Hazards: EXPRESS
Science Center Objects
Marine geohazards including earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis lie offshore of densely populated areas of California, Oregon, and Washington. One goal of EXPRESS is to improve assessments of these hazards.
USGS scientist Pete Dartnell processes multibeam data collected from off the Pacific Northwest coast on a research cruise aboard NOAA ship Rainier.
U.S. west coast offshore hazards include catastrophic shaking from large earthquakes in the Cascadia subduction zone of northern California, Oregon, and Washington. In central and southern California, earthquakes on undersea strike-slip faults can also damage the mainland. Related hazards include local tsunamis generated by offshore earthquakes and landslides. Underwater landslides can also threaten seafloor infrastructure such as pipelines, communication cables, and oil platforms.
EXPRESS priorities that contribute to marine geohazard assessments include:
- Extend bathymetry and backscatter coverage to high priority areas
- Identify underwater geological hazards and evaluate their potential for generating tsunamis
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Date published: July 15, 2019Status: ActiveEXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope. EXPRESS data and information are intended to guide wise use of living marine resources and habitats, inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions, and improve offshore hazard assessments.
Contacts: Danny Brothers, Nancy Prouty
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Date published: October 17, 2019Status: ActiveEcosystems: EXPRESS
The continental shelf and slope offshore California, Oregon, and Washington are home to deep-sea corals, chemosynthetic communities, and other sensitive habitats that could be impacted by the development of energy and mineral resources. The EXPRESS campaign will map and...
Contacts: Danny Brothers, Nancy Prouty -
Date published: October 17, 2019Status: ActiveResources: EXPRESS
Along the U.S. west coast, the Pacific Ocean, ocean floor, and winds above contain potentially vast energy and mineral resources. Developing these resources safely and wisely requires detailed information for each area of interest. One goal of EXPRESS is to inform ocean...
Contacts: Danny Brothers, Nancy Prouty -
Date published: October 17, 2019Status: ActiveHazards: EXPRESS
Marine geohazards including earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis lie offshore of densely populated areas of California, Oregon, and Washington. One goal of EXPRESS is to improve assessments of these hazards.
Contacts: Danny Brothers, Nancy Prouty -
Date published: July 12, 2018Status: ActiveU.S. West Coast and Alaska Marine Geohazards
Marine geohazards are sudden and extreme events beneath the ocean that threaten coastal populations. Such underwater hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis.
Devastating earthquakes in Japan (2011) and Chile (2010) that spawned pan-oceanic tsunamis sent a sobering reminder that U.S. coastlines are also vulnerable to natural disasters that originate in...