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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.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Frying Pan Lake (also called Waimangu Cauldron), in New Zealand, sits within Echo Crater, which formed during the 1886 eruption of Tarawera. A hydrothermal explosion from the crater in 1917 resulted in the formation of the hot spring "lake" by 1918.
Frying Pan Lake (also called Waimangu Cauldron), in New Zealand, sits within Echo Crater, which formed during the 1886 eruption of Tarawera. A hydrothermal explosion from the crater in 1917 resulted in the formation of the hot spring "lake" by 1918.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Geology of the unconformity on Mount Everts in Yellowstone National Park. Sketch at the top was made by geologist William Henry Holmes in 1878 and correctly identifies Cretaceous sediments overlain by much younger rhyolite rocks, including fine ash deposits (“tufa”). The photo at the bottom shows the same outcrop as viewed from Mammoth Hot Springs (USGS
Geology of the unconformity on Mount Everts in Yellowstone National Park. Sketch at the top was made by geologist William Henry Holmes in 1878 and correctly identifies Cretaceous sediments overlain by much younger rhyolite rocks, including fine ash deposits (“tufa”). The photo at the bottom shows the same outcrop as viewed from Mammoth Hot Springs (USGS
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Just a few days ago, Mauna Loa, the tallest active volcano on the planet, started erupting for the first time in 38 years.
Just a few days ago, Mauna Loa, the tallest active volcano on the planet, started erupting for the first time in 38 years.
Map of seismicity (red circles) in the Yellowstone region during 2022. Gray lines are roads, black dashed line shows the caldera boundary, Yellowstone National Park is outlined by black dot-dashed line, and gray dashed lines denote state boundaries.
Map of seismicity (red circles) in the Yellowstone region during 2022. Gray lines are roads, black dashed line shows the caldera boundary, Yellowstone National Park is outlined by black dot-dashed line, and gray dashed lines denote state boundaries.
Google Earth image of the north part of Lower Geyser Basin showing the site of the Fountain Hotel and nearby Leather Pool, which was tapped to provide a source of hot water for the hotel.
Google Earth image of the north part of Lower Geyser Basin showing the site of the Fountain Hotel and nearby Leather Pool, which was tapped to provide a source of hot water for the hotel.
November is Native American Heritage Month. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Indigenous peoples in the Yellowstone region and describes Yellowstone’s recent seismic, deformation, and geyser activity in this November 1, 2022 monthly update.
November is Native American Heritage Month. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Indigenous peoples in the Yellowstone region and describes Yellowstone’s recent seismic, deformation, and geyser activity in this November 1, 2022 monthly update.
Interferogram created from data collected on September 29, 2021, and October 6, 2022, by the Sentinel-1 satellite system. Colored fringes indicate a change in distance (called range change) between the satellite and ground surface that is caused by surface deformation.
Interferogram created from data collected on September 29, 2021, and October 6, 2022, by the Sentinel-1 satellite system. Colored fringes indicate a change in distance (called range change) between the satellite and ground surface that is caused by surface deformation.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for October 1, 2022.
The update comes to you from Artist Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park. The paintpots are acid sulfate springs, one of three different types of thermal features in Yellowstone.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for October 1, 2022.
The update comes to you from Artist Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park. The paintpots are acid sulfate springs, one of three different types of thermal features in Yellowstone.
Looking northeast from teh Green Mountain lookout at the Springerville volcanic field in eastern Arizona. All of the forested hills in the distance are cinder cones that mark eruptive vents of the field. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 22, 2022.
Looking northeast from teh Green Mountain lookout at the Springerville volcanic field in eastern Arizona. All of the forested hills in the distance are cinder cones that mark eruptive vents of the field. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 22, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for August 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for August 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone volcano in this monthly update for July 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone volcano in this monthly update for July 1, 2022.
Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s Volcano and Earthquake Monitoring Plan for the Yellowstone Caldera System, 2022–2032.
Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s Volcano and Earthquake Monitoring Plan for the Yellowstone Caldera System, 2022–2032.
Map of SNOTEL snowpack telemetry sites (blue dots) and streamgages (red dots) in and around Yellowstone National Park.
