{{Short description|American geologist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox academic | honorific_suffix = Ph.D. | name = Michelle L. Coombs | image = Coombs.jpg | caption = Coombs pictured in 2016 | workplaces = Alaska Volcano Observatory | website = {{URL|https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/michelle-l-coombs}} | honorific_prefix = Dr. | titles = Geologist and Past SIC (AVO)<br> Affiliate Faculty (UAF) | education = Williams College (BA)<br>University of Alaska Fairbanks (PhD) }}
'''Michelle Lynn Coombs''' is a geologist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO). She was the Scientist-in-Charge from 2016 to 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michelle Lynn Coombs |url=https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/487230/overview |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=Loop |publisher=Frontiers Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alaska Volcano Observatory |url=https://avo.alaska.edu/ |access-date=August 15, 2023 |website=Alaska Volcano Observatory}}</ref> Coombs is a fellow of the Geological Society of America.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fellowship: All Active and Current GSA Fellows |url=https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/About/awards/GSA_Fellows/GSA/Awards/Fellows.aspx |website=The Geological Society of America}}</ref>
== Education ==
* 1994: B.A. Geology (Williams College) * 2001: Ph.D. Geology (University of Alaska Fairbanks)<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Volcanic Eruptions and Magmatic Flows |date=April 11, 2005 |publisher=Office of Communications (Williams College) |location=Williamstown |url=https://communications.williams.edu/news-releases/volcanic-eruptions-and-magmatic-flows/ |last1=Lemoine |first1=Noelle}}</ref>
== Personal life == Coombs is married to USGS geologist Evan Thoms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jardin |first=Xeni |date=2006-08-23 |title=ISS astronaut snaps photo of volcano erupting on Earth |url=https://boingboing.net/2006/08/23/iss-astronaut-snaps.html |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Boing Boing |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Evan E Thoms |url=https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/evan-e-thoms |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=U.S. Geological Survey}}</ref>
Michelle is originally from Maine,<ref name=":2" /> where Coombs is a common last name.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wigglesworth |first=Shelley |title=Catching up with the Coombs: Family reunion set for Nov. 5 |url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/york-star/2011/09/14/catching-up-with-coombs-family/49904481007/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Portsmouth Herald |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-12-19 |title=Clarence "Clem" Coombs |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2005/12/19/clarence-clem-coombs/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Lewiston Sun Journal |place=Fryeburg}}</ref>
== Career == Coombs was the Scientist-in-Charge (SIC) of AVO from 2016 to 2023.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Gillies |first=Yvette |date=April 4, 2016 |title=New Scientist-in-Charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory |url=https://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/new-scientist-charge-alaska-volcano-observatory |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=U.S. Geological Survey |place=Anchorage}} [https://www.usgs.gov/news/employee-in-the-news/new-scientist-charge-alaska-volcano-observatory USGS]</ref> As the SIC, she was in charge of coordinating emergency responses to volcanic eruptions, and guides the process of monitoring volcanic activity in Alaska.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2017 |title=15 Amazing Jobs at the Interior Department |url=https://www.doi.gov/blog/15-amazing-jobs-interior-department |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=U.S. Department of the Interior |language=en}}</ref> She is frequently quoted in the news as a subject-matter expert on volcanoes in and around Alaska.<ref>Examples include:
* {{Cite web |date=January 20, 2006 |title=Volcano Erupts |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/volcano-erupts/ |website=CBS News |language=en-US}} * {{Cite news |date=September 7, 2013 |title=Ice-coated helicopter stranded on Alaska volcano |work=CBC News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/ice-coated-helicopter-stranded-on-alaska-volcano-1.1702062}} * {{Cite web |date=June 4, 2014 |title=Alaska volcano eruption could go for months, scientists say |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/4/pavlof-alaska-volcano.