Michelle L. Coombs, Ph.D.
Michelle Coombs is a Research Geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Volcanic Science Center. She served as Scientist-in-Charge of the Alaska Volcano Observatory from 2016-2023. In this position, Dr. Coombs leads eruption responses, oversees expansion and modernization of volcano monitoring techniques, and guides applied and fundamental research on a host of problems related to volcanology.
Professional Experience
2016–2023: Scientist-in-Charge, Alaska Volcano Observatory, Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK
2004–Present: Research Geologist, Alaska Volcano Observatory
2001–2004: Research Geologist, Volcano Hazards Team, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park CA
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Affiliate faculty, University of Alaska Fairbanks
CONVERSE Steering Committee member, 2020–present
Member of AGU student awards committee, 2011–2015
Associate Editor, Bulletin of Volcanology, 2013–2016
Editorial board, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2007–2018
Co-editor for 28-chapter USGS Professional Paper 1769, The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska, 2010
Co-editor for Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research special issue on Growth and collapse of Hawaiian volcanoes, 2006
Education and Certifications
Williams College, BA Geology, 1994
University of Alaska Fairbanks, PhD Geology, 2001
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union, 1996–present
Geological Society of America, 2001–present (elected Fellow in 2015)
International Assoc. of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior, 1999–present
Science and Products
Hazard information management, interagency coordination, and impacts of the 2005-2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 28 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Timing, distribution, and volume of proximal products of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 8 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Petrology and geochemistry of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 15 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Geodetic constraints on magma movement and withdrawal during the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 17 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Surface deformation of Augustine Volcano, 1992-2005, from multiple-interferogram processing using a refined Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) approach: Chapter 18 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Al
The Plate Boundary Observatory Permanent Global Positioning System Network on Augustine Volcano before and after the 2006 Eruption: Chapter 19 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Integrated satellite observations of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 20 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Volcanic-ash dispersion modeling of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano using the Puff model: Chapter 21 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Using seismic b-values to interpret seismicity rates and physical processes during the preeruptive earthquake swarm at Augustine Volcano 2005-2006: Chapter 3 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
A two-step procedure for calculating earthquake hypocenters at Augustine Volcano: Chapter 7 in The 2006 Eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Distal volcano-tectonic seismicity near Augustine Volcano: Chapter 6 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Earthquake waveform similarity and evolution at Augustine Volcano from 1993 to 2006: Chapter 5 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Science and Products
Hazard information management, interagency coordination, and impacts of the 2005-2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 28 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Timing, distribution, and volume of proximal products of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 8 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Petrology and geochemistry of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 15 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Geodetic constraints on magma movement and withdrawal during the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 17 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Surface deformation of Augustine Volcano, 1992-2005, from multiple-interferogram processing using a refined Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) approach: Chapter 18 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Al
The Plate Boundary Observatory Permanent Global Positioning System Network on Augustine Volcano before and after the 2006 Eruption: Chapter 19 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Integrated satellite observations of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano: Chapter 20 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Volcanic-ash dispersion modeling of the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano using the Puff model: Chapter 21 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Using seismic b-values to interpret seismicity rates and physical processes during the preeruptive earthquake swarm at Augustine Volcano 2005-2006: Chapter 3 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
A two-step procedure for calculating earthquake hypocenters at Augustine Volcano: Chapter 7 in The 2006 Eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Distal volcano-tectonic seismicity near Augustine Volcano: Chapter 6 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Earthquake waveform similarity and evolution at Augustine Volcano from 1993 to 2006: Chapter 5 in The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
*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