Without volcanoes, life on Earth wouldn’t exist, says Lukáš Krmíček

In his youth, he considered becoming a professional trombonist, but ultimately, volcanoes triumphed over the brass instrument. Today, Lukáš Krmíček from the Institute of Geology of the CAS is the only Czech scientist studying active eruptions all over the world. Read our interview with the researcher, which first came out in the quarterly A / Magazine of the CAS, below.

*

When was the last time you burned yourself?

Just yesterday, as I was trying to retrieve a spoon from our turned-on dishwasher at home. But I assume you’re referring to lava burns. The last time that happened was this April [2024] near Grindavík, Iceland. The lava splashed on me a bit when I was cooling it after sampling. But it was nothing serious – it’s like when a hot ember from a campfire spits out on you. The hot spoon surprised me more. (smile)

And yet, it was far from the 1,200°C (2,192°F) temperature of the lava you collect directly at eruption sites. How do you protect yourself from the heat?

I wear a special volcanologist suit and a gold-coated face shield that can at least partially deflect the intense radiant heat. I look a bit like an alien in it, but this gear allows me to approach the lava for a short time to obtain a sample. The heat near it is indescribable though.

Lukáš Krmíček from the Institute of Geology of the CAS on an expedition near Grindavík, Iceland.

Clearly, an ideal job for heat lovers...

Unfortunately, I’m not one of them – I generally prefer the cold. But when facing that element, it’s an incredible adrenaline rush. Besides the scorching heat, you also have to watch out for toxic volcanic gases, so I often wear a gas mask. You’re kind of just glad to survive the action, so you don’t really notice the temperature at that moment.

Why do you go through all that instead of waiting until the lava solidifies and cools down a bit?

Because you can glean the most information about a volcano from the lava’s molten form. The sooner and the closer to the source you collect it, the better. It’s the zero point of rock formation. Volcanologists on Réunion Island are so good that they actually catch lava mid-air during an eruption in buckets. My colleagues and I prefer to wait until it pours out of the crater into the vicinity, which isn’t as risky.

That doesn’t sound entirely safe either...

The situation is always a bit unpredictable in the vicinity of active eruptions. For instance, when lava abruptly spreads over any remaining vegetation that didn’t burn at the start of the eruption, methane is produced. The gas spreads underground and explodes. It can blow up anywhere, so sometimes we feel like we’re in a minefield.

Do you ever fear for your life at work?

No. I always believe we have the risk under control. But I must admit, recently, my own curiosity got me into a spot of trouble – I was testing the strength of a crust of solidified lava, which one is not supposed to do… and I fell into a lava tube. It’s like falling through the ice surface of a pond. Fortunately, I only got minor cuts while clawing my way out – when lava cools rapidly, it turns into volcanic glass, so it’s as sharp as shards. At least I got to test just how sharp.

In addition to extreme heat, volcanologists must also be wary of toxic volcanic gases, which is why they often wear gas masks. (CC)

In the past twenty years, you’ve studied volcanoes worldwide – from Antarctica through Iran to Hawaii. I guess you’ve had plenty of intense experiences...

Definitely. I have a bunch of memories from expeditions. One particularly impactful experience was encountering seals and other animals in Antarctica. They have no experience with humans, so they’re not afraid of you at all. They will come up to you and examine you without fear; birds take food out of your hand... By the way, I have a rather amusing anecdote involving birds.

Let’s hear it!

This summer, I went to Iceland with my colleagues to look for coarse-grained rock called gabbro. However, we ventured into an area inhabited by very territorial birds. As soon as someone steps onto “their” territory, they fiercely defend it. But they don’t start pecking the intruders – instead, they literally air raid you with droppings. In flight, they are able to very precisely target you and start “bombing” you. In no time at all, we were covered from head to toe. We ended up having quite a laugh fending off this treacherous squadron.

I see you don’t get bored in the field.

Expeditions tend to be full of adrenaline and emotions. Of all kinds. In fact, on one expedition, I actually met my wife. I had set out to the Faroe Islands to study lava flows, while she, as a geologist, came there to examine the coal buried beneath these flows. We started talking about our fields and research topics, and I was utterly amazed by her fascination with the same things that interests me. I knew right away she was the one!

That’s what I call volcanological romance. Don’t tell me you proposed to her under a volcano as well!

