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
Magma at depth: A retrospective analysis of the 1975 unrest at Mount Baker, Washington, USA
Infrasound from the 2007 fissure eruptions of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i
Geodetic evidence for en echelon dike emplacement and concurrent slow slip during the June 2007 intrusion and eruption at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii
Learning to recognize volcanic non-eruptions
Localized surface disruptions observed by InSAR during strong earthquakes in Java and Hawai'i
Shallow magma accumulation at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, revealed by microgravity surveys
Slow slip event at Kilauea Volcano
Volcano monitoring using GPS: Developing data analysis strategies based on the June 2007 Kīlauea Volcano intrusion and eruption
Monitoring lava-dome growth during the 2004–2008 Mount St. Helens, Washington, eruption using oblique terrestrial photography
Volcano monitoring
Surface deformation analysis of the Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes, Hawai‘i, based on InSAR displacement time series
Long-term changes in quiescent degassing at Mount Baker Volcano, Washington, USA; Evidence for a stalled intrusion in 1975 and connection to a deep magma source
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
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- Publications
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Magma at depth: A retrospective analysis of the 1975 unrest at Mount Baker, Washington, USA
Mount Baker volcano displayed a short interval of seismically-quiescent thermal unrest in 1975, with high emissions of magmatic gas that slowly waned during the following three decades. The area of snow-free ground in the active crater has not returned to pre-unrest levels, and fumarole gas geochemistry shows a decreasing magmatic signature over that same interval. A relative microgravity survey rAuthorsJuliet G. Crider, David Frank, Stephen D. Malone, Michael P. Poland, Cynthia Werner, Jacqueline Caplan-AuerbachInfrasound from the 2007 fissure eruptions of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i
Varied acoustic signals were recorded at Kīlauea Volcano in mid-2007, coincident with dramatic changes in the volcano's activity. Prior to this time period, Pu'u 'Ō'ō crater produced near-continuous infrasonic tremor and was the primary source of degassing and lava effusion at Kīlauea. Collapse and draining of Pu'u 'Ō'ō crater in mid-June produced impulsive infrasonic signals and fluctuations inAuthorsD. Fee, M. Garces, T. Orr, Michael P. PolandGeodetic evidence for en echelon dike emplacement and concurrent slow slip during the June 2007 intrusion and eruption at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii
A series of complex events at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii, 17 June to 19 June 2007, began with an intrusion in the upper east rift zone (ERZ) and culminated with a small eruption (1500 m3). Surface deformation due to the intrusion was recorded in unprecedented detail by Global Positioning System (GPS) and tilt networks as well as interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data acquired by the ENAuthorsE. K. Montgomery-Brown, D. K. Sinnett, M. Poland, P. Segall, T. Orr, H. Zebker, Asta MikliusLearning to recognize volcanic non-eruptions
An important goal of volcanology is to answer the questions of when, where, and how a volcano will erupt—in other words, eruption prediction. Generally, eruption predictions are based on insights from monitoring data combined with the history of the volcano. An outstanding example is the A.D. 1980–1986 lava dome growth at Mount St. Helens, Washington (United States). Recognition of a consistent paAuthorsMichael P. PolandLocalized surface disruptions observed by InSAR during strong earthquakes in Java and Hawai'i
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data spanning strong earthquakes on the islands of Java and Hawai‘i in 2006 reveal patches of subsidence and incoherence indicative of localized ground failure. Interferograms spanning the 26 May 2006 Java earthquake suggest an area of about 7.5 km2 of subsidence (~2 cm) and incoherence south of the city of Yogyakarta that correlates with significant damageAuthorsMichael P. PolandShallow magma accumulation at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, revealed by microgravity surveys
Using microgravity data collected at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i (United States), between November 1975 and January 2008, we document significant mass increase beneath the east margin of Halema‘uma‘u Crater, within Kīlauea's summit caldera. Surprisingly, there was no sustained uplift accompanying the mass accumulation. We propose that the positive gravity residual in the absence of significant upliftAuthorsDaniel J. Johnson, Albert A. Eggers, Marco Bagnardi, Maurizio Battaglia, Michael P. Poland, Asta MikliusSlow slip event at Kilauea Volcano
Early in the morning of 1 February 2010 (UTC; early afternoon 31 January 2010 local time), continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) and tilt instruments detected a slow slip event (SSE) on the south flank of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii. The SSE lasted at least 36 hours and resulted in a maximum of about 3 centimeters of seaward displacement. About 10 hours after the start of the slip, a flurry of smAuthorsMichael P. Poland, Asta Miklius, J. David Wilson, Paul G. Okubo, Emily Montgomery-Brown, Paul Segall, Benjamin Brooks, James Foster, Cecily Wolfe, Ellen Syracuse, Clifford ThurbeVolcano monitoring using GPS: Developing data analysis strategies based on the June 2007 Kīlauea Volcano intrusion and eruption
The global positioning system (GPS) is one of the most common techniques, and the current state of the art, used to monitor volcano deformation. In addition to slow (several centimeters per year) displacement rates, GPS can be used to study eruptions and intrusions that result in much larger (tens of centimeters over hours-days) displacements. It is challenging to resolve precise positions using GAuthorsKristine M. Larson, Michael Poland, Asta MikliusMonitoring lava-dome growth during the 2004–2008 Mount St. Helens, Washington, eruption using oblique terrestrial photography
We present an analysis of lava dome growth during the 2004–2008 eruption of Mount St. Helens using oblique terrestrial images from a network of remotely placed cameras. This underutilized monitoring tool augmented more traditional monitoring techniques, and was used to provide a robust assessment of the nature, pace, and state of the eruption and to quantify the kinematics of dome growth. EruptionAuthorsJon J. Major, Daniel Dzurisin, Steve P. Schilling, Michael P. PolandVolcano monitoring
Volcanoes are not randomly distributed over the Earth's surface. Most are concentrated on the edges of continents, along island chains, or beneath the sea where they form long mountain ranges. More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level encircle the Pacific Ocean (see Fig. 1). The concept of plate tectonics explains the locations of volcanoes and their relationship to other largAuthorsJames G. Smith, Jonathan Dehn, Richard P. Hoblitt, Richard G. Lahusen, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Seth C. Moran, Lindsay McClelland, Kenneth A. McGee, Manuel Nathenson, Paul G. Okubo, John S. Pallister, Michael P. Poland, John A. Power, David J. Schneider, Thomas W. SissonSurface deformation analysis of the Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes, Hawai‘i, based on InSAR displacement time series
We investigate the deformation of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes, Hawai`i, by exploiting the advanced differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) technique referred to as the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) algorithm. In particular, we present time series of line-of-sight (LOS) displacements derived from SAR data acquired by the ASAR instrument, on board the ENVISAT satellite, fromAuthorsF. Casu, G. Solaro, Pietro Tizzani, Michael P. Poland, Asta Miklius, Eugenio Sansosti, Riccardo LanariLong-term changes in quiescent degassing at Mount Baker Volcano, Washington, USA; Evidence for a stalled intrusion in 1975 and connection to a deep magma source
Long-term changes have occurred in the chemistry, isotopic ratios, and emission rates of gas at Mount Baker volcano following a major thermal perturbation in 1975. In mid-1975 a large pulse in sulfur and carbon dioxide output was observed both in emission rates and in fumarole samples. Emission rates of CO2 and H2S were ∼ 950 and 112 t/d, respectively, in 1975; these decreased to ∼ 150 and < 1 t/dAuthorsCynthia A. Werner, William C. Evans, Michael P. Poland, Michael P. Doukas, D.S. Tucker - News
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*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