Rick L. Wessels, Ph.D.
I use high-resolution satellite remote sensing to monitor and research volcanoes around the world. I am always working toward faster remote sensing acquisition and reporting to many partners both at the USGS Volcano Observatories and many international observatories and emergency managers.
I've been using various types of overhead imaging as the main tool for various types of geology, glacier, and volcano research since 1988 starting in industry and academic positions and now with the U.S. Geological Survey since 2003. I specialize in using a full spectrum of satellite data to better understand the surface of the Earth.
Professional Experience
USGS Volcano Disaster Assistance Program - Reston, VA (since 2013): 2011-present
USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory - Anchorage, AK: 2003-2013
Arizona State University Post-Doc - USGS Astrogeology - Flagstaff, AZ: 2000-2003
Amoco Research - Tulsa, OK 1997 - 1998 (part-time consulting while at ASU for my PhD.)
Amoco - Houston, TX: 1990 - 1993
Chevron - Midland, TX: summer 1989
USGS NAGT intern - Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, WA: summer 1988
Education and Certifications
Arizona State University Geology PhD. 1999
Northern Arizona Geology MS 1990
Cornell College Geology BA 1988
Affiliations and Memberships*
AGU
IAVCEI
NASA
Honors and Awards
Partly funded as a Co-investigator for various Earth Science and Planetary NASA grants from 1993 to 2022
Several USGS STAR awards 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2018
Abstracts and Presentations
Panelist - NGA Thermal Summit - 2019 - Chantilly, VA
Invited Speaker - ScienceWriters2018 Meeting - Washington DC
Invited Speaker - Civil Applications Meeting - 2014, 2015 - Reston, VA
Invited Speaker - University of Pittsburgh - 2008
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 27
Monitoring volcanic threats using ASTER satellite data Monitoring volcanic threats using ASTER satellite data
This document summarizes ongoing activities associated with a research project funded by the national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) focusing on volcanic change detection through the use of satellite imagery. This work includes systems development as well as improvements in data analysis methods. Participating organizations include the NASA land processes distributed active...
Authors
K. A. Duda, R. Wessels, M. Ramsey, J. Dehn
Recent extreme avalanches: Triggered by climate change? Recent extreme avalanches: Triggered by climate change?
On 25 September 2008, seismo meters operated by the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) registered strong ground shaking. On the basis of previous experience with such large seismic signals, AVO personnel were able to rapidly identify the seismic event as an avalanche. Two days later, an AVO overflight of Iliamna volcano, near Alaska's Cook Inlet, confirmed that a massive chunk of glacial...
Authors
C. Huggel, J. Caplan-Auerbach, Rick Wessels
Monitoring volcano threats from space Monitoring volcano threats from space
Volcanoes can have extremely wide ranging effects. Even a single eruption can cause disastrous climate changes at great distance from the source. Thus, it is important to have a system to monitor even the most remote volcanoes. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on the Terra spacecraft and other satellite sensors provide imagery that is critical to...
Authors
Kenneth A. Duda, Rick L. Wessels, Michael Ramsey, Jonathan Dehn
Monitoring and modeling ice-rock avalanches from ice-capped volcanoes: A case study of frequent large avalanches on Iliamna Volcano, Alaska Monitoring and modeling ice-rock avalanches from ice-capped volcanoes: A case study of frequent large avalanches on Iliamna Volcano, Alaska
Iliamna is an andesitic stratovolcano of the Aleutian arc with regular gas and steam emissions and mantled by several large glaciers. Iliamna Volcano exhibits an unusual combination of frequent and large ice-rock avalanches in the order of 1 ?? 106??m3 to 3 ?? 107??m3 with recent return periods of 2-4??years. We have reconstructed an avalanche event record for the past 45??years that...
Authors
C. Huggel, J. Caplan-Auerbach, C. F. Waythomas, R.L. Wessels
Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: An unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: An unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest
Mount Spurr, a 3,374-m-high stratovolcano in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska, showed signs of volcanic unrest beginning in 2004 and lasting through 2006. These signs included increases in heat flow, seismicity, and gas flux, which we interpret as the results of a magmatic intrusion in mid-2004. In response, debris-laden meltwater beneath the glacier in Mount Spurr's geothermally active...
