Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Circular 1351

Version 2.0, November 2014

Prepared in cooperation with Yellowstone National Park, the University of Utah, the University

of Wyoming, the Idaho Geological Survey, the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, the

Wyoming State Geological Survey, and UNAVCO

Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone

Volcano Observatory

Cover: Images clockwise from upper left: Schematic organization of an Incident Command incorporating

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

University of Utah and Yellowstone National Park staff during wintertime equipment deployment.

Example of data routing for monitoring data from Yellowstone Seismic Network.

Logo of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response

by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

By the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Circular 1351

Version 2.0, November 2014

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia

First release: 2010

Revised and reprinted: November 2014 (ver. 2.0)

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its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit

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Suggested citation:

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, 2014, Protocols for geologic hazards response by the Yellowstone Volcano

Observatory (ver. 2.0, November 2014): U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1351, 16 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/cir1351.

Any use of trade, ﬁrm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain

copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be

secured from the copyright owner.

ISSN: 1067-084X (print)

ISSN: 2330-5703 (online)

iii

Contents

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................1

1. Introduction and Scope ............................................................................................................................1

1a. Purpose of Plan ...............................................................................................................................1

1b. Organization of YVO .......................................................................................................................3

1c. Monitoring Systems .......................................................................................................................4

2. Geologic Unrest, Alert Levels, and Information Products ..................................................................4

2a. Notiﬁcation System for Volcanic Activity ...................................................................................4

2b. Event Response...............................................................................................................................5

2c. Written Information Products .......................................................................................................5

3. YVO and the National Incident Management System .........................................................................6

4. Event Response ..........................................................................................................................................6

4a. Declaring an Event Response ......................................................................................................6

4b. Relation of YVO Event Response to Incident Command System ............................................6

4c. Internal organization of YVO during a response .......................................................................6

Monitoring Group .........................................................................................................................7

Information Group ........................................................................................................................9

Support, logistics and external research ................................................................................9

4d. Calldown and Related Communications Lists ..........................................................................10

4e. Information Releases ...................................................................................................................10

5. Alert Notiﬁcation Scheme and Decision Criteria ...............................................................................10

6. Scientiﬁc Oversight and Information Sharing .....................................................................................12

6a. Advisory Panel ..............................................................................................................................12

6b. YVO Log System ............................................................................................................................12

7. Scenarios of Unrest and Initiation of Event Response ......................................................................12

8. Summary and Protocols for Updating this Plan ..................................................................................13

Glossary of Terminology and Acronyms ..................................................................................................15

Figures

1. Location map for Yellowstone National Park.....................................................................................2

2. Organization chart of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory ................................................................3

3. Charts showing the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program system for volcano

alert levels ......................................................................................................................................5

4. Hypothetical organization chart of an Incident Command System during an event response

at the Yellowstone Caldera .........................................................................................................7

5. Chart showing Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Branch Organization ......................................8

6. Simpliﬁed calldown list for Yellowstone Volcano Observatory ....................................................11

Conversion Factors

SI to Inch/Pound

Multiply By To obtain

Length

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft)

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

Area

square meter (m

) 0.0002471 acre

square meter (m

) 10.76 square foot (ft

)

Volume

liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)

Flow rate

liter per minute (L/m) 0.26 gallon per minute (gal/min)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32.

Datum

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Executive Summary

The Yellowstone Plateau hosts an active volcanic system,

with subterranean magma (molten rock), boiling, pressurized

waters, and a variety of active faults with signicant earthquake

hazards. Within the next few decades, light-to-moderate

earthquakes and steam explosions are certain to occur. Volcanic

eruptions are less likely, but are ultimately inevitable in this

active volcanic region. This document summarizes protocols,

policies, and tools to be used by the Yellowstone Volcano

Observatory (YVO) during earthquakes, hydrothermal

explosions, or any geologic activity that could lead to a volcanic

eruption.

As needed, YVO will be an advisor within the National

Incident Management System. The YVO Branch within the

Plans Section of the Incident Command will consist of two

prescribed groups (Monitoring and Information). The two

groups and their subsidiary teams form a scalable system to

respond to a variety of scenarios of geologic and volcanic

unrest. The YVO response will be led by the YVO Branch

Chief (also known as the Scientist-in-Charge) with the

assistance of group supervisors and team leaders.

Formal alerts and information statements will be issued

by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in conjunction with

YVO member agencies and through standard telephone and

Internet “calldown” lists. External communications will

be coordinated by the public information team leader, in

association with any Joint Information Center set up through

the Incident Command. Internal communications will be

handled through a computerized log system that can be used

as an archive for public and non-public documents, and to

provide a forum for discussion by observatory personnel and

collaborators.

Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

By the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

This report was prepared jointly by the attendees of the Yellowstone

Volcano Observatory planning meeting. Attendees include Jacob B. Low-

enstern, John Bellini, Dan Dzurisin, John Eichelberger, Margaret Mangan,

Jill McCarthy, Manuel Nathenson, and Willie Scott of the U.S. Geological

Survey; Henry Heasler, Michael Keator, Christine Lehnertz, and Tom Olliff of

Yellowstone National Park; Robert B. Smith, Walter Arabasz, Relu Bur-

lacu, Dave Drobeck, Jamie Farrell, and Michael Thorne of the University of

Utah; Roy Breckenridge of the Idaho Geological Survey; Edmund Deal, and

Michael Stickney of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology; Allory Deiss

and Ron Surdam of the Wyoming State Geological Survey; and Mike Jackson

and Dave Mencin of UNAVCO. Tina Neal and Cynthia Gardner of the U.S.

Geological Survey reviewed this report. A revised version of the report (2014)

was reviewed by Duane Champion and Tina Neal.

The response plan will be evaluated and updated every

three years by the observatory and will be available through

the YVO and USGS public websites. The calldown list will be

updated at least once per year and placed on the internal log

system.

1. Introduction and Scope

1a. Purpose of Plan

Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is centered on a

youthful, active volcanic system in the northern Rocky

Mountains of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho (g. 1). Over

the past 2.1 million years, three immense, explosive volcanic

eruptions from the Yellowstone system have blanketed parts

of the North American continent with ash and debris. Each

of these eruptions created sizable calderas: basins formed by

collapse of the ground after evacuation of subsurface magma

reservoirs. The Yellowstone Caldera, which comprises nearly

one-third of the land area in the park, formed 0.64 million

years ago, and was followed by dozens of less explosive but

extensive lava ows, the last of which occurred 70,000 years

ago. Basin and range extension of the western United States

has created a series of regional faults that are responsible for

large and devastating earthquakes in the Yellowstone region,

along the Teton and Hebgen Lake Faults. The most recent was

a devastating M

7.5 earthquake in 1959 that killed 28 people.

