When you’re halfway up the side of a volcano, you have to be prepared to think on your feet. If it looks as though the volcano could erupt, my team and I have agreed that we’ll climb down right away–it’s not worth taking risks. After all, my job is to learn about these extreme environments, rather than go thrill seeking. That way I can advise people of any dangers.

I’ve spent the past two weeks on Volcano Lascar in Chile, South America. My team and I are researching the effects of volcanic fumes. This will help us to find out how Earth’s climate is affected by volcanic activity.

The summit of Volcano Lascar is 18,000 feet above sea level, and we’re carrying heavy equipment. We wear gas masks because volcanic fumes can be poisonous. It’s dusty and cold and very hard work!

Although I work with a team, my job can feel solitary because we each concentrate on different activities. As I work, I keep a close eye on what the volcano is doing. I watch for falling rocks, plumes of smoke, and cracks appearing in the rock – these things may signal dangerous activity beneath the surface.

When my team and I return to base camp, we draw maps and graphs and write reports. Instruments called seismometers and tiltmeters detect the volcano’s slightest movements and send the information to base camp. A big part of my job is looking at this information, then telling the public what’s happening on the volcano.

Because an active volcano never sleeps, my days often begin when the stars are still out. I’d rather still be in bed! I spur myself on by thinking about the information I’m about to gather. It will help people to understand volcanic regions, and it could even save lives.