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Geologic Hazards Science Center images.

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A stress vs time graph showing fault strength and an offset across fault vs time graph
Recurrence Interval
Recurrence Interval
Recurrence Interval

A stress vs time graph showing fault strength and an offset across fault vs time graph 

A stress vs time graph showing fault strength and an offset across fault vs time graph 

Illustration titled "Seiche in Lake Geneva (Switzerland)" with a labeled node in Lake Geneva and showing "One wavelength equals twice the length of the lake"
Seiche in Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Seiche in Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Seiche in Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Seiche in Lake Geneva (Switzerland)

A seiche is the sloshing of a closed body of water from earthquake shaking. Swimming pools often have seiches during earthquakes.

Seiche in Lake Geneva (Switzerland)

A seiche is the sloshing of a closed body of water from earthquake shaking. Swimming pools often have seiches during earthquakes.

Half circle diagram of showing the relationship between angles from an earthquake and the P-wave shadow zone
Shadow Zone
Shadow Zone
Shadow Zone

The shadow zone is the area of the earth from angular distances of 104 to 140 degrees from a given earthquake that does not receive any direct P waves. The shadow zone results from S waves being stopped entirely by the liquid core and P waves being bent (refracted) by the liquid core.

The shadow zone is the area of the earth from angular distances of 104 to 140 degrees from a given earthquake that does not receive any direct P waves. The shadow zone results from S waves being stopped entirely by the liquid core and P waves being bent (refracted) by the liquid core.

Soil profile with grass and dark brown soil at the top, followed by a light tan soil, then a thinner reddish soil band, and another tan layer of soil at the bottom.
Soil Profile in Hills of Manisa Province, Turkey
Soil Profile in Hills of Manisa Province, Turkey
Soil Profile in Hills of Manisa Province, Turkey

Soil profile in hills of Manisa Province, Turkey, showing a distinct horizon of accumulated red-purple metallic (manganese and/or iron?) oxides.

Soil profile in hills of Manisa Province, Turkey, showing a distinct horizon of accumulated red-purple metallic (manganese and/or iron?) oxides.

Bell curve with red in the middle, green in the opposite middle layers, and blue in the opposite outside layers
Standard Deviation
Standard Deviation
Standard Deviation

The standard deviation is how much a set of data is different from the curve it should make when plotted on a graph. Or, the square root of the average of the squares of deviations about the mean of a set of data. Standard deviation is a statistical measure of spread or variability.

The standard deviation is how much a set of data is different from the curve it should make when plotted on a graph. Or, the square root of the average of the squares of deviations about the mean of a set of data. Standard deviation is a statistical measure of spread or variability.

Block with a mass of 'm' being pulled by a spring at a velocity of 'v'
Stick-Slip Diagram
Stick-Slip Diagram
Stick-Slip Diagram

When the force trying to make the block (m) slip becomes greater than the frictional force causing it to stick, the block will slip.

When the force trying to make the block (m) slip becomes greater than the frictional force causing it to stick, the block will slip.

Two figures: The one on the left has black circles in a 6x6 grid and labelled "Fixed dot size. Fixed dot spacing".  The other has black circles scattered and is labelled "1st Order Stochastic. Fixed dot size. Variable dot spacing".
Stochastic Diagram
Stochastic Diagram
Stochastic Diagram

The dots on the left make a regular pattern, but the dots on the right make a random, or stochastic, pattern.

The dots on the left make a regular pattern, but the dots on the right make a random, or stochastic, pattern.

Three diagrams showing the different types of strain starting with a straight rectangular prism.  "Brittle Strain" is showing as the prism breaking.  "Ductile Strain" is shown as the prism bending in one spot and nearing an L shape.  "Elastic Strain" is shown as slight bending in two spots in opposite directions nearing a slight S shape.
Strain Types
Strain Types
Strain Types

Strain is the small changes in length and volume associated with deformation of the earth by tectonic stresses or by the passage of seismic waves.

Strain is the small changes in length and volume associated with deformation of the earth by tectonic stresses or by the passage of seismic waves.

Globe with blue ocean and green continents.  A red triangle is labelled "Seismograph Station" with a yellow star labelled "Local Earthquake" a bit south, both in California.  There is another yellow star in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean labelled "Teleseismic Earthquake".
Teleseismic
Teleseismic
Teleseismic

Teleseismic is pertaining to earthquakes at distances greater than 1,000 km from the measurement site.

Teleseismic is pertaining to earthquakes at distances greater than 1,000 km from the measurement site.

Graph with "Velocity (km/s)" on the x-axis and "Depth (km)" on the y-axis.  There is a large colorful shape plotted with layers of different colors.
Velocity Structure
Velocity Structure
Velocity Structure

A velocity structure is a generalized regional model of the earth's crust that represents crustal structure using layers having different assumed seismic velocities.

A velocity structure is a generalized regional model of the earth's crust that represents crustal structure using layers having different assumed seismic velocities.

