Brian Shiro, Ph.D.
Brian Shiro manages science center operations, staff, and programs in Earthquake, Geomagnetism, and Landslide hazard monitoring areas. This includes utilizing expertise in geology, geophysics, and network operations to support the goals and objectives of the USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area. In his prior position, Shiro was Seismic Network Manager at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Professional Experience
Deputy Director - USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center (2020-present)
Seismic Network Manager - USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (2016-2020)
Geophysicist - NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (2005-2016)
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant (Seismology) - Washington University in Saint Louis (2000-2005)
Undergraduate Research Assistant (Geodesy & Geochemistry) - Northwestern University (1998-2000)
NSF/NASA Fellow (Glaciology & Exploration Geophysics) - Juneau Icefield Research Program (summer 1999)
NSF REU Intern (InSAR Geodesy) - University of Alaska Fairbanks (summer 1998)
NSF REU Intern (Applied Physics) - Rice University & NASA Johnson Space Center (summer 1997)
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geology and Geophysics - University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Dissertation: "Geological and Geophysical Investigations on Kīlauea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes, Hawai‘i"M.S., Space Studies - University of North Dakota
Thesis: "In Situ Geophysical Exploration by Humans in Mars Analog Environments"M.A., Earth and Planetary Sciences - Washington University in Saint Louis
Thesis: "Outer Rise Seismicity and Dynamics at the Tonga Subduction Zone"B.A., Integrated Science, Geological Sciences, Physics - Northwestern University
Thesis: "Dislocation Models of Creep in the New Madrid Seismic Zone"Summer Schools:
International Space University
NASA Planetary Science Summer School
NASA High Performance Computational Physics Summer School
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Seismological Society of America
Geological Society of America
Journal Reviewer for: Geophysical Research Letters, Seismological Research Letters, Earth and Space Science, Nature Communications, Geophysics Letters, Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal Research
Honors and Awards
Editors’ Citation for Excellence in Refereeing for Geophysical Research Letters (2022, 2021)
USGS STAR Awards (2021, 2019, 2019)
Runner-up, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals People's Choice Award (HVO team) (2019)
Finalist, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (HVO team) (2019)
DOI Unit Award for Excellence of Service to HVO for work during Kilauea eruption (2019)
Harold T. Stearns Fellowship (2016)
NOAA 10 Year Length of Service Award (2015)
NOAA Service Awards (annually 2006-2015)
NASA Astronaut selection "Highly Qualified" group (2012, 2009)
NOAA Citation Award for performance during 2009-2011 Pacific tsunamis (2012)
NASA Flight Opportunities Program, co-Investigator (2012)
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention (2002)
Carl Tolman Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (2001)
Science and Products
Seismic and geodetic progression of the 2018 summit caldera collapse of Kīlauea Volcano
Six-axis ground motion measurements of caldera collapse at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi - More data, more puzzles?
Cyclic lava effusion during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano
Volcanic hazards in the Pacific U.S. Territories
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
Lava lake activity at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano in 2016
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
New USGS map shows where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur in US
USGS scientists and our partners recently revealed the latest National Seismic Hazard Model, showing that nearly 75% of the United States could experience a damaging earthquake, emphasizing seismic hazards span a significant part of the country.
Science and Products
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 18
Seismic and geodetic progression of the 2018 summit caldera collapse of Kīlauea Volcano
The 2018 eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi, resulted in a major collapse of the summit caldera along with an effusive eruption in the lower East Rift Zone. The caldera collapse comprised 62 highly similar collapse cycles of strong ground deformation and earthquake swarms that ended with a magnitude 5 collapse event and one partial cycle that did not end with a collapse event. We analyzed geodetAuthorsGabrielle Tepp, Alicia J. Hotovec-Ellis, Brian Shiro, Ingrid Johanson, Weston Thelen, Matthew M. HaneySix-axis ground motion measurements of caldera collapse at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi - More data, more puzzles?
Near‐field recordings of large earthquakes and volcano‐induced events using traditional seismological instrumentation often suffer from unaccounted effects of local tilt and saturation of signals. Recent hardware advances have led to the development of the blueSeis‐3A, a very broadband, highly sensitive rotational motion sensor. We installed this sensor in close proximity to permanently deployed cAuthorsJoachim Wassermann, Felix Bernauer, Brian Shiro, Ingrid Johanson, Frederic Guattari, Heiner IgelCyclic lava effusion during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano
Lava flows present a recurring threat to communities on active volcanoes, and volumetric eruption rate is one of the primary factors controlling flow behavior and hazard. The timescales and driving forces of eruption rate variability, however, remain poorly understood. In 2018, a highly destructive eruption occurred on the lower flank of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi, where the primary vent exhibited dAuthorsMatthew R. Patrick, Hannah R. Dietterich, John J. Lyons, Angela K. Diefenbach, Carolyn Parcheta, Kyle R. Anderson, Atsuko Namiki, Ikuro Sumita, Brian Shiro, James P. KauahikauaVolcanic hazards in the Pacific U.S. Territories