Yellowstone’s famous geothermally heated waters create

fabulous hot springs and geysers, but occasionally explode

catastrophically to create hydrothermal (steam) explosion

craters found throughout the park.

In 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), YNP, and

the University of Utah (UU) joined to form the Yellowstone

Volcano Observatory (YVO). In 2013, the observatory was

expanded to include other institutions, including UNAVCO,

the three state geological surveys of Montana, Idaho and

Wyoming, and the University of Wyoming (g. 2). YVO

provides professional and critical earth-science expertise,

operates modern monitoring facilities, processes and interprets

seismic and ground deformation signals, and rapidly assesses

the signicance of geologic processes that may threaten

infrastructure, visitors to YNP, and the public beyond its

2 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Mammoth/YNP

Headquarters

Hebgen Lake

To Grand Teton

National Park

Norris

Geyser Basin

Gibbon R.

Canyon

Grant

Village

110.5˚

111.0˚

45.0˚

44.5˚

44.0˚

110.0˚

Yellowstone

Lake

20 30 40

KILOMETERS

5 10 20 30

MILES

Figure 1. Location map for Yellowstone National Park, including Yellowstone Caldera, roads, state and national park boundaries and

place names mentioned in this document.

1. Introduction and Scope 3

UU/UUSS

University

Wyoming

MBMG

WSGS

IGS

UNAVCO

USGS

Yellowstone

National Park

ORGANIZATION OF YVO

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Figure 2. Organization chart of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO). The YVO member agencies are the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Yellowstone National Park (YNP), University of Utah (UU), University of Wyoming (UW), MBMG (Montana Bureau of Mines and

Geology), WSGS (Wyoming State Geological Survey), IGS (Idaho Geological Survey), and UNAVCO. Collaborators include the National

Science Foundation, university researchers, the National Weather Service and IRIS (Integrated Research Institutes for Seismology).

Stakeholders include the general public, FEMA/DHS (Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Homeland

Security), the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), and state and local emergency managers.

borders. YVO provides the necessary information and support

to respond rapidly to geologic hazards at Yellowstone and can

respond to requests for information from park management,

civil authorities, the media, and the public.

Emergency-response readiness is a key responsibility of

the USGS Volcano Hazards Program (VHP) stemming from

a 1974 congressional mandate that the USGS issue “timely

warnings” of potential hazards to responsible emergency-

management authorities and the public. Both YVO and its

parent, the USGS VHP, must maintain capabilities and protocol

for the rapid deployment of staff and equipment during periods

of seismic, hydrothermal, or volcanic unrest at YNP. This

plan provides a basic framework for emergency response by

YVO that will be used during periods of geologic unrest at

YNP. An initial response plan was published in 2010 (YVO,

2010). This revision incorporates organizational changes to

both the observatory and to some of the member institutions.

In addition, it reects recommendations provided by Pierson

and others (2013), in their after-action report of a readiness

(“table-top”) exercise held in 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. As

with the original response plan, this one is intentionally inward-

focused, identifying the structures and protocols for use within

the incident-command, emergency-response structure utilized

by YNP. Other documents may concentrate more on plans

and communications with other land-management and civil

authorities at local, State, and Federal levels.

1b. Organization of YVO

Although some volcano observatories (including the USGS

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) have facilities and permanent

staff, YVO is primarily a partnership, composed of afliated

staff from the eight member agencies (g. 2). Each agency has

an organizational lead that represents its staff to YVO through

regularly scheduled meetings and teleconference calls. The

4 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

most recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), outlining

organizational responsibilities, was signed by all eight members

in late 2012 and will remain in effect through 2017. The USGS

has the Federal responsibility to provide warnings of volcanic

activity, and the USGS grants the Scientist-in-Charge ultimate

authority over YVO operations. Key geophysical data are

provided by the UU and UNAVCO. YNP is the land manager

and is responsible for all emergency response to natural

disasters within YNP boundaries. The state geological surveys

provide critical hazards information and outreach products to

their respective citizens. As much as possible, YVO aids and

collaborates with scientists outside the YVO partnership.

1c. Monitoring Systems

A combination of equipment operated and maintained

by many groups inside and outside the YVO partnership is

used for real-time monitoring of the Yellowstone volcano. The

UU maintains the seismic stations of the Yellowstone Seismic

Network and locates earthquakes with the data generated by

the network. The Yellowstone Seismic Network is operated

by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS),

which operates its regional seismic network as part of the

Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). Within the ANSS

framework, earthquakes throughout the United States larger

than about M 3.0 are located by the USGS National Earthquake

Information Center (NEIC), which operates on a 24-hour-a-day

basis, providing backup to the UUSS and other ANSS regional

seismic networks. The NEIC operates a small, but modern

seismic network in the Teton Range, just south of Yellowstone.

The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) seismic

network locates earthquakes in Montana.

Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers are maintained

by UNAVCO, a non-prot consortium, funded partly through

the National Science Foundation’s Plate Boundary Observatory

(PBO). Multiple organizations and universities record and

process data from the GPS stations and make the data available

to the public through websites (for example, http://www.

unavco.org http://www.uusatrg.utah.edu/, and the USGS crustal

deformation website). The PBO also maintains strainmeters,

tiltmeters, and seismometers, all within boreholes drilled in

2007–08 through the National Science Foundation’s EarthScope

program. Another EarthScope program, USArray, installed

state-of-the-art seismic stations within and around Yellowstone

as part of a temporary, mobile research array. All were removed

in 2010 except for one (near Grant Village) that was left in place

as an EarthScope legacy station and given to the UU. Finally,

real-time stream ow and meteorological data are collected by

the USGS Water Science Centers in Montana, Wyoming, and

Idaho, through the National Water Information System (NWIS)

with partial funding by YNP. Most of these data streams are

available on the internet and can be found at http://volcanoes.

usgs.gov/yvo/activity/monitoring/index.php.

During a period of notable geologic unrest, YVO personnel

would use these existing data streams and any new data from

additional monitoring instrumentation deployed during unrest.

