Michael Poland
Mike Poland is a research geophysicist with the Cascades Volcano Observatory and the current Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Mike's area of specialization is volcano geodesy, which emphasizes the surface deformation and gravity fields associated with volcanic activity. This work involves the use of space-based technologies, like Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), as well as ground-based techniques, like microgravity surveys. Mike has taken part in studies on a variety of volcanic systems in the United States, including Mount St. Helens and other volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest, Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes in Hawaii, and the Yellowstone caldera. His recent work has focused on using gravity change over time to understand the character of the fluids that drive volcanic unrest, and also on the potential of satellite data to improve forecasts of future changes in volcanic activity.
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey - Yellowstone Volcano Observatory: Scientist-in-Charge (2017 - present)
U.S. Geological Survey – Cascades Volcano Observatory: Research Geophysicist (2015 - present)
U.S. Geological Survey – Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: Research Geophysicist (2005 - 2015)
U.S. Geological Survey – Cascades Volcano Observatory: Research Geophysicist (2002 - 2005)
Department of Geology, Clark College (Vancouver, Washington): Instructor (2004)
Arizona State University, Department of Geological Sciences: Graduate Teaching/Research Assoc. (1997 - 2001)
Education and Certifications
Arizona State University: Ph.D. (2001), Geological Sciences
University of California, Davis: B.S. (1997), Geology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Geological Society of America (GSA)
International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI)
Honors and Awards
Fellow, Geological Society of America, 2021
Science and Products
Dome growth at Mount Cleveland, Aleutian Arc, quantified by time-series TerraSAR-X imagery Dome growth at Mount Cleveland, Aleutian Arc, quantified by time-series TerraSAR-X imagery
The 2014-2015 Pāhoa lava flow crisis at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i: Disaster avoided and lessons learned The 2014-2015 Pāhoa lava flow crisis at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i: Disaster avoided and lessons learned
Lava lake level as a gauge of magma reservoir pressure and eruptive hazard Lava lake level as a gauge of magma reservoir pressure and eruptive hazard
Volcano monitoring from space Volcano monitoring from space
Measurement of slow-moving along-track displacement from an efficient multiple-aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) stacking Measurement of slow-moving along-track displacement from an efficient multiple-aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) stacking
Hawaiian volcanoes: From source to surface Hawaiian volcanoes: From source to surface
Science and Products
Dome growth at Mount Cleveland, Aleutian Arc, quantified by time-series TerraSAR-X imagery Dome growth at Mount Cleveland, Aleutian Arc, quantified by time-series TerraSAR-X imagery
The 2014-2015 Pāhoa lava flow crisis at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i: Disaster avoided and lessons learned The 2014-2015 Pāhoa lava flow crisis at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i: Disaster avoided and lessons learned
Lava lake level as a gauge of magma reservoir pressure and eruptive hazard Lava lake level as a gauge of magma reservoir pressure and eruptive hazard
Volcano monitoring from space Volcano monitoring from space
Measurement of slow-moving along-track displacement from an efficient multiple-aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) stacking Measurement of slow-moving along-track displacement from an efficient multiple-aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) stacking
Hawaiian volcanoes: From source to surface Hawaiian volcanoes: From source to surface
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government