Lidar Technology , Uncovers 'Geological Hazards' Below , Yellowstone National Park.br CBS reports that new data has br revealed "geological hazards" br underneath Yellowstone National Park. .br A team of scientists used lidar technology to shed light on br prehistoric landslides and massive earthquakes that may have br permanently impacted the potentially dangerous geologic area.br Advanced geological surface mapping gavebr geologists the clearest view to date of Paradise br Valley and a northern portion of Yellowstone. .br Lidar, short for "light detection and ranging," br is used to survey large areas of land with br a sensor usually mounted on an airplane.br Geologists have an intense interest in br the area, as Yellowstone National Park br sits atop a known volcanic hotspot.br However, Michael Poland, a geophysicist with the br U.S. Geological Survey, says that the chance of br a volcanic eruption "is very unlikely in our lifetimes.".br Poland added that studying the area remains crucial br due to the likelihood of damaging earthquakes and br hydrothermal explosions in the foreseeable future. .br Yann Gavillot, a geologist with the Geohazards Program at br Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, wrote about the br lidar data in a weekly column by the U.S. Geological Survey.br Gavillot said the work could , "significantly improve hazards maps by allowing br better characterization of the location, geometry, br and activity of known faults and landslides.".