Dr Melanie L. I. Witt

Earth Sciences, Oxford

My CV

Cambridge Volcanology Group

Volcano Links

Fieldwork Photos

Friday Seminars

Publications


www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from rain doc. Make your own badge here.
Sampling at Masaya, Nicaragua
Contact details:

Oxford Crest
Department of Earth Sciences
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1865 282122
Fax: +44 (0)1865 272072
E-mail address: Melanie.Witt at earth.ox.ac.uk


I am a working as a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, although I recently moved from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge. My main research interest is investigating volcanic mercury emissions. I am interested in quanitifying the volcanic flux and understanding more about mercury speciation in volcanic emissions. Recent field work was carried out on Masaya, Nicaragua to simultaneously monitor Hg, SO2, CO2, H2S and HCl concentrations in the gas phase (article about this trip, focusing on Ken Sims' descent into the crater). Similar studies have since been carried out at Vulcano and Etna in Italy, Tatun, Taiwan and around a number of sites in the Philippines.


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).


    Presentations

  • Atmospheric Deposition of Trace Metals to the South Indian and Atlantic Oceans IGAC 2004
  • Organic Complexation of Copper in Rainwater ASLO 2004
  • Volcanic Emissions of Mercury to the Atmosphere VMSG 2006
  • Complexation of Copper in US Rainwater Challenger 2006
  • Emission: Impossible - How important are volcanoes as a source of mercury? Perspectives 2006
  • Trace metals and lead isotope ratios in the atmosphere EGU 2007
  • Mercury Emissions from Volcanoes (Talk) Frontiers in Mineral Science 2007


    • Multi gas sensor - click to learn more
    Measuring Gases at Masaya


    Publications

  • Witt et al., (In prep)Mercury distribution over the South Atlantic Ocean
  • Mather et al (in prep) Halogens, mercury and other trace metal emissions from the 2008 summit eruption of K?lauea volcano, Hawai`i
  • Witt, et al. (In Prep) Mercury emissions from various geothermal sites around the Philippines.
  • 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, In review.
  • R.S. Martin, M.L. 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.
  • 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 (2009) Aerosol trace metals, particle morphology and total gaseous mercury in the atmosphere of Oxford, UK. Atmospheric Environment, in press, doi/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.01.008.
  • R. 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. JGR Solid Earth, doi:10.1029/2010JB007480.
  • R. Martin et al., (2010) Major and trace element distributions around active volcanic vents determined by analyses of grass species: Implications for biogeochemical cycling and biomonitoring. Bulletin of Volcanology,doi:10.1007/s00445-010-0374-7.
  • 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, doi/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.01.008.
  • Martin, R.S., 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 and 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. doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.06.035
  • E. Furi et al., (2008) Sampling and surveying the ridge-hotspot interaction on the Central Indian Ridge, 19°S:Cruise KNOX11RR, InterRidge News, 17, 28-29.
  • 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. Volume 40, Issue 28, Pages 5435-5451
  • G. Brooks Avery, Jr., Robert J. Kieber, Melanie Witt and Joan D. Willey (2006) Rainwater monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acid concentrations in southeastern North Carolina, USA, as a function of air-mass back-trajectory. Atmospheric Environment, 40(9), 1683-1693
  • A.R. Baker, T.D. Jickells, M. Witt and K.L. Linge (2006) Trends in the solubility of iron, aluminium, manganese and phosphorus in aerosol collected over the Atlantic Ocean. Marine Chemistry Volume 98, Issue 1, Pages 43-58
  • Witt, M and Jickells, T.D. (2005) Copper complexation in marine and terrestrial rain water. Atmospheric Environment. Volume 39, Issue 40, Pages 7657-7666
  • Baker, A. R. et al. (2003). Atmospheric deposition of nutrients to the Atlantic Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters 30(24): article number-2296.
  • Jickells, T. D.; Simon D. Kelly, ; Alex R. Baker; Karabi Biswas; Paul F. Dennis; Lucinda J. Spokes; Mel Witt; Stuart G. Yeatman (2003). Isotopic evidence for a marine ammonia source. Geophysical Research Letters 30(7): article number-1374.

    		•
    Back to my Departmental Profile

    Go to the Earth Sciences home pageEarth Sciences Oxford

    Melanie Witt, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford
    Visit the hunger site to give food for free

    Background:Detail of a fumarole on Vulcano


    Webmail (2)

    Last updated 2.2.2011