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Al Jazeera America}} * {{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Mary Caperton |date=July 28, 2014 |title=Augustine Volcano's earthquakes and explosive eruption caused by a clogged conduit |url=https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/augustine-volcanos-earthquakes-and-explosive-eruption-caused-clogged-conduit/ |website=EARTH Magazine |publisher=American Geosciences Institute}} * {{Cite web |last=Boots |first=Michelle Theriault |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Alaska's tiny, restless Bogoslof volcano erupts again – and researchers won't be going there anytime soon |url=https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/2017/05/30/alaskas-tiny-restless-bogoslof-volcano-erupts-again-and-researchers-wont-be-going-there-anytime-soon/ |website=Eye on the Arctic |publisher=Radio Canada International |language=en-CA}} * {{Cite web |last=Earl |first=Elizabeth |date=April 27, 2018 |title=Alaska Volcano Observatory marks 30th anniversary |url=https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/news/alaska-volcano-observatory-marks-30th-anniversary/ |website=Peninsula Clarion |language=en-US}} * {{Cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Sarah |last2=Wilson |first2=Scott |date=May 16, 2018 |title='Explosive' eruption at Hawaii volcano's shoots ash more than five miles high |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/05/17/explosive-eruption-reported-at-hawaii-volcanos-summit/ |quote=''Hawaii Kilauea volcano erupts explosively and shoots ash miles high early Thursday''}} * {{Cite news |last=Sylvester |first=Terray |date=2018-05-17 |title=Hawaii volcano spews 6 mile-high plume of ash, could blow again |language=en |work=Reuters |agency=Reuters |location=Pahoa |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hawaii-volcano-blast-idUSKCN1II2E3}} * {{Cite web |last=Grove |first=Casey |date=October 29, 2018 |title=Yes, Alaska's volcanoes still dominate in updated threat assessment |url=https://www.ktoo.org/2018/10/28/yes-alaskas-volcanoes-still-dominate-in-updated-threat-assessment/ |website=KTOO |language=en-US}} * {{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Nick |date=January 16, 2022 |title=Military flights sent to assess damage in Tonga after Pacific volcano |url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/nation-world/volcano-ash-hinders-response/507-ec8cf800-d95b-45da-a890-ab03cf8406b8 |website=newscentermaine.com |place=Wellington |language=en-US}} * {{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=James |date=February 27, 2023 |title=Alaska's Mount Edgecumbe volcano shows more signs of reawakening, scientists say |url=https://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/alaskas-mount-edgecumbe-volcano-shows-more-signs-of-reawakening-scientists-say/ |website=KINY |language=en}} * {{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=James |date=February 27, 2023 |title=Alaska's Mount Edgecumbe volcano shows more signs of reawakening, scientists say |url=https://www.mixfmalaska.com/news/news-of-the-north/alaskas-mount-edgecumbe-volcano-shows-more-signs-of-reawakening-scientists-say/ |website=Mix 106 – Juneau |language=en}} {{Retrieved|access-date=April 12, 2023}}</ref> As the SIC, she was also the main contact from the media to AVO. Dr. Matthew Haney became the new SIC of AVO in August 2023, succeeding Coombs.<ref name="AVO">[https://avo.alaska.edu/ Alaska Volcano Observatory], Retrieved Aug. 15, 2023.</ref><ref name="STAFF">[https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/matt-m-haney United States Geological Survey, Staff Profiles, Dr. Matt M. Haney], Retrieved Aug. 15, 2023.</ref>
She is the second woman in AVO history to serve as the Alaskan SIC, as Terry Keith held the position from {{Year range|1994|1999}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klemetti |first=Erik |date=March 27, 2023 |title=The Changing Face of Volcanology |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-changing-face-of-volcanology |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=Discover Magazine |language=en}}</ref> When she became SIC in 2016, she was one of 3 women serving as a Scientist-in-Charge of a USGS-operated Volcano Observatory, but as of March 2023, she was the only one.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Klemetti |first=Erik |date=March 29, 2023 |title=A Long Way Still to Go to Create Representative Volcanology |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/a-long-way-still-to-go-to-create-representative-volcanology |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=Discover Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
She has worked with the AVO since 2004, before which she worked for the USGS's Volcano Hazards Program out of Menlo Park, California;<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Michelle Coombs |url=https://avo.alaska.edu/about/staff.php?mode=alpha&dirid=49 |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=Alaska Volcano Observatory}}</ref> which she joined after completing her Ph.D.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Diggles |first=Michael |title=Peninsula Geological Society January 2003, Lecture |url=http://www.diggles.com/pgs/2003/PGS03-01.html |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=diggles.com (Mike Diggles)}}</ref>
While Coombs was in college, she was a field assistant to Judy Fierstein. Once she began working at AVO, she became a mentee of Terry Keith and Tina Neal.<ref name=":1" />
