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Jacob B. Lowenstern

Jake Lowenstern is a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Vancouver, WA. He serves as the Chief of the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program, which is a partnership of the USGS and USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance.

From 2002-2017, Jake served as Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.  Through his career, he has worked on a wide variety of topics related to magmas and their overlying hydrothermal systems.  

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Stanford University 1992

  • M.S. Stanford University 1991

  • A. B. Dartmouth College 1986

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Geological Society of America (GSA) 

  • Mineralogical Society of America (MSA)

  • American Geophysical Union

  • Society of Economic Geologists (SEG)

  • International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI)

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow, GSA 2010

  • Fellow, MSA 2021

  • Lindgren Award (SEG) 2000

  • AAPG Distinguished Lecturer, 2006

Science and Products

Chemical and isotopic data on gases and waters for thermal and non-thermal features across Yellowstone National Park (2003-2015)

Degassing thermal features at Yellowstone National Park include spectacular geysers, roiling hot springs, bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, frying pans, and areas of passive degassing characterized by steaming ground. Most of these features are readily identified by visible clouds of steam that are occasionally accompanied by a strong rotten egg odor from emissions of hydrogen sulfide gas. Gas composi
By
Volcano Hazards Program

Gas and heat emission measurements in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park (May-October 2016)

From 14 May to 6 October 2016 measurements of gas and heat emissions were made at Bison Flat, an acid-sulfate, vapor-dominated area (0.04-km2) of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY. An eddy covariance system measured half-hourly CO2, H2O and sensible and latent heat fluxes, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, soil moisture and rainfall. A Multi-GAS instrument me
By
Yellowstone

River Chemistry in Yellowstone National Park

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) was established as a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey and Yellowstone National Park to "To strengthen the long-term monitoring of volcanic and earthquake unrest in the Yellowstone National Park region". Yellowstone National Park is underlain by a voluminous magmatic system overlain by the most active hydrothermal system on Earth. Tracking
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera, showing magmatic volatiles emitted during crystallization of the rhyolitic magma and/or from basalt intrusions or convection, and the hypothesized relation with earthquake swarms on the caldera margins.  The exsolved fluids accumulate at lithostatic pressures in the

By
Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera, showing magmatic volatiles emitted during crystallization of the rhyolitic magma and/or from basalt intrusions or convection, and the hypothesized relation with earthquake swarms on the caldera margins.  The exsolved fluids accumulate at lithostatic pressures in the

By
Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone
Filter Total Items: 74

Radiogenic strontium- and uranium-isotope tracers of water-rock interactions and hydrothermal flow in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA

Natural radiogenic isotopes (primarily 87Sr/86Sr) from hot springs in the Upper Geyser Basin of the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field and associated rocks were used to evaluate groundwater flow patterns, water-rock reactions, and the extent of mixing between various groundwater sources. Thermal waters have very low uranium concentrations and 234U/238U activity ratios near 1.0, which limit their u
Authors
James B. Paces, Shaul Hurwitz, Lauren N Harrison, Jacob B. Lowenstern, R. Blaine McCleskey
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

A case for improved global coordination of volcano observatories

The distribution of volcano monitoring networks and volcano expertise does not correlate well with the global distribution of volcanic risk. All countries have cultural, financial, bureaucratic, political, and logistical barriers to effective risk reduction. The lack of parity amongst volcano observatories jeopardizes public safety and curtails scientific research and understanding. Having global
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Introduction to recommended capabilities and instrumentation for volcano monitoring in the United States

IntroductionThe National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS) was authorized and partially funded by the U.S. Government in 2019. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program asked its scientists to reflect on and summarize their views of best practices for volcano monitoring. The goal was to review and update the recommendations of a previous report (Moran and others, 20
Authors
Ashton F. Flinders, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Michelle L. Coombs, Michael P. Poland
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Special topic—Boreholes

IntroductionInstallation of instrument packages in deep (several hundred to several thousand meters) boreholes near volcanoes is relatively expensive (a few million to tens of millions of U.S. dollars), but can provide a low-noise, high-quality source of geophysical (seismic, strain, tilt, and pore pressure), physical (temperature and water level), and geochemical data. Observations from instrumen
Authors
Shaul Hurwitz, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Recommended capabilities and instrumentation for volcano monitoring in the United States

The National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS) was authorized and partially funded by the U.S. Government in 2019. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program asked its scientists to reflect on and summarize their views of best practices for volcano monitoring. The goal was to review and update the recommendations of a previous report (Moran and others, 2008) and to p
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

