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Geologic processes
All types of processes involving geological structures.
Subtopics:
Diagenesis (1 items)
Earthquakes (92 items)
Erosion (44 items)
Glaciation (8 items)
Heat flow (earth) (1 items)
Hydrothermal processes (6 items)
Isostasy (1 items)
Subsidence (8 items)
Liquefaction (1 items)
Metamorphism (geological) (2 items)
Sediment transport (47 items)
Sedimentation (30 items)
Tectonic processes (21 items)
Volcanic activity (68 items)
Earth tides (1 items)
Deformation (geologic) (10 items)
Soil formation (2 items)
Magnetic storms (4 items)
Slope processes (30 items)
Related topics:
Results 1 - 296 of 314 listed by similarity [list alphabetically]
Erosion in the Rio Puerco: geography and processes [More info]
Paper on the accelerated erosion of the Rio Puerco, a tributary of the Rio Grande in New Mexico, which has deepened and widened its channel, or arroyo, since the settlement of the region.
PDF Facing the great disaster: How the men and women of the U.S. Geological Survey responded to the 1906 "San Francisco Earthquake" [More info]
After the powerful earthquake of April 18, 1906, staff of the U.S. Geological Survey stationed in Sacramento and Berkeley brought help to the residents of devastated San Francisco, documented the effects of the quake, and investigated its causes.
Geologic framework and process of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin [More info]
Field methods, topics of investigation, shoreline changes, publications, and satellite imagery related to geologic and hydrologic processes affecting Lake Pontchartrain and adjacent lakes which form a large estuary in the Gulf Coast region.
PDF Geologic hazards at volcanoes [More info]
Poster diagram showing the various hazards that accompany volcanic activity as they relate to the structure of the volcano.
Geologic hazards team [More info]
An organizational unit within USGS that studies earthquakes, landslides, and geomagnetism. Contact information and descriptions of current research projects.
Geologic hazards: landslide images [More info]
Photographs of examples of landslides viewable online as 100-200kb or 800 x 600kb images.
Geologic history of Cape Cod, Massachusetts [More info]
Describes the history, geologic changes (including the glacial formation and sea level changes), and geologic mapping of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Geologic history of Long Valley Caldera and the Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain, California [More info]
Summarizes the geologic and volcanic activity of the Long Valley Caldera and Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain in east central California.
Geopubs: on-line geologic publications of the western United States [More info]
Access to USGS on-line geologic publications of the western United States categorized by state, region USGS series, geologic maps, and software with links to state geologic survey publications.
PDF Identification of tsunami deposits in the geologic record; developing criteria using recent tsunami deposits [More info]
Characteristics of recent tsunami deposits, with the knowledge we have about the events that caused them, give us ways to recognize ancient deposits of this type and infer characteristics of those ancient tsunamis as well.
PDF Integrated geologic, geochemical, and geophysical studies of Big Bend National Park, Texas [More info]
Coordinated studies of the effect of historical mining for mercury, origin and composition of metals in groundwaters and surface waters, history of volcanic and intrusive activity, and the complex geological history of this area.
Landslide types and processes [More info]
An introductory primer giving basic scientific facts about landslides--the types of landslides, how they are initiated, and how they can begin to be managed as a hazard.
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program [More info]
Geological mapping carried out by USGS in close cooperation with state, university, and federal partners. Includes general information about geological maps and mapping standards.
Pacific Northwest geologic mapping and urban hazards [More info]
Overview of the Pacific Northwest Urban Corridor Geologic Mapping Program concerned with geology and urban hazards with links to online geologic maps, current research, publications, and contacts.
PDF Seafloor erosional processes offshore of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana [More info]
Study addresses questions and concerns related to limited sand resources along the Louisiana shelf and their implications to long-term relative sea-level rise and storm impacts, using newly acquired geophysical and vibracore data.
The U.S. Geological Survey and the Chesapeake Bay - the role of science in environmental restoration [More info]
Summary of a circular on USGS environmental research and Chesapeake Bay with links to full document. Includes discussion of the problems of the estuary, restoration efforts, water quality, and effects on ecosystem.
The U.S. Geological Survey Ocean Bottom Seismometer Facility [More info]
The Ocean Bottom Seismometer facility provides technical support for a variety of scientific investigations ranging from deep crustal structure to gas hydrate and surface sediments.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Western Region Kasatochi Volcano Coastal and Ocean Science [More info]
Long-term studies to better understand the effects of the eruption and the role of volcanism in structuring ecosystems in the Aleutian Islands, a volcano-dominated region with high natural resource values.
Western Region geologic information [More info]
Links to geologic information on western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon including information on coastal and marine geology, mineral resources, earthquakes, landslides, earthquake hazards and geologic maps.
Yosemite Valley geologic story [More info]
Site describes the present understanding of the various geologic processes that contributed to the valley's creation. Links to Yosemite Valley's geologic maps.
30 cool facts about Mount St. Helens [More info]
Poster commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens, a volcano in southwestern Washington state. Facts provided in plain text as well.
PDF A dryland river transformed--the Little Colorado, 1936-2010 [More info]
We mapped substantial migration of the river channel between the City of Winslow and the Navajo Nation community of Leupp; in a human lifetime the river has moved more than a mile across its valley floor.
A Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake in the Tacoma Fault Zone-A Plausible Scenario for the Southern Puget Sound Region, Washington [More info]
Scientific description of the likely effects of a significant earthquake on this densely populated area.
PDF A volcano rekindled; the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006 [More info]
Advanced National Seismic System (seismic network) [More info]
A program of studies with instruments to provide accurate and timely data and information on seismic events, including their effects on buildings and structures, employing modern monitoring methods and technologies.
Advanced National Seismic System: Products and services [More info]
Maps, data, and services provided to help people understand earthquakes that have occurred.
PDF Airborne Volcanic Ash - A Global Threat to Aviation [More info]
Explains the problem, describes procedures used to cope with it, ways of monitoring and detecting hazardous conditions, and warning systems currently available to help mitigate the dangers.
Alaska Volcano Observatory [More info]
Homepage for Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) with offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks monitors and studies Alaska's hazardous volcanoes. Links to featured news, updates, publications and products, and a volcano atlas for Alaska.
PDF Alaska volcanoes guidebook for teachers [More info]
The lessons and activities in this guidebook are meant to supplement and enhance existing science content already being taught to Alaskan students in grade levels 6-12.
Albuquerque Seismological Lab [More info]
The USGS Seismological Laboratory in Albuquerque installs and maintains a world network of seismograph stations, collects the seismic data, and evaluates seismic instruments. Site includes links to ASL publications, earthquake maps and seismic data.
America's volcanic past - volcanic highlights and features [More info]
Links to volcanism, volcanic history, volcanic rocks, and general geology by state, by region, national parks and national monuments and a brief introduction to volcanism around the U.S. entitled: Windows into the past.
An overview of coastal land loss with emphasis on the southeastern United States [More info]
Comprehensive background information on coastal land loss, discussing the influence of waves and storms, the intrinsic characteristics of the shoreline materials, and the role of human activities.
ANSS - Advanced National Seismic System [More info]
Nationa network of seismic monitoring stations coordinated with a variety of regional organizations and academic institutions.
PDF Application of the SPARROW watershed model to describe nutrient sources and transport in the Missouri River Basin [More info]
Maps and diagrams showing how the mathematical model predicts the distribution of various pollutants within a large watershed.
