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-  Astrogeology Science Center 
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#           Planetary Volcanology                    Active

      By Astrogeology Science Center      February 3, 2023    

## Mars - Olympus Mons

## Volcanoes on Io

                  -              Overview           
                  -              Publications           

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring lessons from extraterrestrial eruptions back to Earth.

### Contacts

####               Astrogeology Science Center          

2255 N. Gemini DriveFlagstaff, AZ86001United States

928-556-7000

928-556-7014

#### Laszlo Kestay, Ph.D.

##### Research Geologist

Astrogeology Science Center

laz@usgs.gov

928-556-7002

#### Colin Dundas, Ph.D.

##### Research Geologist

Astrogeology Science Center

cdundas@usgs.gov

928-556-7143

#### Richard Gregory Vaughan, PhD

##### Remote Sensing Lead

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

##### Research Geologist

Astrogeology Science Center

gvaughan@usgs.gov

928-556-7006

### Explore Search

                            - Planetary Science
                            - volcanology

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December 19, 2022

####                 Optimizing satellite resources for the global assessment and mitigation of volcanic hazards—Suggestions from the USGS Powell Center Volcano Remote Sensing Working Group              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Astrogeology Science Center, Volcano Science Center

July 16, 2021

####                 A numerical model for the cooling of a lava sill with heat pipe effects              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

May 18, 2021

####                 Quantifying eruptive and background seismicity, deformation, degassing, and thermal emissions at volcanoes in the United States during 1978–2020              

Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

October 26, 2020

####                 Lava–water interaction and hydrothermal activity within the 2014–2015 Holuhraun Lava Flow Field, Iceland              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Astrogeology Science Center

August 28, 2020

####                 Compositional layering in Io driven by magmatic segregation and volcanism              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

June 23, 2020

####                 A newly emerging thermal area in Yellowstone              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

May 20, 2020

####                 Hydrothermal activity in the southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field              

Water Resources Mission Area, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Volcano Hazards Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Volcano Science Center

February 7, 2019

####                 Clastic pipes and mud volcanism across Mars: Terrestrial analog evidence of past Martian groundwater and subsurface fluid mobilization              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

January 31, 2019

####                 The flood lavas of Kasei Valles, Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

November 1, 2016

####                 Determination of eruption temperature of Io's lavas using lava tube skylights              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

October 31, 2015

####                 Limited role for thermal erosion by turbulent lava in proximal Athabasca Valles, Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

August 1, 2014

####                 Emplacement and erosive effects of the south Kasei Valles lava on Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

