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Explore a wide variety of videos that highlight natural hazards, the risks they pose and the science we conduct to better understand and prepare for them.
Learn about the natural hazards you might face and how science can help us be better prepared.
Earthquake hazards are a national risk, with nearly half of Americans living in areas prone to potentially damaging earthquakes. Learn about tools and resources that can help us all be better prepared.
Research Ecologist Owen McKenna investigates how climate and land use change are impacting the Prairie-Pothole region, a critical habitat for ducks and other migratory waterfowl.
Research Ecologist Owen McKenna investigates how climate and land use change are impacting the Prairie-Pothole region, a critical habitat for ducks and other migratory waterfowl.
At the time of its occurrence, the 1994 Northridge earthquake produced one of the most comprehensive datasets of earthquake ground motion recordings to date. In spite of this, the spatial locations of instrumental observations do not provide sufficient resolution to fully visualize many of the important ground shaking features that occurred during this earthquake.
At the time of its occurrence, the 1994 Northridge earthquake produced one of the most comprehensive datasets of earthquake ground motion recordings to date. In spite of this, the spatial locations of instrumental observations do not provide sufficient resolution to fully visualize many of the important ground shaking features that occurred during this earthquake.
Do animals prank humans? It sometimes feels that way, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland. Mike shows some of the ways animals have “interacted” with monitoring equipment in this April 1, 2023 monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano.
Do animals prank humans? It sometimes feels that way, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland. Mike shows some of the ways animals have “interacted” with monitoring equipment in this April 1, 2023 monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano.
A range of flow types can be observed in steep, recently-burned terrain, but predicting the spatial distribution of debris flows resulting from a single storm event remains challenging.
A range of flow types can be observed in steep, recently-burned terrain, but predicting the spatial distribution of debris flows resulting from a single storm event remains challenging.
The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.
The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.
The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.
The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.
Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.
Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.
Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.
Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.
Optical remote sensing observations of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence revealed a significant amount of surface ejecta in the nearby Searles Lake, including one area where the surface ejecta was arranged in a repeating hexagonal “honeycomb” pattern.
Optical remote sensing observations of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence revealed a significant amount of surface ejecta in the nearby Searles Lake, including one area where the surface ejecta was arranged in a repeating hexagonal “honeycomb” pattern.
The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.
The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.
The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.
The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.
On February 6, around 4:15 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck south-central Turkey near the Turkey/Syria border.
On February 6, around 4:15 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck south-central Turkey near the Turkey/Syria border.
This video, captured by the remote B1cam, shows lava erupting from multiple minor fountains (shown as a line of bright spots in the upper left of the video) and the cooling surface of the lava forming crustal plates that move toward the camera’s location.
This video, captured by the remote B1cam, shows lava erupting from multiple minor fountains (shown as a line of bright spots in the upper left of the video) and the cooling surface of the lava forming crustal plates that move toward the camera’s location.
An early morning overflight video from January 6, 2023, shows several areas of low lava fountaining in Kīlauea's Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The island that formed during the opening phase of the 2020 eruption still exists and has not yet been overtopped by lava from the reawakened activity.
An early morning overflight video from January 6, 2023, shows several areas of low lava fountaining in Kīlauea's Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The island that formed during the opening phase of the 2020 eruption still exists and has not yet been overtopped by lava from the reawakened activity.
During the early morning hours of January 5, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were closely monitoring an increase in earthquake activity and changes in the patterns of ground deformation at Kīlauea’s summit, indicating movement of magma in the subsurface.
During the early morning hours of January 5, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were closely monitoring an increase in earthquake activity and changes in the patterns of ground deformation at Kīlauea’s summit, indicating movement of magma in the subsurface.
This video, captured by the KWcam, shows a large burst of lava from the newly opened vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater, Kīlauea volcano at approximately 4:49 pm HST on January 5, 2023. This burst reached up to 50 meters (164 feet) high and sent a wave of lava across the crater floor.
This video, captured by the KWcam, shows a large burst of lava from the newly opened vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater, Kīlauea volcano at approximately 4:49 pm HST on January 5, 2023. This burst reached up to 50 meters (164 feet) high and sent a wave of lava across the crater floor.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
The USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area develops and applies hazard science to help promote the safety, security, and economic well-being of the Nation. The Earthquake Event Page consolidates USGS earthquake data on recent or historic earthquakes.
The USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area develops and applies hazard science to help promote the safety, security, and economic well-being of the Nation. The Earthquake Event Page consolidates USGS earthquake data on recent or historic earthquakes.