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Manuel Nathenson

Conducts research on probabilities of the occurrence and of sizes of volcanic eruptions, methods of calculating volumes of tephra layers, and characteristics of springs on volcanoes. Serves as liaison for the Volcano Science Center with the Moffett Publishing Service Center and compiles a bibliography of the Publications of the Volcano Hazards Program.

Work on probabilities of volcanic eruptions used for hazard assessments of Yellowstone, Medicine Lake volcano, Lassen volcanic center, and Crater Lake caldera. Studies with Judy Fierstein on methods of calculating volumes of tephra layers were published and applied to reevaluation of volumes of large tephra eruptions in the Cascades. Work on chemistry of slightly thermal springs with Mike Thompson and Bob Mariner on volcanoes published for Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Mount Shasta, and Crater Lake. A series of studies were done at Crater Lake to provide input to the Department’s decision making on the existence of a significant thermal feature in Crater Lake. Served as USGS representative for DOI issues on significant thermal features in national parks. Coordinated studies in the USGS for input to the U.S. DOE Hawaii Geothermal Project Environmental Impact Statement. Worked on heat flow studies of various areas for the study of geothermal systems and ran a drilling program at Raft River, Idaho, with Thomas Urban. Developed methodology to analyze recoverability for assessments of geothermal resources in the U.S. Prepared a map with Marianne Guffanti of geothermal gradients to 2 km depth in the U.S.

Professional Experience

  • Served as Chief Scientist, Volcano Hazards Team 2007–2009, Associate Chief Scientist, Volcano Hazards Team 2005–2007, Scientist-in-Charge, Menlo Park Volcano Hazards Team 2000–2005

  • Served as Acting Chief Scientist, Volcano Hazards Team, and Acting Program Coordinator, Volcano Hazards Program 10/95–2/96

  • Served as Chief, Branch of Volcanic and Geothermal Processes, Coordinator, Volcano Hazards Program, and Coordinator, Geothermal Studies

  • Program 5/94–10/96. Took Branch and Program through the Reduction in Force and Reorganization of Geologic Division

  • Served as Associate Chief, Branch of Igneous and Geothermal Processes 7/83–1/87

  • Joined USGS Field Geochemistry and Petrology Branch 1/1972

Education and Certifications

  • Stanford University, Ph. D. Aeronautics & Astronautics 1971

  • Stanford University, M.S. Aeronautics & Astronautics 1967

  • Carnegie Mellon University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1965

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)

  • International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI)

  • Geothermal Rising

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science

Honors and Awards

  • Dallas Peck Outstanding Scientist Emeritus Award 2021

  • Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award

  • Special act award for contributions to the development of public policy based on scientific understanding of thermal features at the bottom of Crater Lake 1993

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 53

Revised tephra volumes for Cascade Range volcanoes

Isopach maps from tephra eruptions from Mount St. Helens were reported in Carey et al. (1995) and for tephra eruptions from Glacier Peak in Gardner et al. (1998). For exponential thinning, the isopach data only define a single slope on a log thickness versus square root of area plot. Carey et al. (1995) proposed a model that was used to estimate a second slope, and volumes were presented in both s
Authors
Manuel Nathenson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Publications of the Volcano Hazards Program 2014

The Volcano Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is part of the Natural Hazards activity, as funded by Congressional appropriation. Investigations are carried out by the USGS and with cooperators at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa and Hilo, University of Utah, and University
Authors
Manuel Nathenson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Publications of the Volcano Hazards Program 2013

The Volcano Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is part of the Natural Hazards activity, as funded by Congressional appropriation. Investigations are carried out by the USGS and with cooperators at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa and Hilo, University of Utah, and University
Authors
Manuel Nathenson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Geologic and geophysical data for wells drilled at Raft River Valley, Cassia County, Idaho, in 1977-1978 and data for wells drilled previously

