Internship Report Host Institution: CIIV Centro de Intercambio e Investigación en Vulcanologia Colima, Mexico Dates of stay: 20/03/2017 29/08/2017 (during 6 th study term) I found the internship typing Earth science internship Mexico into Google which got me to the website http://ciiv.ucol.mx/ that belongs to the Volcano Observatory in Colima/Mexico. The leading Prof. Dr. Nick Varley accepts international student interns (volunteers) all year round, helping him with his field and monitoring work at the volcanoes. The application process was made online, I needed an application form, a letter of intent, two references from my home University and then was accepted within several weeks. I was informed upfront that I will take part in several projects at the volcano in Colima and on Isla de Socorro, which is a small Pacific island about 900 km from the Mexican coast (world heritage site with a small Mexican Navy base, no private people allowed). All this including longer field trips with camping in the wilderness and work in the lab. Preparation: A room in a student house with the other interns (5-7 at a time) was reserved for me (at about 80 Euro/month), my English was already fluent, I tried to learn some basic Spanish (which improved very quickly during my stay). Regarding volcanology, I was happy to go on a field trip to the Canary Islands with the LMU shortly before my departure. Project 1: Isla de Socorro I arrived 2 weeks before the Socorro trip. That gave me enough time to get to know the group and start the preparations including looking at samples of previous trips, papers and reports, organising/packing and preparing the equipment (Rad7, Barasol, Thermal Cam ). I spent 5 weeks on the Island (with other interns Ariane, Leo and Martin, from France, Australia and Belgium). Our main objectives were to improve the geological map and collect Radon data (Rad7 measurements and digging hole and leaving Barasol Capsule close to the summit camp site) and rock samples. Back in Colima discussing and helping interpret the ArcGIS Map Martin created. Approx. % of my time whilst in Colima spent on project: 25-30%
Campsite Socorro summit Taking thermal images at the summit of Socorro s main volcano Thermal active zone Isla de Socorro
Project 2: Photogrammetry After Sarah (another intern) and Leo not managing to get data of the dome volume, this project has been given to me. I created 3 models which should be fine and I think I managed to get some useful volume data of the 20170617 flight. The instruction Sam (a former intern) wrote are brilliant but the entire photogrammetry database needs more organising (too many useless files have been created and it s hard to find the ones you need + after Sam s work it s unclear how the models have been geo-referenced and which ones you can use for comparing). Approx. % of my time whilst in Colima spent on project: 20% 3D-model of Fuego de Colima dome created by author
Project 3: Seismic picking I took over the seismic picking data base. Main task here was to give people their months of picking and help/explain the work. I finished two months of picking, including the Matlab process (July 2006 and March 2008). Approx. % of my time whilst in Colima spent on project: 15% Project 4: La Arena PDC This project was for my thesis back home. It s about the different structures of the La Arena PDC flow deposits. I measured significant changes and shapes of the flow (width, slope, structure, convex, concave and rock sizes in the different areas) by creating several profile lines and taking their GPS positions, the plotted profiles are uploaded at the drive in PDC studies. Approx. % of my time whilst in Colima spent on project: 10% Field trips (sometimes several days with overnight camping in the field): - 2014 lava flow (collecting samples) - Isla De Socorro - La Joya (SO2 Flux & Spring samples) x2 - La Mesa (SO2 Flux & Spring samples) x2 - Juan Baragan (SO2 Flux, thermal images) x3 SO2-measurements in Juan Baragan
- La Arena (PDC study) x2 - El Playon (ballistic study, thermal data, PDC study) x2 - Monte Grande (Striation studies, SO2 Flux, 2016 lava flow) - Flight (thermal images, photogrammetry) Flight around Volcan de Fuego crater Other minor work: Working with webcam images Ballistic studies at El Playon Striation studies at Monte Grande Collecting thermal images at the crater rim Hiking up to 2014 lava flow for rock samples Hiking up the 2016 lava flow 2 x collecting spring samples (San Antonio, Cordoban, La Lumbre) SO2-measurements with the FlySpec
General points How could the CIIV-programme be improved? For the funding it gets CIIV work pretty good! Transport is available, the equipment might not be up to date but gives us good and useful data. Although there is a lack of communication since Nick is a busy man. People don t really get introduced to the equipment and knowledge needs to be passed on better otherwise it gets lost. What was the best part of your work experience in Colima? The entire thing was a great experience! Besides going to places no one has ever been before, CIIV is a great opportunity to get an idea of monitoring work or scientific work in general. You get to use a lot of equipment and work with data, which has been collected over years. What is the worst part of your work experience? Not seeing any eruptions! You have to adapt to a really steep learning curve at the beginning! Like I said, knowledge needs to be passed on better. I feel like a lot of people have to work out how things function over and over again because of that. What research would you like to see done at Volcán de Colima? There is a broad selection of work at CIIV, it includes a good range of volcanological aspects. It would be cool, if CIIV got more into the chemistry of the volcano (thin section and better rock analysis) Will you continue working in volcanology after leaving? Why or why not? I don t know, I guess if I keep on doing earth science it is going to be volcanology! Final resume: Great experience in every aspect. Internships are important for professional and personal development and I would tell every student to go for it. Although my experience was tough physically VERY demanding and things had to be learnt very quick and on your own. Mexico is a friendly, welcoming but tough country. The internship was unpaid, but accommodation and food is quite cheap (and healthy!) in Mexico. You can live there on about 300-400 Euro a month. All photos: private