Cassandra M. Smith, Ph.D.
Cassandra is a Physical Scientist with the USGS Volcano Hazards Program.
Dr. Smith was an NSF funded postdoctoral fellow with the USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage AK developing spatiotemporal relationships between globally detected volcanic lightning and eruption cloud dynamics.
Additionally, Cassandra previously worked on natural hazard resilience at the Department of State.
Professional Experience
January 2025 - Present, Volcano Hazards Program Physical Scientist
2021-2024, Department of State, Climate Security & Resilience Program, Integration, Monitoring, Policy Lead
2019-2021, Alaska Volcano Observatory, NSF Postdoc
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geology, University of South Florida, 2019
M.S., Geology, University of South Florida, 2015
B.A., Geology, Whitman College, 2013
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 21
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part I: Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part I: Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands
Raikoke, a small, unmonitored volcano in the Kuril Islands, erupted in June 2019. We integrate data from satellites (including Sentinel-2, TROPOMI, MODIS, Himawari-8), the International Monitoring System (IMS) infrasound network, and global lightning detection network (GLD360) with information from local authorities and social media to retrospectively characterize the eruptive sequence...
Authors
Kathleen McKee, Cassandra Smith, Kevin Reath, Eveanjelene Snee, Sean Maher, Robin Matoza, Simon Carn, Larry Mastin, Kyle Anderson, David Damby, Diana Roman, Artem Degterev, Alexander Rybin, Marina Chibisova, Jelle Assink, Rodrigo de Negri Levia, Anna Perttu
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part II: Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part II: Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea
Retrospective eruption characterization is valuable for advancing our understanding of volcanic systems and evaluating our observational capabilities, especially with remote technologies (defined here as a space-borne system or non-local, ground-based instrumentation which include regional and remote infrasound sensors). In June 2019, the open-system Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea...
Authors
Kathleen McKee, Cassandra Smith, Kevin Reath, Eveanjelene Snee, Sean Maher, Robin Matoza, Simon Carn, Diana Roman, Larry Mastin, Kyle Anderson, David Damby, Ima Itikarai, Kila Mulina, Steve Saunders, Jelle Assink, Rodrigo de Negri Levia, Anna Perttu
Temperature and water-quality diversity and the effects of surface-water connection in off-channel features of the Willamette River, Oregon, 2015–16 Temperature and water-quality diversity and the effects of surface-water connection in off-channel features of the Willamette River, Oregon, 2015–16
Water-quality conditions (including temperature) in the Willamette River and many of its adjacent off-channel features, such as alcoves and side channels, were monitored between river miles 67 (near Salem, Oregon) and 168 (near Eugene, Oregon) during the summers of 2015 and 2016. One or more parameters (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, and [or] water depth)...
Authors
Cassandra Smith, Joseph Mangano, Stewart Rounds
Evaluation of restoration alternatives using water-budget tools for the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Oregon Evaluation of restoration alternatives using water-budget tools for the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Oregon
The lakebed in Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northwestern Oregon was farmed for decades prior to the establishment of the refuge in 2013. Planning for restoration of these lands required extensive data collection and construction of a water budget and tools to design and evaluate potential restoration strategies. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and...
Authors
Stewart Rounds, T. Freed, Daniel T. Snyder, Cassandra Smith, Micelis Doyle, Erin Holmes, Curt Mykut, Tim Mayer, Erin Stockenberg, Stephen Pilson
Did ice-charging generate volcanic lightning during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska? Did ice-charging generate volcanic lightning during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska?
The 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano in Alaska injected plumes of ash and seawater to maximum heights of ~ 12 km. More than 4550 volcanic lightning strokes were detected by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) and Vaisala’s Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) over 9 months. Lightning assisted monitoring efforts by confirming ash-producing explosions in...
Authors
Alexa Van Eaton, David Schneider, Cassandra Smith, Matthew Haney, John Lyons, Ryan Said, David Fee, Robert Holzworth, Larry Mastin
Contaminant concentrations in sediments, aquatic invertebrates, and fish in proximity to rail tracks used for coal transport in the Pacific Northwest: A baseline assessment Contaminant concentrations in sediments, aquatic invertebrates, and fish in proximity to rail tracks used for coal transport in the Pacific Northwest: A baseline assessment
Railway transport of coal poses an environmental risk because coal dust contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mercury (Hg), and other trace metals. In the Pacific Northwest, proposed infrastructure projects could result in an increase in coal transport by train through the Columbia River corridor. Baseline information is needed on current distributions, levels, and spatial...
Authors
Whitney Hapke, Robert Black, Collin Eagles-Smith, Cassandra Smith, Lyndal Johnson, Gina Ylitalo, Daryle Boyd, Jay Davis, Sara Caldwell Eldridge, Elena Nilsen
Temporal and spatial monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms at Willow Creek Reservoir, North-Central Oregon Temporal and spatial monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms at Willow Creek Reservoir, North-Central Oregon
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms in Willow Creek Reservoir in north-central Oregon in 2015–16. A combination of cameras and water-quality monitoring equipment was used to assess the frequency and duration of blooms and their effects on water quality. A...
Authors
Cassandra Smith
Klamath River Basin water-quality data Klamath River Basin water-quality data
The Klamath River Basin stretches from the mountains and inland basins of south-central Oregon and northern California to the Pacific Ocean, spanning multiple climatic regions and encompassing a variety of ecosystems. Water quantity and water quality are important topics in the basin, because water is a critical resource for farming and municipal use, power generation, and for the...
