The first step to understanding how volcanoes behave is literally made in the field, on the volcano in order to see them at work in their natural environment.  This involves visiting, walking and camping on them.  Sometimes the point is to observe activity, collect samples, describe textures and structures and to think about volcanism at the source (thinking out of the box that is our office!). Our group is studying a  number of volcanoes--take a tour of them below!