Alaska Volcano Observatory

Rick Wessels

Department:	Alaska Volcano Observatory
Institute:	USGS
Discipline(s):	Remote Sensing

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Rick has been a Research Geophysicist for AVO at the USGS in Anchorage since 2003. His research focuses on understanding volcano and glacier dynamics using remote sensing as the main tool. His remote sensing work uses a wide range of high resolution satellite and airborne data in the visible, shortwave infrared, thermal infrared, and radar. Rick is also involved in NASA funded research studying Earth analogues of features on Mars.

Before joining AVO, Rick was at the USGS-Flagstaff office working as an Arizona State University Post-Doc on the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) project.

Quantifying eruptive and background seismicity, deformation, degassing, and thermal emissions at volcanoes in the United States during 1978-2020, 2021

Reath, K., Pritchard, M.E., Roman, D.C., Lopez, T., Carn, S., Fischer, T.P., Lu, Z., Poland, M.P., Vaughan, R.G., Wessels, R., Wike, L.L., and Tran, H.K., 2021, Quantifying eruptive and background seismicity, deformation, degassing, and thermal emissions at volcanoes in the United States during 1978-2020: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, v. 126, e2021JB021684, doi: 10.1029/2021JB021684.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2021JB021684

2016-17 evolution of the submarine-subaerial edifice of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, based on analysis of satellite imagery, 2019

Waythomas, C.F., Angeli, K., Wessels, R., and Schneider, D, 2020, 2016-17 evolution of the submarine-subaerial edifice of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, based on analysis of satellite imagery: Bulletin of Volcanology v. 82, doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-020-1363-0.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00445-020-1363-0

Magmatic degassing, lava dome extrusion, and explosions from Mount Cleveland volcano, Alaska, 2011-2015: Insights into the continuous nature of volcanic activity over multi-year timescales, 2017

Werner, Cynthia, Kern, Christoph, Coppola, Diego, Lyons, J.J., Kelly, P.J., Wallace, K.L., Schneider, D.J., and Wessels, R.L., 2017, Magmatic degassing, lava dome extrusion, and explosions from Mount Cleveland volcano, Alaska, 2011-2015: Insights into the continuous nature of volcanic activity over multi-year timescales: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 13 p. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.03.001

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.03.001

Applications of high-resolution satellite remote sensing for northern Pacific volcanic arcs, 2015

Ramsey, M.S., Byrnes, J.M., Wessels, R.L., and Izbekov, P.l, 2015, Applications of high-resolution satellite remote sensing for northern Pacific volcanic arcs, chap. 4 of Dean, K.G., and Dehn, Jonathan, eds., Monitoring volcanoes in the North Pacific-Observations from space: Berlin, Springer, p. 79-99.

Emplacement of the final lava dome of the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, 2013

Bull, K.F., Anderson, S.W., Diefenbach, A.K., Wessels, R.L., Henton, S.M., 2013, Emplacement of the final lava dome of the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 259, p. 334-348, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.06.014

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.06.014

High-resolution satellite and airborne thermal infrared imaging of precursory unrest and 2009 eruption at Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, 2013

Wessels, R.L., Vaughan, R.G., Patrick, M.R., and Coombs, M.L., 2013, High-resolution satellite and airborne thermal infrared imaging of precursory unrest and 2009 eruption at Redoubt Volcano, Alaska: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 259, p. 248-269, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.04.014

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.04.014

full-text pdf : 6.55 MB

Photogrammetric monitoring of lava dome growth during the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, 2013

Diefenbach, A.K., Bull, K.F., Wessels, R.L., and McGimsey, R.G., 2013, Photogrammetric monitoring of lava dome growth during the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 259, p. 308-316, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2011.12.009

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2011.12.009

full-text pdf : 2.7 MB

Remote observations of eruptive clouds and surface thermal activity during the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, 2013

Webley, P.W., Lopez, T.M., Ekstrand, A.L., Kean, K.G., Rinkleff, P., Dehn, J., Cahill, C.F., Wessels, R.L., Bailey, J.E., Izbekov, P., and Worden, A., 2013, Remote observations of eruptive clouds and surface thermal activity during the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 259, p. 185-200, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.06.023

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.06.023

Volcano-ice interactions precursory to the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, 2013

Bleick, H.A., Coombs, M.L., Cervelli, P.F., Bull, K.F., and Wessels, R.L., 2013, Volcano-ice interactions precursory to the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 259, p. 373-388, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.10.008

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.10.008

full-text pdf : 4.6 MB

Timing, distribution, and volume of proximal products of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, 2010

Coombs, M.L., Bull, K.F., Vallance, J.W., Schneider, D.J., Thoms, E.E., Wessels, R.L., and McGimsey, R.G., 2010, Timing, distribution, and volume of proximal products of the 2006 Eruption of Augustine Volcano, chapter 8 of Power, J.A., Coombs, M.L., and Freymueller, J.T., eds., The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1769, p. 145-185, 1 plate, scale 1:20,000, and GIS data [http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1769/chapters/p1769_chapter08].

