Catherine A. Meriaux

ROLE

PROFESSOR OF GEOPHYSICS; ACTING DIRECTOR

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Her research is motivated by her interest in the dynamics of the Earth. In this vast field of research, she has focused her work on geophysical flows driven by gravity or buoyancy. Her research portfolio includes studies on: the propagation of magma through dykes, the spreading of lava domes, granular flows, mantle convection and plate tectonics, as well as turbulent particle flows. Her research works rely on scaled physical modelling using theoretical, numerical and/or laboratory approaches. Her overriding goal is to better understand the physical processes at stake and explain the geophysical observations.

 ResearcherID: B-1298-2011
 OrcidID: 0000-0003-1683-8572

CURRENT PROJECTS

E-DOORs, IGCP UNESCO, IGCP 767 project (2023-2026). Environmental Dynamics of the vOlcanic regiOn of western Rwanda: An integrated study.

WALL,  NCST (Rwanda) and Bill and Melinda gates foundation, NCST-NRIF/GCR-CH/13/04/2023 (2024-2026). Evolution of the volcanic environment in western Rwanda with climate change: impact on health and mitigation.

BIOGRAPHY

C.A. Meriaux has a PhD in Geophysics awarded by the University Paris VII (France) in April 1996.  Since then, she has worked at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL), the Institute of Theoretical Geophysics at the University of Cambridge, (UK), the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University (AU), the School of Mathematical Sciences at Monash University (AU), the Institute Dom Luiz at the University of Lisbon (PT), the School of Physics and Astronomy at Monash University (AU) and the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment at Monash University (AU). She started her position as a professor of Geophysics at ICTP-EAIFR in October 2021.

