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SUB A QUE OUS V OL C ANIC ERUP TIONS

RYAN P ORTNER

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
SPONSOR: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Geologist Ryan Portner studies a kind of volcanic activity
that is seldom seen: volcanoes that erupt deep below the surface
of the ocean. “Submarine volcanism remains underexplored and
underexamined,” he says, despite the fact that “three quarters of
Earth lies beneath water, and a substantial majority of Earth’s
volcanic eruptions take place in this subaqueous realm.”
With the help of new submarine and robotic technologies,
Portner aims to change our understanding of these underwater
phenomena.
“Our ability to address these and other fundamental
questions is continually expanding with technological advancements
in marine geology and direct observations of active deep-sea
eruptions,” he says.
Portner uses robotic submarines to dive down to the ocean
floor. These robots are equipped with “manipulators”—robotic arms
and hands—to collect sediment and rock samples for study.
Armed with these samples, Portner explores fundamental
questions about volcanism on Earth from the ascent of molten rock
(magma) below the surface to its eruption onto the sea floor. He
views his research as a piece of a larger scientific puzzle: humanity’s
understanding of the Earth.
“Ultimately,” he says, “this work supports scientific
research by my students and colleagues who aim to understand the
interactions between the solid-earth, hydrosphere and biosphere and
how these interactions evolve through time.”

I have always loved my research experiences The geology department encourages us to
here at SJSU, both as an undergrad and as a develop a broad knowledge of our field that
graduate student. All my professors have been mentors includes both research and career-related skills. Given
in one way or another, and they have encouraged me what I’ve learned at SJSU, I’m hoping to go into private
at every turn. You cannot help but share in their joy industry, potentially working in environmental consulting
regarding research. and remediation.
Beth Johnson, ’15 Physics, ’18 MS Geology Jacob Danielsen, ’17 Geology, ’19 MS Geology

S JSU .EDU /RE SE AR CHF OUND A TION 11