Authors
Cassandra Smith, Stewart Rounds, Leonard Orzol
Investigating the origin of continual radio frequency impulses during explosive volcanic eruptions Investigating 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...
Authors
Sonja A Behnke, Harald Edens, Ron Thomas, Cassandra Smith, Steve McNutt, Alexa Van Eaton, Corrado Cimarelli, Valeria Cigala
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 21
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part I: Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part I: Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands
Raikoke, a small, unmonitored volcano in the Kuril Islands, erupted in June 2019. We integrate data from satellites (including Sentinel-2, TROPOMI, MODIS, Himawari-8), the International Monitoring System (IMS) infrasound network, and global lightning detection network (GLD360) with information from local authorities and social media to retrospectively characterize the eruptive sequence...
Authors
Kathleen McKee, Cassandra Smith, Kevin Reath, Eveanjelene Snee, Sean Maher, Robin Matoza, Simon Carn, Larry Mastin, Kyle Anderson, David Damby, Diana Roman, Artem Degterev, Alexander Rybin, Marina Chibisova, Jelle Assink, Rodrigo de Negri Levia, Anna Perttu
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part II: Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part II: Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea
Retrospective eruption characterization is valuable for advancing our understanding of volcanic systems and evaluating our observational capabilities, especially with remote technologies (defined here as a space-borne system or non-local, ground-based instrumentation which include regional and remote infrasound sensors). In June 2019, the open-system Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea...
Authors
Kathleen McKee, Cassandra Smith, Kevin Reath, Eveanjelene Snee, Sean Maher, Robin Matoza, Simon Carn, Diana Roman, Larry Mastin, Kyle Anderson, David Damby, Ima Itikarai, Kila Mulina, Steve Saunders, Jelle Assink, Rodrigo de Negri Levia, Anna Perttu
Temperature and water-quality diversity and the effects of surface-water connection in off-channel features of the Willamette River, Oregon, 2015–16 Temperature and water-quality diversity and the effects of surface-water connection in off-channel features of the Willamette River, Oregon, 2015–16
Water-quality conditions (including temperature) in the Willamette River and many of its adjacent off-channel features, such as alcoves and side channels, were monitored between river miles 67 (near Salem, Oregon) and 168 (near Eugene, Oregon) during the summers of 2015 and 2016. One or more parameters (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, and [or] water depth)...
Authors
Cassandra Smith, Joseph Mangano, Stewart Rounds
Evaluation of restoration alternatives using water-budget tools for the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Oregon Evaluation of restoration alternatives using water-budget tools for the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Oregon
The lakebed in Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northwestern Oregon was farmed for decades prior to the establishment of the refuge in 2013. Planning for restoration of these lands required extensive data collection and construction of a water budget and tools to design and evaluate potential restoration strategies. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and...
Authors
Stewart Rounds, T. Freed, Daniel T. Snyder, Cassandra Smith, Micelis Doyle, Erin Holmes, Curt Mykut, Tim Mayer, Erin Stockenberg, Stephen Pilson
Did ice-charging generate volcanic lightning during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska? Did ice-charging generate volcanic lightning during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska?
The 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano in Alaska injected plumes of ash and seawater to maximum heights of ~ 12 km. More than 4550 volcanic lightning strokes were detected by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) and Vaisala’s Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) over 9 months. Lightning assisted monitoring efforts by confirming ash-producing explosions in...
Authors
Alexa Van Eaton, David Schneider, Cassandra Smith, Matthew Haney, John Lyons, Ryan Said, David Fee, Robert Holzworth, Larry Mastin
Contaminant concentrations in sediments, aquatic invertebrates, and fish in proximity to rail tracks used for coal transport in the Pacific Northwest: A baseline assessment Contaminant concentrations in sediments, aquatic invertebrates, and fish in proximity to rail tracks used for coal transport in the Pacific Northwest: A baseline assessment
Railway transport of coal poses an environmental risk because coal dust contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mercury (Hg), and other trace metals. In the Pacific Northwest, proposed infrastructure projects could result in an increase in coal transport by train through the Columbia River corridor. Baseline information is needed on current distributions, levels, and spatial...
Authors
Whitney Hapke, Robert Black, Collin Eagles-Smith, Cassandra Smith, Lyndal Johnson, Gina Ylitalo, Daryle Boyd, Jay Davis, Sara Caldwell Eldridge, Elena Nilsen
Temporal and spatial monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms at Willow Creek Reservoir, North-Central Oregon Temporal and spatial monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms at Willow Creek Reservoir, North-Central Oregon
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms in Willow Creek Reservoir in north-central Oregon in 2015–16. A combination of cameras and water-quality monitoring equipment was used to assess the frequency and duration of blooms and their effects on water quality. A...
Authors
Cassandra Smith
Klamath River Basin water-quality data Klamath River Basin water-quality data
The Klamath River Basin stretches from the mountains and inland basins of south-central Oregon and northern California to the Pacific Ocean, spanning multiple climatic regions and encompassing a variety of ecosystems. Water quantity and water quality are important topics in the basin, because water is a critical resource for farming and municipal use, power generation, and for the...
Authors
Cassandra Smith, Stewart Rounds, Leonard Orzol
Investigating the origin of continual radio frequency impulses during explosive volcanic eruptions Investigating 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...
Authors
Sonja A Behnke, Harald Edens, Ron Thomas, Cassandra Smith, Steve McNutt, Alexa Van Eaton, Corrado Cimarelli, Valeria Cigala