Not exactly, but essentially, just a few days after the expedition, she basically moved in with me back home in the Czech Republic. We stopped by her place in Ústí nad Labem so she could pack a few things, and then we headed to mine. We had the wedding, fittingly, on the volcanic hill Kalvárie near Úštěk. We then went to the Faroe Islands for our honeymoon, and today, we have a two-year-old son.

Lukáš Krmíček’s heart beats for volcanoes not just professionally – lava flows have also shaped his personal life. (CC)

Do you have an explosive household?

A bit. Most people know me as a calm, smiley person. But when it gets to be too much, I do occasionally explode. I get angry, curse, let off some steam... Like a volcano spewing lava. And my wife is similar. It’s as if volcanoes attract more explosive personalities.

Do you bring work home in other ways? Do you talk about eruptions over dinner?

Sure. For us, they’re also a hobby. Some people discuss gardening over breakfast; we gush over volcanoes. Last year, for example, we published a study together on the oldest lava flows in the Czech Republic. You can find them both in Brno, and two local landmarks stand on them: Petrov Hill [with the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul] and Špilberk Castle. We discovered they’re almost three-quarters of a billion years old, making them some of the oldest lavas in Central Europe.

A great topic for a family dinner...

I know, right? These days, we mainly take trips to the České středohoří (Central Bohemian Uplands) since we’re preparing a book together about its volcanic origin. And we really enjoy it. Living with someone who shares your passion for a certain field is fantastic. When I come back from an expedition full of experiences, my wife is my first listener, and I think she does actually appreciate my stories.

And I’m guessing your wife doesn’t need to crack open a geology dictionary like the rest of us.

Exactly. She’s a huge support. Volcanoes are just part of everyday life in our household. After all, one of the first phrases our son ever said was “lava burns.” And he can always recognize it.

In 2024, Lukáš Krmíček published the book Svět sopek zblízka: Zrození vulkánu (The World of Volcanoes Up Close: The Birth of a Volcano). (CC)

In Czech, volcanoes are called both “vulkán” and “sopka.” Is there a difference in meaning?

They’re just synonyms with different origins. In Czech, “sopka” is more common – it comes from Russian and originally meant a piled-up hill. But it actually traces back to an ancient Indo-European root, spé, which is also behind [Czech and/or Slavic] words like “success” or “prosperity” – both tied to the idea of accumulation. Meanwhile, Western European languages use “volcano,” a word with literally divine origins. It derives from Vulcan, the Etruscan god of fire. In ancient times, people believed Vulcan lived inside Mount Etna, working his forge. Since they had no scientific explanation for volcanic eruptions, they saw them as the work of the gods.

We now know volcanoes aren’t divine temper tantrums. So how do they form?

Earth’s outer shell – the lithosphere – is broken into plates that float on the upper mantle. These plates constantly move, sometimes pulling apart, sometimes colliding or sliding under one another. In these layers, conditions are just right for molten rock and gases from deep below to reach the surface.

Magma?

Exactly. But volcanism isn’t just limited to lithospheric plate boundaries – it also happens over “hotspots,” which are areas in the mantle with an unusually high heat flow. Iceland is a very particular location because it sits on a tectonic boundary where a hotspot has also broken through. Nowhere else on Earth do these two geological processes overlap so perfectly. As a result, Iceland is in a near-constant state of volcanic activity.

A veritable volcanologist’s paradise.

No doubt about it. Iceland is home mostly to what we call Hawaiian-type eruptions, where lava gently oozes from fissures rather than exploding violently. As long then as you understand how the eruption is behaving, you can often get surprisingly close and even collect fresh lava samples. For scientists and observers, these are generally the safest kinds of eruptions.

In April 2024, Lukáš Krmíček traveled to Grindavík, Iceland. Eruptions returned to the site multiple times last year.

And which ones should you definitely stay away from?

The most destructive ones are Plinian eruptions, during which a volcano spews massive ash and dust clouds that can reach the stratosphere, disrupting climate almost instantly. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which buried Pompeii, was one of these. But even less dramatic eruptions can be deadly – yes, even those Hawaiian-style lava fountains.

Tell me more.

Take the 1783 eruption of Iceland’s Laki volcano, for instance. It lasted for months, releasing enormous amounts of toxic gases into the atmosphere. A quarter of Iceland’s entire population died as a result. The eruption also had far-reaching consequences – it’s even linked to the start of the French Revolution six years later.