Authors
Michelle L. Coombs, Christina A. Neal, Rick L. Wessels, Robert G. McGimsey
The reawakening of Alaska's Augustine volcano The reawakening of Alaska's Augustine volcano
Augustine volcano, in south central Alaska, ended a 20-year period of repose on 11 January 2006 with 13 explosive eruptions in 20 days. Explosive activity shifted to a quieter effusion of lava in early February, forming a new summit lava dome and two short, blocky lava flows by late March (Figure 1). The eruption was heralded by eight months of increasing seismicity, deformation, gas...
Authors
John A. Power, Christopher J. Nye, Michelle L. Coombs, Rick L. Wessels, Peter F. Cervelli, Jon Dehn, Kristi L. Wallace, Jeffrey T. Freymueller, Michael P. Doukas
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 27
Monitoring volcanic threats using ASTER satellite data Monitoring volcanic threats using ASTER satellite data
This document summarizes ongoing activities associated with a research project funded by the national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) focusing on volcanic change detection through the use of satellite imagery. This work includes systems development as well as improvements in data analysis methods. Participating organizations include the NASA land processes distributed active...
Authors
K. A. Duda, R. Wessels, M. Ramsey, J. Dehn
Recent extreme avalanches: Triggered by climate change? Recent extreme avalanches: Triggered by climate change?
On 25 September 2008, seismo meters operated by the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) registered strong ground shaking. On the basis of previous experience with such large seismic signals, AVO personnel were able to rapidly identify the seismic event as an avalanche. Two days later, an AVO overflight of Iliamna volcano, near Alaska's Cook Inlet, confirmed that a massive chunk of glacial...
Authors
C. Huggel, J. Caplan-Auerbach, Rick Wessels
Monitoring volcano threats from space Monitoring volcano threats from space
Volcanoes can have extremely wide ranging effects. Even a single eruption can cause disastrous climate changes at great distance from the source. Thus, it is important to have a system to monitor even the most remote volcanoes. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on the Terra spacecraft and other satellite sensors provide imagery that is critical to...
Authors
Kenneth A. Duda, Rick L. Wessels, Michael Ramsey, Jonathan Dehn
Monitoring and modeling ice-rock avalanches from ice-capped volcanoes: A case study of frequent large avalanches on Iliamna Volcano, Alaska Monitoring and modeling ice-rock avalanches from ice-capped volcanoes: A case study of frequent large avalanches on Iliamna Volcano, Alaska
Iliamna is an andesitic stratovolcano of the Aleutian arc with regular gas and steam emissions and mantled by several large glaciers. Iliamna Volcano exhibits an unusual combination of frequent and large ice-rock avalanches in the order of 1 ?? 106??m3 to 3 ?? 107??m3 with recent return periods of 2-4??years. We have reconstructed an avalanche event record for the past 45??years that...
Authors
C. Huggel, J. Caplan-Auerbach, C. F. Waythomas, R.L. Wessels
Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: An unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: An unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest
Mount Spurr, a 3,374-m-high stratovolcano in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska, showed signs of volcanic unrest beginning in 2004 and lasting through 2006. These signs included increases in heat flow, seismicity, and gas flux, which we interpret as the results of a magmatic intrusion in mid-2004. In response, debris-laden meltwater beneath the glacier in Mount Spurr's geothermally active...
Authors
Michelle L. Coombs, Christina A. Neal, Rick L. Wessels, Robert G. McGimsey
The reawakening of Alaska's Augustine volcano The reawakening of Alaska's Augustine volcano
Augustine volcano, in south central Alaska, ended a 20-year period of repose on 11 January 2006 with 13 explosive eruptions in 20 days. Explosive activity shifted to a quieter effusion of lava in early February, forming a new summit lava dome and two short, blocky lava flows by late March (Figure 1). The eruption was heralded by eight months of increasing seismicity, deformation, gas...
Authors
John A. Power, Christopher J. Nye, Michelle L. Coombs, Rick L. Wessels, Peter F. Cervelli, Jon Dehn, Kristi L. Wallace, Jeffrey T. Freymueller, Michael P. Doukas
*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