Research Topic

Fluid Mechanics

Fluid mechanics underpins nearly all of the geophysical flows I study — from turbulent volcanic jets to dense debris avalanches. I develop theoretical and experimental frameworks to understand how particles, gases, and liquids interact across the wide range of scales encountered in natural hazard systems.

Multiphase Flow Turbulent Jets Entrainment Buoyancy Computational Fluid Dynamics

Approach

Methods & data

I use scaled saltwater analog experiments, high-speed imaging, and open-source multiphase CFD solvers to probe the governing physics of particle-laden turbulent flows.

Particle-water jet experiment in the Partial Collapse regime showing solid-fluid phase separation leading to multiple cloud layers

Fig. 2:

Fig. 3:

Peer-Reviewed Work

Related publications

Submarine terraced deposits linked to periodic collapse of caldera-forming eruption columns

Gilchrist, J.T., Jellinek, A.M., Hooft, E. E. E. & Wanket, S.

Nature Geoscience · 2023 · Vol. 16, pp. 391–397

DOI 🎙️ CBC Radio
Sediment waves and the gravitational stability of volcanic jets

Gilchrist, J.T., & Jellinek, A.M.

Bulletin of Volcanology · 2021 · Vol. 83, Art. 64

DOI
Are eruptions from linear fissures and caldera ring dykes more likely to produce pyroclastic flows?

Jessop, D. E., Gilchrist, J.T., Jellinek, A.M. & Roche, O.

Earth and Planetary Science Letters · 2016 · Vol. 454, pp. 142-153

DOI