Personal profile
Research interests
My research concerns quantitative studies of geological processes using a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, analytical studies and theoretical modelling. My main focus has been on volcanic and igneous processes. and I have also made contributions in fundamental fluid mechanics, sedimentology, and risk assessment methodologies for natural hazards.
Research in volcanology includes: mapping of volcanoes and young volcanic deposits; monitoring of eruptions; investigation of magmatic and volcanic flows through analogue experiments, numerical modelling and theory development; petrological studies of igneous rocks; and development of novel approaches to hazard and risk assessment. Applied research includes risk assessment methodologies for environmental and natural hazards, nuclear waste disposal and mining.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
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Explosive eruptions of Kolumbo Central Volcano and associated tephra fallout hazards assessment
Pardini, F., Bevilacqua, A., Cerminara, M., Vitturi, M. D. M., Tadini, A., Neri, A., Sparks, R. S. J. & Vougioukalakis, G., 1 Dec 2025, In: Bulletin of Volcanology. 87, 12, 25 p., 116.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access -
Future eruptions of the Kolumbo volcanic field: prognosis with hazard and risk assessment
Sparks, R. S. J., Vougioukalakis, G., Aspinall, W. P., Neri, A., Antonakos, A., Baxter, P. J., Bevilacqua, A., Cerminara, M., Vitturi, M. D., Francalanci, L., Koutroulli, A., Maeno, F., Mastroianni, F., Papazachos, K., Pardini, F., R, R. P., Tadini, A. & Vaselli, O., 21 Aug 2025, In: Bulletin of Volcanology. 87, 9, p. 1-29 29 p., 73.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access10 Citations (Scopus) -
Gas transport dynamics at Kolumbo submarine volcano: high-resolution numerical simulations, scaling laws, and hazard implications
Cerminara, M., Baxter, P., Neri, A., Sparks, R. S. J., Vaselli, O. & Vougioukalakis, G., 1 Dec 2025, In: Bulletin of Volcanology. 87, 12, 35 p., 112.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access
Projects
- 14 Finished
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RCUK-TUBITAK: Understanding volcanic risk in Turkey for improved emergency response and disaster risk reduction
Sparks, R. S. J. (Principal Investigator) & Gottsmann, J. (Co-Investigator)
1/08/16 → 31/08/20
Project: Research
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Planning for volcanic emergencies in Turkey
Sparks, R. S. J. (Principal Investigator)
31/07/16 → 31/10/20
Project: Research
Datasets
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Alternative Covid-19 mitigation measures in school classrooms: Analysis using an agent-based model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission
Woodhouse, M. (Creator), Aspinall, W. (Creator), Sparks, R. (Creator), Brooks-Pollock, E. (Creator) & Relton, C. L. (Creator), Dryad, 2022
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.pk0p2ngr3, https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.pk0p2ngr3
Dataset
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Simulated distribution of the fluid salinity, Cu and temperature in a sub-volcanic region
Blundy, J. (Contributor), Afanasyev, A. (Contributor), Melnik, O. (Contributor), Tattitch, B. (Contributor), Sparks, R. S. J. (Contributor), Rust, A. (Contributor) & Utkin, I. (Contributor), Dryad, 20 Jun 2020
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0cfxpnw0w, http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.0cfxpnw0w
Dataset
Prizes
Activities
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Short course on Modelling Volcanic Hazards
Woodhouse, M. J. (Keynote/plenary speaker) & Sparks, S. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
16 Apr 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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IOF - Global Volcano Model.
Sparks, R. S. J. (Recipient)
14 Nov 2011 → 13 Nov 2014Activity: Other activity types › Fellowship awarded competitively
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Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences (Journal)
Sparks, R. S. J. (Editor)
2006Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity