Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Publications

Filter Total Items: 2375

Small explosion from new vent at Kilauea’s summit Small explosion from new vent at Kilauea’s summit

At 0258 Hawaii‐Aleutian Standard Time (HST) on 19 March 2008, a small explosion scattered altered and fresh lithic debris across a 40‐hectare area at the summit of Kilauea volcano. This explosion, the first recorded there since 1924, issued from a vent about 35 meters wide along the east wall of Halema'uma'u Crater. Ballistic fragments—the largest measuring nearly 1 meter across—were...
Authors
David C. Wilson, Tamar Elias, Tim R. Orr, Matthew R. Patrick, Jeff Sutton, Don Swanson

Rapid estimation of the economic consequences of global earthquakes Rapid estimation of the economic consequences of global earthquakes

The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system, operational since mid 2007, rapidly estimates the most affected locations and the population exposure at different levels of shaking intensities. The PAGER system has significantly improved the way aid agencies determine the scale of response needed in the aftermath of an earthquake...
Authors
Kishor Jaiswal, David J. Wald

Shallow degassing events as a trigger for very-long-period seismicity at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Shallow degassing events as a trigger for very-long-period seismicity at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

The first eruptive activity at Kīlauea Volcano’s summit in 25 years began in March 2008 with the opening of a 35-m-wide vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater. The new activity has produced prominent very-long-period (VLP) signals corresponding with two new behaviors: episodic tremor bursts and small explosive events, both of which represent degassing events from the top of the lava column...
Authors
Matthew R. Patrick, David C. Wilson, David Fee, Tim R. Orr, Don Swanson

PQLX: A seismic data quality control system description, applications, and users manual PQLX: A seismic data quality control system description, applications, and users manual

We present a detailed description and users manual for a new tool to evaluate seismic station performance and characteristics by providing quick and easy transitions between visualizations of the frequency and time domains. The software is based on the probability density functions (PDF) of power spectral densities (PSD) (McNamara and Buland, 2004) and builds on the original development...
Authors
Daniel E. McNamara, Richard I. Boaz

U.S. Geological Survey Near Real-Time Dst Index U.S. Geological Survey Near Real-Time Dst Index

The operational version of the United States Geological Survey one-minute Dst index (a global geomagnetic disturbance-intensity index for scientific studies and definition of space-weather effects) uses either four- or three-station input (including Honolulu, Hawaii; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Hermanus, South Africa; and Kakioka, Japan; or Honolulu, San Juan and Guam) and a method based on...
Authors
J.L. Gannon, J.J. Love, P.A. Friberg, D.C. Stewart, S.W. Lisowski

Rock fall simulation at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork Canyon, Utah, USA Rock fall simulation at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork Canyon, Utah, USA

Rock fall from limestone cliffs at Timpanogos Cave National Monument in American Fork Canyon east of Provo, Utah, is a common occurrence. The cave is located in limestone cliffs high on the southern side of the canyon. One fatality in 1933 led to the construction of rock fall shelters at the cave entrance and exit in 1976. Numerous rock fall incidents, including a near miss in 2000 in...
Authors
Edwin L. Harp, Richard L. Dart, Paola Reichenbach

Putting down roots in earthquake country: Your handbook for earthquakes in the Central United States Putting down roots in earthquake country: Your handbook for earthquakes in the Central United States

This handbook provides information to residents of the Central United States about the threat of earthquakes in that area, particularly along the New Madrid seismic zone, and explains how to prepare for, survive, and recover from such events. It explains the need for concern about earthquakes for those residents and describes what one can expect during and after an earthquake. Much is...
Authors
Richard Contributors: Dart, Jill McCarthy, Natasha McCallister, Robert A. Williams

Overview of the ARkStorm scenario Overview of the ARkStorm scenario

The U.S. Geological Survey, Multi Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) uses hazards science to improve resiliency of communities to natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, landslides, floods and coastal erosion. The project engages emergency planners, businesses, universities, government agencies, and others in preparing for major natural disasters. The project also...
Authors
Keith Porter, Anne Wein, Charles N. Alpers, Allan Baez, Patrick L. Barnard, James Carter, Alessandra Corsi, James Costner, Dale Cox, Tapash Das, Mike Dettinger, James Done, Charles Eadie, Marcia Eymann, Justin Ferris, Prasad Gunturi, Mimi Hughes, Robert Jarrett, Laurie Johnson, Hanh Dam Le-Griffin, David Mitchell, Suzette Morman, Paul Neiman, Anna Olsen, Suzanne Perry, Geoffrey Plumlee, Martin Ralph, David Reynolds, Adam Rose, Kathleen Schaefer, Julie Serakos, William Siembieda, Jonathan D. Stock, David Strong, Ian Sue Wing, Alex Tang, Pete Thomas, Ken Topping, Chris Wills, Lucile Jones

Cyclic spattering, seismic tremor, and surface fluctuation within a perched lava channel, Kilauea Volcano Cyclic spattering, seismic tremor, and surface fluctuation within a perched lava channel, Kilauea Volcano

In late 2007, a perched lava channel, built up to 45 m above the preexisting surface, developed during the ongoing eruption near Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone on Kīlauea Volcano’s east rift zone. The lava channel was segmented into four pools extending over a total of 1.4 km. From late October to mid-December, a cyclic behavior, consisting of steady lava level rise terminated by vigorous spattering and...
Authors
Matthew R. Patrick, Tim R. Orr, David C. Wilson, David C. Dow, R. Freeman
Was this page helpful?