The dynamic influence of subsurface geological processes on the assembly and diversification of thermophilic microbial communities in continental hydrothermal systems

An accepted paradigm of hydrothermal systems is the process of phase separation, or boiling, of a deep, homogeneous hydrothermal fluid as it ascends through the subsurface resulting in gas rich and gas poor fluids. While phase separation helps to explain first-order patterns in the chemistry and biology of a hot spring’s surficial expression, we know little about the subsurface architecture beneat
Authors
Kenneth W.W. Sims, Cole M. Messa, Sean R Scott, Andrew D Parsekian, Andrew Miller, Abraham L. Role, Timothy P. Moloney, Everett L. Shock, Jacob B. Lowenstern, R. Blaine McCleskey, Matthew A. Charette, Bradley Carr, Sylvain Pasquet, Henry Heasler, Cheryl Jaworowski, W. Steven Holbrook, Melody R. Lindsay, Daniel R. Colman, Eric S. Boyd
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Opening letter: The long shadow of Merapi volcano

No abstract available.
Authors
John S. Pallister, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Guidelines for volcano-observatory operations during crises: Recommendations from the 2019 Volcano Observatory Best Practices meeting

In November 2019, the fourth meeting on Volcano Observatory Best Practices workshop was held in Mexico City as a series of talks, discussions, and panels. Volcanologists from around the world offered suggestions for ways to optimize volcano-observatory crisis operations. By crisis, we mean unrest that may or may not lead to eruption, the eruption itself, or its aftermath, all of which require anal
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, Kristi L. Wallace, Sara Barsotti, Laura Sandri, Wendy K. Stovall, Benjamin Bernard, Eugenio Privitera, Jean-Christophe Komorowski, Nico Fournier, Charles Baligizi, Esline Gareabiti
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Hydrogen isotope behavior during rhyolite glass hydration under hydrothermal conditions

The diffusion of molecular water (H2Om) from the environment into volcanic glass can hydrate the glass up to several wt% at low temperature over long timescales. During this process, the water imprints its hydrogen isotope composition (δDH2O) to the glass (δDgl) offset by a glass-H2O fractionation factor (ΔDgl-H2O = δDgl – δDH2O) which is approximately −33‰ at Earth surface temperatures. Glasses h
Authors
Michael R. Hudak, Ilya N. Bindeman, James M. Watkins, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Strengthening local volcano observatories through global collaborations

We consider the future of volcano observatories in a world where new satellite technologies and global data initiatives have greatly expanded over the last two decades. Observatories remain the critical tie between the decision-making authorities and monitoring data. In the coming decade, the global scientific community needs to continue to collaborate in a manner that will strengthen volcano obse
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, John W. Ewert, Andrew Lockhart
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Vapor-bubble growth in olivine-hosted melt inclusions

Melt inclusions record the depth of magmatic processes, magma degassing paths, and volatile budgets of magmas. Extracting this information is a major challenge. It requires determining melt volatile contents at the time of entrapment when working with melt inclusions that have suffered post-entrapment modifications. Several processes decrease internal melt inclusion pressure, resulting in nucleati
Authors
Daniel J. Rasmussen, Terry Plank, Paul J. Wallace, Megan Newcombe, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Indonesia and the United States team up to reduce impacts from dangerous volcanoes

With 75 historically active volcanoes, Indonesia is the world’s most volcanically active nation. Its volcanoes are legendary throughout the world, with the notorious 19th-century eruptions at Mount Tambora (1815) and Krakatau (1883), and the eruption that created the giant Toba Caldera in Sumatra (75,000 years ago)—the Earth’s largest volcanic eruption in the past 100,000 years. Just in the past 2
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, Kasbani, John S. Pallister, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, International Programs

VolatileCalc

VolatileCalc calculates H2O-CO2-melt equilibrium for the rhyolite and basalt systems.

By
Volcano Hazards Program, California Volcano Observatory, Cascades Volcano Observatory, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
Why do volcano observatories describe seismic activity so differently?

Why do volcano observatories describe seismic activity so differently?

Reporting of earthquakes at volcanoes around the world varies considerably in style. This is because the amount and importance of seismic activity...

Read Article
Volcanism in Yellowstone: The outstanding legacy of Bob Christiansen

Volcanism in Yellowstone: The outstanding legacy of Bob Christiansen

Today we celebrate the life and career of Robert Christiansen (1935-2022), the first Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, a...

Read Article
Top ten things I miss (and don't miss) about Yellowstone and YVO

Top ten things I miss (and don't miss) about Yellowstone and YVO

"It's been two years now since I stepped away from YVO, and I wanted to take this time to reflect a bit on my experiences with the observatory and as...

