Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas at Austin received a $401,705 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Integrative Activities under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), awarded August 1, 2026, with a completion date of July 31, 2029. This collaborative research project investigates sulfur behavior in the volcanic critical zone—the heterogeneous hydrothermal-volcanic environment between magma and the Earth's surface—to advance volcanic hazard assessment and eruption forecasting capabilities. The research will examine sulfur in its various forms (gas, dissolved, and solid) at well-monitored active volcanoes prone to explosive eruptions, analyzing how sulfur composition changes as it migrates from magma to surface. By characterizing the dynamic processes controlling sulfur emissions and their relationship to eruptive activity, the research aims to establish sulfur gas monitoring as a practical tool for eruption prediction, with particular applications for volcanoes in North America.

Beyond eruption forecasting, the project will quantify global volcanic sulfur storage to improve understanding of ore deposit development and metal mineralization processes. The research incorporates inter-institutional and inter-agency collaboration and includes student education and training components, contributing to NSF's mission of strengthening the national scientific enterprise through fundamental knowledge expansion in earth and ocean sciences.