The eruption of Mount St. Helens is particularly interesting because it began with very little of the precursory activity that is typically used to predict eruptions. This calls into question some of our assumptions about the way volcanic processes give rise to geophysical signals, and suggests some very interesting lines of research.
The evolution of the eruption was as fascinating as its onset, with enigmatic periodic seismicity ("drumbeats") detected in the near-surface, as well as repeating episodic ground tilt events. Part of my research has involved analyzing and modeling the tiltmeter data associated with these events in collaboration with scientists at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory. Another line of research focuses on developing a numerical model of effusive volcanic eruptions which will help tie surface observations with magma transport processes at depth.
Research Projects
Cyclic ground tilt associated with the 2004-2008 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Bayesian inversion of data from volcanic eruptions using physics-based models
Ground deformation associated with volcanic conduits
Papers & Some Conference Presentations
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Anderson, K. and P. Segall (2011), Physics-based models of ground deformation and extrusion rate at effusively erupting volcanoes. Journal of Geophysical Research, B07204, doi:10.1029/2010JB007939 |
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Anderson, K., M. Lisowski, and P. Segall (2010), Cyclic ground tilt associated with the 2004-2008 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Journal of Geophysical Research, B11201, doi:10.1029/2009JB007102 |
Anderson, K. and P. Segall (2010), Cyclic ground tilt associated with the 2004-2008 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington (Cities on Volcanoes 6 Conference; oral presentation)
Anderson, K. and P. Segall (2009), Modeling the evolution of effusive silicic eruptions (AGU Fall Meeting 2009; poster)
Anderson, K. and P. Segall (2007), Building a digital volcano: numerical modeling of effusive silicic eruptions (Cities on Volcanoes 5 Conference; oral presentation)
Anderson, K. and P. Segall (2007), Time-Dependent Finite Element Modeling of Effusive Silicic Eruptions (EarthScope National Meeting; short contributed talk)
