A LISON M.
S HAW
Department of Geology & Geophysics,
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543
Phone: (508) 289-3775, E-mail: ashaw@whoi.edu
Website: www.whoi.edu/people/ashaw
Citizenship: Canadian and US
Languages: English, French and a working knowledge of Spanish
Academic history:
2005 - present
2003 - 2005
1997 - 2003
1997
1992 - 1996
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution , Woods Hole, MA
Assistant Scientist
Carnegie Institution of Washington , Washington, DC
Post-doctoral Researcher with Dr. Erik Hauri
Scripps Institution of Oceanography , UCSD, La Jolla, CA
Ph.D. in Earth Sciences/Oceanography with Dr. David Hilton
University of British Columbia , Vancouver, Canada
Undergraduate studies in Geology
McGill University , Montreal, Canada
B.Sc. in Environmental Geosciences
Research interests:
My research focuses on understanding the role of volatiles (noble gases and major volatiles) in magmatic systems. In particular, I am interested in determining how they are recycled from the Earth’s surface back into the mantle, as well as identifying how they can be used as geochemical tracers of various sources (i.e. crust, mantle, sediments, plume) and processes (i.e., degassing, contamination, mixing). I have studied magmatic volatiles from the interior of the Earth in various different types of media including: 1) hydrothermal vent fluids in submarine environments, 2) basaltic glasses - lavas rapidly quenched as they erupt onto the seafloor, 3) fumaroles gases emitted from the craters of active volcanoes, 4) thermal springs, 5) geothermal wells on the flanks of volcanoes and 6) melt inclusions in mineral phases.
Previous research experience and field-based studies:
Submarine cross chain volcanic systems (2006- 2008): Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)-based mapping and sampling expeditions to the Suiyo, Sumisu and Torishima volcanic regions in collaboration with JAMSTEC and the Geological Survey of Japan.
Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica (2001-2008) : Measurement of gas fluxes from active volcanoes using remote sensing techniques (COSPEC) and c ollection of volatiles from fumaroles, hot springs, geothermal wells and thermal waters in volcanically active regions - see www.sio.ucsd.edu/volcano
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia (2006): NASA funded expedition to Klyuchevsky and Mutnovsky volcanoes to study volcanic deposits and gas emissions - http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/kamchatka
Southern Seamount Province of the Mariana arc (2005) : Sea-based expedition in collaboration with
JAMSTEC, U. of Texas at Dallas, Caltech, and NOAA. Collection of rock and fluid samples using JAMSTEC’s ROV.
Northern Mariana and Izu Islands (2003-2005): Margins-funded studies of volatile fluxes in collaboration with SIO, UNM, Boston University, the University of Tokyo and the Geological

Survey of Japan. Gas sampling, remote sensing and volcanic tephra sampling for melt inclusion studies - http://scripps.ucsd.edu/japan and http://sio.ucsd.edu/marianas
Alarcon Rise, Gulf of California (1998): SIO cruise to the Gulf of California - dredging of basaltic glass from the Alarcon Rise - a young spreading centre
Loihi Seamount, Hawaii (1998): Collection of hydrothermal vent fluids using submersibles to look at the temporal variation of CO
2
/ 3 He ratios in collaboration with the U. of Hawaii
Middle America Trench (1997-1998): Seafloor mapping of oceanic crust adjacent to the Middle
America trench using multi-beam sonar to investigate outer rise faulting
Hearne Hill Property, British Columbia (1997): Field-based grass roots exploration of a copper-gold porphyry deposit by regional and detailed mapping, drilling, and chemical sampling as a field geologist with Booker Gold.
Timmins, Ontario (1996): Field-based gold exploration in Archean volcanics by means of drilling and core logging as a exploration Field Geologist, Echo Bay Mines.
St. Raymond, Québec (1995): Groundwater quality and reservoir assessment studies with the Geological
Survey of Canada (Andrée Bolduc) involving surficial geology mapping and till sampling of
Quaternary glacial and marine deposits.
Analytical skills:
1) Noble gas extraction lines and mass spectrometers (VG5400, MAP-215, quadrupole)
2) Construction and testing of an all-metal inlet line for a MAP-215 noble gas mass spectrometer
3) Devising new analytical protocols for processing hydrothermal and geothermal fluids
4) Development and calibration of a glass extraction line for processing and purifying CO
2
samples
5) Stable isotope mass spectrometry (VG prism) for measuring D/H and carbon isotopes
6) Secondary ion mass spectrometry (Cameca 6F) for measuring volatile abundances and isotopes
Teaching and lecturing experience:
02/08 - 06/08 Geodynamics Seminar Series (WHOI)
09/06 - 12/07 Seminar in Geology and Geophysics (WHOI)
03/98 - 06/03 Earth Science (ES) 50 Environmental Perils (with Prof. J. Sclater)
10/02 ES 30 The Oceans
09/99 - 12/01 ES 101 Introduction to Geology (with Profs. J. Gee and J. Severinghaus)
04/00 - 06/00 ES 152 Introduction to Petrology (with Profs. J. Hawkins, J. Winterer and P. Castillo)
01/99 - 03/99 ES 102 Introduction to Geochemistry (with Profs. J. Bada and M. Kastner)
01/98 - 03/98 ES 120 Introduction to Mineralogy (with Dr. C. Macpherson)
Synergistic Activities:

