At EROS, we study land change and how it impacts ecosystems, economics, and everyday life. Our research focuses on six areas: Integrated Land Change Monitoring; Vegetation, Water and Climate Dynamics; Human Health and Food Security; Remote Sensing Research and Development; Wildland Fire Science; and Terrain Monitoring and Modeling.
The Next Level of Landsat
When it comes to mining remotely sensed data, Landsat Level-3 science products offer what some might call land cover gold.
LCMAP Captures ‘Stories of Change’
The Land Change Assessment, Monitoring, and Projection (LCMAP) initiative provides a virtual time machine to plot land cover change in the United States.
FAQs
Can you predict earthquakes?
No. Neither the USGS nor any other scientists have ever predicted a major earthquake. We do not know how, and we do not expect to know how any time in the foreseeable future. USGS scientists can only calculate the probability that a significant earthquake will occur (shown on our hazard mapping) in a specific area within a certain number of years. An earthquake prediction must define 3 elements: 1...
Can animals predict earthquakes?
The earliest reference we have to unusual animal behavior prior to a significant earthquake is from Greece in 373 BC. Rats, weasels, snakes, and centipedes reportedly left their homes and headed for safety several days before a destructive earthquake. Anecdotal evidence abounds of animals, fish, birds, reptiles, and insects exhibiting strange behavior anywhere from weeks to seconds before an...
Why are we having so many earthquakes? Has naturally occurring earthquake activity been increasing? Does this mean a big one is going to hit? OR We haven't had any earthquakes in a long time; does this mean that the pressure is building up for a big one?
A temporary increase or decrease in seismicity is part of the normal fluctuation of earthquake rates. Neither an increase nor decrease worldwide is a positive indication that a large earthquake is imminent. The ComCat earthquake catalog contains an increasing number of earthquakes in recent years--not because there are more earthquakes, but because there are more seismic instruments and they are...
Education
Eyes on Earth Episode 62 – Landsat 9 Launch Part 3
Eyes on Earth is a podcast on remote sensing, Earth observation, land change and science, brought to you by the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. In this episode, we hear from a pioneer in remote sensing.
Eyes on Earth Episode 61 – Landsat 9 Launch Part 2
Eyes on Earth is a podcast on remote sensing, Earth observation, land change and science, brought to you by the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. In this episode, we hear interviews with international partners on the day of the Landsat 9 launch.
Eyes on Earth Episode 60 – Landsat 9 Launch Part 1
Eyes on Earth is a podcast on remote sensing, Earth observation, land change and science, brought to you by the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. In this episode, we hear interviews with some of the various agency officials gathered before the Landsat 9 launch.