Kyle R. Anderson, Ph.D.
I use monitoring data to better understand and forecast volcanic processes and hazards.
I work to understand volcanic systems by developing mathematical models which relate magma physics with monitoring data such as ground deformations and eruption rates. Model predictions can be compared with real-world observations using probabilistic statistical approaches, making it possible to constrain properties of volcanic systems such as the composition and volume of stored magma. These techniques can also be used in some cases to forecast future eruptive activity. I've worked most extensively at Mount St. Helens and Kīlauea volcanoes, but I'm interested in volcanoes and eruptions around the world.
I have a particular interest in volcanic caldera collapses and in episodic/cyclic eruptive behavior. Other interests include the physics governing magma ascent; the role of magmatic volatiles on eruptive processes; uncertainty quantification in volcanological inverse problems; quantifying rates of magma supply, storage, and eruption; ground deformation caused by magmatic processes; the application of machine learning to volcanology problems; and volcanic hazards assessments.
See the “Publications” tab below for more information.
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist, USGS Volcano Science Center (California Volcano Observatory) (2015-present)
Visiting Research Fellow, University of Tokyo (January – March 2016)
USGS Exchange Scientist, Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (February 2015)
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (2012-2015)
Education and Certifications
Stanford University: PhD in geophysics (2012)
Stanford University: MS in geophysics
Whitman College: BA in geology-physics
Affiliations and Memberships*
USGS-CONVERSE Hawai‘i Science Advisory Committee (2021–present)
Modeling Collaboratory for Subduction Research Coordination Network steering committee (2017-2022)
Phi Beta Kappa (academic honor society)
Sigma Xi (scientific research honor society)
Honors and Awards
Indiana University Daniel S. Tudor Commemorative Lecture
Stanford – USGS Fellowship
Stanford University Centennial Teaching Assistant Award
Stanford University ARCS Foundation Scholar
National Science Foundation East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes
Whitman College graduation with honors
Whitman College Leeds Prize in Geology
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University undergraduate summer internship
Science and Products
Incremental caldera collapse at Kīlauea Volcano recorded in ground tilt and high-rate GNSS data, with implications for collapse dynamics and the magma system
Could Kı̄lauea's 2020 post caldera-forming eruption have been anticipated?
Earthquake-derived seismic velocity changes during the 2018 caldera collapse of Kīlauea volcano
Rainfall an unlikely trigger of Kilauea’s 2018 rift eruption
A decade of geodetic change at Kīlauea’s summit—Observations, interpretations, and unanswered questions from studies of the 2008–2018 Halemaʻumaʻu eruption
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part I: Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands
Multidisciplinary constraints on magma compressibility, the pre-eruptive exsolved volatile fraction, and the H2O/CO2 molar ratio for the 2006 Augustine eruption, Alaska
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part II: Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea
Repeating caldera collapse events constrain fault friction at the kilometer scale
The cascading origin of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and implications for future forecasting
Very‐long‐period (VLP) seismic artifacts during the 2018 caldera collapse at Kīlauea, Hawaii
Caldera collapse geometry revealed by near‐field GPS displacements at Kilauea Volcano in 2018
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
Incremental caldera collapse at Kīlauea Volcano recorded in ground tilt and high-rate GNSS data, with implications for collapse dynamics and the magma system
Could Kı̄lauea's 2020 post caldera-forming eruption have been anticipated?
Earthquake-derived seismic velocity changes during the 2018 caldera collapse of Kīlauea volcano
Rainfall an unlikely trigger of Kilauea’s 2018 rift eruption
A decade of geodetic change at Kīlauea’s summit—Observations, interpretations, and unanswered questions from studies of the 2008–2018 Halemaʻumaʻu eruption
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part I: Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands
Multidisciplinary constraints on magma compressibility, the pre-eruptive exsolved volatile fraction, and the H2O/CO2 molar ratio for the 2006 Augustine eruption, Alaska
Evaluating the state-of-the-art in remote volcanic eruption characterization Part II: Ulawun volcano, Papua New Guinea
Repeating caldera collapse events constrain fault friction at the kilometer scale
The cascading origin of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and implications for future forecasting
Very‐long‐period (VLP) seismic artifacts during the 2018 caldera collapse at Kīlauea, Hawaii
Caldera collapse geometry revealed by near‐field GPS displacements at Kilauea Volcano in 2018
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.
*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