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 degassing triggered by static decompression at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
SBAS-InSAR analysis of surface deformation at Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes in Hawaii
Towards continuous 4D microgravity monitoring of volcanoes
Instrumentation recommendations for volcano monitoring at U.S. volcanoes under the national volcano early warning system
Magmatically triggered slow slip at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Evolution of deformation studies on active Hawaiian volcanoes
Constraints and conundrums resulting from ground-deformation measurements made during the 2004-2005 dome-building eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington
Extrusion rate of the Mount St. Helens lava dome estimated from terrestrial imagery, November 2004-December 2005
Radar interferometry observations of surface displacements during pre- and coeruptive periods at Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1992-2005
Remote camera observations of lava dome growth at Mount St. Helens, Washington, October 2004 to February 2006
The 2005 eruption of Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos, Ecuador
InSAR observations of deformation associated with new episodes of volcanism at Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i, 2007
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 146
Magma degassing triggered by static decompression at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
During mid-June 2007, the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, deflated rapidly as magma drained from the subsurface to feed an east rift zone intrusion and eruption. Coincident with the deflation, summit SO2 emission rates rose by a factor of four before decaying to background levels over several weeks. We propose that SO2 release was triggered by static decompression caused by magma withdrawal frAuthorsMichael P. Poland, Sutton A. Jeff, Terrence M. GerlachSBAS-InSAR analysis of surface deformation at Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes in Hawaii
We investigate the deformation of Mauna Loa and Kllauea 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, Riccardo Lanari, E. Sansosti, G. Solaro, Pietro Tizzani, M. Poland, Asta MikliusTowards continuous 4D microgravity monitoring of volcanoes
Four-dimensional or time-lapse microgravity monitoring has been used effectively on volcanoes for decades to characterize the changes in subsurface volcanic systems. With measurements typically lasting from a few days to weeks and then repeated a year later, the spatial resolution of theses studies is often at the expense of temporal resolution and vice versa. Continuous gravity studies with one tAuthorsGlyn Williams-Jones, Hazel Rymer, Guillaume Mauri, Joachim Gottsmann, Michael P. Poland, Daniele CarboneInstrumentation recommendations for volcano monitoring at U.S. volcanoes under the national volcano early warning system
As magma moves toward the surface, it interacts with anything in its path: hydrothermal systems, cooling magma bodies from previous eruptions, and (or) the surrounding “country rock.” Magma also undergoes significant changes in its physical properties as pressure and temperature conditions change along its path. These interactions and changes lead to a range of geophysical and geochemical phenomenAuthorsSeth C. Moran, Jeff T. Freymueller, Richard G. LaHusen, Kenneth A. McGee, Michael P. Poland, John A. Power, David A. Schmidt, David J. Schneider, George Stephens, Cynthia A. Werner, Randall A. WhiteMagmatically triggered slow slip at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
We demonstrate that a recent dike intrusion probably triggered a slow fault-slip event (SSE) on Kilauea volcano's mobile south flank. Our analysis combined models of Advanced Land Observing Satellite interferometric dike-intrusion displacement maps with continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) displacement vectors to show that deformation nearly identical to four previous SSEs at Kilauea occurreAuthorsBenjamin A. Brooks, James Foster, David Sandwell, Cecily Wolfe, Paul G. Okubo, Michael P. Poland, David MyerEvolution of deformation studies on active Hawaiian volcanoes
Everything responds to pressure, even rocks. Deformation studies involve measuring and interpreting the changes in elevations and horizontal positions of the land surface or sea floor. These studies are variously referred to as geodetic changes or ground-surface deformations and are sometimes indexed under the general heading of geodesy. Deformation studies have been particularly useful on activeAuthorsRobert W. Decker, Arnold Okamura, Asta Miklius, Michael P. PolandConstraints and conundrums resulting from ground-deformation measurements made during the 2004-2005 dome-building eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington
A prolonged period of dome growth at Mount St. Helens starting in September-October 2004 provides an opportunity to study how the volcano deforms before, during, and after an eruption by using modern instruments and techniques, such as global positioning system (GPS) receivers and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), together with more traditional ones, including tiltmeters, triaAuthorsDaniel Dzurisin, Michael Lisowski, Michael P. Poland, David R. Sherrod, Richard G. LaHusenExtrusion rate of the Mount St. Helens lava dome estimated from terrestrial imagery, November 2004-December 2005
Oblique, terrestrial imagery from a single, fixed-position camera was used to estimate linear extrusion rates during sustained exogenous growth of the Mount St. Helens lava dome from November 2004 through December 2005. During that 14-month period, extrusion rates declined logarithmically from about 8-10 m/d to about 2 m/d. The overall ebbing of effusive output was punctuated, however, by epAuthorsJon J. Major, Cole G. Kingsbury, Michael P. Poland, Richard G. LaHusenRadar interferometry observations of surface displacements during pre- and coeruptive periods at Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1992-2005
We analyzed hundreds of interferograms of Mount St. Helens produced from radar images acquired by the ERS-1/2, ENVISAT, and RADARSAT satellites during the 1992-2004 preeruptive and 2004-2005 coeruptive periods for signs of deformation associated with magmatic activity at depth. Individual interferograms were often contaminated by atmospheric delay anomalies; therefore, we employed stacking toAuthorsMichael P. Poland, Zhong LuRemote camera observations of lava dome growth at Mount St. Helens, Washington, October 2004 to February 2006
Images from a Web-based camera (Webcam) located 8 km north of Mount St. Helens and a network of remote, telemetered digital cameras were used to observe eruptive activity at the volcano between October 2004 and February 2006. The cameras offered the advantages of low cost, low power, flexibility in deployment, and high spatial and temporal resolution. Images obtained from the cameras provided iAuthorsMichael P. Poland, Daniel Dzurisin, Richard G. LaHusen, Jon J. Major, Dennis Lapcewich, Elliot T. Endo, Daniel J. Gooding, Steve P. Schilling, Christine G. JandaThe 2005 eruption of Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos, Ecuador
Sierra Negra volcano began erupting on 22 October 2005, after a repose of 26 years. A plume of ash and steam more than 13 km high accompanied the initial phase of the eruption and was quickly followed by a ~2-km-long curtain of lava fountains. The eruptive fissure opened inside the north rim of the caldera, on the opposite side of the caldera from an active fault system that experienced an mb 4.6AuthorsDennis J. Geist, Karen S. Harpp, Terry R. Naumann, Michael P. Poland, William W. Chadwick, Minard Hall, Erika RaderInSAR observations of deformation associated with new episodes of volcanism at Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i, 2007
In June 2007, the Pu'u 'Ō'ō-Kūpaianaha eruption of Kīlauea Volcano was interrupted when magma intruded the east rift zone (ERZ), resulting in a small extrusion of lava near Makaopuhi Crater. Deformation associated with the activity was exceptionally well-documented by ASAR interferometry, which indicates deflation of the summit and uplift and extension of the ERZ. Models of co-intrusion interferogAuthorsMichael P. Poland - 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