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Student Bios/Sample Projects

Stephanie Scheiber

Master's Degree Candidate
University of the Witwatersrand

I am currently registered for my second year of research towards my Masters thesis at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

My thesis involves research into the magma plumbing system of the silicic central volcano Torfajokull in southern Iceland. Campaign geodetic surveys have been carried out at sites around the volcano every year since 2000. My project involves the processing (using GIPSY-OASIS software) and 3-D modeling of this GPS data in an attempt to gain insight into the inner workings of this volcano. The end model will also be constrained using tilt and seismic data. At present, high-frequency seismic data points towards a deep cooling magma chamber in the West, and a shallower source in the South of the volcano. The volcano was last active in 1477A.D., but has the largest high-temperature geothermal system in Iceland, and thus could poses a future threat.

For my Masters I will be visiting PennState University for the 2007 Spring semester in order to attend a volcanology course and carry out research with one of my supervisor at the university. I will also be involved in the 2007 reoccupation of geodetic sites on Torfajokull in August/September.