Best Volcanology

George Patrick Leonard Walker (1926-2005) was a British volcanologist who studied how explosive eruptions produce, transport, and preserve pyroclastic deposits. By mapping and comparing ancient volcanic layers, he helped develop field methods for interpreting eruption size, style, and sequence from...

American geologist Donald A. Swanson is distinguished for his extensive work with the USGS, notably his pivotal research on the eruptive mechanisms of Mount St. Helens and Hawaiian volcanoes.

British geologist Ian S. E. Carmichael advanced the fields of volcanic petrology and magma phase equilibria during his distinguished career at the University of California, Berkeley.

Bernard Chouet is a Swiss-American seismologist who worked with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). He is best known for his research on volcanic seismicity, specifically his discovery that long-period (LP) seismic events are reliable precursors to explosive volcanic eruptions. His methodolo...

Icelandic volcanologist Haraldur Sigurðsson is notable for his extensive research on volcanic hazards and the history of volcanology during his long tenure at the University of Rhode Island.

American geologist Alexander R. McBirney is recognized for his foundational research on layered igneous intrusions, notably his extensive studies of the Skaergaard intrusion in Greenland.

German geologist Leopold von Buch is notable for defining the Jurassic system in 1839 and for his influential theories regarding volcanism and the geological formation of mountains.

David A. Johnston (1949–1980) was an American volcanologist with the United States Geological Survey. On May 18, 1980, he was monitoring Mount St. Helens from the Coldwater II observation post when the volcano erupted. Johnston's final radio transmission—'Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!'—became on...

Robert L. Christiansen is an American volcanologist and geologist who worked extensively with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). He is best known for his detailed field mapping and research in the 1960s and 1970s, which helped define the massive volcanic caldera system beneath Yellowstone N...

George Julius Poulett Scrope was an English geologist noted for his 1825 publications on volcanology, which established key principles for classifying volcanic formations and eruptions.

Peter W. Lipman is an American volcanologist who spent his career with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). His research focused on explosive silicic volcanism, caldera formation, and large-volume ignimbrite eruptions, with particular emphasis on the San Juan volcanic field in Colorado. Lipma...

Thomas Alfred Jaggar was an American volcanologist who founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in 1912, establishing the first permanent facility dedicated to the continuous study of active volcanism. Motivated by the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée in Martinique, he conducted fieldwork globally befor...

Christian Leopold von Buch (1774–1853) was a German geologist who helped establish geology as a formal scientific discipline. He studied under Abraham Gottlob Werner and conducted extensive fieldwork across Europe, making early observations of volcanic islands and mountain formations. Von Buch is kn...

Joseph Paxson Iddings was an American geologist who made significant contributions to igneous petrology and co-developed the CIPW normative classification system for rocks in 1902.

Sir Archibald Geikie (1835–1924) was a prominent Scottish geologist who significantly advanced the study of geomorphology and volcanic geology. He served as the director-general of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland and was a professor at the University of Edinburgh. Geikie formulate...

Peter Francis was a prominent British volcanologist renowned for his extensive field studies of active volcanoes worldwide and his influential academic textbooks on the subject.

R. Stephen J. Sparks is a UK-based geologist specializing in modern volcanology, igneous petrology, and sedimentology. His work significantly advanced mathematical modeling techniques applied to volcanic eruptions and sediment gravity flows. This research provides valuable insights for scientists st...

Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729–1799) was an prominent Italian Catholic priest, biologist, and naturalist who made significant contributions to multiple scientific disciplines during the 18th century. In the field of geology and early volcanology, he conducted extensive field studies of Italian volcanoes,...

George Poulett Scrope (1797-1876) was a British geologist and political economist who made significant contributions to the field of volcanology. His geological work focused on the study of volcanoes, and his 1825 publication 'Considerations on Volcanos' was among the first systematic attempts to cl...

Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu (1791-1803) was a French geologist who significantly advanced our understanding of sedimentary rock formations. His detailed observations and classification of dolomite—a carbonate rock—established a foundational element in mineralogy and volcanology. De Dolomieu’s work rem...

Ian Carmichael (1930–2006) was a prominent British-American petrologist who spent his academic career at the University of California, Berkeley. He made foundational contributions to igneous petrology, specifically by applying thermodynamic principles to understand the behavior of silicate melts and...

Michael Manga is an American geoscientist at the University of California, Berkeley, recognized for his interdisciplinary approach to geophysics. His research connects fluid mechanics to volcanology, hydrology, and planetary science to understand how fluids move and shape planetary bodies. Manga has...

Frank Alvord Perret was an American inventor and volcanologist who pioneered the use of instruments to observe and measure active volcanic eruptions. In the early 1900s, he conducted extensive observations of Italy's Mount Vesuvius, documenting eruptive behavior with scientific instruments. He later...

George P. L. Walker was a prominent geologist specializing in igneous petrology and volcanology. His work focused on developing facies models for understanding explosive volcanic events using quantitative physical analysis. He significantly advanced the field's methodology, particularly within the U...

Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond was a French geologist and naturalist whose work contributed to the early scientific study of volcanoes. During the eighteenth century, he examined basalt and volcanic landscapes, including formations in the Auvergne region of France, and argued for their volcanic ori...

Haroun Tazieff was a Polish-born French volcanologist and geologist renowned for his extensive field research on active volcanoes. He gained public recognition through his documentary films and books, which captured dramatic footage of volcanic eruptions around the world. Throughout his career, he s...

Alexander McBirney was an American volcanologist and geologist affiliated with the University of Oregon. He conducted extensive research on igneous petrology, magmatic differentiation, and the formation of volcanic arcs. McBirney was widely recognized for his detailed field studies of the Skaergaard...

Thomas Jaggar was an American volcanologist who significantly advanced the systematic study of active volcanoes. Following the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée, he became dedicated to establishing observatories to monitor volcanic activity and predict eruptions. In 1912, Jaggar founded the Hawaiian Volc...

Israel Cook Russell (1852–1906) was an American geologist and geographer who worked extensively with the United States Geological Survey. He is noted for his pioneering research on the Pleistocene glaciation of North America and his studies of the Great Basin's ancient lakes, particularly Lake Lahon...