Kyle R Anderson
Biography
I am a research geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey at Moffett Field, California. I work to understand volcanic systems by developing mathematical models which relate magma physics with monitoring data such as ground deformations and eruption rates. By comparing the models with real-world observations using probabilistic statistical approaches it is possible to constrain properties of volcanic systems such as the composition and volume of stored magma. This approach 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.
Research Interests
- Physics of magma systems and volcanic eruptions
- Caldera collapse processes
- Episodic/cyclic eruptive behavior
- Volatiles in magma and influence on eruptive processes
- Rates of magma supply, storage, and eruption
- Volcanic hazards assessments and forecasts
- Uncertainty quantification
Appointments
Research Geophysicist, USGS Volcano Science Center (California Volcano Observatory) (2015-present)
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (2012-2015)
Education
PhD: Geophysics, Stanford University
MS: Geophysics, Stanford University
BA: Geology-Physics, Whitman College
Publications
Patrick, M. R., B. F. Houghton, K. R. Anderson, M. P. Poland, E. Montgomery-Brown, I. Johanson, W. Thelen, and T. Elias (2020), The cascading origin of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and implications for future forecasting, Nature Communications, 11, doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19190-1
Flinders, A. F., I. A. Johanson, P. B. Dawson, K. R. Anderson, M. H. Haney, B. R. Shiro (2020), Very long period (VLP) seismic artifacts during the 2018 caldera collapse at Kīlauea, Hawai‘i, Seismological Research Letters, 91 (6), doi:10.1785/0220200083
Segall, P., K. R. Anderson, F. Pulvirenti, T. Wang, and I. Johanson (2020), Caldera collapse geometry revealed by near-field GPS displacements at Kīlauea Volcano in 2018, Geophysical Research Letters, 47, doi:10.1029/2020GL088867
Lerner, A. H., D. O'Hara, L. Karlstrom, S. K. Ebmeier, K. R. Anderson, and S. Hurwitz (2020), The prevalence and significance of offset magma reservoirs at arc volcanoes, Geophysical Research Letters, 47 (14), doi:10.1029/2020GL087856
Neal, C. A. and K. R. Anderson (2020), Preliminary analyses of volcanic hazards at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, 2017–2018, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1002, 34 p., doi:10.3133/ofr20201002
Poland, M. and K. R. Anderson (2020), Partly cloudy with a chance of lava flows: forecasting volcanic eruptions in the 21st century, Reviews of Geophysics/ Journal of Geophysical Research, doi:10.1029/2018JB016974
Hurwitz, S. and K. R. Anderson (2019), Temporal variations in scrubbing of magmatic gases at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (24), doi:10.1029/2019GL085904
Anderson, K. R., I. A. Johanson, M. R. Patrick, M. Gu, P. Segall, M. P. Poland, E. K. Montgomery-Brown, A. Miklius (2019), Magma reservoir failure and the onset of caldera collapse at Kīlauea Volcano in 2018, Science, doi:10.1126/science.aaz1822
M. R. Patrick, H. R. Dietterich, J. J. Lyons, A. K. Diefenbach, C. Parcheta, K. R. Anderson, A. Namiki, I. Sumita, B. Shiro, J. P. Kauahikaua (2019), Cyclic lava effusion during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, Science, doi:10.1126/science.aay9070
Segall, P., K. R. Anderson, I Johanson, A. Miklius (2019), Mechanics of inflationary deformation during caldera collapse: Evidence from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2019GL084689
Delgado, F., J. Kubanek, K. Anderson, P. Lundgren, and M. Pritchard (2019), Physicochemical models of effusive rhyolitic eruptions constrained with InSAR and DEM data: a case study of the 2011-2012 Cordón Caulle eruption, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 524, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115736
Johnson, J.H., M.P. Poland, K. R. Anderson, J. Biggs (2019), A cautionary tale of topography and tilt from Kīlauea Caldera, Geophysical Research Letters, 46, doi:10.1029/2018GL081757
Patrick, M., T. Orr, K. Anderson, and D. Swanson (2019), Eruptions in sync: Improved constraints on Kīlauea Volcano's hydraulic connection, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 507, pp. 50-61, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2018.11.030
Neal, C.A, S.R. Brantley, L. Antolik, J. Babb, M. Burgess, K. Calles, M. Cappos, J. C. Chang, S. Conway, L. Desmither, P. Dotray, T. Elias, P. Fukunaga, S. Fuke, I. A. Johanson, K. Kamibayashi, J. Kauahikaua, R. L. Lee, S. Pekalib, A. Miklius, W. Million, C. J. Moniz, P. A. Nadeau, P. Okubo, C. Parcheta, M. P. Patrick, B. Shiro, D. A. Swanson, W. Tollett, F. Trusdell, E. F. Younger, M. H. Zoeller, E. K. Montgomery-Brown, K. R. Anderson, M. P. Poland, J. Ball, J. Bard, M. Coombs, H. R. Dietterich, C. Kern, W. A. Thelen, P. F. Cervelli, T. Orr, B. F. Houghton, C. Gansecki, R. Hazlett, P. Lundgren, A. K. Diefenbach, A. H. Lerner, G. Waite, P. Kelly, L. Clor, C. Werner, K. Mulliken, G. Fisher (2019), The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea Volcano, Science, doi:10.1126/science.aav7046
