AVO seismologists work to repair a seismic station on Little Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutians Islands.
John Lyons
I study infrasound and seismic data from restless and erupting volcanoes in Alaska and around the world. Analyzing geophysical data from volcanoes helps me better understand the processes that generate the signals and informs the hazards associated with those processes. My research also aims to identify and develop better tools for monitoring changing and potentially hazardous eruptive activity.
Education
2011* - Ph.D. Geophysics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI *Includes 2 years (2005-07) of Peace Corps Service (Guatemala)
2002 - M.S. Geology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
1998 - B.S. Geology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist, Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK (2016 – present)
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK (Nov. 2012 – Feb. 2016)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Instituto Geofísico – Escuela Politécnica, Ecuador (Sept. 2011 – Oct. 2012)
Research Scientist, Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo (May 2011 – Sept. 2011)
Education and Certifications
PhD in geophysics: Michigan Technological University (2004 – 2011*)
*Includes 27 months (2005-2007) of Peace Corps Service as part of Ph.D. studyMS in geology: University of Idaho (2002 – 2004)
BS (honors) in geology: Missouri State University (1998 – 2002)
Science and Products
Population Ecology of Red Knots (C. c. roselaari) in the Pacific-Americas Flyway
Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy data acquired at Mount Pagan volcano (Mariana Islands) on 6 April 2014
AVO seismologists work to repair a seismic station on Little Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutians Islands.
Pagan Volcano is the largest and one of the most active volcanoes in the Northern Mariana Islands. Prior to 2013, the volcano was not monitored with any ground-based instruments, so activity was observed only by satellite or by the few island inhabitants. Although geographically remote, eruptions from Pagan can threaten international air traffic.
Pagan Volcano is the largest and one of the most active volcanoes in the Northern Mariana Islands. Prior to 2013, the volcano was not monitored with any ground-based instruments, so activity was observed only by satellite or by the few island inhabitants. Although geographically remote, eruptions from Pagan can threaten international air traffic.
2020 Volcanic activity in Alaska—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory
2021 Volcanic activity in Alaska and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory
Atmospheric waves and global seismoacoustic observations of the January 2022 Hunga eruption, Tonga
Tracking secondary lahar flow paths and characterizing pulses and surges using infrasound array networks at Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala
Fitting jet noise similarity spectra to volcano infrasound data
High-speed lava flow infrasound from Kīlauea’s fissure 8 and its utility in monitoring effusion rate
Local explosion detection and infrasound localization by reverse time migration using 3-D finite-difference wave propagation
Volcanic seismicity beneath Chuginadak Island, Alaska (Cleveland and Tana volcanoes): Implications for magma dynamics and eruption forecasting
Linking subsurface to surface using gas emission and melt inclusion data at Mount Cleveland volcano, Alaska
Evolving infrasound detections from Bogoslof volcano, Alaska: Insights from atmospheric propagation modeling
Did ice-charging generate volcanic lightning during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska?
Science and Products
Population Ecology of Red Knots (C. c. roselaari) in the Pacific-Americas Flyway
Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy data acquired at Mount Pagan volcano (Mariana Islands) on 6 April 2014
AVO seismologists work to repair a seismic station on Little Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutians Islands.
AVO seismologists work to repair a seismic station on Little Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutians Islands.
Pagan Volcano is the largest and one of the most active volcanoes in the Northern Mariana Islands. Prior to 2013, the volcano was not monitored with any ground-based instruments, so activity was observed only by satellite or by the few island inhabitants. Although geographically remote, eruptions from Pagan can threaten international air traffic.
Pagan Volcano is the largest and one of the most active volcanoes in the Northern Mariana Islands. Prior to 2013, the volcano was not monitored with any ground-based instruments, so activity was observed only by satellite or by the few island inhabitants. Although geographically remote, eruptions from Pagan can threaten international air traffic.