PDF Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States [More info]
The electric power generation potential from identified geothermal systems is 9,057 Megawattselectric (MWe), distributed over 13 states. Undiscovered resources are estimated to provide an additional 30,033 MWe.
Atchafalaya & Mississippi River Deltas study: a tale of two deltas [More info]
Project of the Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science program that evaluates the transport and sedimentation of contaminates through the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River delta to the near-shore Gulf of Mexico. Includes aerial photographs.
Atlantic margin offshore sediments: cooperative database and GIS development website [More info]
This site is designed to provide information on federal interagency and cooperative developments related to coastal sand and gravel resources and management issues along the Atlantic continental margin.
Bedrock geology of the Yosemite Valley area Yosemite National Park, California [More info]
Site explains the general bedrock geology of the Yosemite Valley area.
PDF Beyond the Golden Gate--oceanography, geology, biology, and environmental issues in the Gulf of the Farallones [More info]
A geologic and oceanographic study of the waters and Continental Shelf of Gulf of the Farallones adjacent to the San Francisco Bay region. The results of the study provide a scientific basis to evaluate and monitor human impact on the marine environment.
Biological soil crusts [More info]
Explains biological soil crusts, organism-produced soil formations commonly found in semiarid and arid environments, with special reference to their biological composition, physical characteristics, and ecological significance.
PDF Biological soil crusts: webs of life in the desert [More info]
Fact sheet on the need to protect biological soil crusts in the desert. These crusts are most of the soil surface in deserts not covered by green plants and are inhabited by cyanobacterium (blue-green algae) and other organisms useful to the ecosystem.
PDF Boiling water at Hot Creek - The dangerous and dynamic thermal springs in California's Long Valley Caldera [More info]
Explains how these hot surface waters form, why their temperature changes often, and provides safety guidance for visiting this area.
Boston Harbor ecosystems [More info]
This web site is an outgrowth of an agreement between the USGS and the New England Aquarium, designed to summarize and make available results of scientific research. It will also present educational material of interest to wide audiences.
Boston Harbor Studies: the fate of sediments and contaminants in Massachusetts Bay [More info]
Boston Harbor/Massachusetts Bay Studies research project conducted as part of Boston Harbor cleanup to predict the fate of contaminants and sediments introduced to Massachusetts' coastal waters from sources that include Boston sewage outfall.
Carbon dioxide and helium discharge from Mammoth Mountain, Long Valley caldera, California [More info]
An explanation of toxic carbon dioxide emissions at Mammoth Mountain in Long Valley caldera, and a description of magmatic helium discharge at the Mammoth Mountain fumarole with photos, maps, and links to other studies.
Cascades Volcano Observatory [More info]
Portal to information provided by the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, WA with links to reports and activity in the Cascade Range and other volcanoes and multiple links to general information on volcanology, reports, research, and maps.
Cascades Volcano Observatory - Learn about volcanoes [More info]
Educational volcano site providing answers to frequently asked volcano questions with links to other general information on volcanoes and to information on specific volcanoes including the Cascade Range volcanoes.
Cascades Volcano Observatory - Mount St. Helens real-time hydrologic monitoring [More info]
Real-time and historic data from gaging stations for water and mudflow detection in the Mount St. Helens, WA vicinity with data tables and plots, interactive location map and station descriptions.
Cascades Volcano Observatory educational outreach: Available videos [More info]
Description of videos on Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mt. Hood, with information on obtaining copies.
Cascadia subduction zone: two contrasting models of lithospheric structure [More info]
Summary of an investigation of the Cascadia subduction zone with detailed density-modeling experiments of the crust and mantle along two transects across Vancouver Island and the Canadian margin and the other on the margin of central Oregon.
Central California /San Francisco Bay Earthquake Hazards Project [More info]
Information on earthquakes in central California and the San Francisco region with links to four types of field studies, deep seismic investigations, geotechnical investigations, shallow seismic imaging, and airborne geophysical surveys.
Central Region [More info]
Entry to USGS Central Region programs with links to Biological Resources, Geology, National Mapping, Water Resources, Office of Central Region Services, emergency information, and records of a Rockies field trip, and clickable map to state programs.
Classification of natural ponds and lakes in the glaciated prairie region [More info]
Presents a wetland classification system that reflects seasonal, regional, and local variations in the environment.
Coastal and Marine Geology Program [More info]
Home page for Coastal and Marine Geology with links to topics of interest (sea level change, erosion, corals, pollution, sonar mapping, and others), Sound Waves monthly newsletter, field centers, regions of interest, and subject search system.
Coastal and Marine Geology Program interactive map server [More info]
Interactive map server to view and create maps using available coastal and marine geology data sets of offshore and coastal U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. Links to available data and metadata that can be downloaded.
Coastal change hazards digital library [More info]
Online catalog of reports and data on coastal change hazards, indexed by author, agency, project, location, feature type, and topic
Coastal storms and tsunamis [More info]
USGS responses to and studies of the hazards and impact of major hurricanes, tsunamis, and El Nino storms. Includes links to oblique aerial photography and LIDAR surveys recording coastal changes and other effects of storms and waves.
Community model for coastal sediment transport [More info]
Description of the National Community Sediment-Transport Model (NCSTM), an open source numerical model for sediment transport in coastal regions.
Contamination in Fractured Rock Aquifers [More info]
Overview of fractured rock research aimed at understanding the movement of water through fracture networks, and characterize field conditions influencing contaminant migration. Includes programs and publications.
Continental shelf GIS for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary [More info]
Interactive maps of the continental shelf of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary with GIS layers for sediment data, bathymetry, geology, bathymetry, sonar imagery, and tectonics.
Costly landslide events in the United States: map layer description file [More info]
GIS data set from the USGS National Landslides Hazards Program showing major landslide events in the United States and Puerto Rico with metadata. Map layer can be downloaded in shapefile format or SDTS format.
Danger to aircraft from volcanic eruption clouds [More info]
Explanation of problems encountered by aircraft due to volcanic emissions.
PDF Debris-Flow Hazards within the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States [More info]
Storms bring rains strong enough to cause rock-falls and landslides that are hazardous to people. Includes examples in the eastern US with information about the weather events that precipitated the debris flows.
Deserts, geology and resources [More info]
Online edition of booklet describing desert geology and mineral resources.
Detection and measurement of land subsidence using Global Positioning System surveying and interferometric synthetic aperture radar, Coachella Valley, California, 1996-2005 [More info]
Detailed measurements of elevation help to understand the extent and severity of subsidence. Study asks if subsidence indicates the aquifer system is compacting temporarily or permanently, and are the changes human-induced or tectonic.
Distribution of high-temperature (>150 °C) geothermal resources in California [More info]
Description and map of geothermal resources in California.
PDF Early results from the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Change and Hazard Susceptibility Project [More info]
A coordinated set of studies shows development of coastal features, aspects of marine water quality, and impacts of hurricanes along this section of important coastline.
Earth science photographic archive [More info]
Photographic archive collection from the USGS Photo Library. Photos dated 1868-1992 are of geology, earthquake damage, national parks, pioneer photographers, St. Helens eruption and mining and available at 100, 700 and 1400 dots/inch resolution.