In order to better define the size of the thermal anomaly in the Raft River Valley, Idaho, the U.S. Geological Survey drilled a series of intermediate-depth (nominal 500-ft depth) wells in 1977 and 1978.  This report presents geologic, geophysical, and temperature data for these drill holes, along with data for five wells drilled by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory with U.S. Department of
Authors
Manuel Nathenson, Thomas C. Urban, Harry R. Covington
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Publications of the Volcano Hazards Program 2012

The Volcano Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is part of the Geologic Hazards Assessments subactivity, as funded by Congressional appropriation. Investigations are carried out by the USGS and with cooperators at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, University of Hawaii Manoa and Hilo, University of Utah,
Authors
Manuel Nathenson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Long-range hazard assessment of volcanic ash dispersal for a Plinian eruptive scenario at Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico): implications for civil aviation safety

Popocatépetl is one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes threatening a densely populated area that includes Mexico City with more than 20 million inhabitants. The destructive potential of this volcano is demonstrated by its Late Pleistocene–Holocene eruptive activity, which has been characterized by recurrent Plinian eruptions of large magnitude, the last two of which destroyed human settlements in p
Authors
Rosanna Bonasia, Chirara Scaini, Lucia Capra, Manuel Nathenson, Claus Siebe, Lilia Arana-Salinas, Arnau Folch
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Springs, streams, and gas vent on and near Mount Adams volcano, Washington

Springs and some streams on Mount Adams volcano have been sampled for chemistry and light stable isotopes of water. Spring temperatures are generally cooler than air temperatures from weather stations at the same elevation. Spring chemistry generally reflects weathering of volcanic rock from dissolved carbon dioxide. Water in some springs and streams has either dissolved hydrothermal minerals or h
Authors
Manuel Nathenson, Robert H. Mariner
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Publications of the Volcano Hazards Program 2011

The Volcano Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is part of the Geologic Hazards Assessments subactivity, as funded by Congressional appropriation. Investigations are carried out by the USGS and with cooperators at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, University of Hawaii Manoa and Hilo, University of Utah,
Authors
Manuel Nathenson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Rise of a variable-viscosity fluid in a steadily spreading wedge-shaped conduit with accreting walls

Relatively rigid plates making up the outer 50 to 100 km of the Earth are steadily separating from one another along narrow globe-circling zones of submarine volcanism, the oceanic spreading centers. Continuity requires that the viscous underlying material rise beneath spreading centers and accrete onto the steadily diverging plates. It is likely that during the rise the viscosity changes systemat
Authors
Arthur H. Lachenbruch, Manuel Nathenson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Earthquake Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Earthquake Science Center

Volcano hazards assessment for the Lassen region, northern California

The Lassen region of the southernmost Cascade Range is an active volcanic area. At least 70 eruptions have occurred in the past 100,000 years, including 3 in the past 1,000 years, most recently in 1915. The record of past eruptions and the present state of the underlying magmatic and hydrothermal systems make it clear that future eruptions within the Lassen Volcanic Center are very likely. Althoug
Authors
Michael A. Clynne, Joel E. Robinson, Manuel Nathenson, L. J. Patrick Muffler
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Eruption probabilities for the Lassen Volcanic Center and regional volcanism, northern California, and probabilities for large explosive eruptions in the Cascade Range

Chronologies for eruptive activity of the Lassen Volcanic Center and for eruptions from the regional mafic vents in the surrounding area of the Lassen segment of the Cascade Range are here used to estimate probabilities of future eruptions. For the regional mafic volcanism, the ages of many vents are known only within broad ranges, and two models are developed that should bracket the actual erupti
Authors
Manuel Nathenson, Michael A. Clynne, L. J. Patrick Muffler
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Publications of the Volcano Hazards Program 2010

The Volcano Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is part of the Geologic Hazards Assessments subactivity as funded by Congressional appropriation. Investigations are carried out in the USGS and with cooperators at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, University of Hawaii Manoa and Hilo, University of Utah,
Authors
Manuel Nathenson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Science and Products

*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