Dr Melanie Witt


Post Doctoral Researcher

Email: melaniew@earth.ox.ac.uk
TEL: +44 (1865) 272056
FAX: +44 (0)1865 272072
Homepage: http://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/~melaniew/

Research Profile

I am interested in understanding more about the natural mercury cycle and have undertaken studies of mercury in the atmosphere, vegetation, river and ocean waters. 

My main research interest is investigating volcanic mercury emissions. I am working on quantifying the volcanic flux and understanding more about mercury speciation in volcanic emissions to learn more about its fate on release to the atmosphere. This has involved  fieldwork measuring various mercury species and other gases such as SO2, CO2, H2S in volcanic emissions. (Volcano Research in the Department)

I also work as part of the UK Mercury Knowledge Exchange Project (IKIMP)

Previous research includes:

  • The complexation of copper in rainwater. Understanding trends and photochemical reactions (UNCW)
  • Using stable isotopes to assist in source apportionment of metals in aerosols (UEA).
  • Trends in trace metals in remote marine aerosols (UEA).
  • Developing an ultramicroelectrode system as a novel HPLC detector (Warwick).

Selected Publications

  • R.S. Martin, M.L.I Witt, H.E. Thomas, P.F. Holdship, G.M. Sawyer, P. Delmelle, D.M. Pyle, T.A. Mather (2012) Impact and recovery of tropical forest around an effusive volcanic vent, Environmental Science and Technology. In review.
  • R.S. Martin, M.L.I. Witt, G.M. Sawyer, H.E. Thomas, S.F.L. Watt, E. Bagnato, S. Calabrese, A. Aiuppa, P. Delmelle, D.M. Pyle and T.A. Mather (2012) Bioindication of volcanic mercury (Hg) deposition around Mt Etna (Sicily), Chemical Geology. In Review
  • T.A. Mather, M.L.I. Witt, D.M. Pyle, B.M. Quayle, A. Aiuppa, E. Bagnato, R.S. Martin, K.W.W. Sims, M. Edmonds, A.J. Sutton and E. Ilyinskaya. (2011) Halogens and trace metal emissions from the ongoing 2008 summit eruption of Kilauea volcano, Hawai'i, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2011.11.029
  • G. Sawyer, G. Salerno, J. Le Blond, R. Martin, L. Spampinato, T. Roberts, T. Mather, M. Witt, V. Tsanev and C. Oppenheimer (2011) Gas and aerosol emissions from Villarrica volcano, Chile, Journal of Geophysical Research, Solid Earth, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2011.04.003.
  • R.S. Martin, M.L.I. Witt, S. Watt, D.M. Pyle, T.A. Mather, E. Bagnato and S. Calabrese (2011) Rapid mercury (Hg) oxidation at volcanic vents: insights from high temperature thermodynamic models and vegetation biomonitoring at Mt Etna (Sicily). Chemical Geology, doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.01.027.
  • R.S. Martin, G. Sawyer, L.Spampinato, G. Salerno, C.Ramirez, E. Ilyinskaya, M.Witt, T. Mather , I.M. Watson , J.C. Phillips , C. Oppenheimer (2010) A total volatile inventory for Masaya volcano, Nicaragua, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research doi:10.1029/2010JB007480.
  • M.L.l. Witt, T.A. Mather, A.R. Baker, C.J. de Hoog and D.M. Pyle (2010) Atmospheric trace metals over the south-west Indian Ocean: Total gaseous mercury, aerosol trace metal concentrations and lead isotope ratios. Marine Chemistry, doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2010.02.005 
  • M.L.I. Witt, N. Merehan, T.A. Mather, C.J. de Hoog and D.M. Pyle (2010) Aerosol trace metals, particle morphology and total gaseous mercury in the atmosphere of Oxford, UK. Atmospheric Environment, 44(12), 1524-1538, doi/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.01.008.
  • B.M. Quayle, T.A. Mather, M.L.I. Witt, B.A. Maher, R. Mitchell, R.S. Martin and S. Calabrese (2010) Application and evaluation of biomagnetic monitoring of volcanically-derived particles at Mt. Etna, Italy. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 191(1-2), 107-116, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.01.004.
  • R.S. Martin, S.F.L. Watt, D.M. Pyle, T.A. Mather, N.E. Matthews, R.B. Georg, J.A. Day, T. Fairhead, M.L.I. Witt, B.M. Quayle  (2009) The environmental impacts from ashfall from the May 2008 Chaiten volcanic eruption: Results from air, water and vegetation sampling in Argentina. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 184 (3-4), 462-472. doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2009.04.010
  • M.L.I. Witt, Fischer, T.P., Pyle, D.M., Yang, T.F., Zellmer G.F (2008) Fumarole compositions and mercury emissions from the Tatun Volcanic Field, Taiwan: Results from real time measurements and direct sampling techniques. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 178, 636-643. doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.06.035
  • M.L.I. Witt, T.A. Mather, D.M. Pyle, A. Aiuppa, E. Bagnato and V.I. Tsanev (2008) Mercury and halogens from Masaya and Telica volcanoes, Nicaragua. JGR Solid Earth. 113, B06203,  doi:10.1029/2007JB005401
  • A. Aiuppa, E. Bagnato, M.L.I. Witt, T.A. Mather, F. Parello, D.M. Pyle and R.S. Martin (2007 ) Real-time simultaneous detection of volcanic Hg and SO2 at La Fossa Crater, Vulcano (Aeolian Islands, Sicily). Geophysical Research Letters, 34, L21307, doi:10.1029/2007GL030762
  • Witt, M, Skrabal, S. Kieber, R and Willey, J.D (2007) Photochemistry of Cu complexed with chromophoric dissolved organic matter: Implications for Cu speciation in rainwater. J. Atmos. Chem 58. 89-109 doi:10.1007/s10874-007-9079-5
  • Witt, M, Skrabal, S. Kieber, R and Willey, J.D (2007) Copper complexation in coastal rainwater, southeastern USA. Atmospheric Environment. 41(17) 3619-3630. DOI 10.1007/s10874-007-9079-5
  • Witt, M; Baker, A. R.; and Jickells, T.D. (2006) Atmospheric trace metals over the Atlantic and South Indian Oceans: Investigation of metal concentrations and lead isotope ratios in coastal and remote marine aerosols. Atmospheric Environment. 40(28), 5435-5451
  • Witt, M and Jickells, T.D. (2005) Copper complexation in marine and terrestrial rain water. Atmospheric Environment. 39(40), 7657-7666

Full Publication List