I am a physical volcanologist who specializes in volcanic stability and associated hazards, as well as volcanic hazard modeling and communication.
As the Associate Scientist-In-Charge for Hazard Assessment and Communication at the USGS California Volcano Observatory (CalVO), I lead activities at the intersection of hazards research and risk communication. I design, conduct, adapt, and synthesize volcanic hazard research and use forward modeling to forecast and assess societal exposure and vulnerability to adverse events. I translate hazard information to policy makers, civil authorities and the public in order to effectively communicate the importance and relevance of volcanic hazards in the State of California. I entered the USGS as a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, studying the effects of elevated rock pore pressure on stratovolcano flank stability.
Where I work
At the Clear Lake Volcanic Field, my goals are to unravel the age and progression of maar eruptions, which comprise the youngest eruptive activity in the field. Maars form from steam explosions that occur when magma and water interact, and their craters can be created in single explosions or multiple explosions at the same spot. The ash and rocks thrown up by these maars is present in many places around Clear Lake, particularly around Mount Konocti. If the maars are young enough to have the potential for future eruptions, understanding their dynamics and evolution will be very important for hazard assessment at Clear Lake.
At Mount Shasta, I am using decades of geological mapping, lidar DEMs, and the LaharZ_py model to simulate what would happen if lahars (volcanic mudflows) were to occur as a result of volcanic activity. Lahars are one of the most common hazards on snow-and-ice-capped stratovolcanoes, and while this photo shows that Shasta doesn't always have snow on its flanks, in the wintertime its snow cap can be up to 5 m deep. This would provide ample water to feed lahars that could travel down the volcano's drainages and across its broad, populated lower flanks. By simulating lahars of different sizes and calculating their arrival times, I am creating maps that can be used for planning both in long-term land-use and hazard mitigation, and for response to any lahars that do happen.
As a volcanic hazard communicator, I'm one of the public faces for the USGS Volcano Science Center. I'm a part of the social media team for USGS Volcanoes, which means that I help manage social media feeds and websites, create content for the web, manage outreach activities, and act as a media contact for the California Volcano Observatory. On the past, I've been a part of the media response to the 2018 Kilauea eruption, promoted CalVO and other USGS observatories to policymakers, and represented the USGS in briefings on Capitol Hill. I'm also responsible for building relationships with CalVO's stakeholders, and working with them to make our volcanic hazard products and communications effective.
Professional Experience
2018 - Present: Associate Scientist-in-Charge for Hazard Assessment and Communication, USGS California Volcano Observatory
2014-2018: USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, Volcano Science Center
2014-2015: Science Policy Fellow, Geological Society of America, Washington, DC
2008-2014: TA and Research Assistant, Department of Geology, University at Buffalo
2007-2008: Earth Science Week Intern, American Geosciences Institute
Education and Certifications
PhD: 2014, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
BS: 2007, Magna Cum Laude, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Field Methods in Volcanology: 2007, Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes, University of Hawaii at Hilo
FEMA Instructor Certification for Volcanic Crisis Awareness (AWR-233), Mar 2018 - Present
Affiliations and Memberships*
Member, Geological Society of America, 2004 - Present
Member, American Geophysical Union, 2008 - Present
Member, International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, 2015
Outreach and Communications Chair, Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology Section, American Geophysical Union, 2020-Present
Member, Thriving Earth Exchange Advisory Board, American Geophysical Union, Jan 2013–Jan 2020
Member, American Geophysical Union Student / Early Career Leaders Committee, Sep 2015–2018
Chair, Science For Solutions Award Committee, American Geophysical Union, Sep 2014–Sep 2017
Member, Science For Solutions Award Committee, American Geophysical Union, Jan 2013–Sep 2014
Student Representative, Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology Section, American Geophysical Union, 2013-2015
Member, GSA Science and Society ad hoc Communications Committee, Feb–Dec 2016
Member, Grand Challenge Working Group, American Geophysical Union, Jan–Dec 2012
Member, eGSA Committee, Geological Society of America, 2009 – 2012
Honors and Awards
Shoemaker Communications Award, USGS, 2020
Shoemaker Communications Award, USGS, 2019
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2009-2012
Pegrum Professional Development Award, University at Buffalo, 2010, 2011 & 2012
Magna Cum Laude, College of William & Mary, 2007
Highest Honors, Department of Geology, College of William & Mary, 2007
Monroe Scholar, College of William & Mary, 2004
Science and Products
Clear Lake Volcanic Field maar deposit grain size distributions, Inman grain size statistics, and radiocarbon ages
California volcano locations, threat rank and hazard zones
Officially social: Developing a social media crisis communication strategy for USGS Volcanoes during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption
Stratigraphy and eruption history of maars in the Clear Lake Volcanic Field, California
#TheSmoreYouKnow and #emergencycute: A conceptual model on the use of humor by science agencies during crisis to create connection, empathy, and compassion
California’s exposure to volcanic hazards
The potential for damaging earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, and wildfires is widely recognized in California. The same cannot be said for volcanic eruptions, despite the fact that they occur in the state about as frequently as the largest earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. At least ten eruptions have taken place in the past 1,000 years, and future volcanic eruptions are inevitable.The
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
Three-dimensional geophysical mapping of shallow water saturated altered rocks at Mount Baker, Washington: Implications for slope stability
Combining multiphase groundwater flow and slope stability models to assess stratovolcano flank collapse in the Cascade Range
An assessment of hydrothermal alteration in the Santiaguito lava dome complex, Guatemala: implications for dome collapse hazards
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.
