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
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
Remote camera observations of lava dome growth at Mount St. Helens, Washington, October 2004 to February 2006
Radar interferometry observations of surface displacements during pre- and coeruptive periods at Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1992-2005
InSAR observations of deformation associated with new episodes of volcanism at Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i, 2007
The 2005 eruption of Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos, Ecuador
Deformation and stress-change modeling at Sierra Negra volcano, Galapagos, from ENVISAT INSAR and GPS observations
A model for radial dike emplacement in composite cones based on observations from Summer Coon volcano, Colorado, USA
New episodes of volcanism at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Interferogram formation in the presence of complex and large deformation
Science and Products
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
Remote camera observations of lava dome growth at Mount St. Helens, Washington, October 2004 to February 2006
Radar interferometry observations of surface displacements during pre- and coeruptive periods at Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1992-2005
InSAR observations of deformation associated with new episodes of volcanism at Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i, 2007
The 2005 eruption of Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos, Ecuador
Deformation and stress-change modeling at Sierra Negra volcano, Galapagos, from ENVISAT INSAR and GPS observations
A model for radial dike emplacement in composite cones based on observations from Summer Coon volcano, Colorado, USA
New episodes of volcanism at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Interferogram formation in the presence of complex and large deformation
*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