Could you use a remote time-lapse camera?
Through the Geoff Brown Memorial Fund, the Open University Geological Sociey has funded a remote time-lapse camera kit that is available for hazard-related research use. If your volcanological field work could benefit, you can apply to use the equipment. Currently, due to delivery restrictions, the time-lapse kit can only be provided to U.K.-based researchers or students.Specifications
Camera and solar panel installed at Mt. Etna, Sicily
- Canon EOS 550D digital SLR camera
- 50 mm or 28 mm lens
- Weather resistant box
- Interval timer
- External battery box (12 V)
- Solar panel
- Image intervals between 1 s and 24 hrs (plus multi-exposure options on the camera)
- ~400 photos using internal battery alone (external battery and charger not required)
- ~3000 photos (at maximum resolution) with the external battery and solar charger (depending on illumination conditions)
Application and loan procedure
If you are interested in using the time-lapse kit, and are a U.K.-based researcher or student, then you can apply by sending me () an outline of who you are and a brief description of your project including approximate dates. For all other informal queries, also feel free to contact me.
The camera has recently returned from Volcán de Colima, Mexico
Example deployments
This and similar cameras have been used at:
Mount Etna, Sicily. 2011 activity from the new vent on the South East Crater. Image interval 15 mins., duration 12 hrs. Spectacular fountaining, with flows cascading down the headwall of the Valle del Bove.
Sólheimjoküll, Iceland. Movement of the glacier over ~60 days during summer 2012. The data form part of Penny How's MSc project on glacier dynamics and volcano-glacier interactions, co-supervised by Peter Wynn and Hugh Tuffen. Daily images selected by Penny.
Strombolian activity and lava flows in the Bocca Nuova crater, Mount Etna, Sicily. Beautiful images collected for 4 days before the camera, which had survived being buried under a foot of tephra, was stolen...
Volcan Caudón Caulle, Chile. When we couldn't find any active lava, the camera was set up overlooking an ash-covered snow bank, to cover the interaction of ash and melting snow. Little did we know at the time, but the active lava flow was just round the corner.
Contact details
