What made you interested in becoming a volcanologist?
Have you ever been very close to an erupting volcano?
Alice
Dear Alice,
One thing leads to another. I was looking for a thesis topic and had an
opportunity to go to Chile. It was great (both Chile and the rocks).
The thesis didn't pan out so I studied old dead volcanoes in Utah. It
was great. Then I spent 5 years in Hawaii where all the geology is
volcanic. I guess I just enjoy geology and have been fortunate to study
volcanoes. They are also beautiful and tend to be in wonderful places.
When I lived in Hawaii I was on Kilauea volcano. I went to the Puu Oo
cone and some of the other vents. It was great. In Hawaii, the
eruptions are gentle. Here's a photo of me by the episode 51 vent on
Kilauea:
I'm the one in blue. The one in yellow is a close friend from the
Geologic Survey. Behind us lava pours from a fissure.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota
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