Dan Woodell
Synthesizing Columnar Joints
Dan became interested in Volcanology as an undergraduate. His undergraduate thesis was on analog modeling of the Juan Fernández Ridge, off the coast of Chile, using corn syrup and silicon putty. He looked at the effects of a buoyant aseismic ridge on strain localities due to slab pull. As a new masters candidate in 2010, Dan has started research on synthesizing columnar joints in actual rock samples, and will tie in field work in the future.
As magmas cool, they contract due to the phase change from liquid to solid and decrease in volume due to temperature change. The volume change is accommodated through brittle deformation, forming generally six-sided elongate joints. Analog and numerical models of columnar joints have been addressed before, but using physical models is an exciting new development!
- MSc Candidate Volcanology, 2012, University of British Columbia, Canada
- BA Geology, 2009, Colorado College, USA
Dan has a love of all things outdoors and is making the most of his time in Vancouver by hiking, biking, and skiing in the local mountains (including Whistler) as much as he can. His combined love of the outdoors and volcanoes has taken him on many adventures all over the world for research, education, and just for fun!
