1998 SSA Meeting--Presidential Address: Science, Geologic Hazards, and the Public in a Large, Restless Caldera

Abstract

I've had the privilege of serving as Chief Scientist for U.S. Geological Surveys (USGS) monitoring effort in Long Valley caldera since December 1982. To some, sixteen plus years may seem like a long time to focus on a single area. I can assure you, however, that the experience has seldom provided a dull moment. Indeed, the position involves a fascinating relation between (1) scientific studies of active tectonic and magmatic processes, (2) the implications of these processes for geologic hazards, and (3) the challenges in communicating the significance of the hazards to the public and civil authorities in the area. In many ways, attempting to understand the ongoing unrest in Long Valley caldera and communicate its significance to the public represents a microcosm of the challenges that much of science faces today as we grapple with the societal relevance of our work. SCIENCE AND HAZARDS Long Valley caldera is a 15 km by 30 km oval-shaped topographic depression located midway between Mono Lake and...