Drew T. Downs
I am a research geologist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and my main areas of research revolve around constructing geologic maps and unraveling the eruptive histories of volcanoes. To do this, I use a multidisciplinary approach using field studies, physical volcanology, geochronology, geochemistry, petrology, remote sensing, and many more techniques.
I have worked on volcanoes and volcanic fields in a variety of settings, including subduction-related arc volcanoes within New Zealand and the southern Cascades of California, the monogenetic volcanic field of of Harrat Rahat in Saudi Arabia, and unraveling the eruptive history and processes of volcanic rocks of the Hawaiian Islands.
Throughout my research career I have participated in studies on explosive and effusive volcanism ranging from high-silica rhyolites and trachytes to basaltic lava flows. Unraveling the eruptive history preserved at the surface to understanding deeper volcanic processes has led me to use a wide variety of techniques, such as field studies, physical volcanology, geochronology, geochemistry, petrology, paleomagnetism, remote sensing, and other novel methods that help to understand volcanic processes and further understanding of their hazards.
Education and Certifications
2014 - Ph.D., Geology, University of Auckland (New Zealand)
2009 - MSc, Southern Illinois University
2007 - BSc, Southern Illinois University
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Digital elevation models, orthomosaics, and GIS shapefiles of the 2020–2021 summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi Digital elevation models, orthomosaics, and GIS shapefiles of the 2020–2021 summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi
During the 2020–2021 summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi, staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) conducted 17 helicopter overflights of the eruption area between the dates of 21 December 2020 and 8 June 2021. Images captured during these flights were processed using the structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique to produce...
Radiocarbon ages, whole-rock chemistry, and electron probe microanalysis of lavas (1877, 1832, 1823, Kealaalea Hills, and Keanakākoʻi Tephra periods) from Kīlauea's summit and Southwest Rift Zone, Island of Hawaiʻi Radiocarbon ages, whole-rock chemistry, and electron probe microanalysis of lavas (1877, 1832, 1823, Kealaalea Hills, and Keanakākoʻi Tephra periods) from Kīlauea's summit and Southwest Rift Zone, Island of Hawaiʻi
This dataset includes radiocarbon ages, wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) major-oxide and trace-element whole-rock analyses, and glass, olivine, and pyroxene analyses by electron microprobe (EPMA) of spatter and lava samples from the summit and Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi. All of the radiocarbon ages were analyzed by DirectAMS in Bothell...
Sample details and near-real-time ED-XRF data collected during the 2020-2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruptions of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi Sample details and near-real-time ED-XRF data collected during the 2020-2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruptions of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi
A limited suite of samples for the 2020–2023 Kīlauea eruptions within Kaluapele (the summit caldera) were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field teams from within a publicly closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in cooperation with the National Park Service. This data release presents sample metadata, whole rock ED-XRF, whole rock WD...
Whole rock and micro-analytical geochemistry of minerals, melt inclusions, and matrix glasses from Kapoho Crater and Puʻulena Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi Whole rock and micro-analytical geochemistry of minerals, melt inclusions, and matrix glasses from Kapoho Crater and Puʻulena Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi
Kilauea volcano (Hawaii, USA) is a shield volcano that exhibits both effusive and explosive eruptive activity. Although Kilauea has been predominantly built through effusive eruptions, explosive eruptions have occurred repeatedly at both Kilauea's summit and in the volcano's lower East Rift Zone (Moore, 1992; Swanson et al., 2014). This dataset presents geochemical analyses of samples...
Vesicularity, grain size, and grain shape of basaltic pyroclasts from Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, Island of Hawaiʻi Vesicularity, grain size, and grain shape of basaltic pyroclasts from Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, Island of Hawaiʻi
This dataset includes sample information, vesicularity by pycnometer, grain size and shape data by CAMSIZER, and measurements of crushed and thin section mounted grains by microscope. All studied samples were from scoria and air-fall-tephra deposits (most formed in Hawaiian lava fountains) collected around the summits of Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes, Island of Hawaiʻi. These data were...
Major- and trace-element chemical analyses of whole-rock and glass from the Kamakaiʻa Hills of the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi Major- and trace-element chemical analyses of whole-rock and glass from the Kamakaiʻa Hills of the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi
This dataset includes wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) major-oxide and trace-element whole-rock analyses, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) trace-element whole-rock analyses, and glass analyses by electron microprobe of scoria and lava samples from the Kamakaiʻa Hills of the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi...
