Volcanic eruptions can be very destructive and have significant economic impact. However, active volcanoes are also a source of geothermal energy, and are used to produce heat and electricity in a number of locations around the world. Understanding the risks of a volcanic eruption, and developing geothermal energy resources, requires information about where molten rock and hot water is located underground.

This question can be addressed by integrated geological, geochemical and geophysical studies. In this presentation, Prof Unsworth will describe one of the leading geophysical techniques that is used for looking inside volcanoes. Magnetotellurics is a geophysical technique that uses naturally occurring radio waves to map the distribution of molten rock and hot water. He will present examples of how this method can be used in combined studies of volcano hazards and geothermal energy development from Antarctica, Canada, Iceland and South America. When geophysical studies are combined with information from geology and geochemistry, the resulting subsurface models become more reliable. This can provide improved understand of future eruptive behaviour and reduce the economic uncertainty of geothermal energy development.