Earthquakes Pose Risk to Global Mineral Supplies
USGS scientists study how seismicity could impact mineral commodity supplies like copper and rhenium.
USGS scientists study how seismicity could impact mineral commodity supplies like copper and rhenium.
Monitoring Kīlauea Volcano's Current Eruption
Eruptions within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been intermittent since December 23, 2024.
Eruptions within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been intermittent since December 23, 2024.
Alarming Future for California's Coastline
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100.
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100.
Postfire Debris-Flow Hazard Assessments Help Manage Further Loss
This interactive dashboard shows the likelihood and potential severity for debris-flows.
This interactive dashboard shows the likelihood and potential severity for debris-flows.
Understanding Earth's Electrical Conductivity Helps Protect from Space Weather
The study can also help support mineral and geothermal resource assessment.
The study can also help support mineral and geothermal resource assessment.
New USGS-FEMA study highlights economic earthquake risk in the United States
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Every year in the United States, natural hazards threaten lives and livelihoods and result in billions of dollars in damage. We work with many partners to monitor, assess, and conduct targeted research on a wide range of natural hazards so that policymakers and the public have the understanding they need to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience.
Office of Risk and Resilience
Office of Risk and Resilience
Working to ensure that relevant and actionable USGS hazards and risk information is developed and delivered in user-friendly ways to support risk-reduction efforts at a national scale.
Subduction Zone Science
Subduction Zone Science
The most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another.
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News
Helping Prepare the Nation Against Landslide Threats
Helping Prepare the Nation Against Landslide Threats
USGS Study Analyzes the Skill of Probabilistic Forecasts of Overwash and Inundation Along the Texas and Louisiana Coast
USGS Study Analyzes the Skill of Probabilistic Forecasts of Overwash and Inundation Along the Texas and Louisiana Coast
September is National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month
Publications
Estimating aftershock risk for entry into earthquake-damaged buildings Estimating aftershock risk for entry into earthquake-damaged buildings
We present a simple method to estimate the risk of experiencing strong shaking from aftershocks during entry into earthquake-damaged buildings. We compute wait times until the probability of strong ground shaking from aftershocks reaches a predefined risk threshold; for example, a 0.4 percent probability of experiencing Modified Mercalli Intensity 7 or greater shaking during the planned...
Fully contained laboratory earthquakes: The effect of asperity aspect ratio and free surfaces Fully contained laboratory earthquakes: The effect of asperity aspect ratio and free surfaces
Corner frequency (fc) and seismic moment (M0) are key parameters derived from seismic signals that are used to characterize earthquake stress drop, rupture area, and slip. These parameters are also affected by fault geometry and boundary conditions. However, the systematic study of these effects in laboratory settings has been challenging. This study presents laboratory earthquake...
CRESCENT earthquake dynamic rupture, earthquake cycle, and tsunami code verification platform CRESCENT earthquake dynamic rupture, earthquake cycle, and tsunami code verification platform
Physics-based simulations are critical for understanding natural hazards. The increasing complexity of numerical codes requires benchmark exercises to verify that different computational methods yield consistent results when solving the same governing equations. Here, we present an open-access web platform designed for the verification of earthquake dynamic rupture, seismic cycle, and...
Science
2026 Nepal Debris Avalanche and Flash Flood
On Wednesday morning (local time), 26 August 2026, a catastrophic debris flow and flood was likely triggered by rapid slope failure involving a glacier in Lāṅṭāṇ National Park, Nepal, near the border with China. This debris flow and flooding travelled nearly 100 km and impacted populated areas downstream along the Lende Kholā and Trishuli̇̄ Kholā rivers, including the Rasuwāgaḍhi̇̄ border post...
Rainfall and Landslides in Northern California
A summary of recent and past landslides and debris flows caused by rainfall in northern California, and links to current shallow landslide monitoring.
2026 Venezuela Sequence Earthquake-Triggered Landslide Hazards
On Wednesday, June 24th, 2026, a pair of earthquakes of Magnitude 7.2 and Magnitude 7.5 occurred in northern Venezuela, west of Caracas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Ground Failure product estimated that landslides triggered by this earthquake would likely be significant in number and/or spatial extent. This landslide event page serves to communicate timely science information to our partners...