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Lisa Luna, PhD

(she/her)

Lisa Luna is a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow studying weather-related landslide initiation in a changing world.  She applies advanced data analysis methods to improve our understanding of landslide-triggering conditions, track changes in hazard over time, and predict when and where landslides are most likely to occur in the future.     

Professional Experience

  • 2024 – present, Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Geologist, USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center, Golden, CO, USA 

  • 2019 – 2023, Researcher (Natural Hazards), University of Potsdam, Institute for Environmental Studies and Geography, Potsdam, Germany 

  • 2019 – 2023, Guest Researcher, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany 

  • 2021, Visiting Instructor of Geology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, USA 

  • 2017 – 2019, Climate Policy Analyst, NewClimate Institute, Berlin, Germany 

  • 2014 – 2016, Graduate Research Assistant (Geomorphology & Geochemistry), University of Potsdam, Institute for Earth and Environmental Sciences, Potsdam, Germany 

  • 2014, Staff Research Assistant (Geochemistry), Middlebury College and University of California Santa Barbara, Middlebury, VT, USA 

  • 2014, Geologist (Geochemistry), Geocorps America and Colorado Mountain College, Leadville, CO, USA 

Education and Certifications

  • Dr. rer. nat. (PhD equivalent), Georisks, University of Potsdam, 2023.  Dissertation: “Rainfall-triggered landslides: conditions, prediction, and warning” 

  • M.Sc., Geosciences, University of Potsdam, 2016.  Thesis: “A glacial chronology and cosmogenic nuclide cross calibration from the central southern Andean Plateau (Puna, 24°S)”  

  • B.A., Geology, Middlebury College, 2013.  Thesis: “In pursuit of a long term record of erosion rates from the Río Iruya Canyon, Northwestern Argetine Andes” 

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Geophysical Union 

  • European Geosciences Union 

  • LandAware 

  • Earth Science Women’s Network 

  • Journal reviewer for: NHESS 

Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding Student Presentation Award, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2020) 

  • Graduate Award (Absolventenpreis) for best master’s thesis university-wide, University of Potsdam (2017) 

  • John M. White ’52 Memorial Award for outstanding work in geology, Middlebury College (2013) 

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Korup, O., Ferrer, J. V., Luna, L. V. (in prep). Size scaling of large landslides from incomplete inventories.
Luna, L. V., Arango-Carmona, M. I., Veh, G., Lewis, E., Ozturk, U., Korup, O. (in prep). Urban landslides triggered under similar rainfall conditions globally.
Vallejo-Bernal, S.M., Wolf, F., Luna, L.V., Boers, N., Marwan, N., Kurths, J. (in prep). Atmospheric rivers are the main cause of landslides in Western North America.
Patton, A. I., Luna, L. V., Roering, J. J., Jacobs, A., Korup, O., Mirus, B. B. (2023). Landslide Initiation Thresholds in Data-Sparse Regions: Application to Landslide Early Warning Criteria in Sitka, Alaska, USA. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 23 (10), 3261–3284. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3261-2023.
Veh, G., Lützow, N., Tamm, J., Luna, L.V., Hugonnet, R., Geertsema, M., Clague, J.J., Korup, O. (2023). Less extreme and earlier outbursts of ice-dammed lakes since 1900. Nature, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05642-9
Fisher, G.B., Luna, L.V., Amidon, W.H., Burbank, D.W., de Boer, B., Stap, L.B., Bookhagen, B., Godard, V., Oskin, M.E., Alonso, R.N., Tuenter, E., Lourens, L.J. (2023) Milankovitch-paced erosion in the southern Central Andes. Nature Communications, 14(1), 424. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36022-0
Luna, L.V., & Korup, O. (2022). Seasonal landslide activity lags annual precipitation pattern in the Pacific Northwest. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(18), https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098506
Fekete, H., Kuramochi, T., Roelfsema, M., Elzen, M. den, Forsell, N., Höhne, N., Luna, L.V., et al. (2021). A review of successful climate change mitigation policies in major emitting economies and the potential of global replication. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 137, 110602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110602
Kemter, M., Fischer, M., Luna, L.V., Schönfeldt, E., Vogel, J., Banerjee, A., et al. (2021). Cascading hazards in the aftermath of Australia’s 2019/2020 Black Summer Wildfires. Earth’s Future, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EF001884
Stirling, M. W., Abbott, E. R., Rood, D. H., McVerry, G. H., Abrahamson, N. A., Barrell, D. J. A. ,Huso, R., Litchfield, N.J., Luna, L.V., et al. (2021). First use of fragile geologic features to set the design motions for a major existing engineered structure. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 111(5), 2673–2695. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120210026
Luna, L.V., Bookhagen, B., Niedermann, S., Rugel, G., Scharf, A., Merchel, S. (2018). Glacial chronology and production rate cross-calibration of five cosmogenic nuclide and mineral systems from the southern Central Andean Plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 500, 242-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.07.034
Kriegler, E., Bertram, C., Kuramochi, T., Jakob, M., Pehl, M., Stevanovic, M., Höhne, N., Luderer, G., Minx, J., Fekete, H., Hilaire, J., Luna, L.V., et al. (2018). Short term policies to keep the door open for Paris climate goals. Environmental Research Letters, 13, 7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aac4f1
Amidon, W.A., Luna, L.V., Fisher, G.B., Burbank, D.W., Kylander-Clark, A.R.C., Alonso, R. (2015). Provenance and tectonic implications of Orán Group foreland basin sediments, Río Iruya canyon, NW Argentina (23S). Basin Research, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12139