Staff from YVO member agencies and other university and state

cooperators would be available to help respond to the needs of

the park, press, and public as described in subsequent sections.

USGS personnel would include YVO project scientists,

VHP staff not normally assigned to work at Yellowstone,

seismologists and analysts from the NEIC, and others from

other relevant science centers.

2. Geologic Unrest, Alert Levels, and

Information Products

YVO responds to a variety of geologic events that can

signal unrest leading to volcanic eruption. These events include

large earthquakes, earthquake swarms, hydrothermal explosions,

and increased gas emissions. The nature and frequency of these

hazards are discussed in USGS Open-File Report 2007–1071

and in USGS Fact Sheet 2005–3024. With assistance from

various partners and collaborators, YVO can also provide

rapid response to associated events such as earthquake-induced

landslides or oods. Part of any response plan involves

organizing and deploying scientic personnel and equipment

to investigate current activity and assess possible outcomes and

impacts. At the same time, helpful summary information must

be provided as soon as possible to land managers, emergency

responders, and the public-at-large.

2a. Notiﬁcation System for Volcanic Activity

To issue warnings of volcanic unrest and eruptions,

YVO utilizes an alert notication system implemented

in 2006 by the USGS VHP (http://pubs.usgs.gov/

fs/2006/3139/). This alert system consists of two parallel

warning schemes designed for two different types of hazards

(airborne ash and gas hazards affecting aviation, and ground-

based hazards, see g. 3). The alerts of airborne hazards

to aviation are summarized by four aviation color codes:

Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red. The alerts of ground-based

hazards use terminology similar to that used by the National

Weather Service: Normal, Advisory, Watch, and Warning.

Typically, the two four-stage alert levels rise and fall in

parallel, yielding Normal/Green, Advisory/Yellow, Watch/

Orange, and Warning/Red, though the system is designed to

be exible so that, for example, alert of an ongoing eruption

can remain Warning/Orange if a volcano poses a signicant

ground hazard but has no signicant plume or ash cloud that

could endanger aircraft.

The above volcano alert level and aviation color code

system has been used by YVO since 2006, and the status of

the Yellowstone Caldera has remained Normal/Green during

that time. It is important to recognize that large earthquakes,

earthquake swarms, or small hydrothermal explosions would

not necessarily cause a change in alert level unless those

events were thought to be part of an ongoing process that

could culminate in a volcanic eruption.

2. Geologic Unrest, Alert Levels, and Information Products 5

Figure 3. Charts showing the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program system for volcano alert levels. Two parallel scales

correspond to ground and aviation hazards.

2b. Event Response

Such important geologic events as large earthquakes or

hydrothermal explosions nevertheless would require action by

YVO. For such situations, an event response can be initiated

that would include issuance of an information statement

summarizing the event and its implications (see next section).

An event response includes formal actions taken by YVO,

outside of normal monitoring that are intended to characterize

anomalous activity, provide assessments of potential outcomes,

and inform the public of information gathered. Details of the

structure of an event response and how this ts into the National

Incident Management System (NIMS) are given in section 4.

YVO will respond to earthquakes insofar as to determine their

relevance to potential volcanism or hydrothermal explosions,

but otherwise will defer to the NEIC regarding seismic

summaries and statements of ongoing hazards.

2c. Written Information Products

Currently, YVO releases a monthly summary update

through its website, and through the Volcano Notication

Service (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns). This update

summarizes seismic, geodetic (ground motion), and unusual

hydrothermal activity for the previous month. An information

statement is a formal public statement outside of the standard

monthly summary updates. Information statements may

contain descriptions of changes in monitoring systems, recent

non-volcanic activity of note, or other non-urgent information

about Yellowstone. If volcanic activity or a large hydrothermal

explosion become a likely possibility, YVO will release two

additional information products to the aviation community

and through the VHP website: the Volcanic Activity Notice

(VAN) and the Volcano Observatory Notices for Aviation

(VONA). All these products are released electronically

6 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

through the USGS Hazard Activity Notication System

(HANS). They are automatically forwarded to a variety of

government agencies, to the YVO and VHP websites, and

to partners and collaborating agencies. Currently, the public

and media can subscribe to the VNS (Volcano Notication

Service) on the VHP website (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/).

A similar service is offered for earthquakes through the EHP

(https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/). Emergency managers

and cooperators may also receive these information products

automatically as emails or text messages sent at the time of

release. To demonstrate the use of an event response and these

information products, two plausible scenarios and potential

responses by YVO are outlined in Section 7.

3. YVO and the National Incident

Management System

In the event of a volcanic eruption, large earthquake, or

hydrothermal explosion where lives are at risk, infrastructure

is threatened, or access needs to be controlled, YNP would

activate an Incident Response within the Incident Command

System (ICS). The response may be run entirely by park staff

or, where desired, as a collaboration of multiple organizations

such as nearby counties, states, or federal land management

agencies. The response would be structured within the NIMS,

a program developed by the Federal Emergency Manage-

ment Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The NIMS approach is dened at http://www.fema.gov/

national-incident-management-system.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS)

is a systematic, proactive approach to guide depart-

ments and agencies at all levels of government,

nongovernmental organizations, and the private

sector to work together seamlessly and manage

incidents involving all threats and hazards—regard-

less of cause, size, location, or complexity—in

order to reduce loss of life, property and harm to the

environment.

….by using NIMS, communities are part of a

comprehensive national approach that improves

the effectiveness of emergency management and

response personnel across the full spectrum of

potential threats and hazards (including natural

hazards, terrorist activities, and other human-caused

disasters) regardless of size or complexity.

During events when human and nancial resources

need coordination, an ICS can provide infrastructure and

transportation (for example, temporary headquarters or

helicopter access) to aid YVO in its mission to provide timely

assessments to the park and the public. The establishment

of an ICS would allow YVO to t into a larger organization

ensuring public safety, clear communications, transportation,

and other critical needs. A schematic diagram (g. 4)

illustrates how the ICS may be organized and how YVO

would t into the ICS. All YVO team leaders are strongly

encouraged to familiarize themselves with ICS procedures and

methodology and, as practical, to take formal training.

4. Event Response

4a. Declaring an Event Response

After consultation with YVO colleagues, including those

from YNP, the Scientist-in-Charge may declare a formal event

response. In doing so, the Scientist-in-Charge will release an

information statement that includes details of the geologic or

geophysical activity and, if appropriate, a pronouncement that

YVO will initiate increased monitoring during the period of

unrest. Not all event responses will result in a change in the

alert levels (or release of a VAN or VONA).

