Thomas Winslow Sisson, PhD
I am a research geologist with the USGS Volcano Science Center. I have spent many years working on the geologic history and volcano hazards of Mount Rainier. My research interests include experimental petrology and volatile solubility of magmas.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S. UC Santa Barbara
B.S. Stanford University
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 53
Digital topographic map showing the extents of glacial ice and perennial snowfields at Mount Rainier, Washington, based on the LiDAR survey of September 2007 to October 2008 Digital topographic map showing the extents of glacial ice and perennial snowfields at Mount Rainier, Washington, based on the LiDAR survey of September 2007 to October 2008
In response to severe flooding in November 2006, the National Park Service contracted for a high-resolution aerial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) topographic survey of Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Due to inclement weather, this survey was performed in two stages: early September 2007 and September-October 2008. The total surveyed area of 241,585 acres includes an...
Authors
Joel E. Robinson, Thomas W. Sisson, Darin D. Swinney
Source materials for inception stage Hawaiian magmas: Pb‐He isotope variations for early Kilauea Source materials for inception stage Hawaiian magmas: Pb‐He isotope variations for early Kilauea
New noble gas and radiogenic isotopic compositions are presented for tholeiitic, transitional, and alkalic rocks from the submarine Hilina region on the south flank of Kilauea, Hawaii. The 3He/4He ratios for undegassed glass and olivine separates (11–26 Ra) contrast with those of postshield and rejuvenated alkalic lavas, consistent with the alkalic and transitional basalts at Hilina...
Authors
Takeshi Hanyu, Jun-Ichi Kimura, Maiko Katakuse, Andrew T. Calvert, Thomas W. Sisson, Shun’ichi Nakai
Volcano monitoring Volcano monitoring
Volcanoes are not randomly distributed over the Earth's surface. Most are concentrated on the edges of continents, along island chains, or beneath the sea where they form long mountain ranges. More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level encircle the Pacific Ocean (see Fig. 1). The concept of plate tectonics explains the locations of volcanoes and their relationship to...
Authors
James G. Smith, Jonathan Dehn, Richard P. Hoblitt, Richard G. Lahusen, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Seth C. Moran, Lindsay McClelland, Kenneth A. McGee, Manuel Nathenson, Paul G. Okubo, John S. Pallister, Michael P. Poland, John A. Power, David J. Schneider, Thomas W. Sisson
Assessing the state of our knowledge of continental arc volcanism: The Tatara-San Pedro Complex, 36°S, Andean Southern Volcanic Zone: Talca and Tatara-San Pedro, Chile 4-12 February 2007 Assessing the state of our knowledge of continental arc volcanism: The Tatara-San Pedro Complex, 36°S, Andean Southern Volcanic Zone: Talca and Tatara-San Pedro, Chile 4-12 February 2007
Tatara-San Pedro Volcanic Complex in Chile is one of the best studied continental arc volcanic centers in the world. In connection to this, a field forum was conducted to discuss the processes involved in the construction of such volcanoes and the origins of its magmas. With 40 international participants from diverse scientific backgrounds, the forum opened in the Talca municipal library...
Authors
Claude Jaupart, Thomas W. Sisson, Jon Blundy, Richard Arculus
Growth history of Kilauea inferred from volatile concentrations in submarine-collected basalts Growth history of Kilauea inferred from volatile concentrations in submarine-collected basalts
Major-element and volatile (H2O, CO2, S) compositions of glasses from the submarine flanks of Kilauea Volcano record its growth from pre-shield into tholeiite shield-stage. Pillow lavas of mildly alkalic basalt at 2600–1900 mbsl on the upper slope of the south flank are an intermediate link between deeper alkalic volcaniclastics and the modern tholeiite shield. Lava clast glasses from...
Authors
Michelle L. Coombs, Thomas W. Sisson, Peter W. Lipman
Piggyback tectonics: Long-term growth of Kilauea on the south flank of Mauna Loa Piggyback tectonics: Long-term growth of Kilauea on the south flank of Mauna Loa
Compositional and age data from offshore pillow lavas and volcaniclastic sediments, along with on-land geologic, seismic, and deformation data, provide broad perspectives on the early growth of Kilauea Volcano and the long-term geometric evolution of its rift zones. Sulfur-rich glass rinds on pillow lavas and volcaniclastic sediments derived from them document early underwater growth of...
