Gregor Weber
Volcanology - Igneous Petrology - Geochemistry - Geophysics
School of Ocean and Earth Sciences
University of Southampton
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Welcome, and thanks for visiting!
I’m an Earth scientist specializing in igneous processes and volcanology, with a particular focus on developing prognostic models of magmatic systems. My research aims to support volcanic disaster risk mitigation and evaluate the sustainable resource potential of volcanoes.
To tackle these challenges, I integrate field-based petrology, computational modeling, and machine learning. Currently, I serve as a Lecturer at the University of Southampton, UK.
I’m also the developer of MagMaTaB – the MAGmatic MAchine learning Thermometry and Barometry engine, an open-source tool designed to assist geoscientists in analyzing magmatic conditions using machine learning.
Click here to explore MagMaTaB.
I'm always keen to connect with potential students, collaborators, or anyone curious about this field—so feel free to reach out!
Scroll down for an overview of my research tools, some recent projects and publications.
Zircon petrochronology
Developing new petrological tools to quantify the current state of volcanoes based on their eruptive record is one of my main goals
Diffusion chronometry
Estimating timescales of magmatic processes from zoned crystals provides valuable information for volcano monitoring
Thermochemical modelling
I couple geochemical and geophysical models to better understand how magma diversity and eruptive time-series inform volcanic hazards and resource potential.
Geological fieldwork
Field observations, stratigraphic analysis and sample collection are a key component of my research
Experimental Petrology
Using high pressure and temperature experiments I simulate the conditions in magma reservoirs
Mineral and glass chemistry
Elemental and isotopic zonation pattern in crystals and glasses allow us to reconstruct the history of magmas
Deformation modelling
Ground deformation can result from magma dynamics or deep degassing processes. I use numerical simulations to evaluate the sources of these signals.
Machine Learning Petrology
Knowledge of magmatic pressures and temperatures is essential for understanding many geological processes. I develop new thermobarometric tools using machine learning.
Can we detect pending supereruptions?
Can we detect pending supereruptions?
Super-eruptions have the potential to deeply impact our civilization. Harbingers to such events are, however, problematic to constrain, as the mechanisms and timescales of melt mobilization are not well understood. I combine isotope geochemistry, diffusion chronometry and geophysical modelling to constrain how and how fast large volume magma bodies destabilise. This information is critical to evaluate our capacity to capture the evolution towards large magnitude eruptions.
How can we calibrate signals of volcanic unrest against magmatic processes?
How can we calibrate signals of volcanic unrest against magmatic processes?
Volcanoes often produce geophysical and chemical signals prior to eruption. I use a range of petrological and computational methods to reconstruct the mechanisms and timescales of processes responsible for signals of volcanic unrest. This provides valuable information to assess future eruption scenarios and ongoing unrest at dormant and active volcanoes.
Which volcanoes are likely to produce large eruptions in the future?
Which volcanoes are likely to produce large eruptions in the future?
With about 1400 potentially active volcanoes on Earth, identifying those systems likely to produce large eruptions in future is challenging. My research indicates that the diversity of erupted geochemical compositions, magma system size and the likelihood of large magnitude eruptions are interrelated. I am investigating how this finding can be leveraged to identify volcanoes with increased probability of future large eruptions.
Can we tap volcanoes to harvest energy and metals?
Can we tap volcanoes to harvest energy and metals?
Volcanic-geothermal fluids are an incredible but often overlooked source of green energy and metals such Li and Cu. Yet, while it is increasingly recognised that tapping volcanoes may play a crucial role in future energy and metal production, methods to distinguish economic fluids and eruptible magma at depth are currently insufficient. The goal of this project is to develop new integrative approaches between geochemistry, numerical modelling, and geophysical imaging to assess the risk and resource potential of volcanic-hydrothermal environments.
Publications
Publications
Weber, G., Biggs, J., & Annen, C. (2025). Distinct patterns of volcano deformation for hot and cold magmatic systems. Nature Communications, 16(1), 532.
Jorgenson, C., Stuckelberger, M. E., Fevola, G., Falkenberg, G., Kaiser, T., Wilde, F., Weber, G., Giordano, G., & Caricchi, L. (2025). A myriad of melt inclusions: a 3D analysis of melt inclusions reveals the gas rich magma reservoir of Colli Albani Volcano (Italy). Journal of Petrology, egaf012.
Biggs, J., Rafferty, T., Macha, J., Dualeh, E. W., Weber, G., Burgisser, A., ... & Morand, A. (2024). Fracturing around magma reservoirs can explain variations in surface uplift rates even at constant volumetric flux. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 452, 108129.
Weber, G., & Blundy, J. (2024). A machine learning-based thermobarometer for magmatic liquids. Journal of Petrology, egae020.
Farina, F., Weber, G., Hartung, E., Rubatto, D., Forni, F., Luisier, C., & Caricchi, L. (2024). Magma flux
variations triggering shallow-level emplacement of the Takidani pluton (Japan): Insights into the volcanic-plutonic connection. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 635, 118688.
Weber, G., Blundy, J., & Bevan, D. (2023). Mush Amalgamation, Short Residence, and Sparse Detectability of Eruptible Magma Before Andean Super‐Eruptions. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24(3), e2022GC010732.
Weber, G., Blundy, J., Barclay, J., Pyle, D. M., Cole, P., Frey, H., ... & Cashman, K. (2023). Petrology of the 2020-21 effusive to explosive eruption of La Soufrière volcano, St Vincent: Insights into plumbing system architecture and magma assembly mechanism. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 539(1), SP539-2022.
Weber, G., & Sheldrake, T. E. (2022). Geochemical variability as an indicator for large magnitude eruptions in volcanic arcs. Scientific reports, 12(1), 1-11.
Weber, G., Caricchi, L., Arce, J. L., and Schmitt, A. K., 2020, Determining the current size and state of subvolcanic magma reservoirs. Nature Communications, 11, 5477.
Weber, G., Simpson, G., and Caricchi, L., 2020, Magma diversity reflects recharge regime and thermal structure of the crust. Scientific Reports, v. 10, no. 11867, p. 1-13.
Weber, G., Caricchi, L., and Arce, J.L., 2020, The Long-Term Life-Cycle of Nevado de Toluca Volcano (Mexico). Insights Into the Origin of Petrologic Modes. Frontiers in Earth Sciences, v. 8.
Weber, G., Arce, J.L., Ulianov, A., and Caricchi, L., 2019, A recurrent magmatic pattern on observable time scales prior to Plinian eruptions from Nevado de Toluca (Mexico). Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth.
Trasatti, E., Acocella, V., Di Vito, M.A., Del Gaudio, C., Weber, G., Aquino, I., Caliro, S., Chiodini, G., Vita, S., Ricco, C., and Caricchi, L., 2019, Magma degassing as a source of long‐term seismicity at volcanoes: the Ischia island (Italy) case. Geophysical Research Letters.
Hartung, E., Weber, G., and Caricchi, L., 2019, The role of H2O on the extraction of melt from crystallising magmas. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 508, p. 85-96.
Weber, G., and Castro, J.M., 2017, Phase petrology reveals shallow magma storage prior to large explosive silicic eruptions at Hekla volcano, Iceland. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 466, p. 168-180.
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