Read Article
Truth, fiction and everything in between at Yellowstone

Truth, fiction and everything in between at Yellowstone

The June 2005 issue of Geotimes magazine includes an article by YVO Scientist-in-Charge Jake Lowenstern. The article, Truth, fiction and everything in...

Read Article

Science and Products

Chemical and isotopic data on gases and waters for thermal and non-thermal features across Yellowstone National Park (2003-2015)

Degassing thermal features at Yellowstone National Park include spectacular geysers, roiling hot springs, bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, frying pans, and areas of passive degassing characterized by steaming ground. Most of these features are readily identified by visible clouds of steam that are occasionally accompanied by a strong rotten egg odor from emissions of hydrogen sulfide gas. Gas composi
By
Volcano Hazards Program

Gas and heat emission measurements in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park (May-October 2016)

From 14 May to 6 October 2016 measurements of gas and heat emissions were made at Bison Flat, an acid-sulfate, vapor-dominated area (0.04-km2) of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY. An eddy covariance system measured half-hourly CO2, H2O and sensible and latent heat fluxes, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, soil moisture and rainfall. A Multi-GAS instrument me
By
Yellowstone

River Chemistry in Yellowstone National Park

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) was established as a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey and Yellowstone National Park to "To strengthen the long-term monitoring of volcanic and earthquake unrest in the Yellowstone National Park region". Yellowstone National Park is underlain by a voluminous magmatic system overlain by the most active hydrothermal system on Earth. Tracking
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera, showing magmatic volatiles emitted during crystallization of the rhyolitic magma and/or from basalt intrusions or convection, and the hypothesized relation with earthquake swarms on the caldera margins.  The exsolved fluids accumulate at lithostatic pressures in the

By
Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone
Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera

Schematic cross section of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems underlying Yellowstone Caldera, showing magmatic volatiles emitted during crystallization of the rhyolitic magma and/or from basalt intrusions or convection, and the hypothesized relation with earthquake swarms on the caldera margins.  The exsolved fluids accumulate at lithostatic pressures in the

By
Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone
Filter Total Items: 74

Radiogenic strontium- and uranium-isotope tracers of water-rock interactions and hydrothermal flow in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA

Natural radiogenic isotopes (primarily 87Sr/86Sr) from hot springs in the Upper Geyser Basin of the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field and associated rocks were used to evaluate groundwater flow patterns, water-rock reactions, and the extent of mixing between various groundwater sources. Thermal waters have very low uranium concentrations and 234U/238U activity ratios near 1.0, which limit their u
Authors
James B. Paces, Shaul Hurwitz, Lauren N Harrison, Jacob B. Lowenstern, R. Blaine McCleskey
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

A case for improved global coordination of volcano observatories

The distribution of volcano monitoring networks and volcano expertise does not correlate well with the global distribution of volcanic risk. All countries have cultural, financial, bureaucratic, political, and logistical barriers to effective risk reduction. The lack of parity amongst volcano observatories jeopardizes public safety and curtails scientific research and understanding. Having global
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Introduction to recommended capabilities and instrumentation for volcano monitoring in the United States

IntroductionThe National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS) was authorized and partially funded by the U.S. Government in 2019. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program asked its scientists to reflect on and summarize their views of best practices for volcano monitoring. The goal was to review and update the recommendations of a previous report (Moran and others, 20
Authors
Ashton F. Flinders, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Michelle L. Coombs, Michael P. Poland
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Special topic—Boreholes

IntroductionInstallation of instrument packages in deep (several hundred to several thousand meters) boreholes near volcanoes is relatively expensive (a few million to tens of millions of U.S. dollars), but can provide a low-noise, high-quality source of geophysical (seismic, strain, tilt, and pore pressure), physical (temperature and water level), and geochemical data. Observations from instrumen
Authors
Shaul Hurwitz, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Recommended capabilities and instrumentation for volcano monitoring in the United States

The National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS) was authorized and partially funded by the U.S. Government in 2019. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program asked its scientists to reflect on and summarize their views of best practices for volcano monitoring. The goal was to review and update the recommendations of a previous report (Moran and others, 2008) and to p
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

The dynamic influence of subsurface geological processes on the assembly and diversification of thermophilic microbial communities in continental hydrothermal systems

