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 4-level
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.
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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.
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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.
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Hazards Team Leader Dan Miller,
Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington, provides
volcano-hazard assessments based on results of the monitoring data
and geologic studies.
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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.
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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.
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