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
Filter Total Items: 151
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 159
Petrologic insights into basaltic volcanism at historically active Hawaiian volcanoes Petrologic insights into basaltic volcanism at historically active Hawaiian volcanoes
Study of the petrology of Hawaiian volcanoes, in particular the historically active volcanoes on the Island of Hawai‘i, has long been of worldwide scientific interest. When Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr., established the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) in 1912, detailed observations on basaltic activity at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes increased dramatically. The period from 1912 to 1958...
Authors
Rosalind Helz, David Clague, Thomas Sisson, Carl Thornber
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: A natural laboratory for studying basaltic volcanism The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: A natural laboratory for studying basaltic volcanism
In the beginning of the 20th century, geologist Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr., argued that, to fully understand volcanic and associated hazards, the expeditionary mode of studying eruptions only after they occurred was inadequate. Instead, he fervently advocated the use of permanent observatories to record and measure volcanic phenomena—at and below the surface—before, during, and after...
Authors
Robert Tilling, James Kauahikaua, Steven R. Brantley, Christina Neal
One hundred volatile years of volcanic gas studies at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory One hundred volatile years of volcanic gas studies at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
The first volcanic gas studies in Hawai‘i, beginning in 1912, established that volatile emissions from Kīlauea Volcano contained mostly water vapor, in addition to carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. This straightforward discovery overturned a popular volatile theory of the day and, in the same action, helped affirm Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr.’s, vision of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)...
Authors
A.J. Sutton, Tamar Elias
Magma supply, storage, and transport at shield-stage Hawaiian volcanoes Magma supply, storage, and transport at shield-stage Hawaiian volcanoes
The characteristics of magma supply, storage, and transport are among the most critical parameters governing volcanic activity, yet they remain largely unconstrained because all three processes are hidden beneath the surface. Hawaiian volcanoes, particularly Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, offer excellent prospects for studying subsurface magmatic processes, owing to their accessibility and...
Authors
Michael Poland, Asta Miklius, Emily Montgomery-Brown
Moderate-magnitude earthquakes induced by magma reservoir inflation at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i Moderate-magnitude earthquakes induced by magma reservoir inflation at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
Although volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes often occur in response to magma intrusion, it is rare for them to have magnitudes larger than ~M4. On 24 May 2007, two shallow M4+ earthquakes occurred beneath the upper part of the east rift zone of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i. An integrated analysis of geodetic, seismic, and field data, together with Coulomb stress modeling, demonstrates that...
Authors
Christelle Wauthier, Diana C. Roman, Michael P. Poland
A new model for the growth of basaltic shields based on deformation of Fernandina volcano, Galápagos Islands A new model for the growth of basaltic shields based on deformation of Fernandina volcano, Galápagos Islands
Space-geodetic measurements of surface deformation produced by the most recent eruptions at Fernandina – the most frequently erupting volcano in the Galápagos Archipelago – reveal that all have initiated with the intrusion of subhorizontal sills from a shallow magma reservoir. This includes eruptions from fissures that are oriented both radially and circumferentially with respect to the...
Authors
Marco Bagnardi, Falk Amelung, Michael P. Poland
Continuous gravity measurements reveal a low-density lava lake at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i Continuous gravity measurements reveal a low-density lava lake at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
On 5 March 2011, the lava lake within the summit eruptive vent at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, began to drain as magma withdrew to feed a dike intrusion and fissure eruption on the volcanoʼs east rift zone. The draining was monitored by a variety of continuous geological and geophysical measurements, including deformation, thermal and visual imagery, and gravity. Over the first ∼14 hours of...
Authors
Daniele Carbone, Michael P. Poland, Matthew Patrick, Tim R. Orr
Seismic detection of increased degassing before Kīlauea's 2008 summit explosion Seismic detection of increased degassing before Kīlauea's 2008 summit explosion
The 2008 explosion that started a new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, was not preceded by a dramatic increase in earthquakes nor inflation, but was associated with increases in SO2 emissions and seismic tremor. Here we perform shear wave splitting analysis on local earthquakes spanning the onset of the eruption. Shear wave splitting measures seismic anisotropy and is...