PUBLICATIONS

2023 - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1-2; DOI HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1038/S43017-023-00408-X
All scales must be considered to understand rifts
Ebinger, C., van Wijk, J., Olaka, L., Mériaux, C.A. , and Fontijn, K.
2023 - Phys. Fluids, 35, 065102; DOI HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1063/5.0148473
An improved method for estimating the dissipation rate of TKE using structure functions evaluated from the motion of finite-sized neutrally-buoyant particles
M. A. C. Teixeira, and Mériaux, C. A.
2022 - Phys. Fluids, 34 (4), 045117; DOI HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1063/5.0084622
Estimating the filtering of turbulence properties by finite-sized particles using analytical energy spectra
M. A. C. Teixeira and Meriaux, C. A.
2022 - Geophys. J. Int., 229 (3), 1680-1694; DOI HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1093/GJI/GGAC005
The impact of vent geometry on the growth of lava domes
Meriaux, C. A., D. A. May and C. Jaupart
2020 - Geophys. J. Int., 222, 1146-1163.; DOI HTTPS://DOI: 10.1093/GJI/GGAA222
Mantle plume dynamics at the rear of a retreating slab
Meriaux, C. A., D. A. May, J. Mansour and O. Kaluza
2020 - Eur. J. Mech./B Fluids, 84, 93-109; DOI HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.EUROMECHFLU.2020.05.015
Dispersion of finite-size particles probing inhomogeneous and anisotropic turbulence
Meriaux, C. A., M. A. C. Teixeira, J. J. Monaghan, R. Cohen and P. Cleary
2018 - Phys. Earth. Planet. Int., 283, 110-121; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.PEPI.2018.07.009
Benchmark of three-dimensional numerical models of subduction against a laboratory experiment
Meriaux, C.A., D.A. May, J. Mansour, Z. Chen and O. Kaluza
2018 - Eur. J. Mech. - B/Fluids, 72, 519-530.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.EUROMECHFLU.2018.06.003
What can we learn from large bodies moving in a turbulent fluid?
Monaghan, J.J. and Meriaux, C.A
2018 - Eur. J. Mech. - B/Fluids, 68, 201-210; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.EUROMECHFLU.2017.12.008
An SPH study of turbulence near a free surface under gravity
Monaghan, J.J. and M\'eriaux, C.A.
2017 - Eur. J. Mech. - B/Fluids, 13, 0-13; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.EUROMECHFLU.2016.12.010
A study of gravity currents carrying polydisperse particles along a V-shaped valley
Meriaux, C.A. and C.B. Kurz-Besson
2016 - Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 454, 166-177; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.EPSL.2016.09.001
Mantle plumes in the vicinity of subduction zones
Meriaux, C.A., A-S. Meriaux, W. Schellart, J. Duarte, S.S. Duarte, and Z. Chen
2016 - Front. Plant Sci., 7, 1170; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.3389/FPLS.2016.01170
The combined effect of the minimum temperature increase and precipitation changes on Pinus pinaster in southern Portugal
Kurz Besson, C., J. Lousada, M. Gaspar, I. Correia, T. David, P. Soares, R. Cardoso, A. Russo, F. Varino, C. Meriaux, R. Trigo, and C. Gouveia
2016 - J. Struct. Geology, 92, 116-139; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.JSG.2016.03.005
Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges
Schreurs, G., and Geomod 2008 group
2016 - Phys. Fluids, 28, 036601.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1063/1.4942241
The propagation of particulate gravity currents in a V-shaped triangular cross-section channel: experiments and shallow-water numerical simulations
Meriaux, C.A., T. Zemach, C.B. Kurz-Besson, and M. Ungarish,
2015 - Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 5796-5802.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1002/2015GL064313
A two-way interaction between the Hainan plume and the Manila subduction zone
Meriaux, C.A., J.C. Duarte, W.P. Schellart, and A-S. Meriaux
2015 - Geophys. J. Int., 201 (3), 1717-1721.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1093/GJI/GGV120
Capture of the Canary mantle plume material by the Gibraltar arc mantle wedge during slab rollback
M\'eriaux, C.A., J.C. Duarte, S.S. Duarte, W. P. Schellart, Z. Chen, F. Rosas, J. Mata, P. Terrinha
2014 - J. Fluid Mech., 754, 232-249; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1017/JFM.2014.396
The propagation of gravity currents in a V-shaped triangular cross-section channel: experiments and theory
Ungarish, M., C.A. Meriaux, and C.B. Kurz-Besson
2014 - J. Agric. Meteorol., 184, 230-242; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.AGRFORMET.2013.10.004
Cork oak physiological responses to manipulated water availability in a Mediterranean woodland
Kurz-Besson C., R. Lobo do Vale, L. Rodrigues, P. Almeida, A. Herd, O.M. Grant, T.S. David, M. Schmidt, D. Otieno, T. Keenan, C. Gouveia, C. M\'eriaux, M.M. Chaves, J.S. Pereira
2012 - J. Fluid Mech., 712, 624-645; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1017/JFM.2012.389
Sedimentation from binary suspensions in a turbulent gravity current along a V-shaped valley
Meriaux, C.A. and C.B. Kurz-Besson
2012 - Geophys. J. Int., 188 (3), 959-978; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1111/J.1365-246X.2011.05320.X
Palaeomagnetic study of a sub-aerial volcanic ridge Sao Jorge Island, Azores) for the past 1.3 Myr: evidences for the Cobb Mountain Subchron, volcano flank instability and tectono-magmatic implications
Silva, P.F, B. Henry, F.O. Marques, A. Hildenbrand, P. Madureira, C.A. M\'eriaux, and Z. Kratinova
2011 - Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 184 (1-2).; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.PEPI.2010.10.013
On the rise of strongly tilted mantle plume tails
Meriaux, C., J.A. Mansour, L.N. Moresi, R.C. Kerr and D.A. May
2011 - Int. J. Num. Anal. Meth. Geomech., 35, 293-308.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1002/NAG.895
Rate Effects in dense granular materials: linear stability analysis and the fall of granular columns
Lemiale, V., H.B. Muhlhaus, C. Meriaux, L. Moresi and L. Hudkinson
2009 - J. Fluid Mech., 637, 475-475; DOI HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1017/S0022112009991595
Particulate gravity currents along V-shaped valleys- ERRATUM
Monaghan, J.J., C. Meriaux, H. Huppert and J. Mansour
2009 - J. Fluid Mech., 631, 419-440; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1017/S0022112009007174
Particulate gravity currents along V-shaped valleys
Monaghan, J.J., C. M\'eriaux, H. Huppert and J. Mansour
2009 - Geomech. Geoengin., 4 (1), 55-77; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1080/17486020902767388
Quasi-static fall of planar granular columns: comparison of 2D and 3D discrete element modelling with laboratory experiments
Owen, P.J., P.W. Cleary and C. Meriaux
2009 - Eur. J. Mech. - B/Fluids, 28 (5), 651-659; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.EUROMECHFLU.2009.05.005
High-Reynolds-number gravity currents along V-shaped valleys
Monaghan, J.J., C. Meriaux, H. Huppert and J.M. Monaghan
2008 - Phys. Fluids, 20, 033301; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1063/1.2870148
Scaling the final deposits of cohesive granular columns after collapse and quasi-static fall
Meriaux, C. and T. Triantafillou
2008 - J. Geophys. Res., 113, B09401; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1029/2007JB005510
Effect of thermal diffusion on the stability of strongly tilted mantle plume tails
Kerr R., C. M\'eriaux and J.R. Lister,
2007 - Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 163, 69-82; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.PEPI.2007.06.009
Computational approaches to studying non-linear dynamics of the crust and mantle
Moresi, L., S. Quenette, V. Lemiale, C. M\'eriaux, B. Appelbe and H.B. Muhlhaus
2006 - Phys. Fluids, 18, 093301; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1063/1.2335477
2D fall of granular columns controlled by slow horizontal withdrawal of a retaining wall
Meriaux, C.
2004 - Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 5, Q12009; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1029/2004GC000749
The structure of sheared viscous thermal plumes: implications for geochemical heterogeneities
Kerr, R.C. and C. Meriaux
2002 - J. Geophys. Res., 107, 2077-2087.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1029/2001JB000436
Calculation of dike trajectories from volcanic centers
Meriaux, C. and J. R. Lister
1999 - Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 165, 177-185.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/S0012-821X(98)00264-7
Dyke propagation with distributed damage of the host rock
Meriaux, C., J. R. Lister, V. Lyakhovsky and A. Agnon
1998 - Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 160, 551-562; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/S0012-821X(98)00110-1
The thermal signature of subducted lithospheric slabs at the core-mantle boundary
Meriaux, C., A. Agnon and J. R. Lister
1998 - J. Geophys. Res., 103, 18,295-18,314.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1029/98JB00905
Dike propagation through an elastic plate
Meriaux, C. and C. Jaupart
1995 - Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 136, 223-240.; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1016/0012-821X(95)00170-H
Simple Fluid Dynamical Models of Volcanic Rift Zones
Meriaux, C. and C. Jaupart
1992 - In: Ostrowsky D.B., Reinisch R. (eds) Guided Wave Nonlinear Optics. NATO ASI Series (Series E: Applied Sciences), vol 214. Springer, Dordrecht; DOI HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.1007/978-94-011-2536-9_6
Nonlinear Magnetooptics. The Photoinduced Faraday Rotation in Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors.
Frey, R., J. Frey, C. Meriaux and C. Flytzanis,