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
Debris-flow flume at H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon
Map showing the distribution of debris flows during the New Year's Eve storm of 1987-1988 in southeastern Oahu, Hawaii
Lava domes modeled as brittle shells that enclose pressurized magma, with application to Mount St. Helens
Limiting equilibrium and liquefaction potential in infinite submarine slopes
A mechanical model for lava domes that includes a mechanism for eruptive growth
Dynamic pore-pressure fluctuations in rapidly shearing granular materials
Dynamic pore-pressure fluctuations in rapidly shearing granular materials
Comment on ''Hydroseismicity-A hypothesis for the role of water in the generation of intraplate seismicity''
Geomorphic and hydrologic dynamics of zero-order basins
Book review of The Stability of Slopes, by E.N. Bromhead, Chapman and Hall, New York, 373. p.
The physics of debris flows — A conceptual assessment
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
- Data
- Publications
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 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 unique, laAuthorsRichard M. IversonFilter Total Items: 118Debris-flow flume at H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon
No abstract available.AuthorsR. M. Iverson, J. E. Costa, R.G. LaHusenMap showing the distribution of debris flows during the New Year's Eve storm of 1987-1988 in southeastern Oahu, Hawaii
No abstract available.AuthorsStephen D. Ellen, Richard M. Iverson, Thomas C. PiersonLava domes modeled as brittle shells that enclose pressurized magma, with application to Mount St. Helens
No abstract available.AuthorsR. M. IversonLimiting equilibrium and liquefaction potential in infinite submarine slopes
Stability evaluation of submarine slopes is hampered by the difficulty of making field measurements. Owing to the scarcity of detailed field data, stability is commonly assessed by assuming homogenous infinite slopes with steady seepage. For these conditions, it is necessary to measure only the slope angle, friction angle, cohesion, and pore pressure at some distance into the sediment to evaluateAuthorsR.P. Denlinger, R. M. IversonA mechanical model for lava domes that includes a mechanism for eruptive growth
No abstract available.AuthorsRichard M. Iverson, Roger P. DenlingerDynamic pore-pressure fluctuations in rapidly shearing granular materials
Results from two types of experiments show that intergranular pore pressures fluctuated dynamically during rapid, steady shear deformation of water-saturated granular materials. During some fluctuations, the pore water locally supported all normal and shear stresses, while grain-contact stresses transiently fell to zero. Fluctuations also propagated outward from the shear zone; this process modifiAuthorsR. M. Iverson, R.G. LaHusenDynamic pore-pressure fluctuations in rapidly shearing granular materials
Results from two types of experiments show that intergranular pore pressures fluctuated dynamically during rapid, steady shear deformation of water-saturated granular materials. During some fluctuations, the pore water locally supported all normal and shear stresses, while grain-contact stresses transiently fell to zero. Fluctuations also propagated outward from the shear zone; this process modifiAuthorsRichard M. Iverson, Richard G. LahusenComment on ''Hydroseismicity-A hypothesis for the role of water in the generation of intraplate seismicity''
No abstract available.AuthorsJon J. Major, Richard M. Iverson, John K. Costain, G. A. Bollinger, J. Alexander SpeerGeomorphic and hydrologic dynamics of zero-order basins
The 1987 International Symposium on Erosion and Sedimentation in the Pacific Rim, held August 3–7, 1987, in Corvallis, Oreg., included a special session on the geomorphic and hydrologic dynamics of zero-order drainage basins. “Zero-order basin” is one of several terms used to describe unchanneled swales or hollows that may occupy considerable areas of higher-order drainage basins. These basins serAuthorsRichard M. IversonBook review of The Stability of Slopes, by E.N. Bromhead, Chapman and Hall, New York, 373. p.
No abstract available.AuthorsRichard M. IversonThe physics of debris flows — A conceptual assessment
Debris flows exhibit conspicuous dynamic interactions among their solid and fluid constituents. Key features of the interactions are neglected in traditional theories that treat debris flows as viscoplastic continua or as uniformly dispersed grain flows, but improved understanding of grain-grain and fluid-grain interactions has emerged from recent experimental and theoretical research. Grain-flowAuthorsRichard M. Iverson, Roger P. DenlingerNon-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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