4b. Relation of YVO Event Response to Incident

Command System

Declaration of an event response does not in any way

obligate YNP to implement an ICS. However, if YNP,

or surrounding land managers or communities decide to

implement an incident command, YVO would form a branch

of the ICS and would act as an advisor on geologic conditions,

potential scenarios for future activity, and hazards assessment

(g. 4). It is also possible that the park could stand up an ICS

without YVO declaring an ofcial event response, as there are

situations where geologic and geophysical activity are unlikely

to result in additional hazards (for example, a landslide that

blocks road access, or a large earthquake without volcanic

consequences).

4c. Internal organization of YVO during a

response

In preparation for an event response or participation in

an ICS, YVO will utilize an organizational scheme based on

gure 5; the YVO Branch Organization contains teams and

groups that are provisionally assigned prior to the event. In

ICS terminology, which will be used in subsequent sections

of this document, the head of the event response is the YVO

Branch Chief (also known as the Scientist-in-Charge). The

Branch Chief is assisted by the Deputy Scientist-in-Charge,

who also acts as the Scientist-in-Charge when the Branch

Chief is unavailable. The event response will be overseen

by two functional groups: monitoring and information. The

YVO Branch Chief, in consultation with the deputy and team

leaders, will determine the assignment of team and group

4. Event Response 7

Logistics

Section

Finance/

Administration

Section

Operations

Section

Plans

Section

Incident

Command

YVO

BRANCH

Monitoring

Information

YVO SIC/Liaison to IC

YVO/ VSC Liaison

Safety Officer

Information Officer

Figure 4. Hypothetical organization chart of

an Incident Command System (ICS) during an

event response at the Yellowstone Caldera. The

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) Branch

is one part of the Plans Section of the Incident

Command (IC). Each section would consist of

multiple branches. The YVO Branch could operate

within multiple sections. SIC is Scientist-in-Charge,

VSC is Volcano Science Center.

roles. The smallest scale of event response would include a

single person in each group. Team members may come from

any of the YVO member agencies. Individually, each group

and the teams that compose those groups would convene at

regular intervals, typically once per day. If appropriate and

logistically feasible, all groups and teams could convene

together at a single meeting. Because YVO is a distributed

partnership with staff in multiple locations, it is expected

that meetings would be primarily by teleconference or video

conference. Decision making by all team members, regardless

of institutional afliation, would follow this organizational

structure, with ultimate authority placed upon the YVO

Branch Chief.

Upon raising the volcano alert level and aviation color

code beyond Normal/Green, the YVO Branch Chief will

assign a duty scientist. The duty scientist assignment will be

lled 24 hours a day and will be rotated among the available

qualied staff, so that one individual is always responsible

for evaluating the latest monitoring data. During an event

response when the volcano alert level remains at Normal/

Green, the assignment of staff to the duty scientist is at the

discretion of the YVO Branch Chief.

Monitoring Group

The monitoring group consists of up to four teams (seis-

mology, geodesy, geology [including hydrology and geochem-

istry], and remote sensing). The supervisor for the monitoring

group is the Deputy Scientist-in-Charge. Similarly, for event

responses of limited scope, the teams may consist solely of the

team leader or may be larger. The team leaders will convene

regularly, with a frequency chosen by the group supervisor.

When the volcano is at an elevated alert level/color code, each

team will grow to be composed of multiple team members as

shown in gure 5 and described below. In these instances, at

least one team member will be located at YNP or its immedi-

ate vicinity. Each team will convene at regular intervals (at

least once per day) to characterize ongoing activity, discuss

8 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Example YVO Branch Organization: 2013

(headed by Branch Chief/ Scientist-in-Charge)

Monitoring

Seismology

Public Information Officer (PIO)

Geographic Information

UU/YVO Chief Seismologist

USGS/YVO

UUSS

NEIC

MBMG

Geodesy

Deputy SIC Geology

Remote Sensing

Information

UU/YVO

UNAVCO

USGS/YVO: Team Leader

USGS

USGS/GEOL

USGS/GEOCHEM

YNP Park Geologist: Team leader

U. Wyo.

USGS/VSC

YNP

WSGS

NEIC

USGS

YNP

External Research Team

Provides data products

requested by Monitoring

Information and Support

Teams

Can be staffed as needed. May operate out of

Joint Information Center (JIC). Supports the PIO of the

Incident Command.

USGS/VSC: Team Leader

USGS/Classified Assets

YNP

USGS/VHP

USGS Deputy SIC

YNP/Permitting

UNAVCO

Groups

Teams

Figure 5. Chart showing Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) Branch Organization. The YVO Branch consists of two groups

divided into various teams. In this diagram, the teams are populated with one possible grouping of people, though other options may be

preferred at the time of unrest. The roles of Groups and Teams are explained in the text. The external research team reports directly to

the Scientist-In-Charge (SIC). MBMG is Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, NEIC is National Earthquake Information Center, USGS

is U.S. Geological Survey, UU is University of Utah, UUSS is University of Utah Seismograph Stations, U. Wyo. is University of Wyoming,

VSC is Volcano Science Center, VHP is Volcano Hazards Program, WSGS is Wyoming State Geological Survey, YNP is Yellowstone

National Park, YVO is Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

4. Event Response 9

upcoming plans, and provide a summary statement for their

team within the monitoring group.

The following section describes the existing standard set

of teams that would be used during geologic unrest. Based

upon experience at other USGS volcano observatories, these

teams would need to expand to meet the demand for eld

personnel during any extended period of unrest (more than a

few weeks). As such, the teams outlined below are minimum

organizational units for an event response when a Volcano

Advisory or Watch has been issued.

The seismology team consists of the YVO Chief Seis-

mologist and representatives from the Yellowstone Seismic

Network, as well as seismologists from several institutions

within YVO. The team tracks locations, magnitudes and

depths of earthquakes with time, and analyzes waveforms to

interpret the source and nature of the earthquake activity. The

team is responsible for deploying necessary temporary equip-

ment to increase understanding of the unrest. As needed, the

USGS would provide equipment and additional help, either

through VHP staff located at other volcano observatories or

Earthquake Hazards Program staff, including those at the

NEIC. These individuals could be deployed to YNP, or to

UUSS facilities in Salt Lake City.

