Development of Seismology based volcano monitoring techniques
I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I completed a BSc degree in Applied Mathematics in 2005 and my Masters’s degree in Computational Sciences and Economics in 2009 and 2013 from Addis Ababa University and Collegio Carlo Alberto, Italy. I worked as a lecturer and researcher at the same university for the next seven years. I am interested in applying advanced computational techniques in hazard and risk assessment, modeling, and data science. I save had several opportunities to engage in collaborative research projects traveling to different parts of the eastern African rift valley, collecting and analyzing geophysics data. In 2021 I got the privilege of being admitted to the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences’ PhD program at Victoria University of Wellington, under the supervision of professors Martha and Arthur Jolly.
I have multiple hobbies, such as playing table tennis (ping pong) and traveling. I also enjoy watching movies and socializing with my friends, I also like to watch TV shows, but I usually get carried away with it, so I tend not to start new TV shows.
My interests are teaching, hiking, and going to the gym. I am primarily interested in teaching as I have been teaching throughout most of my life. I also love to explore places.
My Project
My PhD project focuses on volcano monitoring techniques. There are several consequences of large, explosive volcanic eruptions and the long-term effects after an eruption can last from months to years. Hence why we must know what a volcano is capable of. It is crucial to detect the unrest of our volcanoes in the earliest stages possible to make practical actions that will protect society and reduce the risk.
New Zealand is potentially affected by hazards associated with volcanoes and other seismic activities. These can have a disastrous impact on a local scale through direct fatalities, but they also have a global impact. For example, they can affect the global climate.
My research project methodology is primarily based on systematically gathering seismic data through advanced instrumentations and techniques. Techniques employed include artificial intelligence methods, shear wave splitting measurements, and ambient noise analysis using cross-correlations on single or multiple stations to recover waveforms traveling between stations or scattered from structures near the stations.
Next Steps
The outputs of my research will help us guide existing monitoring capabilities and enable assessment and advancement of research capabilities for better prediction and early warning in areas of active volcanoes in New Zealand, such as White Island/Whakaari, Ruapehu, and Tongariro. I hope to develop a career of applied and innovative research that would contribute to and develop more robust techniques in early warning systems in high-risk and affected areas in New Zealand and around the world.