PDF and GIS files for chapter on USGS website

High-resolution satellite and airborne thermal infrared imaging of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, 2010

Wessels, R.L., Coombs, M.L., Schneider, D.J., Dehn, Jonathan, and Ramsey, M.S., 2010, High-resolution satellite and airborne thermal infrared imaging of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, chapter 22 of Power, J.A., Coombs, M.L., and Freymueller, J.T., eds., The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1769, p. 527-552 [http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1769/chapters/p1769_chapter22.pdf].

chapter PDF on USGS website

Emission of SO2, CO2, and H2S from Augustine Volcano, 2002-2008, 2010

McGee, K.A., Doukas, M.P., McGimsey, R.G., Neal, C.A., and Wessels, R.L., 2010, Emission of SO2, CO2, and H2S from Augustine Volcano, 2002-2008, chapter 26 of Power, J.A., Coombs, M.L., and Freymueller, J.T., eds., The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1769, p. 609-627 [http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1769/chapters/p1769_chapter26.pdf].

chapter PDF on USGS website

Eruption of Alaska volcano breaks historic pattern, 2009

Larsen, J., Neal, C., Webley, P., Freymueller, J., Haney, M., McNutt, S., Schneider, D., Prejean, S., Schaefer, J., and Wessels, R., 2009, Eruption of Alaska volcano breaks historic pattern: Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 90, n. 20, p. 173-174.

Atmospheric contribution of gas emissions from Augustine volcano, Alaska during the 2006 eruption, 2008

McGee, K.A., Doukas, M.P., McGimsey, R.G., Neal, C.A., and Wessels, R.L., 2008, Atmospheric contribution of gas emissions from Augustine volcano, Alaska during the 2006 eruption: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 35, L03306, doi: 10.1029/2007GL032301, 5 p.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007GL032301

full-text PDF : 165 KB

Monitoring and modeling ice-rock avalanches from ice-capped volcanoes: a case study of frequent large avalanches on Iliamna Volcano, Alaska, 2007

Huggel, Christian, Caplan-Auerbach, Jacqueline, Waythomas, C.F., and Wessels, Rick, 2007, Monitoring and modeling ice-rock avalanches from ice-capped volcanoes: a case study of frequent large avalanches on Iliamna Volcano, Alaska: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 168, p. 114-136, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2007.08.009.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2007.08.009

Volcanic disruption of summit ice at Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska, 2004-2007, 2007

Neal, C.A., Coombs, Michelle, Wessels, Rick, and McGimsey, R.G., 2007, Volcanic disruption of summit ice at Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska, 2004-2007 [abs.]: Geological Society of America - Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, n. 4, p. 20.

Satellite measurement of glaciers on volcanoes in Alaska: building an inventory of ice extent and hazards, 2007

Wessels, Rick, Neal, C.A., Waythomas, Christopher, Huggel, Christian, and Dean, Ken, 2007, Satellite measurement of glaciers on volcanoes in Alaska: building an inventory of ice extent and hazards [abs.]: Geological Society of America - Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, n. 4, p. 20.

The role of remote sensing in monitoring of Augustine Volcano, 2006

Webley, Peter, Dean, Ken, Dehn, Jon, Bailey, John, Schneider, Dave, Wessels, Rick, Lovick, Joseph, Rinkleff, Peter, and Izbekov, Pavel, 2006, The role of remote sensing in monitoring of Augustine Volcano [abs.]: Geological Society of America - Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, n. 5, p. 28.

The reawakening of Alaska's Augustine Volcano, 2006

Power, J.A., Nye, C.J., Coombs, M.L., Wessels, R.L., Cervelli, P.F., Dehn, J., Wallace, K.L., Freymueller, J.T., and Doukas, M.P., 2006, The reawakening of Alaska's Augustine Volcano: Eos, v. 87, n. 37, p. 373, 377.

Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: an unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest, 2006

Coombs, M.L., Neal, C.A., Wessels, R.L., and McGimsey, R.G., 2006, Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: an unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1732-B, 33 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/pp1732/pp1732b/index.html .

website with link to full-text PDF

Headless debris flows from Mount Spurr volcano, Alaska, 2004

McGimsey, R., Neal, C., Waythomas, C., Wessels, R., Coombs, M., Wallace, K., 2004, Headless debris flows from Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska [abs.]: Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 85, n. 47, Abstract V43B-1430.

Deciphering silicic dome emplacement processes in the northern Pacific: Quantitative analyses of high resolution satellite and field-based data, 2003

Ramsey, M.S., Dehn, J., Adleman, J.N., Larsen, J.F., McGimsey, R.G., Neal, C.A., and Wessels, R., 2003, Deciphering silicic dome emplacement processes in the northern Pacific: Quantitative analyses of high resolution satellite and field-based data [abs.]: in Fall meeting supplement, Eos, v. 84, n. 46, V51F-0346.

website with full text