Earth tides and volcano monitoring [More info]
Article in the May 28, 1998 issue of Volcano Watch describing of correlation of earth tides to volcanic eruptions and value in monitoring underground magma movement with deformation measurement instruments including tiltmeters and strainmeters.
Earthquake "Top 10" Lists & Maps [More info]
Lists of largest earthquakes in the world and in the United States, earthquake facts and statistics, deaths from earthquakes, earthquakes by magnitude, and significant earthquakes.
Earthquake and fault data for Google Earth [More info]
Downloadable data for earthquakes and faults for use with the Google Earth software
Earthquake Geology and Paleoseismology [More info]
Geological effects of earthquakes on the crust and landscape, with studies of prehistoric earthquake activity using geological evidence.
Earthquake glossary [More info]
Dictionary of terms associated with earthquakes with simple definitions and photographs especially suited for students.
PDF Earthquake hazard in the New Madrid seismic zone remains a concern [More info]
GPS measurements made since 1996 seem to show this earthquake-prone area slowing down. Is it time to relax? Scientists who studied these data in detail say no, and this fact sheet explains why.
Earthquake hazard maps [More info]
National seismic hazards maps, global seismic hazards map, predictive intensity maps, shaking hazards maps and probabilities for California, and a variety of fact sheets on earthquakes.
Earthquake Hazards 101 [More info]
Provides links to explanatory materials for the layperson, including information on concepts behind earthquake maps, the use of probability, what the maps mean, how they are made, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Earthquake Hazards Program [More info]
Information on earthquake activity, earthquake science, and earthquake hazard reduction with links to news reports, products and services, educational resources for teachers, glossary, and current U.S. earthquake activity map.
Earthquake Hazards Program - Central and Eastern U.S. [More info]
Information on earthquakes in central and eastern United States with links to earthquake monitoring, published products, recent earthquake information, discussion group, and current projects.
Earthquake Hazards Program external research support [More info]
Abstracts, program announcements and descriptions of projects funded by the external research program.
Earthquake hazards software for download [More info]
Numerous downloadable software packages for carrying out analyses, modeling, and ancillary calculations in earthquake research and monitoring.
Earthquake information by topic [More info]
Information on earthquakes by topic including faults, tsunami, seismic waves, and plate tectonics.
Earthquake notification services [More info]
Sign up for USGS real-time earthquake notification services.
Earthquake preparedness information [More info]
Links to web sites, publications, and fact sheets on earthquake preparedness.
Earthquake Products & Publications [More info]
Long list of online fact sheets, publications, and maps relevant to earthquake studies.
Earthquake science explained--a series of ten short articles for students, teachers, and families [More info]
Collects a series of short articles on earthquake science and related topics for students, teachers, and parents originally published as weekly features in The San Francisco Chronicle.
Earthquake search [More info]
Search interface allowing searches of earthquake databases by various parameters including date, depth, intensity, area, and magnitude and download data in a variety of formats.
Earthquake: Did you feel it? Report it here. [More info]
Place to provide information about ground shaking associated with significant earthquakes. A questionnaire to let us know what you felt following an earthquake in the United States or in other countries.
Earthquakes [More info]
Online booklet on earthquake history, earthquake occurrences, measuring earthquakes, causes, relationship of volcanoes and earthquakes and earthquake prediction.
Earthquakes and tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands [More info]
Fact sheet on hazards from earthquakes and tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to be downloaded as a PDF file or viewed as an Adobe Acrobat Reader file.
Earthquakes for kids [More info]
Links to various earthquake projects, facts, science fair ideas, earthquake science, becoming an earthquake scientist, image glossary, earthquake facts, and puzzles and games for children.
PDF Earthquakes in Hawaii -- an underappreciated but serious hazard [More info]
Shows where earthquakes occur here, the type of damage that has occurred, and the information that USGS provides to help people anticipate and understand this hazard.
Earthquakes in the central United States, 1699-2010 [More info]
Poster includes GIS data for earthquake locations in this seismically active area.
PDF Earthquakes pose a serious hazard in Afghanistan [More info]
Structural features in eastern Afghanistan accompany seismicity data showing this area is subject to considerable risk of earthquakes.
Earthquakes: Frequently Asked Questions [More info]
Answers to a wide variety of questions (FAQs) about earthquakes, such as dictionary of terms, earthquake activity and probabilities, common myths, faults, plate tectonics, and earthquake measurement techniques.
Education resources for paleontology [More info]
Contacts and other sources of information for teachers, students, and others interested in paleontology with links to related USGS websites and on-line publications.
PDF Effects of Ocean Acidification and Sea-Level Rise on Coral Reefs [More info]
By measuring the current and historical growth rates of coral skeletons, and using field experiments, we intend to find out whether rising atmospheric CO2 and rising sea levels will cause coral reefs to erode and cease to function.
Encounters of aircraft with volcanic ash clouds; A compilation of known incidents, 1953-2009 [More info]
Of 129 reported incidents, 94 are confirmed ash encounters, 79 of which entailed airframe or engine damage; 20 are low-severity events involving suspected ash or gas clouds; for 15 the data are insufficient to assess severity.
Erosion of a sea stack over 100 years [More info]
Series of photographs showing the demise of Jump-off Joe, a sea stack at Nye Beach, Newport, Oregon from 1890 as a result of erosion.
Eruption warning and real-time notifications [More info]
Describes strategy of volcano warnings and the real-time detection of a sudden eruption or lahar and immediate notification of the activity to the public and local, state, and federal emergency-management officials.
Eruptions from the Inyo chain about 600 years ago: sequence of events and effects in the Long Valley Area [More info]
Describes the volcanic activity that occurred along the southern part of the Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain in California about 600 years ago.
PDF Eruptions in the Cascade Range during the past 4,000 years [More info]
Chart showing 13 volcanoes on a map of Washington, Oregon, and northern California, along with time lines for each volcano showing the ages of their eruptions.
PDF Eruptions of Hawaiian volcanoes - past, present, and future [More info]
Originally published in 1987, this general-interest booklet has been revised in anticipation of the Centennial of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) in January 2012.
Eruptions of Lassen Peak, California, 1914 to 1917 [More info]
Summary of the most recent eruption of Lassen Peak, Cascades (1914-1917)
Eruptions of Mount St. Helens: past, present, future [More info]
Online booklet on the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, past history, and future hazards.
PDF Evaluating the variability of sediment and nutrient loading from riverine systems into Texas estuaries and bays [More info]
Some results from a study of the variability of sediment and nutrient loads in the lower reaches of the Trinity River during a variety of hydrologic conditions.
Executive summary, workshop: seismic and tsunami hazard in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands [More info]
Summary of workshop with links to reports that are recommendations for future projects.
FAQs - National Seismic Hazard Maps [More info]
Provides detailed technical information on earthquake hazards in the form of frequently asked questions. Designed for the technical audience, including building and safety planners.
Fault and fold database of the United States [More info]
Online database of faults and associated folds in the United States that are believed to be sources of significant earthquakes during the last 1.6 million years.
PDF Field reconnaissance report of landslides triggered by the January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake [More info]
Preliminary aerial helicopter reconnaissance of areas affected by landslides and ground inspections at some accessible landslide sites.
Fifty-Year Record of Glacier Change Reveals Shifting Climate in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, USA [More info]
Accelerating loss of mass, weakening correlation with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and increasing mass turnover likely are the result of changes to warmer and drier climate conditions that are affecting three well-studied glaciers.
