Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Walter

Volcanology - Structural Geology - Geophysics
Professor for Remote Sensing and Volcano Hazards at UP
Head of the volcano-tectonics workgroup at GFZ
Head of the ERC groups Volcapse and RottnRock (see project webpage)
Principal investigator of national and international projects

Senior staff scientist at GFZ Potsdam
Geophysics Department,
Section 2.1: Physics of Earthquakes and Volcanoes
GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Link to institutional website

My main interest is related to the observation and modelling of volcano and earthquake deformation processes and source characterization. I am combining remote sensing techniques with geophysical and geodetic field observations. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR and InSAR) and high resolution photogrammetry and drone UAV techniques (pixel tracking, structure from motion) are of great value for studying volcanic processes, such as lava dome growth and eruption initiation, or structural and gravitational instability.

Degrees

2019 Professor at University Potsdam
2012 Privatdozent University Potsdam
2011 Habilitation University Potsdam
2002 PhD University Kiel
1999 MSc University Freiburg im Brsg. and Institute for Technical Optics Stuttgart

Projects

ERC Synergy Project lead PI (ROTTnROCK)

ERC Consolidator Group lead PI (Volcapse group)

Speaker Geosphere of the Helmholtz Alliance on Remote Sensing (EDA)

Emmy Noether Group Leader (Volcano-Tectonics group)

Speaker of the Germany Geophysical Union (DGG) AK Volcanology

Lead of the Physics of Volcanoes (POV)

Lead scientist of volcano monitoring in the IPOC network

Publications

A complete list of publications you may find at:

the GFZ library pages

or at Google scholar

or at Research Gate

or at Loop

These sites are updated automatically, and I assume they are more or less complete.

Research Methods

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR)

Looking through eruption clouds! One of my specialities is the structural analysis at SAR data to explore eruptions.

InSAR

Displacements measured by radar sensing techniques allow studying the physics and application of new modelling tools. Visit our InSAR lab page. .

Image analysis

Using computer vision, digital image correlation (DIC, PIV) and change detection I study morphology, faults, landslides and volcanoes at high resolution.

Modelling

Simulation of observed deformations and activity changes allows better understanding of processes involved. I use numerical models and run experimental labs.

Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV, are game changers, which I use and teach to collect data from volcano eruptions and craters that are otherwise beyond reach. Visit our drone pool and UAV lab page.

Hyperspectral

Linking material science to remote sensing, hyperspectral remote sensing is my new passion. This includes satellites (Enmap), drones and ASD field equipment.

Field monitoring

Monitoring volcano- and seismo-tectonic activities and process studies include installation and analysis of geophysical technologies.

Students

If you have strong interests in volcanoes and computing, and seek new challenges, please contact me and we find a project for you!

Research field examples

Spreading and rift zones

Volcano instability, gravitational spreading and rift zones are often going hand in hand. This relationship, from forceful dike intrusion to lateral volcano widening, stress redistribution within the edifice, and activation of basal decollement faults, are investigated in the field, in analog experiments and using numerical models.

Selected publications:

Müller, Walter et al. (2017) TLS and UAV at the Holuhraun Site. Front. Earth Sci., 27 July 2017.

Witt & Walter (2017) Video monitoring reveals pulsating vents at Kilauea. JVGR.

Musiol et al. (2016): Flexure and spreading of Olympus Mons. JGR.

Kervyn et al. (2014): Directional flank spreading at Mount Cameroon. JGR.

Le Corvec et al. (2014): Interplay between rift intrusion and flank instability. JGR.

Amelung et al. (2007): Stress control of deep rift intrusion at Hawaii. Science.

Le Corvec & Walter (2009): Volcano spreading and fault interaction. JVGR

Walter et al. (2006): Gravitational spreading and formation of new rift zones. Terra Nova.

Walter et al. (2005): Rift zone reorganization through flank instability. Bull Volc.

Klügel et al. (2005): Gravitational spreading causes en-echelon diking . Bull Volc.

Walter & Troll (2003): Rift zone formation in unstable volcanic edifices. JVGR.

Walter & Schmincke (2002): Rifting, recurrent landsliding and structural reorganization. IJES.

Hydrothermal alterations and volcano-tectonic hazards

Hydrothermal alteration is pervasively changing the physical and chemical characteristics of rocks, sediments, and even entire volcanoes. Volcanoes rott from the inside out. Slopes may collapse, eruption occur or may suddenly stop, and deformation and tectonics may interact with alteration. Our ERC synergy project RottnRock now gives this big theme a closer look.

Selected publications:

De Jarnatt, B., Walter, T. R., et al. (2026): Hydrothermal weakening at Vulcano (Italy) Nature Communications Earth and Environment, 7, 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-03014-5

Auer, A., Walter, T. R., et al., (2025): Effervescent fountaining—a transition between explosive and lava-dome forming eruptions. Bulletin of Volcanology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-025-01868-3

Guosheng, G., Walter, T. R., et al. (2025): Monitoring surface hydrothermal deposits at Lastarria Volcano,. Geothermics, 127, 103255.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103255

Müller, D., Walter, T. R., et al. (2024): Anatomy of a fumarole field, Vulcano, Italy. Solid Earth, 15, 1155-1184.https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1155-2024

Marzban, P., S. Bredemeyer, T.R. Walter, et al. (2023) Hydrothermally altered deposits of 2014 Askja landslide, Iceland, identified by remote sensing imaging. Frontiers in Earth Science. 11. DOI: 10.3389/Feart.2023.1083043.

