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Dr Melody Whitehead staff profile picture

Contact details +6469517015

Dr Melody Whitehead MEng, MRes, PhD, FHEA

Research Officer

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Agriculture and Environment

Lecturer

School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences

Professional

Qualifications

  • Masters of Engineering - University of Bristol (2007)
  • Master of Research - University of Bristol (2011)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - University of Auckland (2015)

Fellowships and Memberships

  • Member, Higher Education Academy (Fellow) (2022)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Supervisor, 黑料网

Research Expertise

Research Interests

  1. Probabilistic modelling of natural hazards with a focus on volcanology and multi-hazards
  2. Model uncertainty: including missing, hidden, or otherwise incomplete data, unknown physical behaviour or structure, and the influence of modelling decisions (e.g., boundary and initical conditions or assumptions)

  3. Expert cognitive bias in data interpretation and elicitation theory

  4. Volcanism and volcanic hazards with a focus on distributed volcanism (monogenetic fields)

Currently leading: Matatuhi: Unlocking the forecasting potential of environmental tohu via ensemble systems models
MBIE Smart Idea

Our world is changing faster and in ever more diverse ways – global records are being broken from droughts to floods, and in Aotearoa we have seen cataclysmic flooding, catastrophic volcanic eruptions, and the Canterbury earthquakes. An essential task in managing and adapting to our future is being able to forecast it. Science is trying to keep up with these changes, but current forecasting models require large amounts of information, and tend to focus only on one small part of a system (for example, the waterways, or the fault network). Environmental forecasts lack both sufficient data and knowledge to build reliable models. We, as scientists, are stuck.

We believe that the way out is by taking an all-inclusive approach, looking at the system as a whole, with parts intricately woven together. Such an approach is intrinsic to M膩tauranga Maori which, moreover, provides for an alternative lens on what can be considered data, beyond instrumental readings. We know that adding more voices with alternate understandings leads to better, more transparent forecasts with accurate descriptions of uncertainty.

Our project provides robust forecasts of the future by combining adaptable statistical tools with the intrinsic M膩tauranga of iwi. We start with a proof-of concept region – the Central Volcanic Plateau, and will build location-specific tools that will be realised with iwi that whakapapa to this region. Once proven, our methodologies can be directly transplanted to other localities within Aotearoa.

This research will build robust forecasts of our environmental future, and shift the conversation in Aotearoa away from “How can M膩tauranga M膩ori be fitted into science?” and towards “What can science do to support M膩tauranga M膩ori?”

Thematics

Resource Development and Management

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Earth Sciences (040000): Geology (040300):
Mathematical Sciences (010000): Statistics (010400): Stochastic Analysis and Modelling (010406):
Volcanology (040314)

Keywords

Geostatistics, Volcanology, Natural Hazards, Uncertainty modelling

Research Projects

Current Projects

Project Title: Matatuhi: Unlocking the forecasting potential of environmental tohu via ensemble systems models

Our world is changing faster and in ever more diverse ways 鈥 global records are being broken from droughts to floods, and in Aotearoa we have seen cataclysmic flooding, catastrophic volcanic eruptions, and the Canterbury earthquakes. An essential task in managing and adapting to our future is being able to forecast it. Science is trying to keep up with these changes, but current forecasting models require large amounts of information, and tend to focus only on one small part of a system (for example, the waterways, or the fault network). Environmental forecasts lack both sufficient data and knowledge to build reliable models. We, as scientists, are stuck. We believe that the way out is by taking an all-inclusive approach, looking at the system as a whole, with parts intricately woven together. Such an approach is intrinsic to M膩tauranga Maori which, moreover, provides for an alternative lens on what can be considered data, beyond instrumental readings. We know that adding more voices with alternate understandings leads to better, more transparent forecasts with accurate descriptions of uncertainty. Our project provides robust forecasts of the future by combining adaptable statistical tools with the intrinsic M膩tauranga of iwi. We start with a proof-of concept region 鈥 the Central Volcanic Plateau, and will build location-specific tools that will be realised with iwi that whakapapa to this region. Once proven, our methodologies can be directly transplanted to other localities within Aotearoa. This research will build robust forecasts of our environmental future, and shift the conversation in Aotearoa away from 鈥淗ow can M膩tauranga M膩ori be fitted into science?鈥 and towards 鈥淲hat can science do to support M膩tauranga M膩ori?鈥
Read Project Description Hide Project Description

Date Range: 2023 - 2026

Funding Body: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Project Team:

Research Outputs

Journal

Whitehead, MG., & Bebbington, MS. (2024). Brief communication: SWM – stochastic weather model for precipitation-related hazard assessments using ERA5-Land data. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 24(6), 1929-1935
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Rodriguez-Gomez, C., Kereszturi, G., Whitehead, M., Reeves, R., Rae, A., & Pullanagari, R. (2023). Point pattern analysis of thermal anomalies in geothermal fields and its use for inferring shallow hydrological processes. Geothermics. 110
[Journal article]Authored by: Kereszturi, G., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, MG., Bebbington, MS., Procter, JN., Irwin, ME., & Viskovic, GPD. (2023). An initial assessment of short-term eruption forecasting options in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 66(4), 611-628
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Irwin, M., Procter, J., Whitehead, M.
Schmidt, C., Laag, C., Whitehead, M., Profe, J., Tongwa Aka, F., Hasegawa, T., . . . Kereszturi, G. (2022). The complexities of assessing volcanic hazards along the Cameroon Volcanic Line using spatial distribution of monogenetic volcanoes. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 427
[Journal article]Authored by: Kereszturi, G., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, MG., & Bebbington, MS. (2021). Method selection in short-term eruption forecasting. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 419
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Runge, MG., Bebbington, MS., Cronin, SJ., Lindsay, JM., & Moufti, MR. (2016). Integrating geological and geophysical data to improve probabilistic hazard forecasting of Arabian Shield volcanism. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 311, 41-59
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Runge, MG., Bebbington, MS., Cronin, SJ., Lindsay, JM., & Moufti, MR. (2015). Sensitivity to volcanic field boundary. Journal of Applied Volcanology. 4(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Runge, MG., Bebbington, MS., Cronin, SJ., Lindsay, JM., Kenedi, CL., & Moufti, MRH. (2014). Vents to events: Determining an eruption event record from volcanic vent structures for the Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia. Bulletin of Volcanology. 76(3), 1-16
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
El Difrawy, MA., Runge, MG., Moufti, MR., Cronin, SJ., & Bebbington, M. (2013). A first hazard analysis of the quaternary harrat al-madinah volcanic field, saudi arabia. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 267, 39-46
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.

Thesis

Whitehead, M. (2015). Improving probabilistic hazard forecasts in volcanic fields. Application to Harrat Rahat, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (Doctoral Thesis) Whitehead, M. (2015). Improving probabilistic hazard forecasts in volcanic fields. Application to Harrat Rahat, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (Doctoral Thesis)
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M. (2011). Linear turbulent plumes in turbulent environments. (Master's Thesis, University of Bristol)
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., & Neil, J. (2007). Nonlinear dynamic inversion control of the ADMIRE model. Report submitted for the degree of MEng in Aeronautical Engineering (Hons.). (Master's Thesis, University of Bristol)
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Whitehead, M.

Conference

Frery, AC., Haywood, J., Kereszturi, G., Hitendra Sarma, T., Whitehead, M., & Wilson, M.MIGARS 2024 : International Conference on Machine Intelligence for GeoAnalytics and Remote Sensing. 2024 International Conference on Machine Intelligence for GeoAnalytics and Remote Sensing, MIGARS 2024.
[Conference]Authored by: Kereszturi, G., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., & Curtis, A. (2016). Interpretational Uncertainty. Poster session presented at the meeting of SEISMIX2016. Scotland: https://britgeophysics.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/seismix2016_abstract_volume.pdf
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Moufti, MR., & Lindsay, J. (2016). Sensitivity to Volcanic Field Boundary. Poster session presented at the meeting of EGU 2016. Vienna
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Lindsay, J., & Moufti, MR. (2014, September). Extrapolating spatio-temporal models through time. Presented at Cities on Volcanoes 8. Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Lindsay, J., & Moufti, MR. (2014, November). Evaluating the geological plausibility of spatio-temporal models. Presented at Geoscience New Zealand Conference. New Plymouth, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Lindsay, J., & Moufti, MR. (2013). Coupling observable data to the spatio-temporal properties of natural hazards: An application to the volcanic field of Harrat Rahat, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Poster session presented at the meeting of AGU. San Francisco, USA
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Moufti, MR., & Lindsay, J. (2013). Spatio-Temporal Patterns: What can we say about the possible location and timing of a future eruption in Harrat Rahat?. https://ghrc.kau.edu.sa/Pages-project-vorisa-en.aspx. : VoRiSA Scientific Meeting
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Lindsay, J., & Moufti, MR. (2013). Eruptive Event Determination: Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia. Poster session presented at the meeting of IAVCEI 2013. Kagoshima, Japan
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Lindsay, J., & Moufti, MR. (2013, July). Mathematical coupling of geological data as an approach to volcanic hazard analysis: Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia. Presented at IAVCEI. Kagoshima, Japan.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., Lindsay, J., & Moufti, M. (2012, November). Dealing with multiple vent eruptions in developing volcanic event records for distributed volcanic fields; Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia. Presented at Geoscience New Zealand Conference. Hamilton.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Whitehead, M. (2012, July). Modelling complex volcanic systems - A probabilistic hazard approach. Presented at Australian Statistics Conference (ASC2021)
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Whitehead, M.

Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

(161.111)         Applied Statistics                                                            (2023-2024 S1 Course Coordinator; 2023 S2 33%, 2024 S1 33 %)
(233214)         GIS and Spatial Statistics                                               (2021-2024 33%)
(233712)         Environmental Geographical Information Systems         (2021-2024 25%)
(233314)         Remote Sensing and Earth Observation                        (2023-2024 18%)
(228371)         Statistical Modelling for Engineers and Technologists    (2023-2024 50%, 2024 Course Coordinator)

Graduate Supervision Statement

I view supervision as a goal-directed partnership based on genuine research interests and a common desire to expand upon or alter current thinking through the production of robust, transparent, and precise work.

I am interested in multi-disciplinary methods that will help us better understand the uncertainty of things and encourage the general unacceptance of anything claiming to be completely accurate and precise in this messy world (but hope someday to be proven otherwise).

I am based in the Volcanic Risk Solutions group and encourage all students to participate in this wider group’s activities as well as those of the Graduate Research School to facilitate the transition from student to independent researcher over the course of their Masters and/or PhD. Prospective students should feel free to contact me by email if their research interests align (or overlap) with my own, and to discuss potential avenues of research funding.


Dr Melody Whitehead is available for Masters and Doctorial supervision.

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 1 0

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Emmy Scott - Doctor of Philosophy
    Appropriate complexity of volcanic hazard models

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