John Lyons
I study infrasound and seismic data from restless and erupting volcanoes in Alaska and around the world. Analyzing geophysical data from volcanoes helps me better understand the processes that generate the signals and informs the hazards associated with those processes. My research also aims to identify and develop better tools for monitoring changing and potentially hazardous eruptive activity.
Education
2011* - Ph.D. Geophysics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI *Includes 2 years (2005-07) of Peace Corps Service (Guatemala)
2002 - M.S. Geology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
1998 - B.S. Geology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist, Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK (2016 – present)
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK (Nov. 2012 – Feb. 2016)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Instituto Geofísico – Escuela Politécnica, Ecuador (Sept. 2011 – Oct. 2012)
Research Scientist, Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo (May 2011 – Sept. 2011)
Education and Certifications
PhD in geophysics: Michigan Technological University (2004 – 2011*)
*Includes 27 months (2005-2007) of Peace Corps Service as part of Ph.D. studyMS in geology: University of Idaho (2002 – 2004)
BS (honors) in geology: Missouri State University (1998 – 2002)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 41
Fitting jet noise similarity spectra to volcano infrasound data
Infrasound (low-frequency acoustic waves) has proven useful to detect and characterize subaerial volcanic activity, but understanding the infrasonic source during sustained eruptions is still an area of active research. Preliminary comparison between acoustic eruption spectra and the jet noise similarity spectra suggests that volcanoes can produce an infrasonic form of jet noise from...
Authors
Julia Gestrich, David Fee, Robin Matoza, John J. Lyons, Mario Ruiz
High-speed lava flow infrasound from Kīlauea’s fissure 8 and its utility in monitoring effusion rate
The 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano produced large and destructive lava flows from the fissure 8 (Ahu ‘aila ‘au) vent with flow velocities up to 17 m s−1, highly variable effusion rates over both short (minutes) and long (hours) time scales, and a proximal channel or spillway that displayed flow features similar to open channel flow in river systems. Monitoring such dynamic vent and...
Authors
John J. Lyons, Hannah R. Dietterich, Matthew R. Patrick, David Fee
Local explosion detection and infrasound localization by reverse time migration using 3-D finite-difference wave propagation
Infrasound data are routinely used to detect and locate volcanic and other explosions, using both arrays and single sensor networks. However, at local distances (
Authors
David Fee, Liam Toney, Keehoon Kim, Richard Sanderson, Alexandra M. Iezzi, Robin S Matoza, Silvio DeAngelis, Art Jolly, John J. Lyons, Matthew M. Haney
Volcanic seismicity beneath Chuginadak Island, Alaska (Cleveland and Tana volcanoes): Implications for magma dynamics and eruption forecasting
Cleveland and Tana are remote volcanoes located in the central Aleutian volcanic arc on the eastern end of the Islands of Four Mountains (IFM). The persistently active Mount Cleveland volcano, on the western side of Chuginadak Island, is surrounded by several closely spaced Quaternary volcanic centers including Carlisle, Herbert, Kagamil, Tana, and Uliaga, and numerous small satellite...
Authors
John Power, Diana Roman, John J. Lyons, Matthew M. Haney, Daniel J. Rasmussen, Terry Plank, K. P. Nicolaysen, Pavel Izbekov, C. Werner, A Kaufman
Linking subsurface to surface using gas emission and melt inclusion data at Mount Cleveland volcano, Alaska
Mount Cleveland is one of Alaska's most active volcanoes, yet little is known about the magmatic system driving persistent and dynamic volcanic activity. Volcanic gas and melt inclusion (MI) data from 2016 were combined to investigate shallow magmatic processes. SO2 emission rates were between 166 and 324 t/day and the H2O/SO2 was 600 ± 53, whereas CO2 and H2S were below detection...
Authors
Cynthia Werner, Daniel J. Rasmussen, Terry Plank, Peter J. Kelly, Christoph Kern, Taryn Lopez, Jonas Gliss, John Power, Diana Roman, Pavel Izbekov, John J. Lyons
Evolving infrasound detections from Bogoslof volcano, Alaska: Insights from atmospheric propagation modeling
Bogoslof volcano, a back-arc volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian arc, began an eruptive sequence in mid-December 2016 that ended in late August 2017, with 70 individual eruptive episodes. Because there were no local seismic or infrasound stations on the island, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) relied on distant geophysical networks and remote sensing techniques to assess activity during the...
Authors
Hans Schwaiger, John J. Lyons, Alexandra M. Iezzi, David Fee, Matthew M. Haney
Did ice-charging generate volcanic lightning during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska?
The 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano in Alaska injected plumes of ash and seawater to maximum heights of ~ 12 km. More than 4550 volcanic lightning strokes were detected by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) and Vaisala’s Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) over 9 months. Lightning assisted monitoring efforts by confirming ash-producing explosions in...