Map of SNOTEL snowpack telemetry sites (blue dots) and streamgages (red dots) in and around Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone River level (left) and discharge (right) during June 9–16, 2022, measured at the Corwin Springs streamgage just north of Yellowstone National Park (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv/?site_no=06191500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010). The
Yellowstone River level (left) and discharge (right) during June 9–16, 2022, measured at the Corwin Springs streamgage just north of Yellowstone National Park (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv/?site_no=06191500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010). The
Panoramic image of Valles Caldera, New Mexico, looking at the Valle Grande, part of the calderas “moat.” The resurgent dome is the high topography at the left side of the image, while the hills at the center and right are lava domes. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
Panoramic image of Valles Caldera, New Mexico, looking at the Valle Grande, part of the calderas “moat.” The resurgent dome is the high topography at the left side of the image, while the hills at the center and right are lava domes. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
Panoramic image of the Sulphur Springs thermal area in Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The altered surface, composed of clays, strongly resembles acid-sulfate thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park, like the Mud Volcano region. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
Panoramic image of the Sulphur Springs thermal area in Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The altered surface, composed of clays, strongly resembles acid-sulfate thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park, like the Mud Volcano region. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
The Bandelier Tuff near Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Jemez Mountains, home to the Valles and Toledo calderas where the tuff originated, rise in the distance. The tuff was hot and thick when it was deposited by caldera-forming eruptions 1.61 and 1.25 million years ago, and so it is welded in places, forming a dense and resistant rock. USGS photo by M
The Bandelier Tuff near Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Jemez Mountains, home to the Valles and Toledo calderas where the tuff originated, rise in the distance. The tuff was hot and thick when it was deposited by caldera-forming eruptions 1.61 and 1.25 million years ago, and so it is welded in places, forming a dense and resistant rock. USGS photo by M
This monthly video update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano comes to you from Mammoth Hot Springs, in Yellowstone National Park, where the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory consortium had its first face-to-face meeting in four years.
This monthly video update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano comes to you from Mammoth Hot Springs, in Yellowstone National Park, where the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory consortium had its first face-to-face meeting in four years.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Frying Pan Lake (also called Waimangu Cauldron), in New Zealand, sits within Echo Crater, which formed during the 1886 eruption of Tarawera. A hydrothermal explosion from the crater in 1917 resulted in the formation of the hot spring "lake" by 1918.
Frying Pan Lake (also called Waimangu Cauldron), in New Zealand, sits within Echo Crater, which formed during the 1886 eruption of Tarawera. A hydrothermal explosion from the crater in 1917 resulted in the formation of the hot spring "lake" by 1918.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Geology of the unconformity on Mount Everts in Yellowstone National Park. Sketch at the top was made by geologist William Henry Holmes in 1878 and correctly identifies Cretaceous sediments overlain by much younger rhyolite rocks, including fine ash deposits (“tufa”). The photo at the bottom shows the same outcrop as viewed from Mammoth Hot Springs (USGS
Geology of the unconformity on Mount Everts in Yellowstone National Park. Sketch at the top was made by geologist William Henry Holmes in 1878 and correctly identifies Cretaceous sediments overlain by much younger rhyolite rocks, including fine ash deposits (“tufa”). The photo at the bottom shows the same outcrop as viewed from Mammoth Hot Springs (USGS
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Just a few days ago, Mauna Loa, the tallest active volcano on the planet, started erupting for the first time in 38 years.
Just a few days ago, Mauna Loa, the tallest active volcano on the planet, started erupting for the first time in 38 years.
Map of seismicity (red circles) in the Yellowstone region during 2022. Gray lines are roads, black dashed line shows the caldera boundary, Yellowstone National Park is outlined by black dot-dashed line, and gray dashed lines denote state boundaries.
Map of seismicity (red circles) in the Yellowstone region during 2022. Gray lines are roads, black dashed line shows the caldera boundary, Yellowstone National Park is outlined by black dot-dashed line, and gray dashed lines denote state boundaries.
Google Earth image of the north part of Lower Geyser Basin showing the site of the Fountain Hotel and nearby Leather Pool, which was tapped to provide a source of hot water for the hotel.