PDF Forecasting California's earthquakes - What can we expect in the next 30 years? [More info]
Shows how we know severe earthquakes will occur and where.
Fragile environments: San Francisco Bay wetlands [More info]
Overview with links to studies on the effects of human activity on the San Francisco estuary with loss of historic fresh and saltwater tidal marshes reducing habitats, introducing contaminants in waste, and creating dredging problems.
PDF From ridge to reef--linking erosion and changing watersheds to impacts on the coral reef ecosystems of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Ocean [More info]
Explains how land processes on hills near the shoreline affect the health of coral reefs.
Gas hydrate studies: a part of the Geophysics Group [More info]
Brief overview of gas hydrates and current research. Site also contains links to related USGS research and publications and web sites of other groups participating in gas hydrate research.
General Earthquake Observation System (GEOS) [More info]
Earthquake and aftershock data collected by the USGS General Earthquake Observation System project in Menlo Park, California.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Missouri [More info]
Website with links to USGS hydrologic, geohydrologic, soil, and geologic projects in Missouri using geographic information systems (GIS) technology with digital datasets of images, models, and maps produced by the projects to view.
Geology of the New York City Region: A Preliminary Regional Field-Trip Guidebook [More info]
Provide basic information about the natural history and geologic features of the landscape encompassing the greater New York City metropolitan area.
Geomagnetic observatories [More info]
Map showing geomagnetic observatories, with detailed information about each one
Geomorphology and sediment transport -- river mechanics [More info]
Current river mechanics research on particle friction angles of fluvial gravels (data files compressed in BenHex, Winzip and Unix) and Grand Canyon Beach evolution (animation requiring Java 1.0) plus digital elevation files (*.hgx and *.zip files).
Geothermal and hydrothermal activity [More info]
Glossary of geothermal and hydrothermal activity terms.
Geothermal industry temperature profiles from the Great Basin [More info]
Subsurface temperature, well temperature, and well data of geothermal resources in the Great Basin.
Geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs [More info]
Description of volcanic geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs.
Glacier effects of the M7.9 Denali fault earthquake of November 3, 2002 [More info]
Description and photos documenting offsets and 260 km rupture in the Denali glacier in central Alaska after the November 3, 2002 earthquake, the 9th largest earthquake in the United States in the last 200 years.
Glaciers and glaciations - ice sheets, glacial lakes, tuyas - jökulhlaups and glacial hazards [More info]
Links to background information on glaciers, glacier hazards, ice sheets and glaciations, glacial lakes, specific glaciers, terminology, bibliographies, and related useful links.
Global Seismographic Network [More info]
Worldwide network of seismic monitoring stations coordinated by a variety of national and international organizations.
Glossary of glacier terminology: a glossary providing the vocabulary necessary to understand the modern glacier environment. [More info]
An illustrated glossary of terms relating to modern glaciers and glacial landforms based mainly on Alaskan examples.
Glossary of selected glacier and related terminology [More info]
Dictionary of terms associated with glaciology with brief definitions.
Grain size analyzer technique [More info]
Description of the technique used in particle-size analysis
Grand Canyon studies: using ocean-research techniques to study a river system [More info]
Brief review of studies with sidescan sonar on sediment in the Grand Canyon as part of research on the changes brought about by the Glen Canyon Dam and the results gathered from a 1996-controlled flood experiment with links to related information.
PDF Ground-shaking hazard from earthquakes [More info]
Postcard available for downloading and printing.
Gulf of Maine internet map [More info]
Gulf of Maine regional overview interactive map depicting research activities of the U.S. Geological Survey showing surficial sample sites, bathymetry, continental margin and coastal areas.
Gulf of Mexico Climate-History Calibration Study [More info]
Proxy methods allow us to estimate ancient ocean temperatures but only if the method is calibrated using modern samples for which we measure the temperature. This is a proxy method using a sediment trap to collect planktonic foraminifera.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory [More info]
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's latest news with links to information on Kilauea, Mauna Loa, and other volcanoes, earthquakes, volcanic hazards, photo archive, and general information about the center.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) earthquakes: HVO seismic network [More info]
Description of the seismic monitoring of the active Hawaiian volcanoes with information on the network, instrumentation, and recording stations with links to related information.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spotlight images archive [More info]
Images of Hawaiian volcanoes and the islands they've built in the past few million years, images of recent eruptions, and Hawaiian landscapes.
PDF Helping safeguard Veterans Affairs' hospital buildings by advanced earthquake monitoring [More info]
We put seismic monitoring instruments into 20 VA hospital buildings, connected with computers that analyze their data to determine rapidly the structural health of the buildings in the event of earthquakes.
Historical earthquakes: lists and statistics [More info]
Lists and maps of historic earthquakes by geographic area, magnitude, destructiveness, and other characteristics.
PDF Holocene evolution of Apalachicola Bay, Florida [More info]
Geophysical surveying, combined with analysis of sediment cores and radiometric dating were used to describe the likely history of formation of this area.
Hurricane and extreme storm impact studies [More info]
Homepage for programs of the Center for Coastal Geology on hurricanes and extreme storms with links to technology, related aerial photography, hurricanes, El Nino, northeasters, and specific storms.
Hurricane and extreme storm impact studies: coastal and nearshore mapping with oblique aerial video and still photography [More info]
Information on video and still photography used to supplement laser altimetry measurements of the coast. The photography is used for recognizing geomorphic and cultural features impacted by storms. Links to photo collections of hurricanes and El Nino.
PDF Hurricane impact and recovery shoreline change analysis of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, USA: 1855 to 2005 [More info]
Results from historical (1855-2005) shoreline change analysis demonstrate that tropical cyclone frequency dominates the long-term evolution of this barrier-island arc.
Hydrologic studies in Long Valley caldera [More info]
Hydrologic monitoring data for Long Valley caldera, California, on springs, streams, wells, fumaroles, and precipitation to study the natural hydrologic variations and the response of the hydrologic system to volcanic and tectonic processes.
Hydrologic studies in the Upper Klamath Basin, Oregon [More info]
Overview of Klamath ecological research and links to USGS Klamath studies on ground water, nutrients, sediment oxygen demand, and fish response to water quality, sucker ecology, publications, bibliographies, and data.
PDF Impacts and predictions of coastal change during hurricanes [More info]
Shows how observations and modeling can help anticipate practical problems in coastal areas when hurricanes arrive. Focuses primarily on areas where people have built houses and roads that may be destroyed during storms.
Isostasy [More info]
Explanation of the concept of isostasy as part of the Geophysical studies of the San Francisco Bay area.
Joshua Tree National Park geology: on shaky ground [More info]
Description of earthquake that was felt in Joshua Tree region (1999) and links to earthquake summary, shaded relief map, aerial photos of the rupture zone, shaking intensity maps, damage reports, and seismograph network map.
Karst Interest Group Proceedings (February 2001) [More info]
Scientific presentations and papers about geologic, geophysical, and hydrologic studies of karst areas in the U.S.
Kilauea - eruption update and image archive [More info]
Current Kilauea eruption activity, updated daily with recent photos, maps, and deformation information and links to video for broadband users, photo glossary, and image archive.
Kilauea - perhaps the world's most active volcano [More info]
Current activity, hazards, and history of eruptions of Kilauea Volcano.