Wait, how does a volcanic eruption in Iceland tie in to the fall of the French monarchy?

Surprisingly closely. The gases released from Laki caused years of cooling across the Northern Hemisphere. Crop failures and food shortages followed, fueling unrest in France until, well… boom. And this isn’t the only time volcanoes have altered the course of history.

What else have they been responsible for?

They likely played a role in the great migrations toward the end of ancient history. In the Middle Ages, eruptions worsened the course of the so-called Little Ice Age, leading to long-term crop failures that hit northern Europe especially hard – one of the many pressures that helped ignite the Thirty Years’ War. Without exaggeration, volcanoes have helped shape world history.

These days, a bit of cooling wouldn’t hurt our planet. Could a volcanic eruption actually help offset global warming?

I have no doubt that at some point, an eruption will trigger cooling. However, volcanoes can also do the exact opposite – suddenly warming the planet. Case in point, according to certain scientists, the 2022 underwater eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai in the Pacific may have contributed to the record-breaking heatwaves of 2023 and 2024. The eruption blasted a huge amount of water vapor into the stratosphere, and since water vapor is a major greenhouse gas, it trapped heat in the atmosphere.

“Geologists perceive time differently. From their perspective, humankind has been on Earth for mere seconds,” the volcanologist says. (CC)

Extreme heat, sudden cooling… Sounds like volcanoes are kind of running the show here on Earth.

They absolutely are! In fact, without them, life on Earth wouldn’t exist. Volcanoes drive the recycling of essential elements and greenhouse gases that otherwise stay “locked” belowground. Without this recycling, our planet would be as lifeless as Mars.

So volcanic eruptions are a good thing, then?

They’re a sign that Earth is alive. By the way, volcanoes have saved life on Earth more than once. Take the Snowball Earth hypothesis – scientists believe that, at the end of the Precambrian era, the planet was completely frozen over. If not for volcanic eruptions pumping out greenhouse gases and warming the planet’s surface, Earth might have stayed that way.

Some eruptions, however, have nearly wiped out the human species...

Yes. According to some minority opinions, the Topa supereruption in Indonesia 75,000 years ago nearly led to the extinction of the genus Homo. Volcanoes have a dual nature: they create life, but they can also take it away on a massive scale. For humankind, only a collision of our planet with a large extraterrestrial body would likely be more dangerous. However, the probability of a massive eruption is significantly higher.

And yet, people have always built their homes at the foot of volcanoes. Why is that?

Because the surrounding soil is incredibly fertile, rich in nutrients, and ideal for growing even the most demanding crops. That’s why around 800 million people worldwide live within 100 kilometers of an active volcano, voluntarily exposing themselves to the risk of an eruption.

Destruction comes first, but then gives rise to life. Volcanic soil is incredibly fertile – and, for instance, the tomatoes grown near Mount Vesuvius are quite famous.

How often does that risk become reality?

Globally, there are usually around sixty eruptions per year, and this number has remained fairly constant. So, despite some concerns, volcanic activity is not increasing. But thanks to the internet and social media, we hear about it more. Take Iceland, for instance – there are at least ten webcams set up lying in wait for every eruption, allowing thousands of people around the world to watch the lava flow live.

But Iceland has been erupting more frequently in recent years, hasn’t it?

You’re right. In 2021, after 800 years of relative calm, new volcanoes started forming on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where most of Iceland’s population lives. This marked the beginning of a new era of heightened volcanic activity that could last for decades or even centuries.

That must be a bit disturbing for Icelanders...

It is, but they’re not that alarmed – volcanic eruptions are part of life there. Until now, Iceland has averaged one eruption every five years. But the island has now entered a more “explosive” phase, and we can expect that some of its larger volcanoes – those that have previously impacted the climate across Europe – might awaken. My colleagues and I are currently working on predicting the possible future behavior of Iceland’s volcanic systems, five of which are located near the capital of Reykjavik.

What have you discovered so far?

In 2021, the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system, located further east, became active. By the fall of 2023, seismic activity had shifted to the Svartsengi volcanic region. Our analyses show that the lava from both areas has a similar mineral and chemical composition, which strongly suggests that these systems might be connected deep underground. This finding could help us better predict future eruptions.

Does that mean eruptions can be predicted like the weather?