Arnold, D. W. D., J. Biggs, K. Anderson, S. Vallejo Vargas, G. Wadge, S. K. Ebmeier, M. F. Naranjo, and P. Mothes (2017), Decaying lava extrusion rate at El Reventador Volcano, Ecuador measured using high-resolution satellite radar, Journal of Geophysical Research, 122, pp. 9966-9988, doi:10.1002/2017JB014580
Wong, Y-Q., P. Segall, A. Bradley, and K. R. Anderson (2017), Constraining the magmatic system at Mount St. Helens (2004-2008) using Bayesian inversion with physics-based models including gas escape and crystallization, Journal of Geophysical Research, 122 (10), pp. 7789–7812, doi:10.1002/2017JB014343
Anderson, K. R., and M. P. Poland (2017), Abundant carbon in the mantle beneath Hawaiʻi, Nature Geoscience, 10 (9), pp. 704-708, doi: 10.1038/NGEO3007
Anderson, K. R., and M. P. Poland (2016), Bayesian estimation of magma supply, storage, and eruption rates using a multiphysical volcano model: Kīlauea Volcano, 2000-2012, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 447, pp. 161-171, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.04.029
Poland, M. P., T. R. Orr, J. P. Kauahikaua, S. R. Brantley, J. L. Babb, M. R. Patrick, C. A. Neal, K. R. Anderson, et al. (2016), The 2014-2015 Pāhoa lava flow crisis at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i: Disaster avoided and lessons learned, GSA Today, 26 (2), pp. 4-10, doi:10.1130/GSATG262A.1
Dzurisin, D., S. C. Moran, M. Lisowski, S. P. Schilling, K. R. Anderson, and C. Werner (2015), The 2004-2008 dome-building eruption at Mount St. Helens, Washington: Epilogue, Bulletin of Volcanology, 77 (10), pp. 77-89, doi:10.1007/s00445-015-0973-4
Patrick, M. R., K. R. Anderson, M. P. Poland, T. R. Orr and D. A. Swanson (2015), Lava lake level as a gauge of magma reservoir pressure and eruptive hazard, Geology, vol. 43, pp. 831-834, doi:10.1130/G36896
Anderson, K. R., M. P. Poland, J. H. Johnson, and A. Miklius (2015), Episodic deflation-inflation events at Kīlauea Volcano and implications for the shallow magma system, Chapter 11 in Hawaiian Volcanism: From Source to Surface, edited by R. Carey, M. Poland, V. Cayol and D. Weis, AGU Geophysical Monograph Series vol. 208, pp. 229-250, doi:10.1002/9781118872079.ch11
P. Segall and K. Anderson (2014), Look up for magma insights, Nature Geoscience, 7 (3), 2 pp., doi:10.1038/ngeo2064
Anderson, K. and P. Segall (2013), Bayesian inversion of data from effusive volcanic eruptions using physics-based models: Application to Mount St. Helens 2004-2008, Journal of Geophysical Research, 118 (5), 20 pp., doi:10.1002/jgrb.50169
Anderson, K. and P. Segall (2011), Physics-based models of ground deformation and extrusion rate at effusively erupting volcanoes, Journal of Geophysical Research, 116 (B7), 20 pp., doi:10.1029/2010JB007939
Anderson, K., M. Lisowski, and P. Segall (2010), Cyclic ground tilt associated with the 2004-2008 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Journal of Geophysical Research, 115 (B11), 29 pp., doi:10.1029/2009JB007102
Data Releases
Patrick, M., H. Dietterich, J. Lyons, A. Diefenbach, C. Parcheta, K. Anderson, A. Namiki, I. Sumita, and J. Kauahikaua (2019), Cyclic lava effusion during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano: U.S. Geological Survey ScienceBase Data Release, doi:10.5066/P9PJZ17R
Science and Products
The cascading origin of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and implications for future forecasting
The 2018 summit and flank eruption of Kīlauea Volcano was one of the largest volcanic events in Hawaiʻi in 200 years. Data suggest that a backup in the magma plumbing system at the long-lived Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption site caused widespread pressurization in the volcano, driving magma into the lower flank. The eruption evolved, and its impact expanded,...
Patrick, Matthew R.; Houghton, Bruce F.; Anderson, Kyle R.; Poland, Michael P.; Montgomery-Brown, Emily; Johanson, Ingrid; Thelen, Weston; Elias, Tamar Very‐long‐period (VLP) seismic artifacts during the 2018 caldera collapse at Kīlauea, Hawaii
Throughout the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea volcano (Hawai‘i), episodic collapses of a portion of the volcano’s summit caldera produced repeated Mw">Mw 4.9–5.3 earthquakes. Each of these 62 events was characterized by a very‐long‐period (VLP) seismic signal (>40  s">>40 s). Although collapses in the...
