but that they have no scientific basis,” explains the expert. And it is that the Yellowstone volcano is always under very close surveillance because, if it were to erupt again, it is more than likely that it would put us in trouble.
X-ray of volcanoes
Janire has also explained to us what his research activity consists of in which, using tomographic techniques, a three-dimensional image of the internal structure of the volcano is obtained. “I always say that it is the same as when you have a medical CT scan. They put you in a device with emitters and receivers and in the end, with the data recorded, the doctor obtains a three-dimensional image of the part of the body that is under study, explains the scientist. “And we do exactly the same with the earthquakes that are registered in volcanoes through seismic stations to obtain a 3D image of the internal structure of the volcano. This gives us very useful information to plan the risk of eruption ”.
Surveillance in Antarctica
During his stay at the Gabriel de Castilla Spanish Antarctic base, located on Decepción Island (Antarctica), Janire Prudencio monitored the activity of the volcano: “What happens with Decepción Island is that it is an active volcano and whenever The scientific base opens there is a team of seismologists who monitor its activity, because if there were signs of an imminent eruption, the island would have to be evacuated ”, explained the scientist, whose expedition to the frozen continent is one of the ones she remembers with the greatest emotion.
