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
Submarine alkalic through tholeiitic shield-stage development of Kïlauea volcano, Hawai’i Submarine alkalic through tholeiitic shield-stage development of Kïlauea volcano, Hawai’i
The submarine Hilina region exposes a succession of magma compositions spanning the juvenile "Lō‘ihi" through tholeiitic shield stages of Kïlauea volcano. Early products, preserved as glass grains and clasts in volcaniclastic rocks of the 3000 m deep Hilina bench, include nephelinite, basanite, phonotephrite, hawaiite, alkali basalt, transitional basalt, and rare alkali-poor Mauna Loa...
Authors
Thomas W. Sisson, Peter W. Lipman, J. Naka
Tectono-magmatic processes investigated at deep-water flanks of Hawaiian volcanoes Tectono-magmatic processes investigated at deep-water flanks of Hawaiian volcanoes
Hawaiian volcanoes are exceptional examples of intraplate hotspot volcanism. Hotspot volcanoes, which frequently host large eruptions and related earthquakes, flank‐failure landslides, and associated tsunamis, can present severe hazards to populated regions. Many studies have focused on subaerial parts of Hawaiian volcanoes, but the deep‐water flanks of the edifices, which can reach 5700...
Authors
J. Naka, E Takahasi, D. Clague, Takeshi Hanyu, E. Herrero-Bervera, J. Ishibashi, Osamu Ishizuka, K. Johnson, T. Kanamatsu, I. Kaneoka, Peter W. Lipman, A. Malahoff, Gary M. McMurtry, B. Midson, Jeff Moore, J. Morgan, T. Naganuma, K Nakajima, T Oomori, Aaron Pietruszka, Satake Kenji, David R. Sherrod, Tsugio Shibata, K Shinozaki, Thomas W. Sisson, John R. Smith, S. Takarada, C. Thomber, Frank A. Trusdell, Nohiro Tsuboyama, T. Ui, Susumu Umino, K. Uto, H. Yokose
Gas-driven filter pressing in magmas Gas-driven filter pressing in magmas
Most silicic and some mafic magmas expand via second boiling if they crystallize at depths of about 10 km or less. The buildup of gas pressure due to second boiling can be relieved by expulsion of melt out of the region of crystallization, and this process of gas-driven filter pressing assists the crystallization differentiation of magmas. For gas-driven filter pressing to be effective...
Authors
Thomas W. Sisson, Charles R. Bacon
A mass proportion method for calculating melting reactions and application to melting of model upper mantle lherzolite A mass proportion method for calculating melting reactions and application to melting of model upper mantle lherzolite
We present a method for calculating quantitative melting reactions in systems with multiple solid solutions that accounts for changes in the mass proportions of phases between two points at different temperatures along a melting curve. This method can be applied to any data set that defines the phase proportions along a melting curve. The method yields the net change in mass proportion...
Authors
Michael J. Walter, Thomas W. Sisson, Dean C. Presnall
History and hazards of Mount Rainier, Washington History and hazards of Mount Rainier, Washington
Mount Rainier is an active volcano that first erupted about half a million years ago. Because of Rainier's great height (14,410 feet above sea level) and northerly location, glaciers have cut deeply into its lavas, making it appear deceptively older than it actually is. Mount Rainier is known to have erupted as recently as in the 1840s, and large eruptions took place as recently as about...
Authors
Thomas W. Sisson
Geologic road guide to Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, central Sierra Nevada, California Geologic road guide to Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, central Sierra Nevada, California
No abstract available.
Authors
James Gregory Moore, Warren J. Nokleberg, Thomas W. Sisson
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 53
Submarine alkalic through tholeiitic shield-stage development of Kïlauea volcano, Hawai’i Submarine alkalic through tholeiitic shield-stage development of Kïlauea volcano, Hawai’i
The submarine Hilina region exposes a succession of magma compositions spanning the juvenile "Lō‘ihi" through tholeiitic shield stages of Kïlauea volcano. Early products, preserved as glass grains and clasts in volcaniclastic rocks of the 3000 m deep Hilina bench, include nephelinite, basanite, phonotephrite, hawaiite, alkali basalt, transitional basalt, and rare alkali-poor Mauna Loa...
Authors
Thomas W. Sisson, Peter W. Lipman, J. Naka
Tectono-magmatic processes investigated at deep-water flanks of Hawaiian volcanoes Tectono-magmatic processes investigated at deep-water flanks of Hawaiian volcanoes
Hawaiian volcanoes are exceptional examples of intraplate hotspot volcanism. Hotspot volcanoes, which frequently host large eruptions and related earthquakes, flank‐failure landslides, and associated tsunamis, can present severe hazards to populated regions. Many studies have focused on subaerial parts of Hawaiian volcanoes, but the deep‐water flanks of the edifices, which can reach 5700...
Authors
J. Naka, E Takahasi, D. Clague, Takeshi Hanyu, E. Herrero-Bervera, J. Ishibashi, Osamu Ishizuka, K. Johnson, T. Kanamatsu, I. Kaneoka, Peter W. Lipman, A. Malahoff, Gary M. McMurtry, B. Midson, Jeff Moore, J. Morgan, T. Naganuma, K Nakajima, T Oomori, Aaron Pietruszka, Satake Kenji, David R. Sherrod, Tsugio Shibata, K Shinozaki, Thomas W. Sisson, John R. Smith, S. Takarada, C. Thomber, Frank A. Trusdell, Nohiro Tsuboyama, T. Ui, Susumu Umino, K. Uto, H. Yokose
Gas-driven filter pressing in magmas Gas-driven filter pressing in magmas
Most silicic and some mafic magmas expand via second boiling if they crystallize at depths of about 10 km or less. The buildup of gas pressure due to second boiling can be relieved by expulsion of melt out of the region of crystallization, and this process of gas-driven filter pressing assists the crystallization differentiation of magmas. For gas-driven filter pressing to be effective...
Authors
Thomas W. Sisson, Charles R. Bacon
A mass proportion method for calculating melting reactions and application to melting of model upper mantle lherzolite A mass proportion method for calculating melting reactions and application to melting of model upper mantle lherzolite
We present a method for calculating quantitative melting reactions in systems with multiple solid solutions that accounts for changes in the mass proportions of phases between two points at different temperatures along a melting curve. This method can be applied to any data set that defines the phase proportions along a melting curve. The method yields the net change in mass proportion...
Authors
Michael J. Walter, Thomas W. Sisson, Dean C. Presnall
History and hazards of Mount Rainier, Washington History and hazards of Mount Rainier, Washington
Mount Rainier is an active volcano that first erupted about half a million years ago. Because of Rainier's great height (14,410 feet above sea level) and northerly location, glaciers have cut deeply into its lavas, making it appear deceptively older than it actually is. Mount Rainier is known to have erupted as recently as in the 1840s, and large eruptions took place as recently as about...
Authors
Thomas W. Sisson
Geologic road guide to Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, central Sierra Nevada, California Geologic road guide to Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, central Sierra Nevada, California
No abstract available.
Authors
James Gregory Moore, Warren J. Nokleberg, Thomas W. Sisson