Reviewer for IODP, NSF, JGR, JVGR, GCA, Island Arc and G-cubed

Invited speaker at Goldschmidt 2005, 2 invited talks at AGU 2007; Keynote speaker at both the
Central America and IBM MARGINS workshops 2007

DTM Geochemistry seminar organizer; WHOI Department seminar organizer; WHOI Women’s
Committee

Falmouth Academy Science Fair judge

Special session chair at AGU, 2006, 2008, 2009; Special session conveners at Goldschmidt 2007

Development and participation in web-based field expeditions to Costa Rica (2001), the Mariana
Islands (2004), the Izu Islands (2005) and Kamchatka (2006)

Invited Talks at Research Institutions:
Princeton University (April 2003), University of Maryland (Oct. 2004), Geological Society of
Washington (Oct. 2004), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Nov. 2004), McGill University (Feb.
2005), University of Tokyo (Aug. 2005; May, 2007), Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (Dec. 2005), and JAMSTEC (Dec. 2006), Lamont (Jan. 2008), Geophysical Laboratories (May 2008), University of
Michigan (Nov. 2008), Harvard (March 2008), National History Museum (Feb. 2009).
Peer-reviewed publications:
M.C. Ray, D.R. Hilton, J. Muñoz, T.P. Fischer and A.M. Shaw , The effects of volatile recycling, degassing and crustal contamination on the helium and carbon geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids from the Southern Volcanic Zone of Chile, Chem. Geol. in press
A.M. Shaw , E.H. Hauri, T.P. Fischer, D.R. Hilton and K. Kelley, Hydrogen isotopes in Mariana arc melt inclusions: implications for subduction dehydration and the deep-Earth water cycle, Earth Planet.
Sci. Lett. (2008) , 275, 138-145.
T.P. Fischer, A.M. Shaw and D.R. Hilton, Gas geochemistry of volcanic and hydrothermal fluids of
Central America. In: G. Alvarado (Editor), Central America: Geology, Resources and Hazards,
(2007)
E.H. Hauri, A.M. Shaw , J. Wang, J.E Dixon, P.L. King, and C.W. Mandeville, Matrix effects in hydrogen isotope analysis of silicate glasses by SIMS, Chem. Geol.
235 (2006) 352-365.
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, T.P. Fisher, J.A. Walker, and G.A.M. de Leeuw Helium isotope variations in mineral separates from Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Assessing crustal contributions, time-scale variations and diffusion-related mechanisms, Chem. Geol., 230 (2006) 124-193.
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, C.G. Macpherson, and J.M. Sinton, The C-He-Ar systematics of lavas from the
Manus back-arc basin: resolving degassing and contamination Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 68
(2004) 1837-1856.
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, T.P. Fischer, J.A. Walker and G. Alvarado, Helium and carbon relationships in geothermal fluids from the Central American arc in Costa Rica Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
214 (2003)
499-513.
P.R. Castillo, J.W. Hawkins, P.F. Lonsdale, D.R. Hilton, A.M. Shaw , and M. Glascock Petrology of
Alarcon Basin lavas, Gulf of California: Nascent intracontinental ocean crust, J. Geophys. Res.
107 (2002) B10, 2222.
T.P. Fischer, D.R. Hilton, M.M. Zimmer, A.M. Shaw , Z.D. Sharp, and J. Walker, Subduction and recycling of nitrogen along the Central American Margin, Science 297 (2002) 1154-1157.
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, C.G. Macpherson, and J.M. Sinton, Nucleogenic neon in high 3 He/ 4 He lavas from the Manus back-arc basin: a new perspective on He-Ne decoupling, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
194 (2001) 53-66.
Publications in review and in preparation:
A.M. Shaw , E.H. Hauri, T.P. Fischer, D.R. Hilton, R. Stern and T. Plank, Mariana arc fluid budgets: new insights from melt inclusions, in prep.
A.M. Shaw , E.H. Hauri, D.R. Hilton, C.G. Macpherson, and J.M. Sinton Tracing ancient recycled water in the Manus plume, in prep.
A.M. Shaw , Hauri, E., Tamura, Y., Ishizuka, O., Stern, R, Embley, R. Volatile Contents of NW Rota
Melt Inclusions: Insight to Explosive Submarine Arc Volcanism, in prep.
Abstracts and other publications:

Hilton, D., Ramirez, C., Mora, R., Fischer, T., Fueri, E., Barry, P., Shaw, A. and Alvarado, G. (2008)
Variations in gas emission rates and gas chemistry at Poas volcano, Costa Rica (2001-2008).
IAVCEI 2008 – General Assembly, Reykjavik, Iceland, p 15.
Tamura, Y., Shaw, A.
, Ishizuka, O., Shukuno, H., Kawabata, H. (2008) Primary andesite melts; new insight from NW Rota-1 volcano Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 72(12) Supplement 1, A929.
Fischer, T. P., D.R. Hilton, Shaw, A.M
. Z. Sharp, J. Barnes, E. Hauri, (2008) Light elements in subduction zone processes: the perspective from volatiles, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 72(12)
Supplement 1, A272.
Shaw, A.M. (2008) Volcanic CO
2
fluxes and implications for deep Carbon recycling, Sloan Deep Carbon
Workshop , Geophysical Laboratory, Washington D.C
J. Maule, S. Leuko, P. Morrill, A. Shaw , A. Abramov, Z. Tsygankova, E. Gostev, R. Anitori, D.
Gilichinsky and A. Steele (2008) International 2006 Astrobiology Expedition to Kamchatka,
Abscicon conference , Santa Clara, CA.
Head, E.M., Wallace, P.J., Carn, S., Sims, K., Shaw, A.
, and Bluth, G.J.S (2008) Interpreting SO
2
Degassing with Melt Inclusions: Nyamuragira Volcano, D.R. Congo (1980-2006), IAVCEI
Meeting , Iceland.
Shaw, A.M.
, Hauri, E.H. Hilton, D.R., Macpherson, C.G., and J.M. Sinton (2007) Earth’s deep H cycle:
H isotope evidence from the Manus Basin for complementary recycled reservoirs Eos Trans.
AGU, 88 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract DI42A-01 (invited)
Shaw, A.M.
, Hauri, E., Fischer, T., Hilton, Stern, R., (2007) Geochemical studies of the Izu-Bonin-
Mariana subduction system: highlights, progress and future directions Eos Trans. AGU, 88 (52),
Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T44C-01 (invited)
Shaw, A.M.
, Hauri, E., Fischer, T., Hilton, D., Plank, T., Stern, R., Tamura, Y. (2007) Volatiles in IBM arc magmas: new clues revealed from melt inclusion studies, NSF-Margins IBM workshop,
Honolulu, Hawaii (keynote talk)
Fischer, T. P., D.R. Hilton, Z. Sharp, E. Hauri, Shaw, A.M.
, K. Kazahaya and G.E. Alvarado (2007)
Volatile Sources and Transfer through the Izu-Bonin-Mariana and Central American Subduction
Factories NSF-Margins IBM workshop, Honolulu, Hawaii
Hilton, D.R., Fischer, T. P., Shaw, A.M.
, E. Hauri, and K. Kazahaya (2007) Contrasting the CO
2
-He isotope and relative abundance systematics of the Central American and IBM arcs, NSF-Margins
IBM workshop, Honolulu, Hawaii
A.M. Shaw , E.H. Hauri, R.J. Stern, J. Hawkins, (2007) How well do trace element proxies predict slab fluid behavior? Goldschmidt Cologne, Germany Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.71, Issue 15,
Supplement 1, A924
Hauri, E., Shaw, A.M.
, and A. E. Saal, (2007) Giant Impacts, Late Veneers and the Gradual Hydration of the Earth’s Mantle by Subduction, Goldschmidt Cologne, Germany
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.71, Issue 15, Supplement 1, A386
Shaw , A.M., D.R. Hilton, T.P. Fischer and E.H. Hauri, (2007) Volatile fluxes at arc volcanoes: comparing different techniques and evaluating mass balance, NSF-Margins Central America workshop, Costa Rica (keynote talk)
Shaw, A.M.
, Hauri, E, Tamura, Y, Ishizuka, O., Stern, R, Embley, R. (2006) Volatile Contents of NW
Rota Melt Inclusions: Insight to Explosive Submarine Arc Volcanism Eos Trans. AGU, 87 (52),
Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V52B-05
Tamura, Y, Ishizuka, O., Shaw, A ., Stern, R, Embley, R., Kawabata, H., Shukuno, H., Tani, K., Chang,
Q. (2006) Torishima And NW Rota-1: A Petrological Contrast Between The Izu-Bonin And
Mariana Arcs Eos Trans. AGU, 87 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V51F-07
Mitchell, E., Fischer, T. Hilton, D., Hauri, E., Shaw, A.
, Kazahaya, K. (2006) Volatile Sources and
Fluxes Through the Central American and Izu-Bonin-Mariana Subduction Factories Eos Trans.
AGU, 87 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V52B-04