An accepted paradigm of hydrothermal systems is the process of phase separation, or boiling, of a deep, homogeneous hydrothermal fluid as it ascends through the subsurface resulting in gas rich and gas poor fluids. While phase separation helps to explain first-order patterns in the chemistry and biology of a hot spring’s surficial expression, we know little about the subsurface architecture beneat
Authors
Kenneth W.W. Sims, Cole M. Messa, Sean R Scott, Andrew D Parsekian, Andrew Miller, Abraham L. Role, Timothy P. Moloney, Everett L. Shock, Jacob B. Lowenstern, R. Blaine McCleskey, Matthew A. Charette, Bradley Carr, Sylvain Pasquet, Henry Heasler, Cheryl Jaworowski, W. Steven Holbrook, Melody R. Lindsay, Daniel R. Colman, Eric S. Boyd
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Opening letter: The long shadow of Merapi volcano

No abstract available.
Authors
John S. Pallister, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Guidelines for volcano-observatory operations during crises: Recommendations from the 2019 Volcano Observatory Best Practices meeting

In November 2019, the fourth meeting on Volcano Observatory Best Practices workshop was held in Mexico City as a series of talks, discussions, and panels. Volcanologists from around the world offered suggestions for ways to optimize volcano-observatory crisis operations. By crisis, we mean unrest that may or may not lead to eruption, the eruption itself, or its aftermath, all of which require anal
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, Kristi L. Wallace, Sara Barsotti, Laura Sandri, Wendy K. Stovall, Benjamin Bernard, Eugenio Privitera, Jean-Christophe Komorowski, Nico Fournier, Charles Baligizi, Esline Gareabiti
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Hydrogen isotope behavior during rhyolite glass hydration under hydrothermal conditions

The diffusion of molecular water (H2Om) from the environment into volcanic glass can hydrate the glass up to several wt% at low temperature over long timescales. During this process, the water imprints its hydrogen isotope composition (δDH2O) to the glass (δDgl) offset by a glass-H2O fractionation factor (ΔDgl-H2O = δDgl – δDH2O) which is approximately −33‰ at Earth surface temperatures. Glasses h
Authors
Michael R. Hudak, Ilya N. Bindeman, James M. Watkins, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Strengthening local volcano observatories through global collaborations

We consider the future of volcano observatories in a world where new satellite technologies and global data initiatives have greatly expanded over the last two decades. Observatories remain the critical tie between the decision-making authorities and monitoring data. In the coming decade, the global scientific community needs to continue to collaborate in a manner that will strengthen volcano obse
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, John W. Ewert, Andrew Lockhart
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Vapor-bubble growth in olivine-hosted melt inclusions

Melt inclusions record the depth of magmatic processes, magma degassing paths, and volatile budgets of magmas. Extracting this information is a major challenge. It requires determining melt volatile contents at the time of entrapment when working with melt inclusions that have suffered post-entrapment modifications. Several processes decrease internal melt inclusion pressure, resulting in nucleati
Authors
Daniel J. Rasmussen, Terry Plank, Paul J. Wallace, Megan Newcombe, Jacob B. Lowenstern
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Indonesia and the United States team up to reduce impacts from dangerous volcanoes

With 75 historically active volcanoes, Indonesia is the world’s most volcanically active nation. Its volcanoes are legendary throughout the world, with the notorious 19th-century eruptions at Mount Tambora (1815) and Krakatau (1883), and the eruption that created the giant Toba Caldera in Sumatra (75,000 years ago)—the Earth’s largest volcanic eruption in the past 100,000 years. Just in the past 2
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, Kasbani, John S. Pallister, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, International Programs

VolatileCalc

VolatileCalc calculates H2O-CO2-melt equilibrium for the rhyolite and basalt systems.

By
Volcano Hazards Program, California Volcano Observatory, Cascades Volcano Observatory, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
Why do volcano observatories describe seismic activity so differently?

Why do volcano observatories describe seismic activity so differently?

Reporting of earthquakes at volcanoes around the world varies considerably in style. This is because the amount and importance of seismic activity...

Read Article
Volcanism in Yellowstone: The outstanding legacy of Bob Christiansen

Volcanism in Yellowstone: The outstanding legacy of Bob Christiansen

Today we celebrate the life and career of Robert Christiansen (1935-2022), the first Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, a...

Read Article
Top ten things I miss (and don't miss) about Yellowstone and YVO

Top ten things I miss (and don't miss) about Yellowstone and YVO

"It's been two years now since I stepped away from YVO, and I wanted to take this time to reflect a bit on my experiences with the observatory and as...

Read Article
Truth, fiction and everything in between at Yellowstone

Truth, fiction and everything in between at Yellowstone

The June 2005 issue of Geotimes magazine includes an article by YVO Scientist-in-Charge Jake Lowenstern. The article, Truth, fiction and everything in...

Read Article

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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