Flinders, Ashton; Johanson, Ingrid; Dawson, Phillip B.; Anderson, Kyle R.; Haney, Matthew M.; Shiro, Brian Caldera collapse geometry revealed by near‐field GPS displacements at Kilauea Volcano in 2018
We employ near‐field GPS data to determine the subsurface geometry of a collapsing caldera during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Collapse occurred in 62 discrete events, with “inflationary” deformation external to the collapse, similar to previous basaltic collapses. We take advantage of GPS data from the collapsing block and independent constraints...
Segall, Paul; Anderson, Kyle R.; Pulvirenti, Fabio; Wang, Taiyi; Johanson, Ingrid The prevalence and significance of offset magma reservoirs at arc volcanoes
Determining the spatial relations between volcanic edifices and their underlying magma storage zones is fundamental for characterizing long-term evolution and short-term unrest. We compile centroid locations of upper crustal magma reservoirs at 56 arc volcanoes inferred from seismic, magnetotelluric, and geodetic studies. We show that magma...
Lerner, Allan H.; O'Hara, Daniel; Karlstrom, Leif; Ebmeier, Susanna K.; Anderson, Kyle R.; Hurwitz, Shaul
Preliminary analyses of volcanic hazards at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, 2017–2018
From 2017 to 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) responded to ongoing and changing eruptions at Kīlauea Volcano as part of its mission to monitor volcanic processes, issue warnings of dangerous activity, and assess volcanic hazards. To formalize short-term hazards assessments—and, in some cases, issue...
Neal, Christina A.; Anderson, Kyle R. Temporal variations in scrubbing of magmatic gases at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
Measurements of gas compositions and emission rates play a major role in monitoring restless volcanoes. However, thermodynamic calculations imply that scrubbing by groundwater will prevent most HCl and significant SO2 emissions until dry pathways are established, thus leading to underestimates of gas released from magma and magma volumes. Despite...
Hurwitz, Shaul; Anderson, Kyle R. Cyclic lava effusion during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano
Lava flows present a recurring threat to communities on active volcanoes, and volumetric eruption rate is one of the primary factors controlling flow behavior and hazard. The timescales and driving forces of eruption rate variability, however, remain poorly understood. In 2018, a highly destructive eruption occurred on the lower flank of Kīlauea...
Patrick, Matthew R.; Dietterich, Hannah R.; Lyons, John J.; Diefenbach, Angela K.; Parcheta, Carolyn; Anderson, Kyle R.; Namiki, Atsuko; Sumita, Ikuro; Shiro, Brian; Kauahikaua, James P. Magma reservoir failure and the onset of caldera collapse at Kīlauea volcano in 2018
Caldera-forming eruptions are among Earths most hazardous natural phenomena, yet the architecture of subcaldera magma reservoirs and the conditions that trigger collapse are poorly understood. Observations from the formation of a 0.8cubic kilometer basaltic caldera at Klauea Volcano in 2018 included the draining of an active lava lake, which...
Anderson, Kyle R.; Johanson, Ingrid; Patrick, Matthew R.; Gu, Mengyang; Segall, Paul; Poland, Michael P.; Montgomery-Brown, Emily; Miklius, Asta Partly cloudy with a chance of lava flows: Forecasting volcanic eruptions in the 21st century
A primary goal of volcanology is forecasting hazardous eruptive activity. Despite much progress over the last century, however, volcanoes still erupt with no detected precursors, lives and livelihoods are lost to eruptive activity, and forecasting the onsets of eruptions remains fraught with uncertainty. Long‐term forecasts are generally derived...
Poland, Michael P.; Anderson, Kyle R. Mechanics of inflationary deformation during Caldera collapse: Evidence from the 2018 Kīlauea Eruption
During the 2018 Kilauea eruption the caldera ffloor dropped 500 meters in 62 nearly periodic events of up to 8 meters. Caldera collapse maintains pressure in the magma reservoir necessary to sustain high-rate eruptions. The 2018 collapses were accompanied by inflationary tilts and displacements, similar to observations at other basaltic calderas....
Paul Segall; Anderson, Kyle R.; Johanson, Ingrid; Miklius, Asta Physicochemical models of effusive rhyolitic eruptions constrained with InSAR and DEM data: A case study of the 2011-2012 Cordon Caulle eruption
The 9 month long 2011-2012 eruption of Cordon Caulle (Southern Andes, Chile) is the best instrumentally recorded rhyolitic eruption to date and the first time that the effusion of a rhyolitic flow has been observed in detail. We use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), with time-lapse DEMs and numerical models to study the dynamics of...
Francisco Delgado; Julia Kubanek; Anderson, Kyle R.; Paul Lundgren; Pritchard, Matthew E. A cautionary tale of topography and tilt from Kilauea Caldera
We conduct finite element analysis to investigate the effect of sharp topography on surface ground deformation caused by pressure changes in a magma reservoir. Tilt data express the horizontal gradient of vertical displacement and therefore can emphasize small variations in deformation that go unnoticed using other methods. We find that the...
Johnson, Jessica A.; Poland, Michael P.; Anderson, Kyle R.; Biggs, Juliet