I am interested in magma genesis and volatile solubility on exoplanets, Earth, and solar system bodies, the timescales of events in magmatic systems, geothermometry, volcano science and hazards, high-silica magmatic systems, and how our planet's volcanologic and petrologic mechanisms can be used to understand those on other planets and moons.
My current research projects use experimental petrology to study exoplanet magmas and use diffusion chronometry to examine timescales of effusive eruptions at Yellowstone.
2015–current
Partial melting and solubility experiments to determine crust compositions, anhydrous solidi, and volatile solubilities of rocky planets orbiting other stars.
Brugman, K., Phillips, M.G., Till, C.B. (2021) Experimental Determination of Mantle Solidi and Melt Compositions for Two Likely Rocky Exoplanet Compositions. JGR: Planets, 10.1029/2020JE006731.
2014–current
Development of a new diffusion chronometry method to compare pre-eruptive timescales from Fe-rich clinopyroxene to timescales from other minerals. This project examines the last events recorded by minerals in the Scaup Lake flow, a Yellowstone post-caldera rhyolite.
Brugman, K., Till, C.B. Bose, M. (2022) Common Assumptions and Methods Yield Overestimated Diffusive Timescales, as Exemplified in a Yellowstone Post-Caldera Lava. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 10.1007/s00410-022-01926-5.
2017–2019
Development of a new clinopyroxene-liquid geothermometer specifically calibrated for the low-Al, high-Fe clinopyroxene found in high-silica igneous systems.
Brugman, K.K., and Till, C.B. (2019) A low-aluminum clinopyroxene-liquid geothermometer for high-silica magmatic systems. American Mineralogist, 10.2138/am-2019-6842.
April 2020
Dissertation: Timescales and Characteristics of Magma Generation in Earth and Exoplanets
May 2014
Honors thesis: Understanding the History of Arabia Terra, Mars Through Crater-Based Tests
* invited # talk
Recently I was featured on the Carnegie Earth & Planets Lab website
| Read the Postdoc Spotlight |
During quarantine/CoronaTimes/The Wrong Timeline I've been continuing my experimental work, including some drop-quench experiments conducted in our vertical furnace.
| Watch slow-motion videos |
I recorded a lab tour video for ASU SESE's new students, since they can't visit labs in person
| Visit the EPIC lab |
I talked about my exoplanet experiments and 'Star Trek: Picard' on the
'Strange New Worlds' science and Trek podcast
| Listen to Episode 89: Strange New Melts |
Earth & Planets Laboratory (EPL)
Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C.
kara [dot] brugman [at] gmail [dot] com
kbrugman [at] carnegiescience [dot] edu