Authors
Alexa R. Van Eaton, David J. Schneider, Cassandra Marie Smith, Matthew M. Haney, John J. Lyons, Ryan Said, David Fee, Robert H. Holzworth, Larry G. Mastin
Infrasound generated by the 2016-2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
The 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano produced numerous infrasound signals over 9 months that were recorded on six Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) arrays at ranges of 59 to over 800 km from the volcano. The lack of geophysical monitoring near Bogoslof and the repeated production of volcanic clouds to flight levels made monitoring by remote infrasound critical...
Authors
John J. Lyons, Alexandra M. Iezzi, David Fee, Hans Schwaiger, Aaron Wech, Matthew M. Haney
Constraints on eruption processes and event masses for the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, through evaluation of IASI satellite SO2 masses and complementary datasets
Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, experienced at least 70 explosive eruptions between 12 December 2016 and 31 August 2017. Due to its remote location and limited local monitoring network, this eruption was monitored and characterized primarily using remote geophysical and satellite techniques. SO2 emissions from Bogoslof were persistently detected by the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding...
Authors
Taryn Lopez, Lieven Clarisse, Hans Schwaiger, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Matthew W. Loewen, David Fee, John J. Lyons, Kristi L. Wallace, Cheryl Searcy, Aaron Wech, Matthew M. Haney, David J. Schneider, Nathan Graham
Goals and development of the Alaska Volcano Observatory Seismic Network and application to forecasting and detecting volcanic eruptions
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) seismic network has been in operation since 1988 and during this time has grown from 29 to 217 seismic stations providing real-time monitoring of 32 active volcanoes in Alaska, as well as useful data for regional earthquake monitoring. Since 1988, AVO has detected 59 volcanic eruptions at Aleutian arc volcanoes, and 31 of these have been captured by...
Authors
John Power, Matthew M. Haney, Steven M Botnick, James P. Dixon, David Fee, Max Kaufman, Dane M. Ketner, John J. Lyons, Thomas Parker, John F. Paskievitch, Cyrus Read, Cheryl Searcy, Scott D. Stihler, Gabrielle Tepp, Aaron Wech
Seismo-acoustic evidence for vent drying during shallow submarine eruptions at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
Characterizing the state of the volcanic vent is key for interpreting observational datasets and accurately assessing volcanic hazards. This is particularly true for remote, complex eruptions such as the 2016–2017 Bogoslof volcano, Alaska eruption sequence. Bogoslof’s eruptions in this period were either shallow submarine or subaerial, or some combination of both. Our results demonstrate...
Authors
David Fee, John J. Lyons, Matthew M. Haney, Aaron Wech, Christopher F. Waythomas, Angela K. Diefenbach, Taryn Lopez, Alexa R. Van Eaton, David J. Schneider
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 41
Fitting jet noise similarity spectra to volcano infrasound data
Infrasound (low-frequency acoustic waves) has proven useful to detect and characterize subaerial volcanic activity, but understanding the infrasonic source during sustained eruptions is still an area of active research. Preliminary comparison between acoustic eruption spectra and the jet noise similarity spectra suggests that volcanoes can produce an infrasonic form of jet noise from...
Authors
Julia Gestrich, David Fee, Robin Matoza, John J. Lyons, Mario Ruiz
High-speed lava flow infrasound from Kīlauea’s fissure 8 and its utility in monitoring effusion rate
The 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano produced large and destructive lava flows from the fissure 8 (Ahu ‘aila ‘au) vent with flow velocities up to 17 m s−1, highly variable effusion rates over both short (minutes) and long (hours) time scales, and a proximal channel or spillway that displayed flow features similar to open channel flow in river systems. Monitoring such dynamic vent and...
Authors
John J. Lyons, Hannah R. Dietterich, Matthew R. Patrick, David Fee
Local explosion detection and infrasound localization by reverse time migration using 3-D finite-difference wave propagation
Infrasound data are routinely used to detect and locate volcanic and other explosions, using both arrays and single sensor networks. However, at local distances (
Authors
David Fee, Liam Toney, Keehoon Kim, Richard Sanderson, Alexandra M. Iezzi, Robin S Matoza, Silvio DeAngelis, Art Jolly, John J. Lyons, Matthew M. Haney
Volcanic seismicity beneath Chuginadak Island, Alaska (Cleveland and Tana volcanoes): Implications for magma dynamics and eruption forecasting
Cleveland and Tana are remote volcanoes located in the central Aleutian volcanic arc on the eastern end of the Islands of Four Mountains (IFM). The persistently active Mount Cleveland volcano, on the western side of Chuginadak Island, is surrounded by several closely spaced Quaternary volcanic centers including Carlisle, Herbert, Kagamil, Tana, and Uliaga, and numerous small satellite...
