About the USGS Long Valley Caldera Observatory
The USGS regional office
in Menlo Park, California, serves as headquarters for the
Long Valley Observatory. Data from monitoring instruments
located in and around the Long Valley Caldera are sent by radio
and satellite telemetry to computers in Menlo Park
where they are automatically processed in real time for
immediate analysis by scientists. The computers include an
automatic paging system that alerts scientists of significant
changes in activity 24 hours a day. A
response plan links a 5-stage color-code system to
activity levels in the caldera and specifies a communication
protocol for notifying civil authorities and emergency-response
officials at the city, county, state, and Federal levels.
The Long Valley Observatory is directed by a Scientist
in Charge and an assistant Scientist in Charge and
operated by four team leaders. Teams that monitor activity
at Long Valley Caldera are called into action whenever there
is a volcanic crisis in the Long Valley area.
The Scientist in Charge:
David Hill, Menlo Park, California, is responsible for
overseeing and coordinating the U.S. Geological Survey monitoring
efforts in the caldera that are carried out by people working
for various groups throughout the USGS. Dave is also responsible
for ensuring that accurate and timely hazards assessment and supporting
scientific information are issued to all concerned parties, including
local, state, and Federal officials and the public.
Associate Scientist in Charge:
Margart Mangan, Menlo Park, California, helps coordinate
monitoring efforts and serves as backup to the Scientist in
Charge.
Monitoring Team Leader:
Malcolm Johnston, Menlo Park, California, serves as a
consultant and advisor to the Chief Scientist in determining
monitoring requirements and in analyzing and interpreting the results.
Hazards Team Leader
Dan Miller, Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver,
Washington, provides volcano-hazard assessments based on results
of the monitoring data and geologic studies.
Support Team Leader
Michael Carr, Menlo Park, California, provides liaison
with other agencies and the media. He facilitates resource
and logistics backup in case of a field response to a volcanic
crisis in the Long Valley region.
Scientific Advisory Team Leader
Wayne Thatcher, Menlo Park, California, leads a team of
five senior scientists with broad volcanological and geophysical
knowledge that provides the Chief Scientist a calm and objective
analysis of an evolving crisis without being caught up in the day-to-day
operational responsibilities of the USGS response. The team also
provides advice on long-term monitoring, hazard assessment,
and scientific strategies.
URL http://lvo.wr.usgs.gov/Observatory.html
