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Volcano Hazards Program

Find U.S. Volcano

There are about 170 potentially active volcanoes in the U.S. The mission of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program is to enhance public safety and minimize social and economic disruption from volcanic unrest and eruption through our National Volcano Early Warning System. We deliver forecasts, warnings, and information about volcano hazards based on a scientific understanding of volcanic behavior.

News

Photo & Video Chronology — February 16, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 42 fountains and fallout

Photo & Video Chronology — February 16, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 42 fountains and fallout

Volcano Watch — New Hawaii citizen science tool: Is Tephra Falling?

Volcano Watch — New Hawaii citizen science tool: Is Tephra Falling?

Volcano Watch — What do small earthquakes beneath Kīlauea summit mean for the ongoing eruption?

Volcano Watch — What do small earthquakes beneath Kīlauea summit mean for the ongoing eruption?

Publications

A comparison of non-contact methods for measuring turbidity in the Colorado River A comparison of non-contact methods for measuring turbidity in the Colorado River

Monitoring suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) is essential to better understand how sediment transport could adversely affect water availability for human communities and ecosystems. Aquatic remote sensing methods are increasingly utilized to estimate SSC and turbidity in rivers; however, an evaluation of their quantitative performance is limited. This study evaluates the performance...
Authors
Natalie K. Day, Tyler V. King, Adam R. Mosbrucker

Toward a four-dimensional petrogenetic model of a distributed volcanic field on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau Toward a four-dimensional petrogenetic model of a distributed volcanic field on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau

A detailed characterization of the >3,000 square kilometer (km2) Springerville volcanic field, located on the southern tip of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona, United States, with its more than 501 volcanic units and widely distributed >420 cinder cones and lava flows, provides constraints toward an integrated petrogenetic model for the field. Large-volume effusive tholeiitic eruptions at...
Authors
Marissa E. Mnich, Christopher D. Condit

Luminescence dating of hydrothermal explosions in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field Luminescence dating of hydrothermal explosions in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field

Hydrothermal explosions are a significant geological hazard in some active volcanic systems; however, the timing and triggering mechanisms of these explosions are poorly constrained. This study applies luminescence dating techniques to hydrothermal explosion deposits in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field to constrain explosion chronologies and evaluate potential triggering mechanisms...
Authors
Karissa Cordero, Nathan Brown, Lauren N. Harrison, Shaul Hurwitz
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Jacob B. Lowenstern, Ph.D.
U.S. Geological Survey
Volcano Science Center, Mail Stop 910
345 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: 650-329-5238
Fax: 650-329-5203
jlwnstrn@usgs.gov

Google Scholar Profile


 

 
This web site contains links to the following areas:

Melt Inclusion Page: This page describes how silicate melt inclusions are used to study volatile elements in magmas. These include, water, carbon dioxide, sulfur and chlorine.

Magmatic Volatiles (Two review papers on CO2 and Cl).

Software (Norms and Volatiles).

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

List of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory related scientific articles

Older Stuff:

A volcano story: 24 September 1986: Mt. Etna

Research at Medicine Lake Volcano, CA.

Photos, geology and geochemistry of the Alid volcanic center, Eritrea.

Gas geochemistry of The Geysers geothermal system

 

Professional Information:

Professional Interests: Geology and Geochemistry of Magma-Hydrothermal Systems.

Laboratory Facilities (Room 3013 of Building 15) : FTIR Spectroscopy.

Current Field Areas: Yellowstone National Park (Scientist-in-Charge of YVO), Chaiten Volcano, Chile

Previous Field Areas: Medicine Lake volcano, CA; The Geysers steam field, CA; Alid volcanic center, Eritrea, northeast Africa,

Education:
Ph.D. 1992, Stanford University;
M.S. 1990 Stanford University;
A.B. 1986 Dartmouth College

Publications by Lowenstern

 

Volcano Hazards Program | U.S. Geological Survey Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Volcano Hazards Program

Find U.S. Volcano

There are about 170 potentially active volcanoes in the U.S. The mission of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program is to enhance public safety and minimize social and economic disruption from volcanic unrest and eruption through our National Volcano Early Warning System. We deliver forecasts, warnings, and information about volcano hazards based on a scientific understanding of volcanic behavior.

News

Photo & Video Chronology — February 16, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 42 fountains and fallout

Photo & Video Chronology — February 16, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 42 fountains and fallout

Volcano Watch — New Hawaii citizen science tool: Is Tephra Falling?

Volcano Watch — New Hawaii citizen science tool: Is Tephra Falling?

Volcano Watch — What do small earthquakes beneath Kīlauea summit mean for the ongoing eruption?

Volcano Watch — What do small earthquakes beneath Kīlauea summit mean for the ongoing eruption?

Publications

A comparison of non-contact methods for measuring turbidity in the Colorado River A comparison of non-contact methods for measuring turbidity in the Colorado River

Monitoring suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) is essential to better understand how sediment transport could adversely affect water availability for human communities and ecosystems. Aquatic remote sensing methods are increasingly utilized to estimate SSC and turbidity in rivers; however, an evaluation of their quantitative performance is limited. This study evaluates the performance...
Authors
Natalie K. Day, Tyler V. King, Adam R. Mosbrucker

Toward a four-dimensional petrogenetic model of a distributed volcanic field on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau Toward a four-dimensional petrogenetic model of a distributed volcanic field on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau

A detailed characterization of the >3,000 square kilometer (km2) Springerville volcanic field, located on the southern tip of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona, United States, with its more than 501 volcanic units and widely distributed >420 cinder cones and lava flows, provides constraints toward an integrated petrogenetic model for the field. Large-volume effusive tholeiitic eruptions at...
Authors
Marissa E. Mnich, Christopher D. Condit

Luminescence dating of hydrothermal explosions in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field Luminescence dating of hydrothermal explosions in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field

Hydrothermal explosions are a significant geological hazard in some active volcanic systems; however, the timing and triggering mechanisms of these explosions are poorly constrained. This study applies luminescence dating techniques to hydrothermal explosion deposits in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field to constrain explosion chronologies and evaluate potential triggering mechanisms...
Authors
Karissa Cordero, Nathan Brown, Lauren N. Harrison, Shaul Hurwitz
Was this page helpful?