PDF Kilauea--an Explosive Volcano in Hawaii [More info]
Explains how explosive eruptions occur here, shows the history of its eruptions, and describes the effects and hazards that accompany them.
Lake Pontchartrain basin: bottom sediments and related environmental resources [More info]
This publication focuses on the geological framework and sedimentary processes of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and provides links to interactive tools, regional research, and sediment data in GIS formats for display and analysis.
Lake Roosevelt-Upper Columbia River environmental studies [More info]
Description of research studies of the Lake Roosavelt-Upper Columbia area on contaminants and effects on environmental health with links to publications and products, partners, related links, project summaries, and contacts.
Land subsidence and aquifer-system compaction in the Tucson Active Management Area, south-central Arizona, 1987-2005 [More info]
Results of ground-surface monitoring and borehole water table measurements document subsidence of the land surface correlative with changes in the ground water.
Land Subsidence in the United States [More info]
Describes and provides examples of impacts of human-induced land subsidence resulting from the extraction of subsurface water, including aquifer-system compaction, drainage of organic soils, dissolution and collapse of susceptible rocks.
Land Subsidence in the United States [More info]
Describes and provides several detiled examples of impacts of human-induced land subsidence resulting from the extraction of subsurface water, including aquifer-system compaction, drainage of organic soils, dissolution and collapse of susceptible rocks.
Landslide events [More info]
Current, regularly updated reports of landslides nationwide
PDF Landslide Hazards in the Seattle, Washington, Area [More info]
Explains how and why landslides occur in this area, and what can be done to forecast and mitigate them.
Landslide Hazards Program [More info]
Research program designed to improve understanding of the causes of ground failure so that the hazards associated with landslides can be mitigated or avoided.
Landslide hazards: Frequently Asked Questions [More info]
Answers to common questions about landslides and the hazards they pose.
Landslide: did you see it? [More info]
Report your experience of seeing a landslide including location.
Landslides learning & education [More info]
A wide variety of explanatory and educational resources about landslides and their relationship with earthquakes and storms, and preparedness. Includes glossary and photos.
Landslides research [More info]
Description of research projects in progress to make accurate landslide hazard maps and forecasts of landslide occurrences.
Latest earthquakes in the USA - Past 7 days [More info]
Real-time earthquake maps of the conterminous U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico displaying magnitude and location of earthquake activity in the past hour, past day, and past week.
Latest worldwide earthquakes [More info]
Near real-time list of earthquakes recently occurring anywhere in the world.
PDF Limestone - A crucial and versatile industrial mineral commodity [More info]
Uses and availability of limestone and related commodities such as lime and portland cement. Hazards of limestone terranes due to erosion and sinkhole formation.
Long Island Sound [More info]
Long Island Sound interactive map with GIS datasets and sonar imagery.
Louisiana coastal land loss [More info]
Homepage for Louisiana coastal land loss, including links to press release, animation of wetland loss, and PDF digital images of land change maps.
Louisiana continental slope [More info]
Louisiana continental slope interactive map with GIS datasets and sonar imagery.
Major drainage basins in Massachusetts and Rhode Island [More info]
Location and geology of drainage basins in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Major quake likely to strike San Francisco Bay Region between 2003 and 2032 [More info]
Study of the probability of a major earthquake in San Francisco Bay region with colored map and links to relevant publications. Text also available in PDF format and graphic available in Illustrator or Photoshop format.
Map and database of Quaternary faults and folds in Colombia and its offshore regions [More info]
PDF file of map of Quaternary faults and folds in Columbia prepared as part of the World Map of Major Active Faults with locations, ages, and activity rates of major earthquake-related features accompanied by database of description and activity.
Maps of recent earthquake activity in California-Nevada [More info]
Near-real-time maps of location, ground motion, and shaking intensity of earthquakes in California and Nevada for the past hour, past day, and past week and links to other earthquake information.
Mass Wasting Following the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire near Durango, Colorado, a Field Trip Guidebook [More info]
Guidebook with photos, maps, and diagrams explaining how forest fires have affected the likelihood of mass wasting, with discussions of steps taken to minimize future impacts.
Mass wasting presentation [More info]
Presentation explaining the various types of mass wasting, how they work, and how they differ from one another, with diagrams and photos.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island District home page [More info]
Home page for the Massachusetts and Rhode Island District office for water resources with links to drainage basins, water, stream statistics, projects, publications, news reports, and location.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island District projects [More info]
List of all Massachusetts and Rhode Island District water projects with links to those with homepages.
PDF Mauna Loa -- history, hazards and risk of living with the world's largest volcano [More info]
Describes volcano-related hazards on the Island of Hawaii, including lava flows, explosive eruptions, volcanic smog, damaging earthquakes, and tsunamis.
Mauna Loa current activity [More info]
Current activity of Mauna Loa Volcano with news, GPS data, electronic tiltmeter data, and current seismicity plus links to long term monitoring.
Mauna Loa, Earth's largest volcano [More info]
Current activity, hazards, and history of eruptions of Mauna Loa.
Measuring human-induced land subsidence from space [More info]
Examples of the use of Satellite Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar to measure and map changes on the Earth's surface as an aid to understanding how ground-water pumping, hydrocarbon production, or other human activities cause land subsidence.
Measuring land subsidence from space [More info]
Describes the use of satellite-borne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to precisely measure, monitor, and assess small changes in land surface elevation resulting from human-induced or naturally occuring land subsidence.
Mississippi Fan internet map [More info]
Mississippi River alluvial fan interactive map with GIS data and imagery depicting core sites, depositional and channel interpretation, Gloria and SeaMarc datasets.
Missouri District Surface-Water Data & Analysis Section [More info]
Overview of the Surface-Water Data & Analysis Section of the Missouri District with links to real-time and historic water data, staff members, and projects on bridge scour and gaging station network.
PDF Monitoring and analysis of sand dune movement and growth on the Navajo Nation, southwestern United States [More info]
We combine long-term records from aerial photographs, detailed mapping using survey-grade GPS, and ground-based lidar with meteorological monitoring. Sand dune migration rates are currently about 35 meters per year.
Monitoring data of the Long Valley caldera and Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain, California [More info]
Describes the monitoring effort and provides real-time data of the current restless activity of the caldera, including earthquakes, ground deformation, and release of volcanic gas and plus link to volcano monitoring techniques.
PDF Monitoring the Earth's dynamic magnetic field [More info]
Describes the reasons why USGS monitors Earth's magnetic field and the history of that monitoring effort.
Most recent updates for U.S. volcanoes [More info]
Short descriptions of recent volcanic activity in the US.
PDF Mount Rainier - Living Safely With a Volcano in Your Backyard [More info]
One of our Nation's most dangerous volcanoes, Mount Rainier has been the source of countless eruptions and volcanic mudflows, and many people live in the areas that will be affected by it.
PDF Mount St. Helens, 1980 to now--what's going on? [More info]
Summarizes the eruptions of this spectacular volcano and the consequences for the surrounding landscape, explains how volcanoes like this form, and how we monitor their activity to mitigate hazards they pose.
Multibeam data and socio-economic issues in west-central San Francisco Bay [More info]
Webpage based on USGS Open File Report 98-139 links to information on the San Francisco Bay estuary to study dredge disposal effects, fish habitats, sediment transport, rock pinnacles and navigation, and consequences of a large oil spill.