Volcano crater and caldera evolution

Craters develop at different dimensions, are associated with large eruptions (forming explosion craters or even collapse calderas) and sometimes occur without any visible eruption. I study the link between craters and their surrounding, and how craters shape and govern paths of fluids after formation.

Selected publications:

Lun, A., Walter, T. R. et al. (2023): Crater morphology, nested ring structures. JVGR https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2023.107840

Richter et al. (2018): Nested summit crater of Lascar volcano from TerraSAR-X. BullVolc.

Holohan et al. (2017): Host-rock Fracturing on Elastic-deformation Source Models. Sci Rep.

Dalfsen et al. (2017) Nested crater of Láscar. JVGR

Gudmundsson et al. (2016): Gradual caldera collapse at Bardarbunga volcano. Science.

Bathke et al. (2015) Insights into the active caldera ring-fault at Tendürek. EPSL.

Pantaleo & Walter (2014) The ring-shaped thermal field at Stefanos crater, Nisyros Island. Solid E.

Holohan et al. (2013) Oblique-slip faulting during caldera subsidence. JGR.

Burchardt & Walter (2010) Interaction of caldera ring faults at Miyakejima. Bull Volc.

Lava dome extrusion

the formation of lava domes is associated with significant landscape change and the source of some of the major volcanic hazards. I study how domes develop, monitored by remote sensing and photogrammetry techniques, in the field or aboard of satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles. A focus of my former ERC consolidator project VOLCAPSE.

Selected publications:

Auer, A., Walter, T. R., et al. (2025): Boiling-over pyroclastic flows from Bezymianny volcano, Kamchatka. - Bulletin of Volcanology

Myers, A. J. et al. (2024): Effects of cohesion and viscosity on lava dome growth. JVGR

Valade, S. et al. (2023) Rise and fall of magma column at Popocatépetl volcano. Nat Commun

Mania et al. (2019) Deformations and morphology changes at Bezymianny. Remot Sens.

Harnett, C.E., et al. (2022) Large-scale lava dome fracturing. Geology.

Darmawan, H., et al. (2022) Hidden mechanical weaknesses within lava domes. Nature Scientific Reports.

Zorn, E.U., T.R. Walter, J.B. Johnson, and R. Mania, 2020, UAS-based tracking of the Santiaguito Lava Dome. Scientific Reports.

Darmawan et al. (2018) Morphology at Merapi dome measured by UAVs. NHESS.

Salzer et al. (2017): Deformation, topography and surface temperature at volcanic domes. EPSL.

Salzer et al. (2016): Dome dynamics at Mount St. Helens. JGR.

Walter et al. (2015) Volcano-tectonic control of Merapi’s lava dome. Tectonophys.

Walter et al. (2013) Dome growth and coulee spreading controlled by surface morphology. JVGR.

Walter TR et al. (2013) Thermal image correlation show episodic dome growth. JGR.

Belousov et al. (2005) Failures on domes and stratovolcanoes situated on faults. Bull Volc.

Volcano-Earthquake interactions

eruptions are going hand in hand with earthquakes. But occasionally also earthquakes trigger remote volcanoes. These interactions and hazard cascades I study in the field at places around the world. This was a focus of my DFG funded Emmy Noether project "Analysis of Volcano stress transfer".

Selected publications:

Namiki et al. (2016): Sloshing of a bubbly magma reservoir. JVGR.

Walter et al. (2009) Eruptions at three volcanoes in southern Italy. Geology

Eggert & Walter (2009) Volcanic activity before and after large earthquakes. Tectonophysics.

Walter et al. (2008) Amplified ground shaking at volcanoes. G-cubed.

Walter (2007) Stress triggering at Karymsky. EPSL.

Walter & Amelung (2007) Volcanic eruptions following M9 megathrust earthquakes. Geology.

Walter et al. (2007) Static and dynamic stress triggering at Merapi. GRL.

Walter & Amelung (2006) Volcano-earthquake interaction at Hawaii. JGR.

Outreach

Public television

There are a number of tv-documentaries. Check this out for instance: Java in Jeopardy - Exploring the Volcano. 52' (GER, ENG, FRE).

Very early career

Popular science; e.g. science editor. Check it out here if you want to buy. Also the second and third textbooks (2019) can be ordered here and here, and the fourth one (2024) here.

News Volcano expert

Whenever volcano hazards strike, print and multi media are welcome for distributing our scientific knowledge and information. Learn more...

For students and potential collaborators

If you have strong interests in volcanoes and computing, and seek new challenges, please contact me and we find a project for you!

I am adjoint faculty member with habilitation at the University Potsdam and eligible to supervise your master's or doctoral thesis in geology, geophysics or remote sensing.

Contact address

Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Walter
Section 2.1.: Physics of Earthquakes and Volcanoes
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam
Germany

ph: +49 (0)331 zwo88 1zwo53
twalter ÄT gfz.de

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