The geodesy team currently will consist of geodetic

experts from a variety of YVO member agencies, as needed.

This team is responsible for identifying trends in ground

deformation that relate to current unrest, using data from con-

tinuous GPS stations, borehole strainmeters and tiltmeters, and

interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) observations.

The team is responsible for deploying any needed temporary

equipment to increase understanding of the unrest and for

developing numerical models of the source(s) of deformation.

The geology team is responsible for noting changes in

hydrothermal activity, gas discharge, water chemistry, or other

geologic factors accompanying unrest. They assist in plan-

ning, organizing and stafng xed-wing aircraft and helicopter

surveillance ights. The team is responsible for deploying any

needed temporary equipment to increase understanding of the

unrest.

The remote sensing team is responsible for identifying

any changes in topography, heat discharge, vegetation, or other

surface characteristics that can be tracked from air or space.

A representative from this team coordinates with the geology

team to recommend and deploy any instrumentation that can

help the remote sensing team to interpret remotely sensed data.

Under some circumstances, the YVO Branch Chief may merge

the geology and remote sensing teams under one team leader.

Information Group

The information group consists of two teams (geographic

information and public information) and during small events is

supervised by the team leader of the public information team.

The information group supervisor is alternatively known as

the Public Information Ofcer (PIO, see g. 5).

The geographic information team provides visual and

cartographic data products and support as requested by the

monitoring, information, and support groups. The team assists

the Public Information Team in providing contextual materi-

als for distribution to the media and to the public through

the YVO website. The public information team is led by an

individual from the USGS and may consist of a variety of

team members from YVO member and afliated agencies. The

team consists of specialists with technical familiarity sufcient

to conduct outreach and education through the YVO website.

The team also serves as a resource of scientic information

as part of any joint information center (JIC) set up within

the ICS. The team is responsible for summarizing current

scientic knowledge as “talking points” and conceiving and

producing illustrations for use in communicating geologic

concepts, hazards, and ongoing activity to the public. The

team leader serves as YVO’s primary contact with the incident

command’s PIO, the latter being a position that is likely to be

held by a representative from YNP or a local governmental

agency.

Support, logistics and external research

In the previous version of this planning document

(Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, 2010), YVO included a

separate support group. In this update, we have eliminated

this group. Logistics within the ICS are coordinated outside

of YVO and can assist with setting up a eld ofce, lodg-

ing, helicopter support, and so forth. Stafng and budgeting

within the USGS or as part of a USGS cooperative grant are

outside the purview of YVO itself, and need not constitute a

separate group. Coordination with the ICS will occur through

a liaison from YVO or the Volcano Science Center (VSC) that

will interface with the Finance/Administration section (g. 4).

In addition, the Deputy Scientist-in-Charge will continue to

work with VSC management to incorporate USGS staff into

the event response or to identify personnel from YVO member

agencies.

The external research team will remain as an advisory

group to the Branch Chief and consists of 3 or 4 people

including a team leader from the monitoring group. The team

will act as a liaison with scientists from outside YVO, includ-

ing other governmental and academic institutions. Scientists

interested in assisting with the event response or conduct-

ing independent or collaborative related research will send

communications to the external research team for vetting of

research proposals, assistance with logistics, and coordination

of sample and data distribution. The team will include scien-

tists from the VHP, academia, UNAVCO, and a member of

the YNP research permitting ofce, all who are not intimately

involved with the event response and can be impartial coor-

dinators for diverse groups seeking to undertake eldwork,

deploy instrumentation, acquire data, or collect samples as part

of the response. The team leader from the monitoring group

will coordinate with the rest of the monitoring teams to ensure

10 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

that the external research complements ongoing monitoring

programs and does not negatively impact logistics.

4d. Calldown and Related Communications Lists

Upon declaring an event response or announcing a

change in the volcano alert level or aviation color code,

YVO will institute a formal calldown whereby staff will

place telephone calls to notify colleagues and cooperators

of the current situation. Figure 6 is an example of the

calldown scheme. A version of the YVO calldown list will

be populated with phone numbers, web, and email addresses,

and placed on the YVO internal log system for retrieval

by YVO staff and cooperators. In addition, most of the

individuals on this list will also be sent an automatic email

or text message to their computer and (or) phone at the time

of the information statement and (or) alert-level change and

accompanying information products (VAN/VONA). As such,

the telephone call may be redundant, but allows back-and-

forth discussion between YVO staff and key distributors of

hazards information. In the current plan, YNP or the ICS staff

above the YVO Branch will contact state and local emergency

managers, as well as relevant personnel within YNP. The UU

will be responsible for contacting regional seismic networks.

The YVO Branch Chief or a designee will alert the VHP

Coordinator and the VSC Director, who in turn notify USGS

regional and national program contacts and the Department

of the Interior Watch Ofce. The VHP Coordinator will also

interface with the Hazard Response Executive Committee that

oversees USGS responses to hazardous events.

The YVO calldown list will be reevaluated at least once

per year and will be maintained by the YVO PIO and stored

on the internal log system.

4e. Information Releases

As of September 2014, YVO issues a monthly update on

the status of the Yellowstone volcano on or around the rst

day of each month. The update synthesizes the monitoring

information and expert opinion solicited from YVO

cooperators and collaborators. After a notable earthquake,

earthquake swarm, hydrothermal explosion or other geologic

event, the observatory may choose to release an information

statement that provides details on the event and possible

outcomes. During an event response, frequency of the updates

is at the discretion of the YVO Branch Chief. If warranted,

the YVO Branch Chief may opt to change the alert level and

aviation color code. After an upgrade in alert level, YVO will

release daily updates.

Currently, the UUSS policy is to issue a press release

after any earthquake greater than M 3.5 within the UUSS

reporting area of the Yellowstone region. They typically do

the same after the onset of any signicant earthquake swarm,

especially those that attract public interest or include felt

events. YVO then re-issues the press release as an information

statement. YVO may include additional content in the

information statement as it relates to potential volcanism.

However, YVO defers to the NEIC and any regional

earthquake network (for example, UUSS) for information

specically related to earthquakes.

As discussed above, while alert levels are elevated YVO

will release daily updates. During such times, separate press

releases by member agencies should be closely coordinated

with the public information team (or the Joint Information

Center organized through the ICS structure). In contrast,

during quiet periods, Yellowstone-related press releases by

any of the YVO member agencies can be vetted through the

other partners, and such communication is encouraged, but not

mandated.