**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.

No results found.

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Korup, O., Ferrer, J. V., Luna, L. V. (in prep). Size scaling of large landslides from incomplete inventories.
Luna, L. V., Arango-Carmona, M. I., Veh, G., Lewis, E., Ozturk, U., Korup, O. (in prep). Urban landslides triggered under similar rainfall conditions globally.
Vallejo-Bernal, S.M., Wolf, F., Luna, L.V., Boers, N., Marwan, N., Kurths, J. (in prep). Atmospheric rivers are the main cause of landslides in Western North America.
Patton, A. I., Luna, L. V., Roering, J. J., Jacobs, A., Korup, O., Mirus, B. B. (2023). Landslide Initiation Thresholds in Data-Sparse Regions: Application to Landslide Early Warning Criteria in Sitka, Alaska, USA. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 23 (10), 3261–3284. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3261-2023.
Veh, G., Lützow, N., Tamm, J., Luna, L.V., Hugonnet, R., Geertsema, M., Clague, J.J., Korup, O. (2023). Less extreme and earlier outbursts of ice-dammed lakes since 1900. Nature, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05642-9
Fisher, G.B., Luna, L.V., Amidon, W.H., Burbank, D.W., de Boer, B., Stap, L.B., Bookhagen, B., Godard, V., Oskin, M.E., Alonso, R.N., Tuenter, E., Lourens, L.J. (2023) Milankovitch-paced erosion in the southern Central Andes. Nature Communications, 14(1), 424. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36022-0
Luna, L.V., & Korup, O. (2022). Seasonal landslide activity lags annual precipitation pattern in the Pacific Northwest. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(18), https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098506
Fekete, H., Kuramochi, T., Roelfsema, M., Elzen, M. den, Forsell, N., Höhne, N., Luna, L.V., et al. (2021). A review of successful climate change mitigation policies in major emitting economies and the potential of global replication. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 137, 110602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110602
Kemter, M., Fischer, M., Luna, L.V., Schönfeldt, E., Vogel, J., Banerjee, A., et al. (2021). Cascading hazards in the aftermath of Australia’s 2019/2020 Black Summer Wildfires. Earth’s Future, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EF001884
Stirling, M. W., Abbott, E. R., Rood, D. H., McVerry, G. H., Abrahamson, N. A., Barrell, D. J. A. ,Huso, R., Litchfield, N.J., Luna, L.V., et al. (2021). First use of fragile geologic features to set the design motions for a major existing engineered structure. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 111(5), 2673–2695. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120210026
Luna, L.V., Bookhagen, B., Niedermann, S., Rugel, G., Scharf, A., Merchel, S. (2018). Glacial chronology and production rate cross-calibration of five cosmogenic nuclide and mineral systems from the southern Central Andean Plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 500, 242-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.07.034
Kriegler, E., Bertram, C., Kuramochi, T., Jakob, M., Pehl, M., Stevanovic, M., Höhne, N., Luderer, G., Minx, J., Fekete, H., Hilaire, J., Luna, L.V., et al. (2018). Short term policies to keep the door open for Paris climate goals. Environmental Research Letters, 13, 7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aac4f1
Amidon, W.A., Luna, L.V., Fisher, G.B., Burbank, D.W., Kylander-Clark, A.R.C., Alonso, R. (2015). Provenance and tectonic implications of Orán Group foreland basin sediments, Río Iruya canyon, NW Argentina (23S). Basin Research, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12139

**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.

No results found.

*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