Hilton, D.R., Fischer, T., Shaw, A.
, Hauri, E., Walker, J. (2006) Contrasting the CO2-He Isotope and
Relative Abundance Systematics of the Central American and IBM Arcs Eos Trans. AGU,
87 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V52B-07
Fischer, T., Burnard, P., Marty, B., Palhol, F, Mangasini, F., Shaw, A.M
. (2006) The 2005 and 2006 eruptions of Ol Doinyo Lengai: assessing deep and shallow processes at an active carbonatite volcano using volatile chemistry and fluxes Eos Trans. AGU, 87 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract
V14B-04
Shaw, A.M.
, Hauri, E.H. Hilton, D.R., Macpherson, C.G., and J.M. Sinton H isotopes of Manus Basin glasses: a unique perspective on mantle plumes and recycling processes Goldschmidt conference
2006, Melbourne, Australia.
Hilton, D.R., Fischer, T.P., Hauri, E.H. and A.M. Shaw.
Controls on the He-C systematics of the Izu-
Bonin-Marianas (IBM) subduction zone Goldschmidt conference 2006, Melbourne, Australia.
Shaw, A.M.
, Hauri, E.H., Fischer, T.P. and D.R. Hilton (2006) Evaluating the extent of C cycling through a cold subduction zone: new clues from Izu-Bonin melt inclusions Eos Trans. AGU,
87 (36), Jt. Assem. Suppl., Abstract V34A-05
Stern, R.J., P. Fryer, S. Klemperer, T. Plank, N. Takahashi, D. Wiens, A. Shaw . Perspectives on the
Andean arc from the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc system in the Western Pacific. Backbone of the
Americas meeting - Patagonia to Alaska , Abstract 2006.
Fischer, Hilton, Shaw , Hauri, Kazahaya, Mitchell, Shimizu, de Moor. Tracing slab inputs along the Izu-
Bonin-Marianas subduction zone: results from volatile emissions (2005) Eos Trans. AGU,
86 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T44A-08
Hauri, E.H., Gaetani, G. A., Shaw, A.M.
, Kelley, K., Saal, A.E. The Ins and Outs of Water in the Earth’s
Mantle, (2005) Eos Trans. AGU, 86 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V22A-04
A.M. Shaw , E.H. Hauri, Kelley, K., T. Fischer, D.
Hilton, R.
J.
Stern, J. Hawkins and T. Plank (2005) ,
Hydrogen isotope variations in Mariana Arc melt inclusions Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.69,
A631, (invited talk) .
Fischer, T.P., Hilton, D.R., Elkins, L., Shaw, A.M.
, Zimmer, M., Takahata, N., Sano, Y. Central America arc volatiles: Along- and across- arc variations Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.69, A630 (2005).
A.M. Shaw , E.H. Hauri, D.R.
Hilton, T.P. Fischer, R.
J.
Stern, J. Wade and T. Plank Insights into arc fluid budgets from Mariana melt inclusions, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.68, A45 (2004).
Hilton, D.R., Fischer, T.P., Shaw, A.M.
, De Leeuw, G.A.M.
and Walker, J.A The CO
2
-He isotope and relative abundance systematics of the Central American arc Penrose Meeting , Mexico 2004.
Shaw, A.M.
, Hilton, D., Fischer, T. and Walker, J. Helium variations in mineral separates from Cerro
Negro, Nicaragua: Assessing short time-scale variations. EOS Trans. AGU 84 F1545, 2003.
G.A.M. de Leeuw, D.R. Hilton, A.M. Shaw , B.J. Murton, R.N. Taylor, Testing binary mixing models for lavas erupted along the Reykjanes Ridge: insights from C-He relationships, Eos Trans. AGU,
83 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V52A-1274, 2002
L. Elkins, D.R. Hilton, T.P. Fischer, A. Shaw , W. Strauch, Z. Sharp, Sediment Underplating Beneath
Central America: Insights From N-He, δ 15 N Systematics of Volatile Discharges in Nicaragua Eos
Trans. AGU, 83 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V21B-1209, 2002
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, T.P. Fischer, J. Walker, Unravelling the C systematics of the Central American volcanic output. Abstract submitted to: Twelfth Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, August
2002.
T.P. Fischer, Hilton, D.R., Shaw, A.M.
, Zimmer, M.M. and Sharp, Z.D. A subduction zone barrier for sediment-derived nitrogen. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.
66 p A235, 2002.
T.P. Fischer, M.M. Zimmer, D.R. Hilton, A.M. Shaw , B. I. Cameron, J. A. Walker and E. Molina The relationship between the signature of subducted sediments in volcanic gases and volatile flux along the Central American Volcanic Arc.
Eos Trans. AGU , Spring Meet. Suppl., Abstract V52A-
09, 2002.