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                  - Overview  
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring lessons from extraterrestrial eruptions back to Earth.
Contacts              Astrogeology Science Center          
2255 N. Gemini DriveFlagstaff, AZ86001United States
Phone928-556-7000Fax928-556-7014Laszlo Kestay, Ph.D.Research GeologistAstrogeology Science CenterEmaillaz@usgs.govPhone928-556-7002Colin Dundas, Ph.D.Research GeologistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailcdundas@usgs.govPhone928-556-7143Richard Gregory Vaughan, PhDRemote Sensing LeadYellowstone Volcano ObservatoryResearch GeologistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailgvaughan@usgs.govPhone928-556-7006Explore Search- Planetary Science
- volcanology
View All ** 
                  - Publications  Filter Total Items: 28Publication Type (field_pub_type)TypeArticleBookBook ChapterConference PaperNewsletterOtherReportThesisRelease Date (field_release_date)Year202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995LabelDecember 19, 2022                Optimizing satellite resources for the global assessment and mitigation of volcanic hazards—Suggestions from the USGS Powell Center Volcano Remote Sensing Working Group              A significant number of the world’s approximately 1,400 subaerial volcanoes with Holocene eruptions are unmonitored by ground-based sensors yet constitute a potential hazard to nearby residents and infrastructure, as well as air travel and global commerce. Data from an international constellation of more than 60 current satellite instruments provide a cost-effective means of tracking activity andAuthorsM. E. Pritchard, M. Poland, K. Reath, B. Andrews, M. Bagnardi, J. Biggs, S. Carn, D. Coppola, S.K. Ebmeier, M.A. Furtney, T. Girona, J. Griswold, T. Lopez, P. Lundgren, S. Ogburn, M. Pavolonis, E. Rumpf, G. Vaughan, C. Wauthier, R. Wessels, R. Wright, K.R. Anderson, M.G. Bato, A. RomanByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Astrogeology Science Center, Volcano Science CenterJuly 16, 2021                A numerical model for the cooling of a lava sill with heat pipe effects              Understanding the cooling process of volcanic intrusions into wet sediments is a difficult but important problem, given the presence of extremely large temperature gradients and potentially complex water-magma interactions. This report presents a numerical model to study such interactions, including the effect of heat pipes on the cooling of volcanic intrusions. Udell (1985) has shown that heat piAuthorsKaj E. Williams, Colin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. KestayByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterMay 18, 2021                Quantifying eruptive and background seismicity, deformation, degassing, and thermal emissions at volcanoes in the United States during 1978–2020              An important aspect of volcanic hazard assessment is determination of the level and character of background activity at a volcano so that deviations from background (called unrest) can be identified. Here, we compile the instrumentally recorded eruptive and noneruptive activity for 161 US volcanoes between 1978 and 2020. We combine monitoring data from four techniques: seismicity, ground deformatiAuthorsKevin Reath, Matthew Pritchard, Diana C. Roman, Taryn Lopez, Simon A Carn, Tobias P. Fischer, Zhong Lu, M. Poland, R. Greg Vaughan, Rick Wessels, L. L. Wike, H. K. TranByVolcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science CenterOctober 26, 2020                Lava–water interaction and hydrothermal activity within the 2014–2015 Holuhraun Lava Flow Field, Iceland              Lava that erupted during the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption in Iceland flowed into a proglacial river system, resulting in aqueous cooling of the lava and an ephemeral hydrothermal system. We carried out a monitoring study of this system from 2015 to 2018 to document the cooling of the lava over this time, using thermocouple measurements and data-logging sensors. The heat loss rate from advection thAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Einat Lev, M. Elise Rumpf, Christopher W. Hamilton, Armann Hoskuldsson, Thorvaldur ThordarsonByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Astrogeology Science CenterAugust 28, 2020                Compositional layering in Io driven by magmatic segregation and volcanism              The compositional evolution of volcanic bodies like Io is not well understood. Magmatic segregation and volcanic eruptions transport tidal heat from Io's interior to its surface. Several observed eruptions appear to be extremely high temperature (≥ 1600 K), suggesting either very high degrees of melting, refractory source regions, or intensive viscous heating on ascent. To address this ambiguity,AuthorsDan C Spencer, Richard F. Katz, Ian J. Hewitt, David A. May, Laszlo P. KestayByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJune 23, 2020                A newly emerging thermal area in Yellowstone              Yellowstone is a large restless caldera that contains many dynamic thermal areas that are the surface expression of the deeper magmatic system. In 2018, using a Landsat 8 nighttime thermal infrared image, we discovered the emergence of a new thermal area located near Tern Lake on the northeast margin of the Sour Creek dome. A high-spatial-resolution airborne visible image from August 2017 revealedAuthorsR. Greg Vaughan, Jefferson Hungerford, Bill KellerByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterMay 20, 2020                Hydrothermal activity in the southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field              In the past two decades, the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service have studied hydrothermal activity across the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field (YPVF) to improve the understanding of the magmatic-hydrothermal system and to provide a baseline for detecting future anomalous activity. In 2017 and 2018 we sampled water and gas over a large area in the southwest YPVF and used LandsatAuthorsShaul Hurwitz, R. Blaine McCleskey, Deborah Bergfeld, Sara Peek, David Susong, David A. Roth, Jefferson Hungerford, Erin B White, Lauren Harrison, Behnaz Hosseini, R. Greg Vaughan, Andrew G. Hunt, James B. PacesByWater Resources Mission Area, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Volcano Hazards Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Volcano Science CenterFebruary 7, 2019                Clastic pipes and mud volcanism across Mars: Terrestrial analog evidence of past Martian groundwater and subsurface fluid mobilization              Clastic pipes are cylindrical injection features that vertically crosscut bedding with sharp contacts. Terrestrial pipes have cylindrical morphologies, massive or radially graded interiors, and raised outer rims. Increased grain size and subsequent cementation along the more porous edges makes the rims more resistant to weathering. Pipes have crosscutting relationships with other pipes due to multAuthorsD. F. Wheatley, M. A. Chan, Chris OkuboByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJanuary 31, 2019                The flood lavas of Kasei Valles, Mars              Both the northern and southern arms of Kasei Valles are occupied by platy-ridged flood lavas. We have mapped these flows and examined their morphology to better understand their emplacement. The lavas were emplaced as high-flux, turbulent flows (exceeding 106 m3 s−1). Lava in southern Kasei Valles can be traced back up onto the Tharsis rise, which is also the likely source of lavas in the northernAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Glen E. Cushing, Laszlo P. KestayByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterNovember 1, 2016                Determination of eruption temperature of Io's lavas using lava tube skylights              Determining the eruption temperature of Io's dominant silicate lavas would constrain Io's present interior state and composition. We have examined how eruption temperature can be estimated at lava tube skylights through synthesis of thermal emission from the incandescent lava flowing within the lava tube. Lava tube skylights should be present along Io's long-lived lava flow fields, and are attractAuthorsAshley G. Davies, Laszlo P. Kestay, Alfred S. McEwenByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterOctober 31, 2015                Limited role for thermal erosion by turbulent lava in proximal Athabasca Valles, Mars              The Athabasca Valles flood lava is among the most recent (<50 Ma) and best preserved effusive lava flows on Mars and was probably emplaced turbulently. The Williams et al. (2005) model of thermal erosion by lava has been applied to what we term “proximal Athabasca,” the 75 km long upstream portion of Athabasca Valles. For emplacement volumes of 5000 and 7500 km3and average flow thicknesses of 20 aAuthorsVincenzo Cataldo, David A. Williams, Colin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. KestayByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterAugust 1, 2014                Emplacement and erosive effects of the south Kasei Valles lava on Mars              Although it has generally been accepted that the Martian outflow channels were carved by floods of water, observations of large channels on Venus and Mercury demonstrate that lava flows can cause substantial erosion. Recent observations of large lava flows within outflow channels on Mars have revived discussion of the hypothesis that the Martian channels are also produced by lava. An excellent exaAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. KeszthelyiByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterPagination-                Current page            1 
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