Google Earth image of the north part of Lower Geyser Basin showing the site of the Fountain Hotel and nearby Leather Pool, which was tapped to provide a source of hot water for the hotel.
November is Native American Heritage Month. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Indigenous peoples in the Yellowstone region and describes Yellowstone’s recent seismic, deformation, and geyser activity in this November 1, 2022 monthly update.
November is Native American Heritage Month. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Indigenous peoples in the Yellowstone region and describes Yellowstone’s recent seismic, deformation, and geyser activity in this November 1, 2022 monthly update.
Interferogram created from data collected on September 29, 2021, and October 6, 2022, by the Sentinel-1 satellite system. Colored fringes indicate a change in distance (called range change) between the satellite and ground surface that is caused by surface deformation.
Interferogram created from data collected on September 29, 2021, and October 6, 2022, by the Sentinel-1 satellite system. Colored fringes indicate a change in distance (called range change) between the satellite and ground surface that is caused by surface deformation.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for October 1, 2022.
The update comes to you from Artist Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park. The paintpots are acid sulfate springs, one of three different types of thermal features in Yellowstone.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for October 1, 2022.
The update comes to you from Artist Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park. The paintpots are acid sulfate springs, one of three different types of thermal features in Yellowstone.
Looking northeast from teh Green Mountain lookout at the Springerville volcanic field in eastern Arizona. All of the forested hills in the distance are cinder cones that mark eruptive vents of the field. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 22, 2022.
Looking northeast from teh Green Mountain lookout at the Springerville volcanic field in eastern Arizona. All of the forested hills in the distance are cinder cones that mark eruptive vents of the field. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 22, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for August 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone in this monthly update for August 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone volcano in this monthly update for July 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone volcano in this monthly update for July 1, 2022.
Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s Volcano and Earthquake Monitoring Plan for the Yellowstone Caldera System, 2022–2032.
Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s Volcano and Earthquake Monitoring Plan for the Yellowstone Caldera System, 2022–2032.
Map of SNOTEL snowpack telemetry sites (blue dots) and streamgages (red dots) in and around Yellowstone National Park.
Map of SNOTEL snowpack telemetry sites (blue dots) and streamgages (red dots) in and around Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone River level (left) and discharge (right) during June 9–16, 2022, measured at the Corwin Springs streamgage just north of Yellowstone National Park (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv/?site_no=06191500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010). The
Yellowstone River level (left) and discharge (right) during June 9–16, 2022, measured at the Corwin Springs streamgage just north of Yellowstone National Park (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv/?site_no=06191500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010). The
Panoramic image of Valles Caldera, New Mexico, looking at the Valle Grande, part of the calderas “moat.” The resurgent dome is the high topography at the left side of the image, while the hills at the center and right are lava domes. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
Panoramic image of Valles Caldera, New Mexico, looking at the Valle Grande, part of the calderas “moat.” The resurgent dome is the high topography at the left side of the image, while the hills at the center and right are lava domes. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
Panoramic image of the Sulphur Springs thermal area in Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The altered surface, composed of clays, strongly resembles acid-sulfate thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park, like the Mud Volcano region. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
Panoramic image of the Sulphur Springs thermal area in Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The altered surface, composed of clays, strongly resembles acid-sulfate thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park, like the Mud Volcano region. USGS photo by Mike Poland, June 10, 2022.
The Bandelier Tuff near Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Jemez Mountains, home to the Valles and Toledo calderas where the tuff originated, rise in the distance. The tuff was hot and thick when it was deposited by caldera-forming eruptions 1.61 and 1.25 million years ago, and so it is welded in places, forming a dense and resistant rock. USGS photo by M
The Bandelier Tuff near Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Jemez Mountains, home to the Valles and Toledo calderas where the tuff originated, rise in the distance. The tuff was hot and thick when it was deposited by caldera-forming eruptions 1.61 and 1.25 million years ago, and so it is welded in places, forming a dense and resistant rock. USGS photo by M
This monthly video update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano comes to you from Mammoth Hot Springs, in Yellowstone National Park, where the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory consortium had its first face-to-face meeting in four years.
This monthly video update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano comes to you from Mammoth Hot Springs, in Yellowstone National Park, where the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory consortium had its first face-to-face meeting in four years.
*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