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Michael Albert Mitchell, Ph.D.

I am a research geophysicist at the California Volcano Observatory who focuses on using gravity, magnetic, and MT datasets, to better image the magmatic plumbing of the Clear Lake Volcanic. Improving our understanding of the magmatic plumbing will allow us to better characterize the volcanic hazards and evaluate the threat that the Clear Lake Volcanic field poses to nearby communities.

Over the course of my education I have been fortunate to work on a diverse set of geophysical projects which range from:

- Shooting high resolution seismic profiles on the Kitsap Peninsula, west of Seattle, to better characterize the western end of the Seattle Fault.

- Archaeological geophysics investigations of the Great House at the Chimney Rock National Monument in southwestern Colorado.

- 3-D tomographic inversion of Askja volcano in Iceland’s Northern Volcanic Zone, using local micro-seismic events, to imaging the sub-caldera magma chamber and track the migration of magma from its injection points in the lower crust to the surface.

- Studying aspects of electrical and electromagnetic survey design, data quality control, and inversion in the hope of improving methodologies for the use of these geophysical methods in underground or in-mine environments.

With my current work on the Clear Lake Volcanic Field I am excited to be learning more about magnetotellurics (MT) and am happy to be studying volcanoes once again! At some point in my career I would enjoy the opportunity to work on projects related to archaeological geophysics once again.

Education and Certifications

  • 2020 - PhD in Geophysics from the University of British Columbia

  • 2011 - MPhil. in Earth Sciences from the University of Cambridge

  • 2010 - BSc. in Geophysical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines

Science and Products

Using DC resistivity ring array surveys to resolve conductive structures around tunnels or mine-workings

In underground environments, conventional direct current (DC) resistivity surveys with a single linear array of electrodes produce fundamentally non-unique inversions. These non-uniqueness and model resolution issues stem from limitations placed on the location of transmitters (TXs) and receivers (RXs) by the geometry of existing tunnels and boreholes. Poor excitation and/or sampling of the region
Authors
Michael Albert Mitchell, Douglas W. Oldenburg
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Magnetotelluric monitoring of the Geysers Steam Field, northern California: Phase 2

An original magnetotelluric (MT) survey collected in 2017 included 42 MT stations mainly in the northwestern part of The Geysers geothermal field in northern California. These data were modeled in 3D and imaged the electrically conductive cover, the electrically resistive steam field, and the electrically resistive Geysers plutonic complex (Peacock et al., 2020; Peacock et al. 2020a). Success of
Authors
Jared R. Peacock, David Alumbaugh, Michael Albert Mitchell, Craig Hartline
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Imaging the magmatic plumbing of the Clear Lake Volcanic Field using 3-D gravity inversions

The Quaternary Clear Lake Volcanic Field (CLVF) in the Northern California Coast Range is the youngest of a string of northward-younging volcanic centers in the state. The CLVF is located within the broad San Andreas Transform Fault System and has been active intermittently for ∼2 million years. Heat beneath the CLVF supports The Geysers, one of the largest producing geothermal fields in the world
Authors
Michael Albert Mitchell, Jared R. Peacock, Seth D. Burgess
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Volcano Science Center

Repeat magnetotelluric measurements to monitor The Geysers steam field in northern California

The Geysers in northern California is the world’s largest electricity generating steam field. To help understand changes in the steam reservoir, repeat magnetotelluric (MT) measurements are being collected once a year from 2021-2023. These data will be compared and modeled to provide 4-D images of changes within the reservoir. Joint inversion with passive seismic data will be done to further co
Authors
Jared R. Peacock, David Alumbaugh, Michael Albert Mitchell, Craig Hartline
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Volcano Science Center

Science and Products

Using DC resistivity ring array surveys to resolve conductive structures around tunnels or mine-workings

In underground environments, conventional direct current (DC) resistivity surveys with a single linear array of electrodes produce fundamentally non-unique inversions. These non-uniqueness and model resolution issues stem from limitations placed on the location of transmitters (TXs) and receivers (RXs) by the geometry of existing tunnels and boreholes. Poor excitation and/or sampling of the region
Authors
Michael Albert Mitchell, Douglas W. Oldenburg
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Magnetotelluric monitoring of the Geysers Steam Field, northern California: Phase 2

An original magnetotelluric (MT) survey collected in 2017 included 42 MT stations mainly in the northwestern part of The Geysers geothermal field in northern California. These data were modeled in 3D and imaged the electrically conductive cover, the electrically resistive steam field, and the electrically resistive Geysers plutonic complex (Peacock et al., 2020; Peacock et al. 2020a). Success of
Authors
Jared R. Peacock, David Alumbaugh, Michael Albert Mitchell, Craig Hartline
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Imaging the magmatic plumbing of the Clear Lake Volcanic Field using 3-D gravity inversions

The Quaternary Clear Lake Volcanic Field (CLVF) in the Northern California Coast Range is the youngest of a string of northward-younging volcanic centers in the state. The CLVF is located within the broad San Andreas Transform Fault System and has been active intermittently for ∼2 million years. Heat beneath the CLVF supports The Geysers, one of the largest producing geothermal fields in the world
Authors
Michael Albert Mitchell, Jared R. Peacock, Seth D. Burgess
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Volcano Science Center

Repeat magnetotelluric measurements to monitor The Geysers steam field in northern California

The Geysers in northern California is the world’s largest electricity generating steam field. To help understand changes in the steam reservoir, repeat magnetotelluric (MT) measurements are being collected once a year from 2021-2023. These data will be compared and modeled to provide 4-D images of changes within the reservoir. Joint inversion with passive seismic data will be done to further co
Authors
Jared R. Peacock, David Alumbaugh, Michael Albert Mitchell, Craig Hartline
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Volcano Science Center
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