5. Alert Notiﬁcation Scheme and

Decision Criteria

The VHP criterion for a volcano advisory/aviation color

code Yellow includes the following: “Volcano is exhibiting

signs of elevated unrest above known background level.”

Assessing what constitutes elevated unrest is somewhat

subjective and requires consideration of both the type and

level of activity, as well as the historic behavior of the volcanic

and hydrothermal system. For example, during an earthquake

swarm, activity may be above known background levels, but

because swarms are characteristic of this hydrothermal region,

is not necessarily a precursor to an eruption. This is in contrast

to many stratovolcanoes, where earthquake swarms or ground

deformation are almost always a direct result of magma ascent

into the upper crust (a shallow intrusion). At Yellowstone,

however, earthquake swarms and caldera-wide ground

deformation are relatively common events that can reect

regional tectonism, hydrothermal pressurization and deep

magma intrusion that appear to have occurred for thousands

of years without ever leading to a volcanic eruption. Similar

activity is noted at other large calderas around the world.

The following ve guidelines outlined below will inform

YVO decision making during future episodes of geologic

activity.

1. YVO may choose to initiate an event response for a

large earthquake, an intense earthquake swarm, an

episode of rapid ground displacement, a signicant

hydrothermal explosion that generates a large

crater (tens to hundreds of meters in diameter), or a

pronounced increase in heat or gas discharge.

2. An alert level change from Normal to Advisory

(with accompanying change of aviation color code

from Green to Yellow) may be declared when

monitoring parameters exceed known thresholds

previously observed at Yellowstone. One example

is an intense earthquake swarm (>500 earthquakes,

some with M >4.5) that is accompanied by rapid

5. Alert Notiﬁcation Scheme and Decision Criteria 11

YVO Provisional Calldown List

Alerts also released through the VNS: volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/

and YVO website activity page (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/status.php#yvo)

Used when changing volcano alert level or declaring event response

YVO Scientist-in-Charge calls:

Volcano Hazards Program Coordinator

Volcano Science Center Director

Wyoming, Montana and Idaho State Geologists

Seismology Team Chief calls (only if they are not already in YVO teams):

UUSS Director

UUSS Network Manager

NEIC Director

UNAVCO Network Manager for PBO

YNP Chief, Yellowstone Center for Resources calls:

USGS Director or her designee

Associate Director Natural Hazards

DOI 24/7 Watch Office

UUSS Associate Director

NEIC 24/7 Watch Office Staff

Affected local communities

Relevant State Government Offices

(Governor, Homeland Security)

NOTE: redundant lines of commun-

ication through the ICS would provide

information to these offices.

Manager, Montana Seismic Network

Manager, INL Network

NWS Meteorologic Watch Office, Kansas City, MO

FAA Regional Office Salt Lake City, UT

NWS Weather Forecast Office, Riverton, WY

NOAA Washington VAAC, Washington, DC

FEMA Region VIII contact, Denver, CO

Relevant USGS Regional Directors)

USGS Office of Communications

YVO Deputy

Scientist-in-Charge calls:

(Alert level change only)

YNP Superintendent

YNP Deputy Superintendent

YNP Chief Ranger

Communications Center

Figure 6. Simpliﬁed calldown list for Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Actual calldown list may differ from this example. DOI is

Department of Interior, FAA is Federal Aviation Administration, FEMA is Federal Emergency Management Agency, ICS is Incident

Command System, NEIC is National Earthquake Information Center, NOAA is National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NWS

is National Weather Service, USGS is U.S. Geological Survey, UUSS is University of Utah Seismograph Stations, VAAC is Volcanic Ash

Aviation Center, VNS is Volcano Notiﬁcation Service, YNP is Yellowstone National Park, YVO is Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

12 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

ground displacement (such as >5 cm [2 inches] over

30 days), or a signicant hydrothermal explosion.

It is unlikely that a Volcano Advisory would be

called for a single large earthquake and its sequence

of aftershocks unless it was accompanied by

considerable pre-earthquake ground displacement

or hydrothermal explosions. It is possible that lesser

activity could trigger the announcement of a Volcano

Advisory. It is also possible that in some situations

YVO would choose not to issue a Volcano Advisory,

unless all three criteria (an intense earthquake

swarm, rapid ground displacement, and a signicant

hydrothermal explosion) were met. Although the

Yellowstone hydrothermal system normally releases

abundant carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulde, it

does not normally release high-temperature sulfur

dioxide; therefore, any measurable ux of sulfur

dioxide (for example, tens to hundreds of tons

per day) would merit serious consideration of the

issuance of a Volcano Advisory.

3. A change in alert level and aviation color code from

Normal/Green to Advisory/Yellow will always trigger

a formal event response by YVO.

4. Changes in alert levels and color codes or declaration

of an event response are the responsibility of the

YVO Branch Chief, who will normally consult

closely with the other organization leads and team

leaders before making any such decisions.

5. Change from a higher alert level and color code

(Advisory or Watch) to a lower alert level will

be at the discretion of the YVO Branch Chief, in

association with the team leaders and organization

leads. The criteria for such a decision are likely to

vary widely, depending on the nature of the event.

6. Scientiﬁc Oversight and Information

Sharing

6a. Advisory Panel

The USGS VHP is currently exploring the development

of an oversight committee to provide guidance to all USGS

volcano observatories. The panel would be a standing

committee focused on maximizing the ability of U.S.

volcano observatories to monitor and mitigate volcanic

hazards. Such a committee would provide assistance to YVO

by undertaking periodic audits of observatory practices, and

by serving as additional liaisons to the media for background

information during volcano crises.

6b. YVO Log System

YVO maintains a secured weblog system that provides

a forum for discussion of monitoring data. This password-

protected system shall be used continually, during periods of

quiescence and unrest, to provide a searchable archived system

of plots, observations, and discourse related to geologic

activity at Yellowstone. Such systems have proven critical to

information sharing at the Hawaiian, Cascades, and Alaska

Volcano Observatories. Log systems ensure that everyone

works with the same set of information and that ideas can be

shared, discussed, and vetted in an organized manner. The log

contains a record of phenomena, ideas, and decision making in

the aftermath of events, that can be used by observatory staff

to evaluate operational protocols. Unauthorized use of posted

data or ideas is unacceptable and could result in exclusion

from observatory projects and opportunities.