A sketch of the thinner crust and thicker mantle. The crust and top portion of the mantle are labelled "Lithosphere "strong'" and the bottom portion of the mantle (bottom) labelled "Asthenosphere "weak.'" 
Brittle-Ductile Boundary
Brittle-Ductile Boundary
Brittle-Ductile Boundary

A sketch of the thinner crust and thicker mantle. The crust and top portion of the mantle are labelled "Lithosphere "strong'" and the bottom portion of the mantle (bottom) labelled "Asthenosphere "weak.'" 

A sketch of the thinner crust and thicker mantle. The crust and top portion of the mantle are labelled "Lithosphere "strong'" and the bottom portion of the mantle (bottom) labelled "Asthenosphere "weak.'" 

A diagram with 3 yellow squares with arrows pointing to indicate steps. The first yellow square has all white dots and is labelled "Time 1: pure parent isotope," the second/middle yellow square has half white dots and half green dots (labelled as the daughter isotopes) and is labelled "After 1 half life: 1/2 parent and 1/2 daughter isotope," and the third yellow square has a quarter white dots and three-quarters green dots and is labelled "After 2 half lives: 1/4 parent and 3/4 daughter isotopes." 
Carbon 14 Dating
Carbon 14 Dating
Carbon 14 Dating

A diagram with 3 yellow squares with arrows pointing to indicate steps. The first step is labelled "Time 1: pure parent isotope," the second step is labelled "After 1 half life: 1/2 parent and 1/2 daughter isotope," and the third step is labelled "After 2 half lives: 1/4 parent and 3/4 daughter isotopes." 

A diagram with 3 yellow squares with arrows pointing to indicate steps. The first step is labelled "Time 1: pure parent isotope," the second step is labelled "After 1 half life: 1/2 parent and 1/2 daughter isotope," and the third step is labelled "After 2 half lives: 1/4 parent and 3/4 daughter isotopes." 

A cone diagram showing a slice of the Earth's crust with continental (gray) and oceanic crust (black).
Crust
Crust
Crust

A diagram showing the Earth's crust with continental and oceanic crust.

 

The crust is the outermost major layer of the earth, ranging from about 10 to 65 km in thickness worldwide. The uppermost 15-35 km of crust is brittle enough to produce earthquakes.

A diagram showing the Earth's crust with continental and oceanic crust.

 

The crust is the outermost major layer of the earth, ranging from about 10 to 65 km in thickness worldwide. The uppermost 15-35 km of crust is brittle enough to produce earthquakes.

Photo of fault scarp with crushed rock surrounding and two people standing on top of scarp
Fault Scarp
Fault Scarp
Fault Scarp

Fault scarp produced by the M7.1 Hector Mine, Calfornia earthquake. (Photo by Ken Hudnut, U.S. Geological Survey)

Fault scarp produced by the M7.1 Hector Mine, Calfornia earthquake. (Photo by Ken Hudnut, U.S. Geological Survey)

5 diagrams of stereonets for reverse, normal, strike-slip, low-angle reverse, and oblique faults.
Focal Mechanisms
Focal Mechanisms
Focal Mechanisms

Focal mechanism examples. A fault plane solution is a way of showing the fault and the direction of slip on it from an earthquake, using circles with two intersecting curves that look like beach balls. Also called a focal-mechanism solution.

Focal mechanism examples. A fault plane solution is a way of showing the fault and the direction of slip on it from an earthquake, using circles with two intersecting curves that look like beach balls. Also called a focal-mechanism solution.

Drawing of Isaac Newton sitting on a hill under an apple tree
Newton Gravity
Newton Gravity
Newton Gravity

Illustration of Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, a reference to the well-known story of the epiphany Newton had when an apple fell on his head and lead to him discovering gravity.

Illustration of Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, a reference to the well-known story of the epiphany Newton had when an apple fell on his head and lead to him discovering gravity.

Photo of mountains in the Grand Canyon
Photo of Grand Canyon (Geomorphology)
Photo of Grand Canyon (Geomorphology)
Photo of Grand Canyon (Geomorphology)

Photo of the Grand Canyon located in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, Untied States.

Photo of GPS site with a white instrument on a white tripod and a solar panel
GPS Site (Geophysics)
GPS Site (Geophysics)
GPS Site (Geophysics)

Photo of GPS site with instrument on a tripod and a solar panel. (Photo by John Galetzka, U.S. Geological Survey)

Photo of GPS site with instrument on a tripod and a solar panel. (Photo by John Galetzka, U.S. Geological Survey)

Globe diagram with great circle around the globe with a dotted segment showing the shortest distance between two locations
Great Circle
Great Circle
Great Circle

Diagram of great circle. The shortest path between two points on the surface of a sphere lies along a great circle.

Diagram of great circle. The shortest path between two points on the surface of a sphere lies along a great circle.

A photo of an asphalt ground with extensive cracking
Lateral Spreading and Liquefaction
Lateral Spreading and Liquefaction
Lateral Spreading and Liquefaction

Liquefaction and lateral spreading occurred along the west side of Sunset Lake trailer park in Tumwater.

Cross-section of depths -16720 to -16780 with color-coded lithology sections and descriptions of each section
Lithology Cross-Section
Lithology Cross-Section
Lithology Cross-Section

Lithologic cross-section example with descriptions of lithology at different depths. 

Lithologic cross-section example with descriptions of lithology at different depths. 

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