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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.

News

Fate of barrier islands facing rising seas tied to underwater shape, new models show

Fate of barrier islands facing rising seas tied to underwater shape, new models show

Firelight - Vol. 4 | Issue 1

Firelight - Vol. 4 | Issue 1

Volcano Watch — Episode 43, new fountain height record and tephra fallout on communities

Volcano Watch — Episode 43, new fountain height record and tephra fallout on communities

Publications

Morphometric properties of the CP-21 landing site on the Moon at Mons Gruithuisen Gamma Morphometric properties of the CP-21 landing site on the Moon at Mons Gruithuisen Gamma

Characterizing terrain surface properties is an essential step in assessing the feasibility of landing successfully at a location on a planetary surface. Slopes and terrain ruggedness index (TRI) values derived from high-resolution (2 m pixel−1) digital terrain models provided important constraints in selecting the landing site for the upcoming Payloads and Research Investigations on the...
Authors
Jean-Pierre Williams, Sarah Valencia, Kristen A. Bennett, Margaret E. Landis, Kerri L. Donaldson Hanna, Addison T. Dove, Patrick O'Brien, Brett W. Denevi, Justin Hagerty, Craig Hardgrove, Paul O. Hayne, Adam LaMee, Thomas H. Prettyman, Katherine A. Shirley, Matthew A. Siegler, Jessica M. Sunshine

Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory strategic vision Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory strategic vision

This circular presents a strategic outlook for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory (ASL) for the next 10 years (2026–36). The ASL is a USGS field office in the Geological Hazards Science Center that operates portions of the Advanced National Seismic System and the Global Seismographic Network and focuses on fundamental research for instrumentation...
Authors
Adam T. Ringler, David C. Wilson, Robert Anthony, Corey I. Beutel, Andrew Holcomb, Charles R. Hutt, Tom Telesha

Semantic segmentation of light-toned veins in multimodal ChemCam data Semantic segmentation of light-toned veins in multimodal ChemCam data

Since the Mars Science Laboratory landed in 2012, the ChemCam instrument aboard the rover has collected in-situ laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) data and context images along more than 35 km of the Gale Crater traverse, providing valuable observations including diagenetic features such as light-toned veins. These veins are of particular scientific interest because they are...
Authors
Ana Lomashvili, Kristin Rammelkamp, Protim Bhattacharjee, Olivier Gasnault, Elise Clavé, Christoph H. Egerland, Susanne Schröder, Travis S.J. Gabriel, Ari Essunfeld, Stéphane Le Mouélic, Begüm Demir

Science

American Samoa Mapping Project

USGS scientists are leading a sampling effort to the Samoan Basin, offshore of American Samoa. This work is part of an interagency supported three-month hydrograph survey project led by NOAA and in partnership with BOEM.
American Samoa Mapping Project

American Samoa Mapping Project

USGS scientists are leading a sampling effort to the Samoan Basin, offshore of American Samoa. This work is part of an interagency supported three-month hydrograph survey project led by NOAA and in partnership with BOEM.
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Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Software for calculating positional boundary change over time The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6 is a standalone application that calculates shoreline or boundary change over time. The GIS of a user’s choice is used to prepare the data for DSAS. Like previous versions, DSAS v.6 enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions...
Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Software for calculating positional boundary change over time The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6 is a standalone application that calculates shoreline or boundary change over time. The GIS of a user’s choice is used to prepare the data for DSAS. Like previous versions, DSAS v.6 enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions...
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2025 M7.0 Hubbard Glacier Earthquake-Triggered Landslides and Snow Avalanches

A M7.0 oblique-slip earthquake initiated about 10 km below the Hubbard Glacier in the St. Elias Mountains about 88 km north of Yakutat, Alaska, at approximately 11:40am AKST (1:40pm YST) on December 6, 2025. 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 was confirmed...
2025 M7.0 Hubbard Glacier Earthquake-Triggered Landslides and Snow Avalanches

2025 M7.0 Hubbard Glacier Earthquake-Triggered Landslides and Snow Avalanches

A M7.0 oblique-slip earthquake initiated about 10 km below the Hubbard Glacier in the St. Elias Mountains about 88 km north of Yakutat, Alaska, at approximately 11:40am AKST (1:40pm YST) on December 6, 2025. 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 was confirmed...
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