Videos

Press conference held at 2:30 pm EST on April 5, 2024. 

Ever wonder how scientists measure how thick landslides are? There are a few ways, but the one Kate Allstadt explains might surprise you.

On February 6, 2023, magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Turkey near the Syrian border. Over 50,000 people lost their lives. Earthquake shaking was not the only hazard. The quake triggered landslides, liquefaction, and other cascading hazards.

An Instagram Live even hosted by Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland with special guest USGS Director Dr. David Applegate. The even took place on January 5, 2024.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists created an interactive map to help the public better understand their risk of exposure to PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” This interactive tool allows you to view data from a recently published USGS study on PFAS in tap water as well as learn where known PFAS sources are near your community.

We can’t predict exactly when an earthquake might occur. However, if you live on the West Coast, there is a chance you could get alerted that earthquake shaking is coming. This video is all about earthquake early warning.

Will an earthquake happen where you live? We have the resources that will let you know. Check out the video to learn more. September is National Preparedness Month.

Do you know what a “go” bag is? Does your family have a plan in case of an emergency? Check out the video to see what you can do to get yourself prepared if there were an earthquake. 

Whether you’ve never experienced an earthquake, are in the midst of intense shaking, or just felt a temblor, there are valuable resources available to help. Watch the video to learn more.

Earthquakes can affect millions of people across the United States. But do you know what causes them? This video will tell you.

September is National Preparedness Month. Learn more about the natural hazards you may face in our feature story.

There’s an earthquake—what do you do? This video will show you.

September is National Preparedness Month. Learn more about the natural hazards you may face in our feature story.

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The Gibbon River, named for Colonel (later General) John Gibbon, who was a member of an early exploring survey of the Yellowstone region, starts near the Center of Yellowstone National Park. All of the outflow from Norris Geyser Basin drains into the river, which merges with the Firehole River in the west part of the park to become the Madison River.

Cinnamon Spouter, in Black Sand Basin, has long stretches of bubbling activity. A “sizziling fracture” was first noticed at this location in 1933, but little more was noted until the current spouting pool developed in 1988–1989.

The tallest geyser in the world, with eruptions that exceed 120 meters (400 feet), Steamboat Geyser is known for experiencing years of frequent eruptions followed by years to decades of very few eruptions. The geyser has been in a more active period since 2018.

Mud Pool is located near the Daisy Geyser complex, not far from Old Faithful. Since the 1980s it has acted as a perpetual spouter.

Although Terrace Spring may appear to be boiling, but it’s temperature is a relatively cool 140 F (60 C). The roiling in the pol is caused by carbon dioxide bubbles. Thousands of years ago, when Yellowstone’s climate was wetter, the water of the springs had a different composition, allowing travertine to form—just like that seen today at Mammoth Hot Spring

In Yellowstone, a clue about whether a thermal feature is acidic or basic is the style of the feature. Pools of water are generally basic, while mud pots are acidic. Blue Mud Steam Vent is a classic example of an acidic mud pot.

Named for a visit in 1891 by members of the Fifth International Geological Congress, the feature in Norris Geyser Basin has behaved as a quiet pool, geyser, and roiling mud pot.

Beryl Spring, in the Gibbon River Canyon, is chemically complex—it has a pool with a basic composition and a steam vent with an acidic composition! It’s location next to the highway has caused numerous problems for the road, requiring some creative engineering solutions and a lot of geological expertise!

The Firehole River drops 150 feet over three tiers in this cascade, or falls, located 2.5 miles upstream of Old Faithful.  The name refers to Kepler Hoyt, the 12-year-old son of Wyoming’s territorial governor, who visited Yellowstone National Park in 1881. Philetus Norris, second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, named the cascade.

This waterfall on Glen Creek is in the Golden Gate area of Yellowstone National Park. The high cliffs on the west side of the canyon are ash deposits from a massive volcanic eruption 2.1 million years ago, while the massif (Bunsen Peak) on the east side is a block of magma that solidified in the shallow subsurface tens of millions of years ago.