Authors
Jessica Johnson, Michael P. Poland
TerraSAR-X interferometry reveals small-scale deformation associated with the summit eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai‘i TerraSAR-X interferometry reveals small-scale deformation associated with the summit eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
On 19 March 2008, a small explosive eruption at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, heralded the formation of a new vent along the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. In the ensuing years, the vent widened due to collapses of the unstable rim and conduit wall; some collapses impacted an actively circulating lava pond and resulted in small explosive events. We used synthetic aperture...
Authors
Nichole Richter, Michael P. Poland, Paul Lundgren
Exploring Hawaiian volcanism Exploring Hawaiian volcanism
In 1912 the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) was established by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Thomas A. Jaggar Jr. on the island of Hawaii. Driven by the devastation he observed while investigating the volcanic disasters of 1902 at Montagne Pelée in the Caribbean, Jaggar conducted a worldwide search and decided that Hawai‘i provided an excellent natural laboratory for...
Authors
Michael P. Poland, Paul Okubo, Ken Hon
The role of viscous magma mush spreading in volcanic flank motion at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i The role of viscous magma mush spreading in volcanic flank motion at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
Multiple mechanisms have been suggested to explain seaward motion of the south flank of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i. The consistency of flank motion during both waxing and waning magmatic activity at Kīlauea suggests that a continuously acting force, like gravity body force, plays a substantial role. Using finite element models, we test whether gravity is the principal driver of long-term...
Authors
C. Plattner, F. Amelung, S. Baker, R. Govers, Michael Poland
Evolution of dike opening during the March 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai`i Evolution of dike opening during the March 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai`i
The 5–9 March 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption along the east rift zone of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai`i, followed months of pronounced inflation at Kīlauea summit. We examine dike opening during and after the eruption using a comprehensive interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data set in combination with continuous GPS data. We solve for distributed dike displacements using a whole...
Authors
Paul Lundgren, Michael Poland, Asta Miklius, Tim R. Orr, Sang-Ho Yun, Eric Fielding, Zhen Liu, Akiko Tanaka, Walter Szeliga, Scott Hensley, Susan Owen
Filter Total Items: 85
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 151
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 159
Petrologic insights into basaltic volcanism at historically active Hawaiian volcanoes Petrologic insights into basaltic volcanism at historically active Hawaiian volcanoes
Study of the petrology of Hawaiian volcanoes, in particular the historically active volcanoes on the Island of Hawai‘i, has long been of worldwide scientific interest. When Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr., established the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) in 1912, detailed observations on basaltic activity at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes increased dramatically. The period from 1912 to 1958...
Authors
Rosalind Helz, David Clague, Thomas Sisson, Carl Thornber
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: A natural laboratory for studying basaltic volcanism The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: A natural laboratory for studying basaltic volcanism
In the beginning of the 20th century, geologist Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr., argued that, to fully understand volcanic and associated hazards, the expeditionary mode of studying eruptions only after they occurred was inadequate. Instead, he fervently advocated the use of permanent observatories to record and measure volcanic phenomena—at and below the surface—before, during, and after...
Authors
Robert Tilling, James Kauahikaua, Steven R. Brantley, Christina Neal
One hundred volatile years of volcanic gas studies at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory One hundred volatile years of volcanic gas studies at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
The first volcanic gas studies in Hawai‘i, beginning in 1912, established that volatile emissions from Kīlauea Volcano contained mostly water vapor, in addition to carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. This straightforward discovery overturned a popular volatile theory of the day and, in the same action, helped affirm Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr.’s, vision of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)...
Authors
A.J. Sutton, Tamar Elias
Magma supply, storage, and transport at shield-stage Hawaiian volcanoes Magma supply, storage, and transport at shield-stage Hawaiian volcanoes
The characteristics of magma supply, storage, and transport are among the most critical parameters governing volcanic activity, yet they remain largely unconstrained because all three processes are hidden beneath the surface. Hawaiian volcanoes, particularly Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, offer excellent prospects for studying subsurface magmatic processes, owing to their accessibility and...