It depends on the location. In Iceland, it is possible, especially thanks to seismic monitoring. As magma moves upward beneath the surface, it causes earthquakes. These tremors become more frequent and intense as an eruption approaches. At the same time, the ground surface visibly swells, which can be detected via satellite images. A recent advancement is eruption prediction involving the analysis of the deep, rumbling infrasound produced by rocks as magma forces its way up. We say that volcanoes “whisper” before the eruption.

Can these whispers tell you the exact time of an eruption?

Not at all. And I don’t think they ever will. Nature will always be somewhat unpredictable. Even with all our measurements, we weren’t completely certain if the most recent Icelandic eruption would actually happen – or if the magma would “change its mind” and spread sideways instead of breaking through the surface.

Since we can at least partially predict eruptions, can we also prevent them?

No. And trying to would be pointless – we can’t stop the planet from recycling its gases. Doing so would essentially suffocate Earth. However, thanks to predictions, we are able to warn people in advance, allowing them to evacuate. We can also attempt to redirect lava flows to minimize damage to infrastructure. That’s no small thing.

How is it actually possible for a volcano to wake up after centuries of dormancy?

It has to do with the movement of tectonic plates. On average, these plates shift about five to ten centimeters per year – that’s roughly the speed at which our fingernails grow. However, tectonic plates don’t move continuously; they shift in sudden jumps. Most of the time, they remain stationary while tension builds up between them. When this tension reaches a critical threshold, the plate suddenly lurches forward by up to several meters.

And that sets the stage for a volcanic eruption.

Exactly. The longer the tension has been accumulating, the more dramatic the eruption tends to be. That’s why it’s actually better for a volcano to relieve pressure with frequent small eruptions rather than sleeping for centuries.

"Better frequent small eruptions than a massive explosion after a hundred years of volcanic dormancy," the scientist says.

Some volcanoes, however, stay dormant forever, right?

Yes, for example, volcanic activity in the České středohoří region has completely ceased – there’s nothing left to awaken. But that’s not the case for our youngest volcano here, Železná hůrka, near Cheb. It went extinct about 300,000 years ago which, in geological terms, is quite recent. The echoes of its eruptions are still felt daily by the people living in the Cheb region – their houses frequently tremble, cracks appear, and volcanic gases escape to the surface in the form of so-called mud volcanoes… In short, the ground there is constantly shaking and bubbling.

So Železná hůrka could still stir up some trouble?

According to some scientists, there is still hot magma beneath the volcano in the Earth’s mantle, so we cannot completely rule out the possibility of future volcanic activity. But it definitely won’t happen in our lifetime.

It appears the Czech Republic isn’t such a dull place for a volcanologist after all!

Personally, I find even extinct volcanoes fascinating, so for me, the Czech region is a paradise. Studying the remnants of volcanic eruptions is actually a bigger scientific challenge than investigating active ones. In Iceland, you can immediately see how one lava flow overlapped another. But in the České středohoří, for instance, you have to painstakingly decipher what actually occurred there. The igneous material contains elements that have a memory, like a fingerprint. By analyzing their isotopes, we can reconstruct events from tens of millions of years ago. I love unraveling these hidden stories.

But every now and then, you have to step out of the lab to get a fresh dose of adrenaline at an actual eruption…

That’s one way of putting it. Working near an active volcano is a full-blown adventure. Sometimes I actively miss the intense “scent” of sulfur that lingers around eruption sites. Most people would find it unbearable, but for me, it signals that molten basaltic lava is close by and that I might get a chance to collect a sample. And that thought fills me with excitement.

And what do you do with the lava once you’ve collected it?

I cool it down by dunking it in a bucket of distilled water. I then bring a sample about the size of a scoop back to the Czech Republic – it looks like a fossilized egg. In the lab, I slice it open and have it polished into a thin section. The rock becomes so thin that I can shine light through it and observe its mineral composition under a microscope. I focus on olivine, which originates from the Earth’s mantle. Its crystals contain a wealth of information.

What kind of information?

Its elemental and isotopic composition can reveal where the olivine formed, at what depth, and what triggered its crystallization. It’s a bit like detective work, and it can help us predict the future behavior of the volcano in question.

You’re the only researcher in the Czech Republic systematically studying active eruptions. How does a scientist from a land of extinct volcanoes rise to the top of global volcanology?

I believe that when you do what you love with dedication, success will find you. And that’s my case. My job is also my greatest passion. I never worried about whether it was lucrative. But when you pursue something with joy and perseverance, people tend to recognize and appreciate it.

