Alexa Van Eaton, Ph.D.
I am a physical volcanologist focusing on field-based geology to shed light on the behavior of volcanic eruptions. I use stratigraphic studies to piece together eruptive processes, a variety of observational tools to characterize active eruptions, and numerical models to examine the internal dynamics of volcanic plumes.
Some current projects include:
- Volcanic lightning as a means of tracking eruption style and hazards
- Investigating ash aggregation and impacts on the lifetime of volcanic clouds
- Stratigraphy of eruptive processes at Cascades volcanoes, including Mount St. Helens and Glacier Peak
- Satellite detection of umbrella cloud growth to determine mass eruption rates
- Numerical modeling of microphysical processes inside volcanic plumes
Professional Experience
Since 2017 Co-leader of the IAVCEI Commission on Tephra Hazard Modeling
Since 2017 Research Geologist, USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
2015-2017 USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow
2013-2015 NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow
Education and Certifications
2007–2012 Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, Ph.D., Geology
2002–2006 University of Florida, Gainesville, B.S. summa cum laude, Geology with English minor
Honors and Awards
IAVCEI George Walker Award, 2017
John Gamble Award in Geology, 2011, Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarship, 2007-2010
Science and Products
Seismo-acoustic evidence for vent drying during shallow submarine eruptions at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
Field trip guide to Mount St. Helens, Washington—Recent and ancient volcaniclastic processes and deposits
Laboratory experiments of volcanic ash resuspension by wind
Modeling ash dispersal from future eruptions of Taupo supervolcano
Volcanic hail detected with GPS: The 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn Volcano, Iceland
Globally detected volcanic lightning and umbrella dynamics during the 2014 eruption of Kelud, Indonesia
Isotopic insights into the degassing and secondary hydration of volcanic glass from the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens
Investigating the origin of continual radio frequency impulses during explosive volcanic eruptions
New Zealand supereruption provides time marker for the Last Glacial Maximum in Antarctica
Field-trip guide to Mount St. Helens, Washington - An overview of the eruptive history and petrology, tephra deposits, 1980 pyroclastic density current deposits, and the crater
Ongoing efforts to make ash-cloud model forecasts more accurate
Inter-comparison of three-dimensional models of volcanic plumes
Science and Products
- Data
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 32
Seismo-acoustic evidence for vent drying during shallow submarine eruptions at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
Characterizing the state of the volcanic vent is key for interpreting observational datasets and accurately assessing volcanic hazards. This is particularly true for remote, complex eruptions such as the 2016–2017 Bogoslof volcano, Alaska eruption sequence. Bogoslof’s eruptions in this period were either shallow submarine or subaerial, or some combination of both. Our results demonstrate how low-fAuthorsDavid Fee, John J. Lyons, Matthew M. Haney, Aaron Wech, Christopher F. Waythomas, Angela K. Diefenbach, Taryn Lopez, Alexa R. Van Eaton, David J. SchneiderField trip guide to Mount St. Helens, Washington—Recent and ancient volcaniclastic processes and deposits
This field guide explores volcanic effusions, sediments, and landforms at Mount St. Helens in Washington. A detailed synopsis outlines the eruptive history of Mount St. Helens from about 300,000 years ago through 1980 and beyond.The five days in the field include about 28 stops and 12 potential stops. Exposures in valleys surrounding Mount St. Helens reveal records of diverse Pleistocene and HolocAuthorsRichard B. Waitt, Jon J. Major, Richard P. Hoblitt, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Michael A. ClynneLaboratory experiments of volcanic ash resuspension by wind
Fresh volcanic eruption deposits tend to be loose, bare, and readily resuspended by wind. Major resuspension events in Patagonia, Iceland, and Alaska have lofted ash clouds with potential to impact aircraft, infrastructure, and downwind communities. However, poor constraints on this resuspension process limit our ability to model this phenomenon. Here, we present laboratory experiments measuring tAuthorsVicken Etyemezian, Jack Gillies, Larry G. Mastin, Alice Crawford, Robert Hasson, Alexa R. Van Eaton, G. NikolichModeling ash dispersal from future eruptions of Taupo supervolcano
Hazard analysis at caldera volcanoes is challenging due to the wide range of eruptive and environmental conditions that can plausibly occur during renewed activity. Taupo volcano, New Zealand, is a frequently active and productive rhyolitic caldera volcano that has hosted the world's youngest known supereruption and numerous smaller explosive events. To assess ashfall hazard from future eruptions,AuthorsSimon J Barker, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Larry G. Mastin, Colin JN Wilson, Mary Anne Thompson, Tom M Wilson, Cory Davis, James A RenwickVolcanic hail detected with GPS: The 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn Volcano, Iceland