Authors
Michael Poland, Asta Miklius, Emily Montgomery-Brown
Moderate-magnitude earthquakes induced by magma reservoir inflation at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i Moderate-magnitude earthquakes induced by magma reservoir inflation at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
Although volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes often occur in response to magma intrusion, it is rare for them to have magnitudes larger than ~M4. On 24 May 2007, two shallow M4+ earthquakes occurred beneath the upper part of the east rift zone of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i. An integrated analysis of geodetic, seismic, and field data, together with Coulomb stress modeling, demonstrates that...
Authors
Christelle Wauthier, Diana C. Roman, Michael P. Poland
A new model for the growth of basaltic shields based on deformation of Fernandina volcano, Galápagos Islands A new model for the growth of basaltic shields based on deformation of Fernandina volcano, Galápagos Islands
Space-geodetic measurements of surface deformation produced by the most recent eruptions at Fernandina – the most frequently erupting volcano in the Galápagos Archipelago – reveal that all have initiated with the intrusion of subhorizontal sills from a shallow magma reservoir. This includes eruptions from fissures that are oriented both radially and circumferentially with respect to the...
Authors
Marco Bagnardi, Falk Amelung, Michael P. Poland
Continuous gravity measurements reveal a low-density lava lake at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i Continuous gravity measurements reveal a low-density lava lake at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
On 5 March 2011, the lava lake within the summit eruptive vent at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, began to drain as magma withdrew to feed a dike intrusion and fissure eruption on the volcanoʼs east rift zone. The draining was monitored by a variety of continuous geological and geophysical measurements, including deformation, thermal and visual imagery, and gravity. Over the first ∼14 hours of...
Authors
Daniele Carbone, Michael P. Poland, Matthew Patrick, Tim R. Orr
Seismic detection of increased degassing before Kīlauea's 2008 summit explosion Seismic detection of increased degassing before Kīlauea's 2008 summit explosion
The 2008 explosion that started a new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, was not preceded by a dramatic increase in earthquakes nor inflation, but was associated with increases in SO2 emissions and seismic tremor. Here we perform shear wave splitting analysis on local earthquakes spanning the onset of the eruption. Shear wave splitting measures seismic anisotropy and is...
Authors
Jessica Johnson, Michael P. Poland
TerraSAR-X interferometry reveals small-scale deformation associated with the summit eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai‘i TerraSAR-X interferometry reveals small-scale deformation associated with the summit eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
On 19 March 2008, a small explosive eruption at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, heralded the formation of a new vent along the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. In the ensuing years, the vent widened due to collapses of the unstable rim and conduit wall; some collapses impacted an actively circulating lava pond and resulted in small explosive events. We used synthetic aperture...
Authors
Nichole Richter, Michael P. Poland, Paul Lundgren
Exploring Hawaiian volcanism Exploring Hawaiian volcanism
In 1912 the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) was established by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Thomas A. Jaggar Jr. on the island of Hawaii. Driven by the devastation he observed while investigating the volcanic disasters of 1902 at Montagne Pelée in the Caribbean, Jaggar conducted a worldwide search and decided that Hawai‘i provided an excellent natural laboratory for...
Authors
Michael P. Poland, Paul Okubo, Ken Hon
The role of viscous magma mush spreading in volcanic flank motion at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i The role of viscous magma mush spreading in volcanic flank motion at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
Multiple mechanisms have been suggested to explain seaward motion of the south flank of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i. The consistency of flank motion during both waxing and waning magmatic activity at Kīlauea suggests that a continuously acting force, like gravity body force, plays a substantial role. Using finite element models, we test whether gravity is the principal driver of long-term...
Authors
C. Plattner, F. Amelung, S. Baker, R. Govers, Michael Poland
Evolution of dike opening during the March 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai`i Evolution of dike opening during the March 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai`i
The 5–9 March 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption along the east rift zone of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai`i, followed months of pronounced inflation at Kīlauea summit. We examine dike opening during and after the eruption using a comprehensive interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data set in combination with continuous GPS data. We solve for distributed dike displacements using a whole...
Authors
Paul Lundgren, Michael Poland, Asta Miklius, Tim R. Orr, Sang-Ho Yun, Eric Fielding, Zhen Liu, Akiko Tanaka, Walter Szeliga, Scott Hensley, Susan Owen
Filter Total Items: 85
*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