YVO practice is to make all reliable real-time data

available to the public through Internet-based archives (these

currently include seismic, GPS, strain, tilt, and hydrologic

data). The log system does not contain raw data. Its purpose is

to enable discussion among YVO partners. All staff from YVO

member agencies with a role in YVO response are strongly

encouraged to use the log system and be familiar with its

organization (Pierson and others, 2013).

7. Scenarios of Unrest and Initiation of

Event Response

Two plausible scenarios demonstrate how the YVO

response plan might be used as a basis for an event response.

7a. Scenario 1: Day 1: During a 6-hour

period on a July afternoon, four M 5–6

earthquakes occur near Gibbon River Can-

yon (hundreds of smaller events occur

over the next three days). Landslides have

blocked the roads in Gibbon River Canyon

and between Mammoth and Norris Geyser

Basin, effectively closing off access to Norris

and Mammoth from the southwest.

Coincident with the beginning of

earthquake activity, the Norris strain and

tilt meters show large signals indicating sig-

nicant local deformation. Though two con-

tinuous GPS receivers (set at minute solu-

tions) are deployed nearby, the data are not

telemetered.

Day 2: Hydrothermal explosions are

detected in the Norris Back Basin, leading

to closure of the entire Norris Geyser Basin.

The largest resulting crater is 20 meters

in diameter; 15 additional hydrothermal

8. Summary and Protocols for Updating this Plan 13

explosions are detected with the Norris seis-

mometer and strain meter.

On Day 1, YNP initiates an ICS to help manage

transportation around the affected area, restore infrastructure,

and assist park visitors. YVO initiates an event response and

is designated as a branch within the “Plans” section of the

ICS structure. At the same time, a Volcano Advisory and

aviation color code Yellow are declared by the YVO Branch

Chief along with a summary of observations and current

prospects for future activity. A VAN/VONA is issued by the

YVO Branch Chief and a calldown is completed. The event

response requires formation of 3 teams (~13 people) within the

monitoring group (seismology, geodesy and geology/remote

sensing). The information group consists of three individuals

(two in the geographic information team), and is supervised

by the public information team leader. Team members of the

monitoring group plan for deployment of additional equipment

to detect local deformation and assist in the identication of

seismic sources that could indicate migrating magma. The YVO

Branch Chief works with the public information team leader to

create information products. These are for use during a press

conference on Day 2, set up through the ICS. A duty scientist

position is created, which rotates among the team leaders for

Day 2 and Day 3.

On Day 3, representatives of the YVO advisory panel are

contacted by the YVO Branch Chief and a conference call is set

up between the advisory panel, the YVO team leaders, and the

Branch Chief. Assuming that unrest did not increase, this basic

organizational structure would be used for response to the initial

unrest, and would remain in place for as long as desired by the

Branch Chief and the ICS.

7b. Scenario 2: Day 1: Forty (M>2.0)

earthquakes are recorded over a 10-hour

period on a winter day at Yellowstone

Lake. Several of the earthquakes are felt by

park staff, but no damage is recorded. No

deformation or hydrothermal changes are

noted.

Day 2: The swarm continues and

residents express concern about their safety.

200 M>2.0 earthquakes are now recorded.

On Day 3, YNP initiates an ICS to help plan possible

options for moving staff out of the Yellowstone Lake area to

alterative locations in the park. The YVO Branch Chief releases

an information statement and begins an event response. The

alert level and avaiation color code remain at Normal/Green.

The monitoring group consists of the Chief Seismologist and

the Park Geologist. The information group consists of a single

person from the USGS. At the discretion of the YVO Branch

Chief, a daily information statement is provided through the

YVO website and the VNS until the swarm ceases. Due to the

relatively low level of activity, YVO decides not to deploy

temporary equipment unless geologic activity increases. The

incident command managers have a daily teleconference to

re-assess the situation, including whichever YVO-afliated

staff are needed. No YNP staff are moved from the area. The

earthquake swarm eventually ceases after six days, and the ICS

is demobilized at that time.

8. Summary and Protocols for Updating

this Plan

This plan summarizes protocols and tools to be used

by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory during episodes of

unusual geologic unrest at the Yellowstone Caldera.

• The YVO Branch Chief will call for an event

response, and will enter into an ICS led by YNP or

another land management agency if appropriate.

The YVO Branch within the Plans Section of the

Incident Command will consist of prescribed groups

(Monitoring and Information) and their associated

teams.

• Information will be provided externally through

the USGS Hazard Activity Notication System

(HANS), the YVO and USGS VHP websites, and a

calldown list. Internal communications will be orga-

nized through group and team meetings and through

the YVO log system.

• This plan will be modied every three years to

account for changes in staff, organizational struc-

tures, and protocols. The current version of this plan

will be available through the ofcial USGS publi-

cations website for viewing by the general public.

Similarly, the calldown list and group and team

members list will be kept up-to-date on the internal

secured log system and will be updated yearly.

For more information:

Brantley, S.R., Lowenstern, J.B., Christiansen, R.L., Smith,

R.B., Heasler, Henry, Waite, Greg, and Wicks, Charles,

2004, Tracking changes in Yellowstone’s restless volcanic

system: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 100–03, 4 p.,

available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs100-03/.

Christiansen, R.L., Lowenstern, J.B., Smith, R.B., Heasler,

Henry, Morgan, L.A., Nathenson, Manuel, Mastin, L.G.,

Mufer, L.J.P., and Robinson, J.E., 2007, Preliminary

assessment of volcanic and hydrothermal hazards in Yellow-

stone National Park and vicinity: U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2007–1071, 94 p., available at http://pubs.

usgs.gov/of/2007/1071/.

14 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Department of Homeland Security, 2008, National Incident

Management System: Federal Emergency Management

Agency, 155 p., available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emer-

gency/nims/NIMS_core.pdf.

Gardner, C.A., and Guffanti, M.C., 2006, U.S. Geological

Survey’s alert-notication system for volcanic activity: U.S.

Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2006–3139, 4 p., available at

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3139/.

Lowenstern, J.B., Christiansen, R.L., Smith, R.B., Morgan,

L.A., Heasler, Henry, 2005, Steam explosions, earthquakes,

and volcanic eruptions—what’s in Yellowstone’s future?:

U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2005–3024, 6 p., avail-

able at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3024/.