Filter Total Items: 34
Remote single-station seismic monitoring of the July–October 2022 earthquake swarm at Tau volcano, American Samoa Remote single-station seismic monitoring of the July–October 2022 earthquake swarm at Tau volcano, American Samoa
From July to October 2022, a non-eruptive volcanic earthquake swarm occurred within ~15 km of Taʻū Island, located in eastern American Samoa. Felt reports from local residents were the only available information about the swarm when it started, as American Samoa lacked a seismic monitoring network. We developed a consistent single-station catalog for the entire swarm, using seismic data...
Authors
Clara Yoon, Robert Skoumal, Andrew J. Michael, A.D. Jolly, Andria P. Ellis, Drew T. Downs, Peter Dotray, Natalia I. Deligne, Jefferson Chang, Ninfa Lucia Bennington, Aaron Wech, Matthew M. Haney, Alicia J. Hotovec-Ellis, Elinor Lutu-McMoore, Marcus Langkilde
Awakening of Maunaloa linked to melt shared from Kilauea’s mantle source Awakening of Maunaloa linked to melt shared from Kilauea’s mantle source
Maunaloa—the largest active volcano on Earth—erupted in 2022 after its longest known repose period (~38 years) and two decades of volcanic unrest. This eruptive hiatus at Maunaloa encompasses most of the ~35-year-long Puʻuʻōʻō eruption of neighboring Kīlauea, which ended in 2018 with a collapse of the summit caldera and an unusually voluminous (~1 km3) rift eruption. A long-term pattern...
Authors
Aaron J. Pietruszka, Daniel E. Heaton, Jared P. Marske, Marc D. Norman, Mahinaokalani G. Robbins, Reed B. Mershon, Kendra J. Lynn, Drew T. Downs, Arron R. Steiner, J. Michael Rhodes, Michael O. Garcia
Triggering the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa Triggering the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa
Distinguishing periods of intermittent unrest from the run-up to eruption is a major challenge at volcanoes around the globe. Comparing multidisciplinary monitoring data with mineral chemistry that records the physical and spatio-temporal evolution of magmas fundamentally advances our ability to forecast eruptions. The recent eruption of Mauna Loa, Earth’s largest active volcano...
Authors
Kendra J. Lynn, Drew T. Downs, Frank A. Trusdell, Penny E. Wieser, Berenise Rangel, Baylee Rose McDade, Alicia J. Hotovec-Ellis, Ninfa Lucia Bennington, Kyle R. Anderson, Dawn Catherine Sweeney Ruth, Charlotte DeVitre, Andria P. Ellis, Patricia A. Nadeau, Laura E. Clor, Peter J. Kelly, Peter Dotray, Jefferson Chang
Depths in a day - A new era of rapid-response Raman-based barometry using fluid inclusions Depths in a day - A new era of rapid-response Raman-based barometry using fluid inclusions
Rapid-response petrological monitoring is a major advance for volcano observatories, allowing them to build and validate models of plumbing systems that supply eruptions in near-real-time. The depth of magma storage has recently been identified as high-priority information for volcanic observatories, yet this information is not currently obtainable via petrological monitoring methods on...
Authors
Charlotte DeVitre, Penny E. Wieser, Alexander T. Bearden, Araela Richie, Berenise Rangel, Matthew Gleeson, John Grimsich, Kendra J. Lynn, Drew T. Downs, Natalia I. Deligne, Katherine M. Mulliken
Volcanoes of American Samoa Volcanoes of American Samoa
Upu Amata (Introduction) O le Atu-Samoa o le tasi lenei o faʻasologa motu mauga mu i le Vasa Pasefika i Saute. O motu e pito i sasaʻe o nei faʻasologa mauga mu o le Atu-Samoa, o motu ia o Amerika Samoa. E tofu lava mauga mu taʻitasi o Amerika Samoa ma ona talaaga aemaise tulaga e tutupu e ono pa ai i le lumanai. O loʻo galulue faʻatasi le Ofisa o le U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ma le...
Authors
Natalia I. Deligne, Drew T. Downs, Elinor Lutu-McMoore, Steven Sobieszczyk, Wendy K. Stovall
The influence of vesicularity on grain morphology in basaltic pyroclasts from Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes The influence of vesicularity on grain morphology in basaltic pyroclasts from Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes
Vesicularity of individual pyroclasts from airfall tephra deposits is an important parameter that is commonly measured at basaltic volcanoes. Conventional methods used to determine pyroclast vesicularity on a large number of clasts has the potential to be time consuming, particularly when rapid analysis is required. Here we propose dynamic image analysis on two-dimensional (2D)...
