Alaska Volcano Observatory

Michael West

Department:	Geophysical Institute
Institute:	UAF/GI
Office:	907.474.6977
Fax:	907.474.5618
Website:	http://giseis.alaska.edu/input /west/
Address:	Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320
Discipline(s):	Seismology

send email message

West focuses on the processes that cause volcanic earthquake swarms and techniques to infer the structure of the shallow Earth from seismicity. Much of his research is applied to exotic seismic sources such as those generated by volcanoes and glaciers. His work seeks to explain volcanic processes and improve eruption forecasting. He is based at the Seismology Lab at the Geophysical Institute. Domestic and foreign field projects are the foundation for much of his research. His group specializes in seismic network operations in remote locations. He also works closely with seismic data feeds from across Alaska and the Aleutians. These real time data are used for everything from characterizing large earthquakes, to monitoring volcanoes and glaciers, to tracking geothermal systems. An unusual aspect of West's group is the emphasis on developing emerging research techniques into production-ready tools that are applied in-house to improve earthquake and volcano monitoring systems.

[Show Publications]

Local seismic and infrasound observations of the 2009 explosive eruptions of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, 2013
McNutt, S.R., Thompson, G., West, M.E., Fee, D., Stihler, S., and Clark, E., 2013, Local seismic and infrasound observations of the 2009 explosive eruptions of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 259, p. 63-76, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2013.03.016

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2013.03.016

The seismicity of the 2009 Redoubt eruption, 2013
Buurman, Helena, West, M.E., and Thompson, Glenn, 2013, The seismicity of the 2009 Redoubt eruption: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 259, p. 16-30, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.04.024

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.04.024

The waveform suite: a robust platform for manipulating waveforms in MATLAB, 2011
citation image

Reyes, C.G., and West, M.E., 2011, The waveform suite: a robust platform for manipulating waveforms in MATLAB: Seismological Research Letters, v. 82, n. 1, p. 104-110, doi:10.1785/gssrl.82.1.104 .

http://dx.doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.82.1.104

Evidence of magma intrusion at Fourpeaked volcano, Alaska in 2006-2007 from a rapid-response seismic network and volcanic gases, 2011
Gardine, Matt, West, Michael, Werner, Cynthia, and Doukas, Michael, 2011, Evidence of magma intrusion at Fourpeaked volcano, Alaska in 2006-2007 from a rapid-response seismic network and volcanic gases: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 200, p. 192-200, doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.11.018.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.11.018

Multiplets: Their behavior and utility at dacitic and andesitic volcanic centers, 2011
Thelen, Weston, Malone, Steve, and West, Michael, 2011, Multiplets: Their behavior and utility at dacitic and andesitic volcanic centers: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 116, B08210, doi: 10.1029/2010JB007924 , 16 p.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2010JB007924

Seismic precursors to volcanic explosions during the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, 2010
Buurman, Helena and West, M.E., 2010, Seismic precursors to volcanic explosions during the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, chapter 2 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. 41-57 [http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1769/chapters/p1769_chapter02.pdf].

chapter PDF on USGS website

The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano; combined analyses of thermal satellite data and reduced displacement, 2010
van Manen, S.M., Dehn, Jonathan, West, M.E., Blake Stephen, and Rothery, D.A., 2010, The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano; combined analyses of thermal satellite data and reduced displacement, chapter 23 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. 553-567 [http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1769/chapters/p1769_chapter23.pdf].

chapter PDF on USGS website

Glacier microseismicity, 2010
citation image

West, M.E., Larsen, C.F., Truffer, Martin, O'Neel, Shad, and LeBlanc, Laura, 2010, Glacier microseismicity: Geology, v. 38, n. 4, p. 319-322, doi: 10.1130/G30606.1 .

http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G30606.1

Seismic characterizations of the fall 2007 eruptive sequence at Bezymianny Volcano, Russia, 2010
citation image

Thelen, Weston, West, Michael, and Senyukov, Sergey, 2010, Seismic characterizations of the fall 2007 eruptive sequence at Bezymianny Volcano, Russia: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 194, n. 4, p. 201-213, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.05.010 .

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.05.010

Real-time detection of earthquake swarms at Redoubt Volcano, 2009, 2010
citation image

Thompson, Glenn, and West, M.E., 2010, Real-time detection of earthquake swarms at Redoubt Volcano: Seismological Research Lettesr, v. 81, n. 3, p. 505-513 doi: 10.1785/gssrl.81.3.505 .

http://dx.doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.81.3.505

Anomalous seismic structure beneath the Klyuchevskoy Group, Kamchatka, 2010
citation image

Nikulin, Alex, Levin, Vadim, Shuler, Ashley, and West, Michael, 2010, Anomalous seismic structure beneath the Klyuchevskoy Group, Kamchatka: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 37, 5 p., doi: 0094-8276/10/2010GL043904 .

http://dx.doi.org/0094-8276/10/2010GL043904

Repose time and cumulative moment magnitude: a new tool for forecasting eruptions?, 2010
citation image

Thelen, W.A., Malone, S.D., and West, M.E., 2010, Repose time and cumulative moment magnitude: a new tool for forecasting eruptions?: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 37, L18301, 5 p. doi: 10.1029/2010GL044194, 2010 .

http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2010GL044194, 2010

Pulsatile loading of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, 2010
Denlinger, R.P., West, M.E., and Diefenbach, A., 2010, Pulsatile loading of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska [abs.]: Seismological Research Letters, v. 81, n. 2, p. 352.

Real-time tracking of earthquake swarms at Redoubt Volcano, 2009, 2010
West, M.E., and Thompson, Glenn, 2010, Real-time tracking of earthquake swarms at Redoubt Volcano, 2009 [abs.]: Seismological Research Letters, v. 81, n. 2, p. 350.

Twenty years of Alaska Volcano Observatory's contributions to seismology, 2008
Dixon, J.P., McNutt, S.R., Power, J.A., and West, M., 2008, Twenty years of Alaska Volcano Observatory's contributions to seismology [abs.]: Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 89, n. 53, 1 p.

Twenty years of seismic monitoring by the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2008
Dixon, J.P., McNutt, S.R., Power, J.A., and West, M.E., 2008, Twenty years of seismic monitoring by the Alaska Volcano Observatory [abs.]: Seismological Research Letters, v. 79, n. 2, p. 318-319.

Seismic precursors to explosive eruptions during the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska, 2008
Buurman, Helena, and West, Michael, 2008, Seismic precursors to explosive eruptions during the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska [abs.]: in 2008 IRIS Workshop: Abstracts, Stevenson WA, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, p. 94.

The 2006 Augustine Alaska eruption: combined analyses of seismic and thermal data, 2007
van Manen, S., Dehn, J., West, M., Blake, S., and Rothery, D., 2007, The 2006 Augustine Alaska eruption: combined analyses of seismic and thermal data [abs.]: Geological Society of London Bicentennial Conference, September 10-12, London, UK.

Periodically triggered seismicity at Mount Wrangell, Alaska, after the Sumatra earthquake, 2005
citation image

West, M., Sanchez, J., and McNutt, S., 2005, Periodically triggered seismicity at Mount Wrangell, Alaska, after the Sumatra earthquake: Science, v. 308, p. 1144-1146.

AVO Staff Directory