Coombs was the advisor to a 2011 internship studying the 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 NAGT-USGS Interns |url=https://nagt.org/nagt/students/usgs_field/11interns.html |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=USGS NAGT Interns |language=en}}</ref> She had previously co-edited a 2010 U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper on the eruption.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2010 |editor-last=Power |editor-first=John A. |editor2-last=Coombs |editor2-first=Michelle L. |editor3-last=Freymueller |editor3-first=Jeffrey T. |title=The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska |url=http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp1769 |journal=U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper |issue=1769 |doi=10.3133/pp1769|bibcode=2010usgs.rept....6P |last1=Power |first1=John A. |last2=Coombs |first2=Michelle L. |last3=Freymueller |first3=Jeffrey T. |page=6 |url-access=subscription }} [https://siris-libraries.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?uri=link=3100006~!2619907~!3100001~!3100002 Smithsonian Libraries]</ref>
Coombs has also been a participant of a volcanic eruptions workshop from the National Academies.<ref>{{Cite book |last=((National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)) |url=https://www.nap.edu/read/24650/chapter/12 |title=Volcanic Eruptions and Their Repose, Unrest, Precursors, and Timing |publisher=The National Academies Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-309-45415-5 |location=Washington, DC |language=en |chapter=Appendix B: Workshop Participants |doi=10.17226/24650 |author-link=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine}}</ref>
=== Research === Coomb's main research focus is volcanology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=USGS Volcanoes |author-link=Volcano Hazards Program |date=January 13, 2017 |title=Meet: USGS Geologist Michelle Coombs |url=https://www.facebook.com/USGSVolcanoes/photos/1498425060186050/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |via=Facebook}}</ref> Much of her research is on volcanic geology in Alaska, but she has also published research on volcanoes in Hawaii,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hulihia Kīlauea – A Complete Change, part 1 – Teachers |url=https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/https-www-nps-gov-teachers-classrooms-hulihia_kilauea1.htm |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=National Park Service |language=en}}</ref> and her doctoral dissertation was on Mount Desert Island, Maine.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Coombs |first=Michelle L. |title=Petrology and Geochemistry of the Southern Shatter Zone, Cadillac Mountain Pluton, Mount Desert Island, Maine |date=1994 |publisher=Williams College |url=https://keckgeology.org/files/pdf/symvol/7th/Maine/coombs.pdf}}</ref>
Coombs is an expert on the geology of the Aleutian Arc, having published extensively on it.<ref name=":0" />
In 2019, Coombs and a group of collaborators were awarded a NSF grant to model eruptions of Alaskan volcanoes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NSF awards $19 million in natural hazards research grants |url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=299552 |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=National Science Foundation |language=English}}</ref>
== Affiliations == As well as currently being a fellow to the Geological Society of America (GSA), she stood on the Student Awards Committee for the American Geophysical Union (AGU) from 2011–2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AGU |author-link=American Geophysical Union |date=February 24, 2015 |title=Outstanding Student Paper Awards |url=http://eos.org/agu-news/outstanding-student-paper-awards |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=Eos |language=en-US}}</ref>
Coombs was an Associate Editor for the ''Bulletin of Volcanology'' (2013–2016), and was on the editorial board of ''Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research'' (2007–2018).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Michelle L. Coombs, Ph.D. |url=https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/michelle-l-coombs |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=U.S. Geological Survey|date=August 17, 2020 }}</ref> She has also served as a Steering Committee member for the Community Network for Volcanic Eruption Response (CONVERSE).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome |url=https://volcanoresponse.org/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Community Network for Volcanic Eruption Response (CONVERSE) |at=[Community Reports] |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coombs, Michelle}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Scientists from Maine Category:American women geologists Category:American volcanologists Category:Women volcanologists Category:United States Geological Survey personnel Category:Fellows of the Geological Society of America Category:Williams College alumni Category:University of Alaska Fairbanks alumni Category:University of Alaska Fairbanks faculty