Earthquakes Pose Risk to Global Mineral Supplies
USGS scientists study how seismicity could impact mineral commodity supplies like copper and rhenium.
USGS scientists study how seismicity could impact mineral commodity supplies like copper and rhenium.
Monitoring Kīlauea Volcano's Current Eruption
Eruptions within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been intermittent since December 23, 2024.
Eruptions within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been intermittent since December 23, 2024.
Alarming Future for California's Coastline
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100.
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100.
Postfire Debris-Flow Hazard Assessments Help Manage Further Loss
This interactive dashboard shows the likelihood and potential severity for debris-flows.
This interactive dashboard shows the likelihood and potential severity for debris-flows.
Understanding Earth's Electrical Conductivity Helps Protect from Space Weather
The study can also help support mineral and geothermal resource assessment.
The study can also help support mineral and geothermal resource assessment.
Rapid Response Seismometers Help Scientists Assess Hazards
Seafloor seismographs were quickly deployed following a major earthquake offshore Northern California.
Seafloor seismographs were quickly deployed following a major earthquake offshore Northern California.
New USGS-FEMA study highlights economic earthquake risk in the United States
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Every year in the United States, natural hazards threaten lives and livelihoods and result in billions of dollars in damage. We work with many partners to monitor, assess, and conduct targeted research on a wide range of natural hazards so that policymakers and the public have the understanding they need to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience.
Office of Risk and Resilience
Office of Risk and Resilience
Working to ensure that relevant and actionable USGS hazards and risk information is developed and delivered in user-friendly ways to support risk-reduction efforts at a national scale.
Subduction Zone Science
Subduction Zone Science
The most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another.
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News
Modeling Flood-Mitigation Strategies in San Francisco Bay
Modeling Flood-Mitigation Strategies in San Francisco Bay
Meet the Autonomous MAPping CATaraft, or Autonomous MAPCAT
Meet the Autonomous MAPping CATaraft, or Autonomous MAPCAT
Sediment contaminants in Puget Sound: Implications for ecosystem health and remediation
Sediment contaminants in Puget Sound: Implications for ecosystem health and remediation
Publications
Rare earth elements on the Moon Rare earth elements on the Moon
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a scarce but vital resource for our modern economies and lifestyles. Since the late 1990s, China has supplied the vast majority of the world’s refined REEs. Increasing global demand has broadened the search for REE deposits to unconventional places, including the Moon. Although most lunar rocks have very low REE concentrations, Apollo samples showed that...
Fiber-optic sensing for earthquake hazards research, monitoring and early warning Fiber-optic sensing for earthquake hazards research, monitoring and early warning
The use of fiber‐optic sensing systems in seismology has exploded in the past decade. Despite an ever‐growing library of ground‐breaking studies, questions remain about the potential of fiber‐optic sensing technologies as tools for advancing if not revolutionizing earthquake‐hazards‐related research, monitoring, and early warning systems. A working group convened to explore these topics...
Lessons from 40 years of communicating volcanic risk during crises Lessons from 40 years of communicating volcanic risk during crises
Since the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption that killed over 23,000 people in Armero, Colombia, risk communication has become central to volcanic crisis management. Despite the development of effective tools and programmes for volcanic risk communication, considerable challenges remain.
Science
Alaska Science Center’s Commitment to “Gold Standard Science” for Data Products
The mission of the Alaska Science Center is to provide objective and timely data, information, and research findings about the earth and its flora and fauna to Federal, State, and local resource managers and the public to support sound decisions regarding natural resources, natural hazards, and ecosystems in Alaska and circumpolar regions. We are committed to ensuring all Federally funded data...
Earthquake Sequence Product
The USGS earthquake sequence product is a tool that identifies and describes earthquakes that are clustered in space and time as “sequences.” Its overarching goal is to provide simple contextual information regarding the spatial and temporal interconnection of earthquakes. The sequence product provides a description of a sequence, including information on the number and size of aftershocks, as...
A New App to Report Flash Floods and Debris Flows in Grand Canyon
A new community science tool helps scientists gather valuable information on hazardous events such as floods, debris flows, and landslides that occur in the backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park. Visitors to Grand Canyon can help improve our understanding of the impacts these events have which helps to improve future warnings.