NEIC - the National Earthquake Information Center

The National Earthquake Information Center of the US Geological Survey has three main missions. First, the NEIC determines as rapidly and as accurately as possible, the location and size of all destructive earthquakes that occur worldwide. Second, the NEIC collects and provides to scientists and to the public an extensive seismic database that serves as a solid foundation for scientific research. Third, the NEIC pursues an active research program to improve its ability to locate earthquakes and to understand the earthquake mechanism. These efforts are all aimed at mitigating the risks of earthquakes to mankind. -from Authors