Authors
Kira van Helden, Johanne Schmith, Drew T. Downs
Non-USGS Publications**
Downs, D.T., Rowland, J.V., Wilson, C.J.N., Rosenberg, M.D., Leonard, G.S., and Calvert, A.T., 2014, Evolution of the intra-arc Taupo-Reporoa Basin within the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand: Geopshere, v. 10, p. 185-206, doi:10.1130/GES00965.1.
Downs, D.T., Wilson, C.J.N., Cole, J.W., Rowland, J.V., Calvert, A.T., Leonard, G.S., and Keall, J.M., 2014, Age and eruptive center of the Paeroa Subgroup ignimbrites (Whakamaru Group) within the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 126, p. 1131-1144, doi:10.1130/B30891.1.
**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.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Digital elevation models, orthomosaics, and GIS shapefiles of the 2020–2021 summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi Digital elevation models, orthomosaics, and GIS shapefiles of the 2020–2021 summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi
During the 2020–2021 summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi, staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) conducted 17 helicopter overflights of the eruption area between the dates of 21 December 2020 and 8 June 2021. Images captured during these flights were processed using the structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique to produce...
Radiocarbon ages, whole-rock chemistry, and electron probe microanalysis of lavas (1877, 1832, 1823, Kealaalea Hills, and Keanakākoʻi Tephra periods) from Kīlauea's summit and Southwest Rift Zone, Island of Hawaiʻi Radiocarbon ages, whole-rock chemistry, and electron probe microanalysis of lavas (1877, 1832, 1823, Kealaalea Hills, and Keanakākoʻi Tephra periods) from Kīlauea's summit and Southwest Rift Zone, Island of Hawaiʻi
This dataset includes radiocarbon ages, wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) major-oxide and trace-element whole-rock analyses, and glass, olivine, and pyroxene analyses by electron microprobe (EPMA) of spatter and lava samples from the summit and Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi. All of the radiocarbon ages were analyzed by DirectAMS in Bothell...
Sample details and near-real-time ED-XRF data collected during the 2020-2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruptions of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi Sample details and near-real-time ED-XRF data collected during the 2020-2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruptions of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi
A limited suite of samples for the 2020–2023 Kīlauea eruptions within Kaluapele (the summit caldera) were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field teams from within a publicly closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in cooperation with the National Park Service. This data release presents sample metadata, whole rock ED-XRF, whole rock WD...
Whole rock and micro-analytical geochemistry of minerals, melt inclusions, and matrix glasses from Kapoho Crater and Puʻulena Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi Whole rock and micro-analytical geochemistry of minerals, melt inclusions, and matrix glasses from Kapoho Crater and Puʻulena Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi
Kilauea volcano (Hawaii, USA) is a shield volcano that exhibits both effusive and explosive eruptive activity. Although Kilauea has been predominantly built through effusive eruptions, explosive eruptions have occurred repeatedly at both Kilauea's summit and in the volcano's lower East Rift Zone (Moore, 1992; Swanson et al., 2014). This dataset presents geochemical analyses of samples...
Vesicularity, grain size, and grain shape of basaltic pyroclasts from Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, Island of Hawaiʻi Vesicularity, grain size, and grain shape of basaltic pyroclasts from Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, Island of Hawaiʻi
This dataset includes sample information, vesicularity by pycnometer, grain size and shape data by CAMSIZER, and measurements of crushed and thin section mounted grains by microscope. All studied samples were from scoria and air-fall-tephra deposits (most formed in Hawaiian lava fountains) collected around the summits of Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes, Island of Hawaiʻi. These data were...
Major- and trace-element chemical analyses of whole-rock and glass from the Kamakaiʻa Hills of the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi Major- and trace-element chemical analyses of whole-rock and glass from the Kamakaiʻa Hills of the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi
This dataset includes wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) major-oxide and trace-element whole-rock analyses, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) trace-element whole-rock analyses, and glass analyses by electron microprobe of scoria and lava samples from the Kamakaiʻa Hills of the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi...
Filter Total Items: 34
Remote single-station seismic monitoring of the July–October 2022 earthquake swarm at Tau volcano, American Samoa Remote single-station seismic monitoring of the July–October 2022 earthquake swarm at Tau volcano, American Samoa
From July to October 2022, a non-eruptive volcanic earthquake swarm occurred within ~15 km of Taʻū Island, located in eastern American Samoa. Felt reports from local residents were the only available information about the swarm when it started, as American Samoa lacked a seismic monitoring network. We developed a consistent single-station catalog for the entire swarm, using seismic data...