Science and Products
- Data
Clear Lake Volcanic Field maar deposit grain size distributions, Inman grain size statistics, and radiocarbon ages
This dataset holds data associated with the stratigraphic descriptions and grain size analyses and the radiocarbon age dating for the journal article "Stratigraphy and eruption history of maars in the Clear Lake Volcanic Field, California"California volcano locations, threat rank and hazard zones
The California volcano locations, threat rank and hazard zones data release contains two shapefiles for download or use as a web map service. The California Volcanic Center Locations shapefile was created to provide a generalized location of volcano hazard sources. The California Volcano Hazard Zones shapefile was created from previously published hazard zone reports. Specific details about each f - Publications
Officially social: Developing a social media crisis communication strategy for USGS Volcanoes during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption
The USGS Volcano Science Center has a long history of science and crisis communication about volcanoes and their eruptions. Centered mainly on websites, email notifications, traditional media, and in-person interaction in the past, our toolkit has expanded in the last decade to include social media channels. This medium has allowed us to communicate with both long-standing and new audiences in newAuthorsWendy K. Stovall, Jessica L. Ball, Elizabeth G. Westby, M. Poland, Aleeza Wilkins, Katherine M. MullikenStratigraphy and eruption history of maars in the Clear Lake Volcanic Field, California
The Clear Lake Volcanic Field (CLVF) is the northernmost and youngest field in a chain of volcanic provinces in the California Coast Range mountains. Effusive and explosive volcanic activity in the field has spanned at least 2.1 million years, with the youngest eruptions comprising a series of maar craters at the edges of, and within, Clear Lake itself. This work documents the first direct ages foAuthorsJessica L. Ball#TheSmoreYouKnow and #emergencycute: A conceptual model on the use of humor by science agencies during crisis to create connection, empathy, and compassion
Studies from a variety of disciplines reveal that humor can be a useful method to reduce stress and increase compassion, connection, and empathy between agencies and people they serve during times of crisis. Despite this growing evidence base, humor's use during a geohazard (earthquake, volcanoes, landslides, and tsunami) to aid scientific agencies' crisis communication response has been rarely stAuthorsSara McBride, Jessica L. BallCalifornia’s exposure to volcanic hazards
The potential for damaging earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, and wildfires is widely recognized in California. The same cannot be said for volcanic eruptions, despite the fact that they occur in the state about as frequently as the largest earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. At least ten eruptions have taken place in the past 1,000 years, and future volcanic eruptions are inevitable.The
AuthorsMargaret Mangan, Jessica Ball, Nathan Wood, Jamie L. Jones, Jeff Peters, Nina Abdollahian, Laura Dinitz, Sharon Blankenheim, Johanna Fenton, Cynthia PridmoreByVolcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, California Volcano Observatory, Clear Lake Volcanic Field, Coso Volcanic Field, Lassen Volcanic Center, Long Valley Caldera, Mammoth Mountain, Medicine Lake, Mono Lake Volcanic Field, Mono-Inyo Craters, Mount Shasta, Salton Buttes, Soda Lakes, Ubehebe CratersThe 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 DambyThree-dimensional geophysical mapping of shallow water saturated altered rocks at Mount Baker, Washington: Implications for slope stability
Water-saturated hydrothermal alteration reduces the strength of volcanic edifices, increasing the potential for catastrophic sector collapses that can lead to far traveled and destructive debris flows. Intense hydrothermal alteration significantly lowers the resistivity and magnetization of volcanic rock and therefore hydrothermally altered rocks can be identified with helicopter electromagnetic aAuthorsCarol A. Finn, Maria Deszcz-Pan, Jessica L. Ball, Benjamin J. Bloss, Burke J. MinsleyCombining multiphase groundwater flow and slope stability models to assess stratovolcano flank collapse in the Cascade Range
Hydrothermal alteration can create low‐permeability zones, potentially resulting in elevated pore‐fluid pressures, within a volcanic edifice. Strength reduction by rock alteration and high pore‐fluid pressures have been suggested as a mechanism for edifice flank instability. Here we combine numerical models of multiphase heat transport and groundwater flow with a slope‐stability code that incorporAuthorsJessica L. Ball, Joshua M. Taron, Mark E. Reid, Shaul Hurwitz, Carol A. Finn, Paul A. BedrosianAn assessment of hydrothermal alteration in the Santiaguito lava dome complex, Guatemala: implications for dome collapse hazards
A combination of field mapping, geochemistry, and remote sensing methods has been employed to determine the extent of hydrothermal alteration and assess the potential for failure at the Santiaguito lava dome complex, Guatemala. The 90-year-old complex of four lava domes has only experienced relatively small and infrequent dome collapses in the past, which were associated with lava extrusion. HowevAuthorsJessica L. Ball, Eliza S. Calder, Bernard E. Hubbard, Marc L. BernsteinNon-USGS Publications**
The hydrothermal alteration of cooling lava domes. Ball, J.L., Stauffer, P.H., Calder, E.S., Valentine, G.A., 2015: Bulletin of Volcanology, v.77, n. 12, p. 1-16.**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.
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*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