Brandon Browne
Professor
I grew up enjoying the outdoors in the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California, but I didn't discover geology until taking an introductory geology class during my second year in college. I loved how the labs and field trips in that class (and subsequent geology classes) challenged my perspectives on how the earth works over different spatial and temporal scales. My favorite geology classes taught me about igneous rocks, volcanology, and geologic field methods, which motivated me to work with a professor on a undergraduate research project. That experience convined me to pursue a MS and then a PhD, where I studied volcanoes in Mexico, Japan, Kamchatka, and Alaska at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I started working as a geology professor after graduating from UAF, first in southern California and later in Humboldt. Some of the things I like most about the Humboldt Geology program are the way we synthesize in-field, in-lab, and in-class learning experiences, which is a particularly powerful (and fun) way to teach and learn geology; our location in the Cascadia subduction zone surrounded by so much fascinating and beautiful geology; and being able to work with so many creative and friendly colleagues and students.
Specialty Area
Igneous petrology, volcanology, field geology
Teaching
I teach introductory geology courses, like GEOL 109 - General Geology; upper division geology courses, like GEOL 312 - Earth Materials, GEOL 314 - Petrology, and GEOL 474 - Volcanology; geologic mapping courses like GEOL 435 - Geologic Field Methods and GEOL 475 - Geology Field Camp; and general education geology courses, like GEOL 300 - Geology of California.
Education
Ph.D., Geology, 2005, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
M.S., Geology, 2001, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
B.S., Geology, 1998, Oregon State University
B.S., Environmental Science, 1998, Oregon State University
Courses Taught
GEOL 109/109L: General Geology
GEOL 300/300L: California Geology
GEOL 303: Environmental Geology
GEOL 312: Earth Materials (Mineralogy + Lithology)
GEOL 314: Petrology
GEOL 380: Advanced Petrology
GEOL 474: Volcanology
GEOL 435: Geologic Field Methods II
GEOL 475: Summer Geology Field Camp
GEOL 482: Instrumental Methods in Geology (Scanning Electron Microscopy)
GEOL 486: Geology Senior Seminar
GEOL 554: Advanced Geology Field Methods
Research
I enjoy research that combines field geology, thin section petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and crystal chemistry to investigate volcanic hazards and better understand what makes volcanoes turn on and off. My favorite kind of research projects blend field work that examines the volume, extent, and manner in which magma was erupted through geologic mapping and stratigraphy, and lab work that characterizes the behavoirs and evolution of magma systems through whole-rock geochemistry (XRF) and in situ analysis of crystals via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron microprobe (EMP). I am also starting to incorporate geochronology techniques like cosmogenic dating of Quaternary volcanic surfaces in my research. My current research projects involving undergraduate and graduate students are based at volcanoes in northern California, like Mount Shasta, the Lassen Volcanic Center, and Medicine Lake Volcano, as well as volcanoes in eastern California, like those near Mono Lake and in the Golden Trout Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada.
Publications
Articles and Selected Abstracts (student author):
Khoury, R.M., Browne, B.L. (2024) Petrologic and Geochemical Constraints on Pre-Eruptive Storage Conditions of Magmas Erupted During the ~12.5 ka Flare Up of Medicine Lake Volcano, CA. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 4. doi: 10.1130/abs/2024CD-399710
Koulakov, I., Quasi, S. I., Izbekov, P., and Browne, B. L. (2023) Structure of shallow magma sources beneath Augustine Volcano (Alaska) inferred from local earthquake tomography. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 107965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2023.107965
Browne, B.L., Neal, C.A., and Bacon, C.R. (2022) The ~400 yr B.P. eruption of Half Cone, a post-caldera composite cone within Aniakchak caldera, Alaska Peninsula: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Professional Report 126, 60 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/30839
Browne, B.L., Khoury, R. (2019) The compositionally and thermally-zoned rhyolite erupted from Long Canyon Dome, Golden Trout Volcanic Field, Kern Plateau, Sierra Nevada. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 4, ISSN 0016-7592 doi: 10.1130/abs/2019CD-329698
Szymanski, M.E., Browne, B.L. (2019) Sr and Nd isotope compositions of Quaternary mafic lavas of the Golden Trout Volcanic Field, Kern Plateau, Sierra Nevada. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 4, ISSN 0016-7592 doi: 10.1130/abs/2019CD-329019