A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, T.P. Fischer, M.M. Zimmer, G. Alvarado, Helium and carbon relationships in geothermal fluids from the Central American arc in Costa Rica, Eos Trans. AGU, 82 (47), Fall
Meet. Suppl., Abstract V21C-0993, 2001
D.R. Hilton, A.M. Shaw , T.P. Fischer, Helium-Carbon Relationships in Geothermal Fluids of Guatemala:
Mapping the Subducted Sedimentary Component, Eos Trans. AGU, 82 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl.,
Abstract V11B-09, 2001
M.M. Zimmer, T.P. Fischer, D.R. Hilton, A.M. Shaw , Z.D. Sharp, G. Alvarado, Volatile Chemistry and
Fluxes Along the Costa Rican Segment of the Central American Volcanic Arc Eos Trans. AGU,
82 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V21C-0994, 2001
A.M. Shaw , Volcanoes offer inside information, Ocean Watch column in The San Diego Union Tribune
(Jan. 10, 2001)
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, C.G. Macpherson, and J.M. Sinton Evidence for Nucleogenic Neon in High
3 He/ 4 He Lavas from the Manus Back-arc Basin. Abstract submitted to: Tenth Annual V.M.
Goldschmidt Conference, September 2000.
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, C.G. Macpherson, and J.M. Sinton. Constraining Volcanic CO
2
Fluxes: the
Importance of CO
2
/ 3 He Ratios. Abstract submitted to: Iceland Summer School on Plume-Ridge
Interactions, August 2000.
A.M. Shaw , D.R. Hilton, C.G. Macpherson, and J.M. Sinton. The carbon dioxide/helium-3 systematics of plume-, mid-ocean-ridge basalt, and arc-type lavas from the Manus back-arc basin. Abstract in:
Ninth Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, p268. LPI Contribution No. 971, Lunar and
Planetary Institute, Houston, August 1999.