Catherine Annen

Dr. Catherine Annen is a numerical Earth scientist working at the intersection between volcanology, igneous petrology, and geophysics. She uses numerical simulation and heat transfer computation to determine the conditions of formation of magma bodies in the context of plutonism and of volcanism. She is researching how magma chambers form, how magmas differentiate, and how magmatic systems work at the scale of the crust. She is also interested in the formation of contact thermal aureoles.

Catherine graduated in Earth Sciences at University of Geneva (Switzerland) and received a PhD in 1999 jointly awarded by University of Geneva and by University Blaise Pascal of Clermont-Ferrand (France). She worked as a lecturer at University of Geneva, and as a researcher at University of Bristol (UK) and University of Chambéry (France) before joining the Institute of Geophysics in 2021.

She was chief editor in charge of the petrology section at Frontiers in Earth Sciences from 2015 to 2021.She is a founding member and a former president of the commission Volcanic and Igneous Plumbing Systems (VIPS) commissioned by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth Interior (IAVCEI).

Selected publications

1. Annen, C., Weinberg, R.F., Moyen, JF. & Cazabet, R. A complex system approach to magmatism. Nat Rev Earth Environ 6, 535–548 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00697-4
2. Weber, G., Biggs, J. & Annen, C. Distinct patterns of volcano deformation for hot and cold magmatic systems. Nat Commun 16, 532 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55443-z
3. Annen, C., Pinel, V. & Burgisser, A. Re-evaluation of the role of volatiles in the rupture of magma chambers and the triggering of crystal-rich eruptions. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 435, 107755 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2023.107755
4.  Annen, C., Latypov, R., Chistyakova, S., Cruden, A.R. & Nielsen, T.F.D., 2022: Catastrophic growth of totally molten magma chambers in months to years. Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abq0394.
5. Annen, C, 2017: Factors affecting the thickness of thermal aureoles. Frontiers in Earth Sciences, 5, doi: 10.3389/feart.2017.00082.
6. Annen, C., Blundy, J., Leuthhold., J., Sparks, RSJ, 2015: Construction and evolution of igneous bodies: towards an integrated perspective of crustal magmatism. Lithos, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2015.05.008.
7. Melekhova, E.; Annen, C.; Blundy, J. Compositional Gaps in Igneous Rock Suites Controlled by Magma System Heat and Water Content. Nature Geoscience 2013, 6 (5), 385–390. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo178.
8. Schöpa, A., and Annen C., 2013: The effects of magma flux variations on the formation and lifetime of large silicic magma chambers. Journal of Geophysical Research. 118, 926-942.
9. Annen, C., 2011: Implications of incremental emplacement of magma bodies for magma differentiation, thermal aureole dimensions and plutonism-volcanism relationships. Tectonophysics, 500, 3-10.
10. Annen, C.; Blundy, J. D.; Sparks, R. S. J. The Genesis of Intermediate and Silicic Magmas in Deep Crustal Hot Zones. J. Petrol. 2006, 47 (3), 505–539. https://doi.org/10.193/petrology/egi084.

A complete list of publication can be found on Catherine’s Google Scholar page.