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa lie along the western side of the famed Pacific Ring of Fire. Here, the processes of active island and submarine volcanoes produce activity both underwater and in the atmosphere that poses potential hazards to the daily lives of residents and travelers. Since 2000, CNMI volcanoes have erupted six times, and one submarine voAuthorsGabrielle Tepp, Brian Shiro, William W. ChadwickByVolcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Agrigan, Ahyi Seamount, Alamagan, Anatahan, Asuncion, Daikoku Seamount , East Diamante, Esmeralda Bank, Farallon de Pajaros, Fukujin Seamount , Guguan, Kasuga 2, Maug Islands, Ofu-Olosega, Pagan, Ruby, Sarigan, South Sarigan Seamount, Supply Reef, Ta'u Island, Tutuila Island, Zealandia Bank, Subduction Zone ScienceThe 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
In 2018, Kīlauea Volcano experienced its largest lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and caldera collapse in at least 200 years. After collapse of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent on 30 April, magma propagated downrift. Eruptive fissures opened in the LERZ on 3 May, eventually extending ~6.8 km. A 4 May earthquake (M6.9) produced ~5 m of fault slip. Lava erupted at rates exceeding 100 m3/s, eventually coveriAuthorsChristina A. Neal, Steven Brantley, Loren Antolik, Janet Babb, Matthew K. Burgess, Michael Cappos, Jefferson Chang, Sarah Conway, Liliana G. Desmither, Peter Dotray, Tamar Elias, Pauline Fukunaga, Steven Fuke, Ingrid Johanson, Kevan Kamibayashi, James P. Kauahikaua, R. Lopaka Lee, S. Pekalib, Asta Miklius, Brian Shiro, Don Swanson, Patricia Nadeau, Michael H. Zoeller, P. Okubo, Carolyn Parcheta, Matthew R. Patrick, William Tollett, Frank A. Trusdell, Edward F. Younger, Emily Montgomery-Brown, Kyle R. Anderson, Michael P. Poland, Jessica L. Ball, Joseph A. Bard, Michelle L. Coombs, Hannah R. Dietterich, Christoph Kern, Weston Thelen, Peter Cervelli, Tim R. Orr, Bruce F. Houghton, Cheryl Gansecki, Richard Hazlett, Paul Lundgren, Angela K. Diefenbach, Allan Lerner, Greg Waite, Peter J. Kelly, Laura E. Clor, Cynthia Werner, Katherine Mulliken, Gary B. Fisher, David DambyLava lake activity at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano in 2016
The ongoing summit eruption at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, began in March 2008 with the formation of the Overlook crater, within Halema‘uma‘u Crater. As of late 2016, the Overlook crater contained a large, persistently active lava lake (250 × 190 meters). The accessibility of the lake allows frequent direct observations, and a robust geophysical monitoring network closely tracks subtle changes at thAuthorsMatthew R. Patrick, Tim R. Orr, Donald A. Swanson, Tamar Elias, Brian ShiroNon-USGS Publications**
Petersen, M.D., et al. (2022). 2021 US National Seismic Hazard Model for the State of Hawaii, Earthquake Spectra, 38(2), 865-916, doi: 10.1177/87552930211052061.Shiro, B.R., S.K. Rowland, J.M. Hurtado, B.J. Caldwell, J.E. Bleacher, S.A. Fagents, P.G. Roma, W.L. Bedwell-Torres, and K. Binsted (2022). Geological tasks during HI-SEAS planetary analog mission simulations, Mauna Loa, Hawai'i, Planetary and Space Science 212, 105409, doi: 10.1016/j.pss.2021.105409.Kedar, S., M.P. Panning, S.E. Smrekar, S.C. Stähler, S.D. King, M.P. Golumbek, M. Manga, B.R. Julian, B. Shiro, C. Perrin, J.A. Power, C. Michaut, S. Ceylan, D. Giardini, P. Lognonné, and W.B. Banerdt (2021). Analyzing Low Frequency Seismic Events at Cerberus Fossae as Long Period Volcanic Quakes, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 126(4), e2020JE006518, doi: 10.1029/2020JE006518.Wilson, E.L., A.J. DiGregorio, G. Villanueva, C.E. Grunberg, Z. Souders, K.M. Miletti, A. Menendez, M.H. Grunberg, M.A.M. Floyd, J.E. Bleacher, E.S. Euskirchen, C. Edgar, B.J. Caldwell, B. Shiro, and K. Binsted (2019). A portable miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer (mini-LHR) for remote measurements of column CH4 and CO2. Appl. Phys. B 125, 211, doi:10.1007/s00340-019-7315-8.Patrick, M.R., H. Dietterich, J. Lyons, A. Diefenbach, C. Parcheta, K. Anderson, A. Namiki, I. Sumita, B. Shiro, and J. Kauahikaua (2019). Cyclic lava effusion during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano: data release, U.S. Geological Survey data release, doi:10.5066/P9PJZ17R.Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff (2018). Preliminary map of the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, Island of Hawai‘i, U.S. Geological Survey data release, doi:10.5066/P994OGY8.Kelley, C., J. Smith, J. Tree, J. Miller, J. Taylor, F. Lichowski, D. Wagner, J. Leonard, B. Boston, B. Dechnik, D. Luers, R. Orange, B. Shiro, H. Togia, S.L. Habel, N.M. Wright, A.M. Patterson, L. Harrison, and J. Tucker (2015). Volcanic platforms, ancient reefs, ridges, and seamounts: mapping the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Final Project Report for Falkor Cruises FK140307 and FK140502, 34 pp.Wang, D., N.C. Becker, D. Walsh, G.J. Fryer, S.A. Weinstein, C.S. McCreery, V. Sardina, V. Hsu, B.F. Hirshorn, G.P. Hayes, Z. Duputel, L. Rivera, H. Kanamori, K.K. Koyanagi, and B. Shiro (2012). Real‐time forecasting of the April 11, 2012 Sumatra tsunami, Geophysical Research Letters, 39(19), L19601, doi:10.1029/2012gl053081.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- News
New USGS map shows where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur in US
USGS scientists and our partners recently revealed the latest National Seismic Hazard Model, showing that nearly 75% of the United States could experience a damaging earthquake, emphasizing seismic hazards span a significant part of the country.
Filter Total Items: 34
*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