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
What makes hydromagmatic eruptions violent? Some insights from the Keanakāko'i Ash, Kı̄lauea Volcano, Hawai'i
Gas and Isotope Geochemistry of 81 Steam Samples from Wells in The Geysers Geothermal Field, Sonoma and Lake Counties, California
Compilation of gas geochemistry and isotopic analyses from The Geysers geothermal field: 1978-1991
Geochemistry of waters from springs, wells, and snowpack on and adjacent to Medicine Lake volcano, northern California
Geology for a changing world; a science strategy for the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2000-2010
Exsolved magmatic fluid and its role in the formation of comb-layered quartz at the Cretaceous Logtung W-Mo deposit, Yukon Territory, Canada
Major-element, trace-element, and volatile concentrations in silicate melt inclusions from the tuff of Pine Grove, Wah Wah Mountains, Utah
The role of magmas in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits
Science and Products
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 68
What makes hydromagmatic eruptions violent? Some insights from the Keanakāko'i Ash, Kı̄lauea Volcano, Hawai'i
Volcanic eruptions at the summit of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i, are of two dramatically contrasting types: (1) benign lava flows and lava fountains; and (2) violent, mostly prehistoric eruptions that dispersed tephra over hundreds of square kilometers. The violence of the latter eruptions has been attributed to mixing of water and magma within a wet summit caldera; however, magma injection into wateAuthorsLarry G. Mastin, Robert L. Christiansen, Carl Thornber, Jacob B. LowensternGas and Isotope Geochemistry of 81 Steam Samples from Wells in The Geysers Geothermal Field, Sonoma and Lake Counties, California
The Geysers geothermal field in northern California, with about 2000-MW electrical capacity, is the largest geothermal field in the world. Despite its importance as a resource and as an example of a vapor-dominated reservoir, very few complete geochemical analyses of the steam have been published (Allen and Day, 1927; Truesdell and others, 1987). This report presents data from 90 steam, gas,AuthorsJacob B. Lowenstern, Cathy J. Janik, Lynne Fahlquist, Linda S. JohnsonCompilation of gas geochemistry and isotopic analyses from The Geysers geothermal field: 1978-1991
We present 45 chemical and isotopic analyses from well discharges at The Geysers geothermal field and summarize the most notable geochemical trends. H2 and H2S concentrations are highest in the Southeast Geysers, where steam samples have δD and δ18O values that reflect replenishment by meteoric water. In the Northwest Geysers, samples are enriched in gas/steam, CO2, CH4, and N2/Ar relative to theAuthorsJacob B. Lowenstern, Cathy Janik, Lynne Fahlquist, Linda S. JohnsonGeochemistry of waters from springs, wells, and snowpack on and adjacent to Medicine Lake volcano, northern California
Chemical analyses of waters from cold springs and wells of the Medicine Lake volcano and surrounding region indicate small chloride anomalies that may be due to water-rock interaction or limited mixing with high-temperature geothermal fluids. The Fall River Springs (FRS) with a combined discharge of approximately 37 m3/s, show a negative correlation between chloride (Cl) and temperature, implyingAuthorsRobert H. Mariner, Jacob B. LowensternGeology for a changing world; a science strategy for the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2000-2010
This report describes seven science goals conceived to address pressing issues facing the Nation in the next decade. These goals focus on understanding human interaction with the natural environment and build upon long-term USGS investments in basic research.AuthorsSteven R. Bohlen, Robert B. Halley, Stephen H. Hickman, Samuel Y. Johnson, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Daniel R. Muhs, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, George A. Thompson, David L. Trauger, Mary Lou ZobackExsolved magmatic fluid and its role in the formation of comb-layered quartz at the Cretaceous Logtung W-Mo deposit, Yukon Territory, Canada
Comb-layered quartz is a type of unidirectional solidification texture found at the roofs of shallow silicic intrusions that are often associated spatially with Mo and W mineralisation. The texture consists of multiple layers of euhedral, prismatic quartz crystals (Type I) that have grown on subplanar aplite substrates. The layers are separated by porphyritic aplite containing equant phenocrysts oAuthorsJacob B. Lowenstern, W. David SinclairMajor-element, trace-element, and volatile concentrations in silicate melt inclusions from the tuff of Pine Grove, Wah Wah Mountains, Utah
No abstract available.AuthorsJacob B. Lowenstern, Charles R. Bacon, L. C. Calk, R.L. Hervig, R.D. AinesThe role of magmas in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits
Magmatic fluids, both vapour and hypersaline liquid, are a primary source of many components in hydrothermal ore deposits formed in volcanic arcs. These components, including metals and their ligands, become concentrated in magmas in various ways from various sources, including subducted oceanic crust. Leaching of rocks also contributes components to the hydrothermal fluid—a process enhanced whereAuthorsJeffrey W. Hedenquist, Jacob B. Lowenstern - Software
- News
*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