Authors
Peter W. Lipman, Thomas W. Sisson, Michelle L. Coombs, Andrew T. Calvert, Jun-Ichi Kimura
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 53
Digital topographic map showing the extents of glacial ice and perennial snowfields at Mount Rainier, Washington, based on the LiDAR survey of September 2007 to October 2008 Digital topographic map showing the extents of glacial ice and perennial snowfields at Mount Rainier, Washington, based on the LiDAR survey of September 2007 to October 2008
In response to severe flooding in November 2006, the National Park Service contracted for a high-resolution aerial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) topographic survey of Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Due to inclement weather, this survey was performed in two stages: early September 2007 and September-October 2008. The total surveyed area of 241,585 acres includes an...
Authors
Joel E. Robinson, Thomas W. Sisson, Darin D. Swinney
Source materials for inception stage Hawaiian magmas: Pb‐He isotope variations for early Kilauea Source materials for inception stage Hawaiian magmas: Pb‐He isotope variations for early Kilauea
New noble gas and radiogenic isotopic compositions are presented for tholeiitic, transitional, and alkalic rocks from the submarine Hilina region on the south flank of Kilauea, Hawaii. The 3He/4He ratios for undegassed glass and olivine separates (11–26 Ra) contrast with those of postshield and rejuvenated alkalic lavas, consistent with the alkalic and transitional basalts at Hilina...
Authors
Takeshi Hanyu, Jun-Ichi Kimura, Maiko Katakuse, Andrew T. Calvert, Thomas W. Sisson, Shun’ichi Nakai
Volcano monitoring Volcano monitoring
Volcanoes are not randomly distributed over the Earth's surface. Most are concentrated on the edges of continents, along island chains, or beneath the sea where they form long mountain ranges. More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level encircle the Pacific Ocean (see Fig. 1). The concept of plate tectonics explains the locations of volcanoes and their relationship to...
Authors
James G. Smith, Jonathan Dehn, Richard P. Hoblitt, Richard G. Lahusen, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Seth C. Moran, Lindsay McClelland, Kenneth A. McGee, Manuel Nathenson, Paul G. Okubo, John S. Pallister, Michael P. Poland, John A. Power, David J. Schneider, Thomas W. Sisson
Assessing the state of our knowledge of continental arc volcanism: The Tatara-San Pedro Complex, 36°S, Andean Southern Volcanic Zone: Talca and Tatara-San Pedro, Chile 4-12 February 2007 Assessing the state of our knowledge of continental arc volcanism: The Tatara-San Pedro Complex, 36°S, Andean Southern Volcanic Zone: Talca and Tatara-San Pedro, Chile 4-12 February 2007
Tatara-San Pedro Volcanic Complex in Chile is one of the best studied continental arc volcanic centers in the world. In connection to this, a field forum was conducted to discuss the processes involved in the construction of such volcanoes and the origins of its magmas. With 40 international participants from diverse scientific backgrounds, the forum opened in the Talca municipal library...
Authors
Claude Jaupart, Thomas W. Sisson, Jon Blundy, Richard Arculus
Growth history of Kilauea inferred from volatile concentrations in submarine-collected basalts Growth history of Kilauea inferred from volatile concentrations in submarine-collected basalts
Major-element and volatile (H2O, CO2, S) compositions of glasses from the submarine flanks of Kilauea Volcano record its growth from pre-shield into tholeiite shield-stage. Pillow lavas of mildly alkalic basalt at 2600–1900 mbsl on the upper slope of the south flank are an intermediate link between deeper alkalic volcaniclastics and the modern tholeiite shield. Lava clast glasses from...
Authors
Michelle L. Coombs, Thomas W. Sisson, Peter W. Lipman
Piggyback tectonics: Long-term growth of Kilauea on the south flank of Mauna Loa Piggyback tectonics: Long-term growth of Kilauea on the south flank of Mauna Loa
Compositional and age data from offshore pillow lavas and volcaniclastic sediments, along with on-land geologic, seismic, and deformation data, provide broad perspectives on the early growth of Kilauea Volcano and the long-term geometric evolution of its rift zones. Sulfur-rich glass rinds on pillow lavas and volcaniclastic sediments derived from them document early underwater growth of...
Authors
Peter W. Lipman, Thomas W. Sisson, Michelle L. Coombs, Andrew T. Calvert, Jun-Ichi Kimura