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.
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
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, Yellowstone National Park, showing the site of the Fountain Hotel
linkGoogle 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, Yellowstone National Park, showing the site of the Fountain Hotel
linkGoogle 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.
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.
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 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
linkFront 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 and discharge during June 9–16, 2022, at Corwin Springs streamgage north of Yellowstone National Park
linkYellowstone 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 and discharge during June 9–16, 2022, at Corwin Springs streamgage north of Yellowstone National Park
linkYellowstone 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 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.
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.
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.
Scientists install a semipermanent GPS station in Yellowstone National Park. These stations, which are not radio-telemetered, are typically installed in May and recovered in October, when the data are downloaded and processed. These stations help to supplement the continuous GPS network in the Yellowstone area.
Scientists install a semipermanent GPS station in Yellowstone National Park. These stations, which are not radio-telemetered, are typically installed in May and recovered in October, when the data are downloaded and processed. These stations help to supplement the continuous GPS network in the Yellowstone area.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Yellowstone’s recent earthquakes, trends in ground deformation, and Steamboat Geyser activity in this video update of May 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Yellowstone’s recent earthquakes, trends in ground deformation, and Steamboat Geyser activity in this video update of May 1, 2022.
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland talks about a recent earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park, trends in ground deformation, and water eruptions at Steamboat Geyser, in this video update of recent activity (April 1, 2022).
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland talks about a recent earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park, trends in ground deformation, and water eruptions at Steamboat Geyser, in this video update of recent activity (April 1, 2022).
Partly cloudy with a chance of lava flows: Forecasting volcanic eruptions in the 21st century
Interseismic quiescence and triggered slip of active normal faults of Kīlauea Volcano’s south flank during 2001-2018
Don Swanson: A field volcanology career worth celebrating
The 2017-19 activity at Mount Agung in Bali (Indonesia): Intense unrest, monitoring, crisis response, evacuation, and eruption
Modulation of seismic activity in Kīlauea’s Upper East Rift Zone by summit pressurization
Assessing seasonal changes in microgravity at Yellowstone caldera
A cautionary tale of topography and tilt from Kilauea Caldera
Field volcanology: A tribute to the distinguished career of Don Swanson
Communication strategy of the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory during the lava-flow crisis of 2014–2015, Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Dikes in the Koaʻe fault system, and the Koaʻe-east rift zone structural grain at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
Space-based imaging radar studies of U.S. volcanoes
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
Science and Products
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, Yellowstone National Park, showing the site of the Fountain Hotel
linkGoogle 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, Yellowstone National Park, showing the site of the Fountain Hotel
linkGoogle 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.
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.
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 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
linkFront 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 and discharge during June 9–16, 2022, at Corwin Springs streamgage north of Yellowstone National Park
linkYellowstone 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 and discharge during June 9–16, 2022, at Corwin Springs streamgage north of Yellowstone National Park
linkYellowstone 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 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.
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.
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.
Scientists install a semipermanent GPS station in Yellowstone National Park. These stations, which are not radio-telemetered, are typically installed in May and recovered in October, when the data are downloaded and processed. These stations help to supplement the continuous GPS network in the Yellowstone area.
Scientists install a semipermanent GPS station in Yellowstone National Park. These stations, which are not radio-telemetered, are typically installed in May and recovered in October, when the data are downloaded and processed. These stations help to supplement the continuous GPS network in the Yellowstone area.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Yellowstone’s recent earthquakes, trends in ground deformation, and Steamboat Geyser activity in this video update of May 1, 2022.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Yellowstone’s recent earthquakes, trends in ground deformation, and Steamboat Geyser activity in this video update of May 1, 2022.
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland talks about a recent earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park, trends in ground deformation, and water eruptions at Steamboat Geyser, in this video update of recent activity (April 1, 2022).
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland talks about a recent earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park, trends in ground deformation, and water eruptions at Steamboat Geyser, in this video update of recent activity (April 1, 2022).
Partly cloudy with a chance of lava flows: Forecasting volcanic eruptions in the 21st century
Interseismic quiescence and triggered slip of active normal faults of Kīlauea Volcano’s south flank during 2001-2018
Don Swanson: A field volcanology career worth celebrating
The 2017-19 activity at Mount Agung in Bali (Indonesia): Intense unrest, monitoring, crisis response, evacuation, and eruption
Modulation of seismic activity in Kīlauea’s Upper East Rift Zone by summit pressurization
Assessing seasonal changes in microgravity at Yellowstone caldera
A cautionary tale of topography and tilt from Kilauea Caldera
Field volcanology: A tribute to the distinguished career of Don Swanson
Communication strategy of the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory during the lava-flow crisis of 2014–2015, Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Dikes in the Koaʻe fault system, and the Koaʻe-east rift zone structural grain at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
Space-based imaging radar studies of U.S. volcanoes
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
*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