Pierson, T.C., Driedger, C.L., and Tilling, R.I., 2013, Volcano

crisis response at Yellowstone Volcanic Complex—after

action report for exercise held at Salt Lake City, Utah,

November 15, 2011: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File

Report 2013–1018, 31 p. available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2013/1018/.

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, 2006, Volcano and earth-

quake monitoring plan for the Yellowstone Volcano Obser-

vatory, 2006–2015: U.S. Geological Survey Scientic

Investigations Report 2006–5276, 17 p., available at http://

pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5276/.

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, 2010, Protocols for geo-

logic hazards response by the Yellowstone Volcano Obser-

vatory: U.S. Geological Survey Circular, 1351, 18 p.

Websites with Monitoring Data:

YVO Monitoring Webpage

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/activity/monitoring/index.php

UUSS Recent Earthquakes at Yellowstone National Park

http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/Maps/

Yellowstone.html

UUSS Seismic Waveform Images (Webicorders)

http://quake.utah.edu/helicorder/yell_webi.htm

UU GPS Data

http://www.uusatrg.utah.edu/ts_ysrp.html

PBO GPS Data

http://www.unavco.org/data/gps-gnss/real-time/real-time.html

PBO Strain Data

http://www.unavco.org/data/strain-seismic/bsm-data/bsm-data.

html

YVO Hydrologic Monitoring with Links to NWIS

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/yellowstone_

monitoring_46.html

To reach YVO:

email: [email protected]

To sign up for YVO notications

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/

Glossary of Terminology and Acronyms 15

Glossary of Terminology and Acronyms

ANSS Advanced National Seismic System: The USGS-sponsored system for providing uniform information products for seismic

activity including, locations, magnitudes, effects on buildings, and so forth. Includes the NEIC, the backbone network of USGS

seismic stations, and 15 regional seismic networks operated by partner agencies.

Deputy Scientist-in-Charge A deputy Scientist-in-Charge is assigned to assist with communications, calldowns, and other respon-

sibilities. The position serves as the monitoring group leader.

Duty Scientist Rotating position among the team leaders and Scientist-in-Charge. The duty scientist is responsible for continu-

ous, 24-hour-a-day evaluation of monitoring data and communication of important ndings to the observatory staff and leader-

ship. The duty scientist position will be utilized whenever the volcano is at an alert level above Normal/Green.

Event Response An ofcial action taken by the observatory to react to an increase in geologic activity.

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FEMA/DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Homeland Security

GPS Global Positioning System: A satellite-based system for location and navigation. It is used in geoscience (and by YVO) to

monitor displacement of benchmarks and other monuments as a means of tracking tectonic and volcanic deformation.

HANS Hazards Activity Notication System: A computer interface used by USGS volcano observatories for issuing volcano

alerts, information statements, and other advisories.

ICS Incident Command System: A set of personnel, policies, procedures, facilities, and equipment, integrated into a common

organizational structure designed to improve emergency response of all types and complexities.

IGS Idaho Geological Survey

InSAR Interferometric synthetic aperture radar

IRIS Integrated Research Institutes for Seismology

JIC Joint Information Center

MBMG Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

NEIC National Earthquake Information Center: A Denver-based group within USGS responsible for overall monitoring of earth-

quakes in the United States. Maintains a 24-hour-a-day Watch Ofce and a “backbone” network of seismic stations that comple-

ments regional networks such as UUSS.

NIMS National Incident Management System

NWIS National Water Information System

PBO Plate Boundary Observatory: One of the components of Earthscope, a research facility to explore the structure and evolu-

tion of the North American Continent. Earthscope is funded by the National Science Foundation. PBO focuses primarily on

ground deformation as measured by GPS, and strain and tilt meters.

PIO Public Information Ofcer

Scientist-in-Charge The Observatory lead from the USGS, with ultimate authority over Observatory operations. In an ICS, the

Scientist-in-Charge serves as the YVO Branch Chief.

UNAVCO Non-prot consortium that, in part, assists the National Science Foundation with installation and operation of PBO

instrumentation.

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

UU University of Utah

UUSS University of Utah Seismograph Stations: A research, educational and public-service entity that serves as an ANSS

regional network and serves populations in Utah, eastern Idaho, and western Wyoming. UUSS is responsible for location of

earthquakes at Yellowstone as part of the MOU for the YVO.

University of Utah Seismology and Active Tectonics Research Group Researchers, faculty and students focused on interpreting

and modeling the Yellowstone region seismic and ground deformation data acquired by the UU and others. Research projects

include the Yellowstone hotspot, seismicity, magmatism, heatow, and ground deformation.

UW University of Wyoming

VAAC Volcanic Ash Aviation Center

VAN Volcanic Activity Notice

VHP Volcano Hazards Program: USGS program that funds the USGS Volcano Observatories and the VSC, which administers

most USGS employees involved in volcano-related projects.

VNS Volcano Notication Service: a free service that sends notication emails about volcanic activity at U.S. monitored

volcanoes.

VONA Volcano Observatory Notices for Aviation

VSC Volcano Science Center: The organizational unit within which most USGS volcano scientists reside. Staff are located pri-

marily at the Alaska, Cascades, and Hawaiian Volcano Observatories, and in Menlo Park, California. Led by the VSC director.

16 Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

WSGS Wyoming State Geological Survey

YNP Yellowstone National Park

YVO Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

YVO Branch The organizational unit occupied by YVO within the Plans Section of the ICS; led by the YVO Branch Chief

(Scientist-in-Charge).

YVO Collaborating Organizations Informal cooperators such as university researchers, the Idaho National Lab Seismic Monitor-

ing Program, the Integrated Research Institutes of Seismology, the National Weather Service, and the National Science Foun-

dation/Earthscope. Some of these organizations have a MOU and a cooperating agreement with one or more YVO member

agencies.

YVO Member Agencies These include the USGS, YNP, UU, UW, WSGS, IGS, MBMG and UNAVCO. All are signatories to the

YVO MOU, most recently signed in 2012.

Menlo Park Publishing Service Center, California

Manuscript approved for publication September 16, 2014

Edited by Theresa Iki and Regan Austin

Design and layout by Stephen L. Scott and Cory Hurd

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory—Protocols for Geologic Hazards Response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory—U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1351

(Version 2.0)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/cir1351

ISSN 1067-084X (print)

ISSN 2330-5703 (online)