Authors
John Power, Diana Roman, John J. Lyons, Matthew M. Haney, Daniel J. Rasmussen, Terry Plank, K. P. Nicolaysen, Pavel Izbekov, C. Werner, A Kaufman
Linking subsurface to surface using gas emission and melt inclusion data at Mount Cleveland volcano, Alaska
Mount Cleveland is one of Alaska's most active volcanoes, yet little is known about the magmatic system driving persistent and dynamic volcanic activity. Volcanic gas and melt inclusion (MI) data from 2016 were combined to investigate shallow magmatic processes. SO2 emission rates were between 166 and 324 t/day and the H2O/SO2 was 600 ± 53, whereas CO2 and H2S were below detection...
Authors
Cynthia Werner, Daniel J. Rasmussen, Terry Plank, Peter J. Kelly, Christoph Kern, Taryn Lopez, Jonas Gliss, John Power, Diana Roman, Pavel Izbekov, John J. Lyons
Evolving infrasound detections from Bogoslof volcano, Alaska: Insights from atmospheric propagation modeling
Bogoslof volcano, a back-arc volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian arc, began an eruptive sequence in mid-December 2016 that ended in late August 2017, with 70 individual eruptive episodes. Because there were no local seismic or infrasound stations on the island, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) relied on distant geophysical networks and remote sensing techniques to assess activity during the...
Authors
Hans Schwaiger, John J. Lyons, Alexandra M. Iezzi, David Fee, Matthew M. Haney
Did ice-charging generate volcanic lightning during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska?
The 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano in Alaska injected plumes of ash and seawater to maximum heights of ~ 12 km. More than 4550 volcanic lightning strokes were detected by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) and Vaisala’s Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) over 9 months. Lightning assisted monitoring efforts by confirming ash-producing explosions in...
Authors
Alexa R. Van Eaton, David J. Schneider, Cassandra Marie Smith, Matthew M. Haney, John J. Lyons, Ryan Said, David Fee, Robert H. Holzworth, Larry G. Mastin
Infrasound generated by the 2016-2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
The 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano produced numerous infrasound signals over 9 months that were recorded on six Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) arrays at ranges of 59 to over 800 km from the volcano. The lack of geophysical monitoring near Bogoslof and the repeated production of volcanic clouds to flight levels made monitoring by remote infrasound critical...
Authors
John J. Lyons, Alexandra M. Iezzi, David Fee, Hans Schwaiger, Aaron Wech, Matthew M. Haney
Constraints on eruption processes and event masses for the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, through evaluation of IASI satellite SO2 masses and complementary datasets
Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, experienced at least 70 explosive eruptions between 12 December 2016 and 31 August 2017. Due to its remote location and limited local monitoring network, this eruption was monitored and characterized primarily using remote geophysical and satellite techniques. SO2 emissions from Bogoslof were persistently detected by the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding...
Authors
Taryn Lopez, Lieven Clarisse, Hans Schwaiger, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Matthew W. Loewen, David Fee, John J. Lyons, Kristi L. Wallace, Cheryl Searcy, Aaron Wech, Matthew M. Haney, David J. Schneider, Nathan Graham
Goals and development of the Alaska Volcano Observatory Seismic Network and application to forecasting and detecting volcanic eruptions
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) seismic network has been in operation since 1988 and during this time has grown from 29 to 217 seismic stations providing real-time monitoring of 32 active volcanoes in Alaska, as well as useful data for regional earthquake monitoring. Since 1988, AVO has detected 59 volcanic eruptions at Aleutian arc volcanoes, and 31 of these have been captured by...
Authors
John Power, Matthew M. Haney, Steven M Botnick, James P. Dixon, David Fee, Max Kaufman, Dane M. Ketner, John J. Lyons, Thomas Parker, John F. Paskievitch, Cyrus Read, Cheryl Searcy, Scott D. Stihler, Gabrielle Tepp, Aaron Wech
Seismo-acoustic evidence for vent drying during shallow submarine eruptions at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
Characterizing the state of the volcanic vent is key for interpreting observational datasets and accurately assessing volcanic hazards. This is particularly true for remote, complex eruptions such as the 2016–2017 Bogoslof volcano, Alaska eruption sequence. Bogoslof’s eruptions in this period were either shallow submarine or subaerial, or some combination of both. Our results demonstrate...
Authors
David Fee, John J. Lyons, Matthew M. Haney, Aaron Wech, Christopher F. Waythomas, Angela K. Diefenbach, Taryn Lopez, Alexa R. Van Eaton, David J. Schneider