Diniega, S., Sangha, S., Browne, B.L., (2018) Using satellite imagery to identify and analyze tumuli on Earth and Mars. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 482, p. 52-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.10.028
Browne, B.L., Sion, B.D., Phillips, F., Nicholson, R., (2017) Eruption styles and late Pleistocene ages from 36Cl dating of Groundhog Cone, the most recent and unglaciated basaltic volcano in the Golden Trout Volcanic Field, Kern Plateau, Sierra Nevada. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 6 doi: 10.1130/abs/2017AM-295298
Browne, B.L., Becerra, R., Campbell, C., Saleen, P., Wille, F., (2017) Quaternary basaltic volcanism in the Golden Trout Volcanic Field, southern Sierra Nevada, California. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.05.028
Browne, B.L., Tepley, F., (2016) Very coarse-grained plagioclase-CPX-hornblende orthocumulate xenoliths from East Tanaga Volcano, western Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs vol 48, No 4, https://doi: 10.1130/abs/2016CD-274417
Browne, B.L., Szramek, L. (2015) Rates of Magma Ascent and Storage. Encyclopedia of Volcanoes 2nd Edition, Sigurdsson, H., Houghton, B., McNutt, S., Rymer, H., Stix, J. (eds) Academic Press, p. 203-214
Churikova, T.G., Ivanov, B.V., Eichelberger, J., Worner, G., Browne, B., Izbekov, P. (2013) Major and trace element zoning in plagioclase from Kizimen Volcano (Kamchatka): Insights into magma-chamber processes. Journal of Volcanology and Seismology, v. 7, p. 112-130. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0742046313020024
Steiner, A., Browne, B.L., Nye, C. (2012) Quenched Mafic Inclusions in ≤2,200 yrs B.P. deposits at Augustine Volcano, Alaska. International Geology Review DOI:10.1080/00206814.2011.636641
Browne, B.L., Bursik, M., Deming, J., Louros, M., Martos, A., and Stine, S., (2010) Eruption Chronology and Petrologic Reconstruction of the Holocene Eruption of Red Cones, Southern Inyo Chain, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 122, p. 1401-1422. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30070.1
Browne, B.L., P. Izbekov, J. Eichelberger, T. Churikova, (2010) Constraints on the Pre-Eruptive Storage Conditions of the Holocene-Aged KZI Dacite Magma Erupted from Kizimen Volcano, Kamchatka. International Geology Review 52, issue 12, p. 95-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206810903332413
Blazevic, M., Kirby, M., Woods, A., Browne, B.L., Bowman, D. (2009). A sedimentary facies model for glacial-age sediments in Baldwin Lake, Southern California, Sedimentary Geology, 219, p. 151-168.
Coombs, M.L., McGimsey, R.G., Browne, B.L. (2008), Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Gareloi Volcano, Gareloi Island, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5159, 36 pp. LINK
Coombs, M.L., McGimsey, R.G., Browne, B.L. (2007), Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for the Tanaga Volcanic Cluster, Tanaga Island, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5094, 46 pp. LINK
Browne, B.L. (2006) Investigating Magma Withdrawal Dynamics During Plinian Eruptions Through Mineral and Eruptive Stratigraphies: Examples From the Chemically Zoned 400 yr BP Eruption of Half Cone Volcano, Aniakchak National Park, Alaska. Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V53E-05
Browne, B.L., Gardner, J.E., (2006) The Influence of Magma Ascent Path on the Texture, Mineralogy, and Formation of Hornblende Reaction Rims. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 246, 161-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2006.05.006
Eichelberger, J.C., Izbekov, P.E., Browne, B.L. (2006) Bulk Chemical Trends at Arc Volcanoes are not Liquid Lines of Descent. Lithos 87, 135-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2005.05.006
Browne, B.L., Eichelberger, J.C., Patino, L.C., Vogel, T.A., Uto, K., Hoshizumi, H., (2006) Magma mingling as indicated by texture and geochemistry of plagioclase phenocrysts from Unzen volcano, SW Japan. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 154, 103-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2005.09.022
Browne, B.L., Eichelberger, J.C., Patino, L.C., Vogel, T.A., Dehn, J., Uto, K., Hoshizumi, H., (2006) Generation of porphyritic and equigranular enclaves during magma mingling at Unzen volcano, SW Japan. Journal of Petrology 47, 301-328. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egi076
Browne, B.L., Gardner, J.E. (2005) The transport and deposition of pyroclastic material from the ~1000 A.D. caldera-forming eruption of Volcán Ceboruco, Nayarit, Mexico. Bulletin of Volcanology 67, 469-489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-007-0169-7
Browne, B.L., Gardner J.E. (2004) The nature and timing of caldera collapse as indicated by accidental lithic fragments from the ~1000 A.D. eruption of Volcán Ceboruco, Mexico. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 130, 93- 105. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-0273(03)00283-X
Maps:
Coombs, M.L., McGimsey, R.G., and Browne, B.L. (2012) Geologic Map of Mount Gareloi, Gareloi Island, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 2012-3145, 1 plate LINK