National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards [More info]
The National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards is a multi-year undertaking to identify and quantify the vulnerability of U.S. shorelines to coastal change hazards such as the effects of severe storms, sea-level rise, and shoreline erosion and retreat.
National assessment of coastal vulnerability to sea-level rise: preliminary results for the U.S. Pacific Coast [More info]
Report on the potential of coastal change due to future sea level rise using the coastal vulnerability index (C.V.I.) with two regional examples in San Francisco and Monterey Bay and Tillamook Head, Oregon, to Ocean Shores, WA.
National assessment of coastal vulnerability to sea-level rise: preliminary results of the U.S. Atlantic coast [More info]
Brief report on map showing the relative vulnerability of the Atlantic coast to changes due to future rise in sea level. Includes links to similar maps in Open-file report 2000-178 on the Pacific Coast and 2000-179 on the Gulf of Mexico Coast.
National Assessment of Shoreline Change Project [More info]
The Coastal and Marine Geology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting an analysis of historical shoreline changes along open-ocean sandy shores of the conterminous United States and parts of Alaska and Hawaii.
National bridge scour database [More info]
Database with detailed data on sites and data collected on scour (downward erosion by streamflow) at bridges, piers, and abutments in the United States.
National Earthquake Information Center [More info]
Information on world earthquake activity with links to facts and lists on large earthquakes, earthquake e-mail notification, hazards and preparedness, educational links, news and highlights and other seismic information.
National Geomagnetism Program [More info]
Overview of USGS programs related to geomagnetism including observatories, data, program services, links to models, charts, and movies, program contacts, Intermagnet, Geomag, publications, and bibliographies.
National Landslide Information Center [More info]
National Landslide Information Center links to general information, teacher/student information, recent landslide events, state and local information, current projects, fire-related landslides, and images and publications on landslides.
National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) [More info]
Homepage for description of the National Stream Quality Network (NASQAN), a long-term program monitoring the concentrations and flux of sediment and chemicals in the Nation's largest rivers (Mississippi, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, and Yukon).
Natural hazards [More info]
Research and monitoring to provide the Nation with a clear understanding of natural hazards and their potential threats to society, and assists with developing smart, cost-effective strategies for achieving preparedness and resilience.
PDF Natural Hazards - A National Threat [More info]
Describes the role USGS plays in reducing losses from natural disasters, itemizing specific information we develop and maintain to help mitigate or avoid these problems.
Natural Hazards - Earthquakes [More info]
News and related information focusing on the importance of earthquake hazards in the United States.
Natural Hazards - Landslides [More info]
News and related information focusing on the importance of landslide hazards in the United States.
Natural Hazards - Volcanoes [More info]
News and related information focusing on the hazards associated with volcanoes in the United States.
Natural Hazards Gateway [More info]
News and related information about the importance of seven major types of natural hazards in the United States: earthquakes, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, landslides, volcanoes, and tsunamis.
Natural Hazards Support System [More info]
Shows where current natural hazard events are occurring within the US or worldwide, with information about the geographic extent of the hazard, the US agency engaged to work on it, and how long the hazard is expected be active.
North Cascades National Park geology, a mountain mosaic [More info]
Homepage for information on geology of the North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington. Includes links to geologic story, geologic field trips, geologic maps, plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, geologic time, and glossary.
Oceanographic time series data [More info]
Oceanographic time-series data obtained from moored instruments, generally provided in NetCDF format.
Organic metamorphism in the California petroleum basins: Chapter A - ROCK-EVAL and vitrinite reflectance [More info]
Part A of a complex report on the results of ROCK-EVAL and vitrinite reflectance analysis of a large sample base from more than 70 wells located in three oil-rich California petroleum basins in order to study the formation of oil deposits.
Organic metamorphism in the California petroleum basins: Chapter B - Insights from extractable bitumen and saturated hydrocarbons [More info]
Part B of a complex report on the results of geochemical analysis of 75 shale samples from the Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Joaquin Basins to gather observations relevant to exploration regarding the formation of oil deposits in these basins.
Ozone in our air - friend or foe? - depends on where [More info]
Article on ozone layer and ozone as a pollutant from the weekly newsletter Volcano Watch (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) for August 20, 2001.
P-wave data from the Indian subcontinent [More info]
Compilation of P-wave data from the Indian subcontinent Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) profiles that used refraction and reflection techniques to provide an estimate of crustal thickness across the subcontinent.
PDF PAGER--Rapid assessment of an earthquake's impact [More info]
An automated system for rapidly estimating the shaking distribution, number of people and settlements exposed to severe shaking, and range of possible fatalities and economic losses. A color-coded alert suggests levels of appropriate response.
Photo gallery of the Long Valley area, California [More info]
Selection of photographic images of the Long Valley area that illustrate the consequences of the past geologic history of the Sierra Nevada, Long Valley Caldera, the Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain, glaciation, and faulting.
Plus side of volcanoes: geothermal energy [More info]
Examples of the use of volcanic energy in geothermal power plants.
Potential hazards from future volcanic eruptions in the Long Valley -- Mono Lake Area, California [More info]
An introduction to the volcano hazards in the Long Valley area based on the past geologic history of the Long Valley Caldera and the Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain.
Preparing for volcanic emergencies [More info]
Describes activities of USGS scientists to increase public awareness of volcano hazards with links to publication and videos for public information on understanding and preparing for volcanic hazards.
Protecting your family from earthquakes - The seven steps to earthquake safety (in English and Spanish) [More info]
Everyone in your family, children and adults, can learn how to prepare for an earthquake. Read this book, then take advantage of the American Red Cross Earthquake Preparedness training courses offered in your community.
PDF Protecting your family from earthquakes - The seven steps to earthquake safety (in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean) [More info]
Everyone in your family, children and adults, can learn how to prepare for an earthquake. Read this book, then take advantage of the American Red Cross Earthquake Preparedness training courses offered in your community.
Publications of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island District [More info]
Lists of publications of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island District on water resources with links to online publications.
PDF Putting down roots in earthquake country - Your handbook for earthquakes in the central United States [More info]
If you live near one of the seismic zones in the central United States, this handbook explains why you should be concerned with earthquakes, what you can expect during a quake, and what you need to do beforehand to be safe and reduce property damage.
Putting down roots in earthquake country: Your handbook for the San Francisco Bay region [More info]
If you live or work in the San Francisco Bay region, this handbook explains why you should be concerned with earthquakes, what you can expect during and after a quake, and what you need to do beforehand to be safe and reduce property damage.
PDF Real-time monitoring of landslides [More info]
USGS real-time landslide monitoring provides prompt notification of landslide activity, advances our understanding of landslide behavior, and enables more effective engineering and planning efforts.
PDF Real-time seismic monitoring of instrumented hospital buildings [More info]
Specialized monitoring systems installed in a VA hospital in Memphis, TN will help us to design safer hospitals and other buildings and to prevent loss of life in this and similar earthquake-prone areas.
Real-time seismogram displays [More info]
Description of seismograms and how they are produced by drum recorders and electronic instruments with real-time seismograms for Northern California and Long Valley, California and representative seismograms for types of earthquake activity.
Recent earthquakes in Hawaii [More info]
Interactive maps of earthquakes of last 2 hours, last 2 days, and last 2 weeks in Hawaii.
Report of the Community Sediment Transport Modeling Workshop [More info]
Report on workshop to explore a community approach to improving deterministic models of sediment transport in coastal seas, estuaries, and rivers.
