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Images related to natural hazards.

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Map illustration showing fault lines and direction of tectonic plate movement along a stretch of the Alaskan coastline.
Study region along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault
Study region along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault
Study region along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault

Study region along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault offshore southeastern Alaska. Rectangles show locations of the two USGS-led marine geophysical surveys in May and August 2015. The third cruise was offshore Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and southern Alaska in September 2015.

Study region along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault offshore southeastern Alaska. Rectangles show locations of the two USGS-led marine geophysical surveys in May and August 2015. The third cruise was offshore Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and southern Alaska in September 2015.

Illustrated map shows the seafloor off of Alaska, a fault runs through the middle and seafloor features are clearly offset.
Yakobi Sea Valley
Yakobi Sea Valley
Yakobi Sea Valley

Enlarged from previous figure, this map shows a string of basins along the fault and offset of the south wall of the Yakobi Sea Valley. Line A–B marks the location of multichannel seismic-reflection profile.

Enlarged from previous figure, this map shows a string of basins along the fault and offset of the south wall of the Yakobi Sea Valley. Line A–B marks the location of multichannel seismic-reflection profile.

Cross-section illustration showing structure beneath the seafloor with mostly horizontal lines but one clear offset section wher
Multichannel seismic-reflection profile
Multichannel seismic-reflection profile
Multichannel seismic-reflection profile

Multichannel seismic-reflection profile showing sediment layers beneath the seafloor disrupted by the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault near Cross Sound. The profile is approximately 16 kilometers across, and it extends approximately 370 meters beneath the seafloor. See related multimedia below, for the location of this profile.

Multichannel seismic-reflection profile showing sediment layers beneath the seafloor disrupted by the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault near Cross Sound. The profile is approximately 16 kilometers across, and it extends approximately 370 meters beneath the seafloor. See related multimedia below, for the location of this profile.

Relative seagrass biomass in West Falmouth Harbor, MA
Relative seagrass biomass in West Falmouth Harbor, MA
Relative seagrass biomass in West Falmouth Harbor, MA
Relative seagrass biomass in West Falmouth Harbor, MA

Relative seagrass biomass in West Falmouth Harbor, MA, under current and potential future nitrogen loading scenarios. Seagrass biomass increases in western (seaward) portions of the harbor while eastern (landward) areas see new colonization by seagrass.

Relative seagrass biomass in West Falmouth Harbor, MA, under current and potential future nitrogen loading scenarios. Seagrass biomass increases in western (seaward) portions of the harbor while eastern (landward) areas see new colonization by seagrass.

Photograph of Laura Brothers in front of computer equipment.
Lights! Camera! Action!
Lights! Camera! Action!
Lights! Camera! Action!

Dr. Laura Brothers preparing to collect visual imagery aboard the RV Rafael as part of the launch of the MiniSEABOSS while doing work off of Nantucket. The MiniSEABOSS collects samples, photos and video of the seafloor.

Dr. Laura Brothers preparing to collect visual imagery aboard the RV Rafael as part of the launch of the MiniSEABOSS while doing work off of Nantucket. The MiniSEABOSS collects samples, photos and video of the seafloor.

Scientist sets up solar-powered research station amid Fire Island dunes
Setting up a science base in a barrier island wilderness
Setting up a science base in a barrier island wilderness
Setting up a science base in a barrier island wilderness

USGS scientist BJ Reynolds sets up a solar-powered, satellite-uplinked GPS base station in the Fire Island Wilderness Area to support detailed elevation surveys.

Photo of a coastal cliff with an apartment building right at the edge of the cliff.
Cliff erosion
Cliff erosion
Cliff erosion

Cliff erosion is a common storm-induced hazard along the West Coast. Two condemned apartment buildings along Esplanade Avenue in Pacifica, California are shown here before their demolition in 2016 and 2017.

Cliff erosion is a common storm-induced hazard along the West Coast. Two condemned apartment buildings along Esplanade Avenue in Pacifica, California are shown here before their demolition in 2016 and 2017.

Near vertical (top, middle) and low angle oblique (bottom) aerial photographs of Topsail, North Carolina. 
Aerial photographs of Topsail, North Carolina
Aerial photographs of Topsail, North Carolina
Aerial photographs of Topsail, North Carolina

Near vertical (top, middle) and low angle oblique (bottom) aerial photographs of Topsail, North Carolina. View looking northwest along the North Carolina shore. Elevated storm-induced water levels overtopped the low dunes here causing the dune to overwash. Sand was transported landward, burying the marsh (green arrow).