Volcanic plumes are challenging to detect and characterize rapidly, but insights into processes such as hail formation or ash aggregation are valuable to hazard forecasts during volcanic crises. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS, which includes GPS) signals traveling from satellites to ground receivers can be disturbed by volcanic plumes. To date, two effects aiding plume detection from GNSAuthorsRonni Grapenthin, Sigrun Hreinsdottir, Alexa R. Van EatonGlobally detected volcanic lightning and umbrella dynamics during the 2014 eruption of Kelud, Indonesia
Volcanic lightning shows considerable promise as a monitoring and research tool to characterize explosive eruptions. Its key strengths are rapid and remote detection, because the radio signals produced by lightning can propagate thousands of km at the speed of light. Despite these tantalizing properties, the scientific work on volcanic lightning has only recently started gaining momentum. Much morAuthorsKirstin A Hargie, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Larry G. Mastin, Robert H. Holzworth, John W. Ewert, Michael J. PavolonisIsotopic insights into the degassing and secondary hydration of volcanic glass from the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens
The magmatic degassing history of newly erupted volcanic glass is recorded in its remaining volatile content. However, this history is subsequently overprinted by post-depositional (secondary) hydration, the rates and origins of which are not yet adequately constrained. Here, we present the results of a natural experiment using products of the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens. We measured waterAuthorsAngela N Seligman, Ilya N. Bindeman, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Richard P. HoblittInvestigating the origin of continual radio frequency impulses during explosive volcanic eruptions
Volcanic lightning studies have revealed that there is a relatively long‐lasting source of very high frequency radiation associated with the onset of explosive volcanic eruptions that is distinct from radiation produced by lightning. This very high frequency signal is referred to as “continual radio frequency (CRF)” due to its long‐lasting nature. The discharge mechanism producing this signal wasAuthorsSonja A Behnke, Harald E Edens, Ron J Thomas, Cassandra M Smith, Steve R McNutt, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Corrado Cimarelli, Valeria CigalaNew Zealand supereruption provides time marker for the Last Glacial Maximum in Antarctica
Multiple, independent time markers are essential to correlate sediment and ice cores from the terrestrial, marine and glacial realms. These records constrain global paleoclimate reconstructions and inform future climate change scenarios. In the Northern Hemisphere, sub-visible layers of volcanic ash (cryptotephra) are valuable time markers due to their widespread dispersal and unique geochemical fAuthorsNelia W. Dunbar, Nels A. Iverson, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Michael Sigl, Brent V. Alloway, Andrei V. Kurbatov, Larry G. Mastin, Joseph R. McConnell, Colin J. N. WilsonField-trip guide to Mount St. Helens, Washington - An overview of the eruptive history and petrology, tephra deposits, 1980 pyroclastic density current deposits, and the crater
This field trip will provide an introduction to several fascinating features of Mount St. Helens. The trip begins with a rigorous hike of about 15 km from the Johnston Ridge Observatory (9 km north-northeast of the crater vent), across the 1980 Pumice Plain, to Windy Ridge (3.6 km northeast of the crater vent) to examine features that document the dynamics and progressive emplacement of pyroclastiAuthorsJohn S. Pallister, Michael A. Clynne, Heather M. Wright, Alexa R. Van Eaton, James W. Vallance, David R. Sherrod, B. Peter KokelaarOngoing efforts to make ash-cloud model forecasts more accurate
The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland changed the rules for air travel in Europe and introduced the use of restricted fly zones based on ash-cloud concentrations calculated by dispersion models. This change prompted a sustained effort to improve the accuracy of ash-cloud model forecasts. In this paper we describe how this goal is being advanced on three fronts: (1) assessing curAuthorsLarry G. Mastin, Alexa R. Van Eaton, David J. Schneider, Roger P. DenlingerInter-comparison of three-dimensional models of volcanic plumes
We performed an inter-comparison study of three-dimensional models of volcanic plumes. A set of common volcanological input parameters and meteorological conditions were provided for two kinds of eruptions, representing a weak and a strong eruption column. From the different models, we compared the maximum plume height, neutral buoyancy level (where plume density equals that of the atmosphere), anAuthorsYujiro Suzuki, Antonio Costa, Matteo Cerminara, Tomaso Esposti Ongaro, Michael Herzog, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Leif Denby - News