PDF Report on the 2010 Chilean earthquake and tsunami response [More info]
With high property damage, loss of life and fire damage were relatively low. Why? The legal system encourages builders to follow code, the electrical grid was shut down early, and emergency response management was very effective.
Reservoir sediment studies in Kansas [More info]
Report of completed reservoir sediment studies in Kansas using a combination of bathymetric surveying, sediment coring, chemical analysis, and statistical analysis to understand the quantity and quality of deposited sediment.
Riding the storm -- landslide danger in the San Francisco Bay Area [More info]
Video: Learn what USGS scientists have discovered about landslide dynamics and which slopes are most susceptible to sliding. Hear the devastating stories of Bay Area residents affected by landslides and learn to recognize the danger signs.
River corridor habitat dynamics, Lower Missouri River [More info]
Detailed description of The Lower Missouri River Corridor Habitat Dynamics Project studying river habitat in a heavily engineered river.
San Francisco Bay Region geology [More info]
Gateway to the geology of the San Francisco Bay region with links to geologic maps, paleontology, marine geology, earthquakes, landslides, and geophysics. Includes maps, 3-D models, and photos.
PDF Sand waves at the mouth of San Francisco Bay, California [More info]
Postcard available for downloading and printing.
PDF Satellite map of Port-au-Prince, Haiti - 2010 - infrared [More info]
Post-earthquake map derived from 1:24,000-scale base maps incorporating high- and medium-resolution remotely sensed imagery following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake near the capital city of Port au Prince, Haiti, on January 12, 2010
PDF Satellite map of Port-au-Prince, Haiti - 2010 - natural color [More info]
Post-earthquake map derived from 1:24,000-scale base maps incorporating high- and medium-resolution remotely sensed imagery following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake near the capital city of Port au Prince, Haiti, on January 12, 2010
Satellite technologies detect uplift in the Yellowstone Caldera [More info]
Explanation of uplift in the land surface of the northern part of the Yellowstone caldera (12cm, about ~5 inches) that occurred between 1997 and 2003, including the scientific methods by which it was detected and analyzed.
Schlumberger soundings at the Amargosa Desert Research Site, Nevada [More info]
Report presenting the data, automatic interpretations, cross sections, and resistivity maps of direct current electrical soundings at the Amargosa Desert Research Site near Beatty, Nevada using a Schlumberger array.
PDF Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems [More info]
Explains the environmental factors that affect coral reef habitats and ecosystems, focusing on those that pose urgent problems.
Scientific drilling in Long Valley, California: What will we learn? [More info]
Description of 1998 drilling project at Long Valley Exploratory Well located on Long Valley Caldera's resurgent dome to monitor changing conditions beneath the dome. (Document in PDF format.)
Sea-floor morphology between Año Nuevo and Santa Cruz, California [More info]
Report with preliminary sea floor map displaying submarine rock exposures found along the northern part of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, extent based on side-scan sonar records, seismic-reflection records, and underwater video.
Seasonal Flux and Assemblage Composition of Planktic Foraminifera from the Northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008-2009 [More info]
The U.S. Geological Survey established a sediment trap in the northern Gulf of Mexico to collect time-series data on the flux and assemblage composition of live planktic foraminifers. This report provides an update of the 2008 time-series data to include
Sediment load from major rivers into Puget Sound and its adjacent waters [More info]
Sediment from rivers has both beneficial and detrimental effects on ecosystems and human activities around Puget Sound. We explain where the sediment comes from, how it is transported, and the nature of the data that we can use to understand it.
Sediment Transport Instrumentation Facility [More info]
The Sediment Transport Instrumentation Facility at USGS Woods Hole Field Center maintains and deploys oceanographic instrumentation for the study of coastal and ocean circulation and sediment transport.
Seismic properties of North America and the surrounding ocean basins [More info]
Presentation of maps of the seismic properties of North America and the surrounding ocean basins compiled from seismic refraction and reflection data, earthquake studies, and surface wave analyses showing crustal thickness and geologic provinces.
Selected volcano information [More info]
Selected books, maps, videos, and other materials produced by the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. Many products highlighted here are intended for general audiences.
Severity of an earthquake [More info]
Description of intensity and magnitude as indicators of the size of an earthquake and the levels of severity measured on the Richter Magnitude Scale and the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
ShakeMap [More info]
ShakeMap sites provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.
Sinkholes [More info]
Explains sinkhole formation and distribution, with special emphasis on their occurrence in Missouri
PDF South Carolina coastal erosion study [More info]
USGS project to understand coastal evolution and modern beach behavior; to identify and model the physical processes affecting coastal ocean circulation and sediment transport; and to identify sediment sources and construct a regional sediment budget.
South Florida Ecosystem History Project [More info]
Project is designed to integrate studies from a number of researchers compiling data from terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems within south Florida. Links to publications, maps, posters, and data of studies.
PDF St. Louis Area Earthquake Hazards Mapping Project [More info]
Overview of USGS research focused on earthquake hazards of this specific area.
PDF Studies and trends of selected inland lakes of the Great Lakes Cluster National Parks [More info]
Report on the status of the biota and ecological factors of the inland lakes of the Great Lakes Cluster Parks: Indiana Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes,and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores and Isle Royale and Voyageurs National Parks. (PDF file, 321 p.)
Studies in Long Island Sound: geology, contaminants, and environmental issues [More info]
Description of Long Island Sound projects and links to research topics, data, publications, photos, and technology on sediment transport, sea floor mapping, contaminant sampling, sediment texture, and environmental issues.
Studies of polluted sediment offshore Los Angeles [More info]
Overview of studies of marine sediment on the continental shelf south of Los Angeles contaminated with DDT and PCBs from past sewage effluent discharges with links to research on Santa Monica Bay, Los Angeles Shelf and Palos Verdes Peninsula.
PDF Summary of Bed-Sediment Measurements Along the Platte River, Nebraska, 1931-2009 [More info]
Studies of the size of bed sediment along the length of a river through time show how the river channel will be affected by development or management efforts.
Summary of suspended-sediment concentration data, San Francisco Bay, California, water year 2000 [More info]
Suspended-sediment concentration data were collected in San Francisco Bay during water year 2000 using optical backscatterance sensors and water samples. This report presents the data-collection methods, data, and calibration plots.
Surface water information pages [More info]
Lead page for detailed United States surface water information with links to real-time and historic streamflow data, suspended sediment data, USGS programs and facilities, publications, techniques, and featured news releases.
Suspended-sediment database: daily values of suspended sediment and ancillary data [More info]
Enables searching by state, hydrologic region, basin, time period, and length of record to retrieve suspended sediment data for the United States.
Taming of a wild research well in Yellowstone National Park during November 1992 [More info]
A valve failed in a research well, causing an uncontrolled eruption of steam and hot water. Video program shows technical problems encountered in controlling and capping the well.
Tampa Bay Study [More info]
Overview of interdisciplinary research on the Tampa Bay estuary of the Gulf of Mexico with links to digital library, interactive mapping, reports, posters, water chemistry maps, meetings and conferences, scientist directory, and field trips.