Lukáš Krmíček works in the Department of Geological Processes at the Institute of Geology of the CAS. (CC)

Maybe that mindset is why you became a professor already in your early forties – that’s not exactly common, right?

Not in the Czech Republic, no. But in Western countries, you’ll find even much younger professors. Over there, when a university posts a professorship, even a fresh graduate can apply. And if they’re good enough, they get it. In the Czech system, becoming a professor is tied to an established scientific career. I planned mine so that I could reach professorship by forty. (smiles)

And then it’s all smooth sailing from there… Is your career really that neatly mapped out?

Not that neatly, but I do like planning, and I love challenges even more. My wife is also highly driven, so we constantly push each other. My tendency to see things through to completion has also always helped my career. That’s one reason my colleagues, led by geologist Václav Cílek, chose me to lead an upcoming book project about the České středohoří, which I mentioned earlier. They know I’m not the top expert on the region, but they’re confident I’ll see the project through to publication.

Did you always plan to become a volcanologist?

No – as a kid, I loved rocks. I’d collect them on every trip, and they’d pile up at home. But besides the inanimate world, I had another passion – music. My grandpa introduced me to the trumpet, but later, my music teacher suggested the trombone. So when I was around ten years old, I started playing it and became completely captivated. For years, I played in the Brno Symphony Orchestra alongside Jakub Hrůša.

You mean the most successful Czech conductor today?

Yes, he also started as a trombonist. But unlike me, he made it big in music. (laughter) For me, geology ultimately won out. It was during my studies that I discovered the magic of volcanoes. What I liked was that while most geology moves at a glacial pace, eruptions are happening in the here and now. They are the grand finale of cycles that took millions of years to culminate. A sort of cherry on top of the geological cake. The material I bring back from an eruption site for research didn’t even exist a few days before that, and that’s just incredible.

Beyond geology, Lukáš Krmíček developed a passion for music early in life. (CC)

You’ve explored countless volcanoes. Do you still have any unfulfilled volcanological dreams?

Of course! I’ve been planning to visit Réunion Island for a long time, since I’ve never been there. I’d also love to see Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania. It’s the only volcano on Earth that produces black carbonatite lava, which looks like flowing limestone.

You deal with eruptions at work and at home with your wife. Do you ever take a break from all this volcanic activity?

In the summer, I go to scout camps, both as a leader and participant. I also enjoy running and swimming – I try to stay fit for the fairly physically demanding expeditions. I’m also into geocaching, where you use GPS to find hidden caches in nature. My favorite kind, though, is earth caches.

What’s that?

Instead of physical containers, they involve geologically interesting sites around the world. You search for a rock formation or an extinct volcano and then complete a task or answer questions about it. I’ve even set up a few earth caches myself – in places like Little Tibet, Svalbard, and Hawaii.

And we’re back to volcanoes again…

That’s what happens when your job is also your greatest hobby. But don’t worry, I don’t think about volcanoes all the time. I unwind by watching things like Marvel movies. Or sometimes my wife and I put on Ordinace v růžové zahradě [a long-running Czech soap opera]. You probably wouldn’t peg me as a soap opera fan, but believe me, nothing helps me switch off better – or just doze off entirely. (laughter)

The interview first came out in the 4/2024 issue of the quarterly A / Magazine of the CAS:

4/2024 (version for browsing)
4/2024 (version for download)

Written and prepared by: Radka Římanová, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Translated by: Tereza Novická, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Photo: Jana Plavec, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS; Archive of Lukáš Krmíček

 The text, photos labeled CC, and photos of Lukáš Krmíček excluding the first photo in the article are released for use under a Creative Commons license.

Read also

• What are the Open Science principles of the Czech Academy of Sciences?
• Meadow flowers unlocking evolution: Scientists decode Y chromosome DNA
• Pop culture reflects contemporary values and behavioral patterns, says historian
• Archaeologists discover extensive burial site on planned Prague Ring Road route
• Fossilized memories: A glimpse into Prague’s Jewish cemeteries
• Newly discovered alga could help unlock the secrets of plant evolution
• How to reinforce the human body with biodegradable metals
• Czech scientists contribute to developing eco-friendly, affordable solar cells
• An epileptic seizure doesn’t always strike out of the blue, says Jaroslav Hlinka
• Radomír Pánek nominated for the next President of the CAS