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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. 

Experiments at the Debris-Flow Flume

USGS Debris-flow flume near Blue River, Oregon

This set of videos presents about 18 hours of footage documenting the 163 experiments conducted at the USGS debris-flow flume from 1992 to 2017.

Watch the Videos

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

No Result Found
No results found.

My research career, including information about the debris flow experimental flume facility, is docuymented in this memoir.

Landslide disparities, flume discoveries, and Oso despair Landslide disparities, flume discoveries, and Oso despair

Landslide dynamics is the branch of science that seeks to understand the motion of landslides by applying Newton's laws. This memoir focusses on a 40‐year effort to understand motion of highly mobile—and highly lethal—landslides such as debris avalanches and debris flows. A major component of this work entailed development and operation of the U.S. Geological Survey debris flow flume, a...
Authors
Richard M. Iverson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center
Filter Total Items: 120

Spatial and temporal distribution of shallow landsliding during intense rainfall, southeastern Oahu, Hawaii Spatial and temporal distribution of shallow landsliding during intense rainfall, southeastern Oahu, Hawaii

No abstract available.
Authors
Thomas C. Pierson, Richard M. Iverson, Stephen D. Ellen
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Cascades Volcano Observatory

Sensitivity of stability analyses to groundwater data Sensitivity of stability analyses to groundwater data

No abstract available.
Authors
Richard M. Iverson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Cascades Volcano Observatory

Debris-flow flume at H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon Debris-flow flume at H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon

No abstract available.
Authors
R.M. Iverson, J. E. Costa, R.G. LaHusen
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Landslide Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Map showing the distribution of debris flows during the New Year's Eve storm of 1987-1988 in southeastern Oahu, Hawaii Map showing the distribution of debris flows during the New Year's Eve storm of 1987-1988 in southeastern Oahu, Hawaii

No abstract available.
Authors
Stephen D. Ellen, Richard M. Iverson, Thomas C. Pierson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Groundwater flow-field in infinite slopes Groundwater flow-field in infinite slopes

No abstract available.
Authors
R.M. Iverson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Lava domes modeled as brittle shells that enclose pressurized magma, with application to Mount St. Helens Lava domes modeled as brittle shells that enclose pressurized magma, with application to Mount St. Helens

No abstract available.
Authors
R.M. Iverson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Iverson, R.M., 1980, Processes of accelerated pluvial erosion on desert hillslopes modified by vehicular traffic: Earth Surface Processes, v. 5, no. 4, p. 369‑388.
Iverson, R.M., Hinckley, B.S., Webb, R.H., and Hallet, B., 1981, Physical effects of vehicular disturbances on arid landscapes: Science, v. 212, no. 4497, p. 915‑917.
Hinckley, B.S., Iverson, R.M., and Hallet, B., 1983, Accelerated water erosion in ORV‑use areas: Environmental Effects of Off-road Vehicles: Impacts and Management in Arid Regions, R.H. Webb and H.G. Wilshire, eds., Springer‑Verlag, New York, p. 81‑94.
Elvidge, C.D., and Iverson, R.M., 1983, Regeneration of desert pavement and desert varnish: Environmental Effects of Off-road Vehicles: Impacts and Management in Arid regions, R.H. Webb and H.G. Wilshire, eds., Springer‑Verlag, New York, p. 225‑241.
Iverson, R.M., 1983, Discussion of "A model for creeping flow in landslides" by W.Z. Savage and A.F. Chleborad: Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists, v. 20, no. 4, p. 455‑459.

**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

No Result Found
No results found.

My research career, including information about the debris flow experimental flume facility, is docuymented in this memoir.

Landslide disparities, flume discoveries, and Oso despair Landslide disparities, flume discoveries, and Oso despair

Landslide dynamics is the branch of science that seeks to understand the motion of landslides by applying Newton's laws. This memoir focusses on a 40‐year effort to understand motion of highly mobile—and highly lethal—landslides such as debris avalanches and debris flows. A major component of this work entailed development and operation of the U.S. Geological Survey debris flow flume, a...
Authors
Richard M. Iverson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center
Filter Total Items: 120

Spatial and temporal distribution of shallow landsliding during intense rainfall, southeastern Oahu, Hawaii Spatial and temporal distribution of shallow landsliding during intense rainfall, southeastern Oahu, Hawaii

No abstract available.
Authors
Thomas C. Pierson, Richard M. Iverson, Stephen D. Ellen
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Cascades Volcano Observatory

Sensitivity of stability analyses to groundwater data Sensitivity of stability analyses to groundwater data

No abstract available.
Authors
Richard M. Iverson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Cascades Volcano Observatory

Debris-flow flume at H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon Debris-flow flume at H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon

No abstract available.
Authors
R.M. Iverson, J. E. Costa, R.G. LaHusen
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Landslide Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Map showing the distribution of debris flows during the New Year's Eve storm of 1987-1988 in southeastern Oahu, Hawaii Map showing the distribution of debris flows during the New Year's Eve storm of 1987-1988 in southeastern Oahu, Hawaii

No abstract available.
Authors
Stephen D. Ellen, Richard M. Iverson, Thomas C. Pierson
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Groundwater flow-field in infinite slopes Groundwater flow-field in infinite slopes

No abstract available.
Authors
R.M. Iverson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Lava domes modeled as brittle shells that enclose pressurized magma, with application to Mount St. Helens Lava domes modeled as brittle shells that enclose pressurized magma, with application to Mount St. Helens

No abstract available.
Authors
R.M. Iverson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Iverson, R.M., 1980, Processes of accelerated pluvial erosion on desert hillslopes modified by vehicular traffic: Earth Surface Processes, v. 5, no. 4, p. 369‑388.
Iverson, R.M., Hinckley, B.S., Webb, R.H., and Hallet, B., 1981, Physical effects of vehicular disturbances on arid landscapes: Science, v. 212, no. 4497, p. 915‑917.
Hinckley, B.S., Iverson, R.M., and Hallet, B., 1983, Accelerated water erosion in ORV‑use areas: Environmental Effects of Off-road Vehicles: Impacts and Management in Arid Regions, R.H. Webb and H.G. Wilshire, eds., Springer‑Verlag, New York, p. 81‑94.
Elvidge, C.D., and Iverson, R.M., 1983, Regeneration of desert pavement and desert varnish: Environmental Effects of Off-road Vehicles: Impacts and Management in Arid regions, R.H. Webb and H.G. Wilshire, eds., Springer‑Verlag, New York, p. 225‑241.
Iverson, R.M., 1983, Discussion of "A model for creeping flow in landslides" by W.Z. Savage and A.F. Chleborad: Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists, v. 20, no. 4, p. 455‑459.

**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.

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