The carbon cycle in lakes of the Upper Mississippi Basin [More info]
Summary of part of the USGS interdivisional Mississippi Basin Carbon project that will study the changes in climate and the environment through carbon cycle changes recorded in lake sediments in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
The crustal structure of China from deep seismic sounding profiles [More info]
Summary of results of Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) profiles in China with links to a sample DSS profile, contour map of China with crustal thickness, crustal columns and maps showing profile locations and seismic data.
The Earth's crust [More info]
Information on the Earth's crust with a contour map of the thickness plus links to a global crustal database, a global crustal model - CRUST 5.1, and regional crustal models.
The great 1906 earthquake, 100 years later [More info]
Annotated list of resources about the great earthquake of 1906, which caused significant devastation in and around San Francisco, California, compiled for the 100th anniversary of the disaster.
The Great Ice Age [More info]
Booklet (PDF format) on the Pleistocene glaciations known as the Great Ice Age and the resulting geomorphological, climatic, and environmental changes that occurred on Earth during the period.
PDF The Hayward fault - Is it due for a repeat of the powerful 1868 earthquake? [More info]
Preparing for earthquakes along this important fault requires studying the history of its movement and its geology, as well as understanding how society has built the area around it.
PDF The landslide handbook -- A guide to understanding landslides [More info]
Basic information for homeowners, communities, emergency managers, and decisionmakers. Includes sections on landslide types, evaluation tools, and mitigation techniques.
PDF The ongoing Pu'u 'O'o eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i -- 30 years of eruptive activity [More info]
Fact sheet chronicles and illustrates Kilauea Volcano's longest rift-zone eruption in more than 500 years.
The Parkfield Experiment - capturing what happens in an earthquake [More info]
Fact sheet describing plans for a San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) by drilling into the fault to install instruments for long-term monitoring near the location of the magnitude 6 Parkfield earthquakes.
The San Andreas Fault [More info]
Online booklet on the San Andreas fault system on the California coastal region with discussion of faults, relationship of faults and earthquakes, magnitude of earthquakes, and earthquake probability.
PDF The story of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory -- A remarkable first 100 years of tracking eruptions and earthquakes [More info]
History of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), established in 1912, including an overview of Hawaiian volcanic processes and USGS monitoring techniques.
This dynamic Earth: the story of plate tectonics [More info]
Online booklet giving an introduction to the concept of plate tectonics and complements the information on the map This Dynamic Planet published in 1994 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Smithsonian Institution.
PDF This dynamic planet: World map of volcanoes, earthquakes, impact craters, and plate tectonics [More info]
Online world map with booklet (PDF format) giving an account of plate tectonics, volcanology, earthquake activity, and impact craters.
Topics in coastal and marine sciences: Coastal erosion [More info]
Topics in Coastal and Marine Sciences provides background science materials, definitions, and links to give a common context for users from a variety of backgrounds. Coastal erosion was chosen as the first topic.
Tsunamis & earthquakes [More info]
Homepage for tsunami research with links to information and images on basics, tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest, the 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami, research on specific tsunamis, and animations in various formats.
Types and effects of volcano hazards [More info]
Describes the 6 main types of hazardous activities and processes associated with volcanoes, including tephra, lava flows, pyroclastic flows, lahars (volcanic mudflows), landslides, and volcanic gas.
PDF Understanding Contaminants Associated with Mineral Deposits [More info]
Outlines processes that control the release of metals and acidic waters from inactive mines and mineralized areas, the transport of metals and acidic waters to streams, and the fate and effect of metals and acidity on downstream ecosystems.
PDF Understanding earthquake hazards in urban areas - Evansville Area Earthquake Hazards Mapping Project [More info]
Evansville, Indiana, is near the Wabash Valley and New Madrid seismic zones and has experienced minor damage from earthquakes in the past 200 years. This fact sheet describes three types of USGS earthquake hazard maps for Evansville and surrounding areas.
Understanding our planet through chemistry [More info]
Site with a series of articles showing how chemists and geologists use analytical chemistry to determine the age of the Earth, determine Earth's history, predict volcanic eruptions, observe long-term atmospheric change and study pollution.
PDF United States National Seismic Hazard Maps [More info]
Maps indicating areas where earthquakes may cause damage or disrupt human activities, with information about how those maps are compiled.
United States National Strong-Motion Project (earthquakes) [More info]
National Strong-Motion Program home page with links to program news, recent events, and datasets of digitized accelerograms downloadable as PC (*.zip) and Unix (*.tar.z) files, data processing, stations, research, publications, and personnel.
Upper Mississippi River basin: sediments, contaminants, and nutrients [More info]
Downloadable data and map images depicting sedimentation changes and contaminants in sediments in the upper Mississippi River.
Upper Wallkill River study [More info]
Program to measure streamflow stage and discharge at four sites in the Upper Wallkill River Valley's Black Dirt Region and determine Total Suspended Solids (TSS) concentration data and estimate loads of TSS and sources of contaminants.
USGS and the Southern California Integrated GPS Network (SCIGN) [More info]
Field Office involved in operating GPS stations, data recording, and supplying of earthquake data. Links to GPS data analysis, photos, and technical information.
USGS news and information on El Nino [More info]
Information sources on El Nino effects such as landslides, coastal hazards, floods. Includes links to maps and images.
USGS Pacific coral reefs website [More info]
Overview of research in the Hawaiian Islands and Guam to gain insight into the structure of coral reefs, to provide the basis for future monitoring, and to understand the influences of natural processes and human activities on coral reef health.
PDF USGS science for the Nation's changing coasts: Shoreline change research [More info]
Explains how and why coasts, beaches, and shorelines change, and how we study these changes.
PDF USGS science for the Nation's changing coasts; Shoreline change assessment [More info]
Shorelines are always changing, yet we use these areas heavily. This shows what we measure and how, to help adapt to changing coastal zones.
USGS studies in the New York Bight [More info]
Describes and provides links to USGS research in the location of the estuary and coast of Long Island, New York, to map the sea floor and to study sediment transport, contaminants, and sand resources and coastal vulnerability.
PDF Using terrestrial light detection and ranging (lidar) technology for land-surface analysis in the Southwest [More info]
Tripod-mounted lidar makes it inexpensive and efficient to measure and map geographic features that change with time, such as sand dunes and erosional features, and soil microtopography.
Volcano and hydrologic hazards, features, and terminology [More info]
Links to explanations of volcanic hazards and features and to a glossary of volcano terminology.
Volcano hazard zones in the Long Valley - Mono Lake Area, California [More info]
Describes the volcano-hazard zones for the Long Valley and Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain identified by scientists of the U.S. Geological Survey.
Volcano Hazards Program [More info]
Homepage for USGS Volcano Hazards Program with feature stories, and links to worldwide volcano updates, volcanic hazards, reducing volcanic risk, USGS international programs, and resources such as educator's page, videos, and online reports.
Volcano Hazards Program, California Volcano Observatory [More info]
Overview of volcano hazards in California with links to monitoring data including earthquakes and deformations, long-term outlook, volcano hazards in the area, USGS response plan, image gallery, monitoring and topical studies, publications and references.
Volcano monitoring at Yellowstone National Park [More info]
Describes volcano monitoring at Yellowstone National Park including an update of recent volcanic activity, real-time data, and link to volcano monitoring techniques information.
Volcano video and television surveillance monitoring systems [More info]
Visual monitoring of volcanoes by closed-circuit television and video monitoring for a permanent video record of events using slow-scan television which permits continuous surveillance at a distance for remote volcanoes or in times of danger.
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