Authors
Clara Yoon, Robert Skoumal, Andrew J. Michael, A.D. Jolly, Andria P. Ellis, Drew T. Downs, Peter Dotray, Natalia I. Deligne, Jefferson Chang, Ninfa Lucia Bennington, Aaron Wech, Matthew M. Haney, Alicia J. Hotovec-Ellis, Elinor Lutu-McMoore, Marcus Langkilde
Awakening of Maunaloa linked to melt shared from Kilauea’s mantle source Awakening of Maunaloa linked to melt shared from Kilauea’s mantle source
Maunaloa—the largest active volcano on Earth—erupted in 2022 after its longest known repose period (~38 years) and two decades of volcanic unrest. This eruptive hiatus at Maunaloa encompasses most of the ~35-year-long Puʻuʻōʻō eruption of neighboring Kīlauea, which ended in 2018 with a collapse of the summit caldera and an unusually voluminous (~1 km3) rift eruption. A long-term pattern...
Authors
Aaron J. Pietruszka, Daniel E. Heaton, Jared P. Marske, Marc D. Norman, Mahinaokalani G. Robbins, Reed B. Mershon, Kendra J. Lynn, Drew T. Downs, Arron R. Steiner, J. Michael Rhodes, Michael O. Garcia
Triggering the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa Triggering the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa
Distinguishing periods of intermittent unrest from the run-up to eruption is a major challenge at volcanoes around the globe. Comparing multidisciplinary monitoring data with mineral chemistry that records the physical and spatio-temporal evolution of magmas fundamentally advances our ability to forecast eruptions. The recent eruption of Mauna Loa, Earth’s largest active volcano...
Authors
Kendra J. Lynn, Drew T. Downs, Frank A. Trusdell, Penny E. Wieser, Berenise Rangel, Baylee Rose McDade, Alicia J. Hotovec-Ellis, Ninfa Lucia Bennington, Kyle R. Anderson, Dawn Catherine Sweeney Ruth, Charlotte DeVitre, Andria P. Ellis, Patricia A. Nadeau, Laura E. Clor, Peter J. Kelly, Peter Dotray, Jefferson Chang
Depths in a day - A new era of rapid-response Raman-based barometry using fluid inclusions Depths in a day - A new era of rapid-response Raman-based barometry using fluid inclusions
Rapid-response petrological monitoring is a major advance for volcano observatories, allowing them to build and validate models of plumbing systems that supply eruptions in near-real-time. The depth of magma storage has recently been identified as high-priority information for volcanic observatories, yet this information is not currently obtainable via petrological monitoring methods on...
Authors
Charlotte DeVitre, Penny E. Wieser, Alexander T. Bearden, Araela Richie, Berenise Rangel, Matthew Gleeson, John Grimsich, Kendra J. Lynn, Drew T. Downs, Natalia I. Deligne, Katherine M. Mulliken
Volcanoes of American Samoa Volcanoes of American Samoa
Upu Amata (Introduction) O le Atu-Samoa o le tasi lenei o faʻasologa motu mauga mu i le Vasa Pasefika i Saute. O motu e pito i sasaʻe o nei faʻasologa mauga mu o le Atu-Samoa, o motu ia o Amerika Samoa. E tofu lava mauga mu taʻitasi o Amerika Samoa ma ona talaaga aemaise tulaga e tutupu e ono pa ai i le lumanai. O loʻo galulue faʻatasi le Ofisa o le U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ma le...
Authors
Natalia I. Deligne, Drew T. Downs, Elinor Lutu-McMoore, Steven Sobieszczyk, Wendy K. Stovall
The influence of vesicularity on grain morphology in basaltic pyroclasts from Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes The influence of vesicularity on grain morphology in basaltic pyroclasts from Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes
Vesicularity of individual pyroclasts from airfall tephra deposits is an important parameter that is commonly measured at basaltic volcanoes. Conventional methods used to determine pyroclast vesicularity on a large number of clasts has the potential to be time consuming, particularly when rapid analysis is required. Here we propose dynamic image analysis on two-dimensional (2D)...
Authors
Kira van Helden, Johanne Schmith, Drew T. Downs
Non-USGS Publications**
Downs, D.T., Rowland, J.V., Wilson, C.J.N., Rosenberg, M.D., Leonard, G.S., and Calvert, A.T., 2014, Evolution of the intra-arc Taupo-Reporoa Basin within the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand: Geopshere, v. 10, p. 185-206, doi:10.1130/GES00965.1.
Downs, D.T., Wilson, C.J.N., Cole, J.W., Rowland, J.V., Calvert, A.T., Leonard, G.S., and Keall, J.M., 2014, Age and eruptive center of the Paeroa Subgroup ignimbrites (Whakamaru Group) within the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 126, p. 1131-1144, doi:10.1130/B30891.1.
**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.