Near vertical (top, middle) and low angle oblique (bottom) aerial photographs of Topsail, North Carolina. View looking northwest along the North Carolina shore. Elevated storm-induced water levels overtopped the low dunes here causing the dune to overwash. Sand was transported landward, burying the marsh (green arrow).

marsh, rocky coast, barrier beach, coastal bluff
Sea-level rise effects vary in geomorphology and ecology
Sea-level rise effects vary in geomorphology and ecology
Sea-level rise effects vary in geomorphology and ecology

The effects of sea-level rise will vary by differences in the geomorphology and ecology of the landscape.  Images show marsh (top left) rocky coast (top right), barrier beach (bottom left), and coastal bluff (bottom right)

The effects of sea-level rise will vary by differences in the geomorphology and ecology of the landscape.  Images show marsh (top left) rocky coast (top right), barrier beach (bottom left), and coastal bluff (bottom right)

Map showing extent and coverage of coastal response type predictions
Coastal Response Predictions
Coastal Response Predictions
Coastal Response Predictions

Map showing extent and coverage of coastal response type predictions; insets display different prediction types and geospatial variability through time. Predictions of coastal response likelihood for the four prediction time steps at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, VA.

Map showing extent and coverage of coastal response type predictions; insets display different prediction types and geospatial variability through time. Predictions of coastal response likelihood for the four prediction time steps at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, VA.

Newberry Volcano's Youngest Lava Flows...
Newberry Volcano's Youngest Lava Flows
Newberry Volcano's Youngest Lava Flows
Newberry Volcano's Youngest Lava Flows

Newberry Volcano's youngest lava flows. Source: Robinson, J.E., Donnelly-Nolan, J.M., and Jensen, R.A., 2015, Newberry Volcano’s Youngest Lava Flows: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3329, 1 sheet, https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3329.

Newberry Volcano's youngest lava flows. Source: Robinson, J.E., Donnelly-Nolan, J.M., and Jensen, R.A., 2015, Newberry Volcano’s Youngest Lava Flows: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3329, 1 sheet, https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3329.

Map illustration showing bathymetry, or depth, and a fault offshore of the Alaskan coastline.
Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault
Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault
Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault

Enlarged details of Survey Area 1 showing new multibeam bathymetry data (rainbow colors) acquired on R/V Solstice near Cross Sound and Glacier Bay National Park, southeastern Alaska. Arrows highlight the surface expression, or trace, of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault.

Enlarged details of Survey Area 1 showing new multibeam bathymetry data (rainbow colors) acquired on R/V Solstice near Cross Sound and Glacier Bay National Park, southeastern Alaska. Arrows highlight the surface expression, or trace, of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault.

Computer application screen showing seafloor features, depth on left, a volcano-like cone sticking up in middle with plume.
Sidescan sonar record off so. Alaska
Sidescan sonar record off so. Alaska
Sidescan sonar record off so. Alaska

Profile of newly discovered volcano-like cone in sonar record collected off southern Alaska. The cone’s summit is at about 1,000 meters water depth. Note fluid plume (blue) rising more than 700 meters upward from the summit.

Profile of newly discovered volcano-like cone in sonar record collected off southern Alaska. The cone’s summit is at about 1,000 meters water depth. Note fluid plume (blue) rising more than 700 meters upward from the summit.

USGS scientists operating a small research vessel in water near a grassy shoreline.
USGS vessel used to collect single-beam bathymetry
USGS vessel used to collect single-beam bathymetry
USGS vessel used to collect single-beam bathymetry

This USGS vessel acquires single-beam bathymetry in shallow nearshore environments. We acquire repeat bathymetry surveys over multiple years and compute changes in bathymetry, thus allowing us to identify hotspots of erosion and deposition on short timescales.

This USGS vessel acquires single-beam bathymetry in shallow nearshore environments. We acquire repeat bathymetry surveys over multiple years and compute changes in bathymetry, thus allowing us to identify hotspots of erosion and deposition on short timescales.

Map of the south Atlantic coast
South Atlantic Coast
South Atlantic Coast
South Atlantic Coast

Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Southeast Atlantic Coast

Near vertical (top, middle) and low angle oblique (bottom) aerial photographs of Bear Inlet, North Carolina.
Aerial photographs of Bear Inlet, North Carolina
Aerial photographs of Bear Inlet, North Carolina
Aerial photographs of Bear Inlet, North Carolina

Near vertical (top, middle) and low angle oblique (bottom) aerial photographs of Bear Inlet, North Carolina. View looking northwest along the North Carolina shore. High waves and storm surge from Hurricane Joaquin eroded the beaches, moving sand inland (green arrow) and reshaping the flood-tidal shoals.

Near vertical (top, middle) and low angle oblique (bottom) aerial photographs of Bear Inlet, North Carolina. View looking northwest along the North Carolina shore. High waves and storm surge from Hurricane Joaquin eroded the beaches, moving sand inland (green arrow) and reshaping the flood-tidal shoals.

images of the wilderness breac
Aerial images of the wilderness breach
Aerial images of the wilderness breach
Aerial images of the wilderness breach

Aerial images of the wilderness breach: a) Aerial photograph taken several days after Hurricane Sandy (photo credit: NOAA); b) Aerial mosaic of the breach in June 2015 showing the location of erosion on the ocean side of the breach and deposition that results in the seasonal formation of a spit (photo credit: Stonybrook University).

Aerial images of the wilderness breach: a) Aerial photograph taken several days after Hurricane Sandy (photo credit: NOAA); b) Aerial mosaic of the breach in June 2015 showing the location of erosion on the ocean side of the breach and deposition that results in the seasonal formation of a spit (photo credit: Stonybrook University).

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