Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Walter

Volcanology - Structural Geology - Geophysics
Professor for Remote Sensing and Volcano Hazards, University of Potsdam
Head, Volcano-Tectonics Workgroup at GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
ERC Synergy Project Lead PI, Volcapse and RottnRock (see project webpage)
Principal investigator of other national and international projects

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

My main research interests focus on the observation and modelling of volcano- and fault-related deformation processes. I combine remote sensing approaches with geophysical and geodetic field observations to investigate surface and subsurface dynamics. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR and InSAR), high-resolution photogrammetry, and uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) techniques—as well as pixel tracking and structure-from-motion analysis—provide powerful tools for studying volcanic processes, including lava dome growth, eruption initiation, and structural or 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 Project — Group Lead PI (Volcapse)
Speaker, Geosphere of the Helmholtz Alliance on Remote Sensing (EDA)
Emmy Noether Group Leader (Volcano-Tectonics)
Speaker, DGG Working Group 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! In particular used for the structural analysis at SAR data to explore eruptions and collapses.

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 are excited about volcanoes and computing and want to work with satellite/UAV data or modelling, please get in touch—we can shape a project together.

Research field examples

Spreading and rift zones

Volcano instability, gravitational spreading, and rift-zone development are closely linked. We study the coupled effects of dike intrusion, edifice stress redistribution, basal décollement activation, and lateral widening using field data, analogue experiments, and 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 can strongly weaken volcanic edifices by changing the physical and chemical properties of rocks and sediments. As a result, slopes may collapse, eruptive behaviour may shift, and deformation can interact with alteration-driven weakening. 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 span a wide range of sizes and formation mechanisms—from explosive excavation to collapse calderas, and occasionally non-eruptive structural processes. I study how crater formation modifies permeability, fluid pathways, and subsequent deformation and hazard development.

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

Lava dome growth reshapes landscapes and can generate major hazards. I study dome evolution using remote sensing and photogrammetry from satellites, field instruments, and uncrewed aerial vehicles. This theme was a core focus of the 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

Earthquakes and volcanic activity can interact in both directions: eruptions can generate seismicity, and large earthquakes can modulate volcanic systems locally or remotely. I investigate these interactions and related hazard cascades using global case studies and field-based observations. 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

Media inquiries

Film & television

I contribute to science communication through documentary formats and expert commentary on volcanic hazards. (Example: Java in Jeopardy - Exploring the Volcano. 52' (GER, ENG, FRE).

Books & popular science

I have authored and contributed to popular science and textbook materials (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.

Media inquiries

For interviews and expert commentary on volcanic crises and hazard interpretation, please contact me. Learn more...

For students and potential collaborators

I supervise MSc and PhD projects in geology, geophysics, and remote sensing (University of Potsdam; adjunct faculty with habilitation). If you are interested in thesis topics, proposals, or collaboration, please email me with a short CV and a few sentences on your interests.

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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