Richard M. Iverson
My USGS career has focused mostly on evaluating and modeling the dynamics and hazards of landslides and debris flows, with a secondary focus on the dynamics of volcanic extrusions. Part of my work involved design, development, and utilization of the USGS debris-flow flume, a unique, large-scale experimental facility at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest near Blue River, Oregon.
Career Highlights
A written account of some career highlights was published in 2020 in Perspectives of Earth and Space Scientists. An oral history interview recounting some of my career highlights is archived at Oregon State University.
Professional Experience
Senior Research Hydrologist, USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
Adjunct Professor, University of Washington and Portland State University
Education and Certifications
Stanford University, Ph.D., 1984, Applied Earth Sciences
Stanford University, M.S., 1981, Hydrology
Stanford University, M.S., 1980, Applied Earth Sciences
Iowa State University, B.S., 1977, Geology major, Mathematics and Physics minors
Honors and Awards
Fellow, American Geophysical Union (AGU) and Geological Society of America (GSA)
E.B. Burwell Award, GSA, 1991
Kirk Bryan Award, GSA, 2001
Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer, GSA, 2005
Langbein Lecturer, AGU, 2006
U.S. Department of the Interior Distinguished Service Award, 2019
Science and Products
My research career, including information about the debris flow experimental flume facility, is docuymented in this memoir.
Landslide disparities, flume discoveries, and Oso despair
Positive feedback and momentum growth during debris-flow entrainment of wet bed sediment
Volcano collapse promoted by progressive strength reduction: New data from Mount St. Helens
Effects of soil aggregates on debris-flow mobilization: Results from ring-shear experiments
Mount St. Helens: A 30-year legacy of volcanism
The perfect debris flow? Aggregated results from 28 large-scale experiments
Elements of an improved model of debris-flow motion
Modeling hazardous mass flows Geoflows09: Mathematical and computational aspects of modeling hazardous geophysical mass flows; Seattle, Washington, 9–11 March 2009
Steady and intermittent slipping in a model of landslide motion regulated by pore-pressure feedback
Deciphering landslide behavior using large-scale flume experiments
Digital data for volcano hazards of the Three Sisters region, Oregon
Mobility statistics and automated hazard mapping for debris flows and rock avalanches
Dynamics of seismogenic volcanic extrusion resisted by a solid surface plug, Mount St. Helens, 2004-2005
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
My research career, including information about the debris flow experimental flume facility, is docuymented in this memoir.
Landslide disparities, flume discoveries, and Oso despair
Positive feedback and momentum growth during debris-flow entrainment of wet bed sediment
Volcano collapse promoted by progressive strength reduction: New data from Mount St. Helens
Effects of soil aggregates on debris-flow mobilization: Results from ring-shear experiments
Mount St. Helens: A 30-year legacy of volcanism
The perfect debris flow? Aggregated results from 28 large-scale experiments
Elements of an improved model of debris-flow motion
Modeling hazardous mass flows Geoflows09: Mathematical and computational aspects of modeling hazardous geophysical mass flows; Seattle, Washington, 9–11 March 2009
Steady and intermittent slipping in a model of landslide motion regulated by pore-pressure feedback
Deciphering landslide behavior using large-scale flume experiments
Digital data for volcano hazards of the Three Sisters region, Oregon
Mobility statistics and automated hazard mapping for debris flows and rock avalanches
Dynamics of seismogenic volcanic extrusion resisted by a solid surface plug, Mount St. Helens, 2004-2005
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.