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Earthquake Hazards

The USGS monitors and reports on earthquakes, assesses earthquake impacts and hazards, and conducts targeted research on the causes and effects of earthquakes. Explore and search below.

Filter Total Items: 154
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Recurrence Models for Earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone Workshop

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 Virtual Meeting
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2023 50-State Update of the NSHMs Kickoff Meeting

Friday, January 22, 2021 Virtual Meeting
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Update of the Hawaii Seismic Hazard Model Workshop #2

Wednesday, November 18, 2019 Virtual Meeting
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SLAB2 - A Comprehensive Subduction Zone Geometry Model

Data for subduction zone slab geometry.
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Monitoring for Subduction Zone Science

Subduction zone monitoring requires monitoring networks that are operated collaboratively for years to decades. Such a sustained activity requires leadership by a Federal agency like the USGS with the support of its partners.
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Monitoring for Subduction Zone Science

Subduction zone monitoring requires monitoring networks that are operated collaboratively for years to decades. Such a sustained activity requires leadership by a Federal agency like the USGS with the support of its partners.
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National Seismic Hazard Model Project Steering Committee

The National Seismic Hazard Model Project (NSHMP) Steering Committee is a panel of nine subject matter experts that meets routinely with the NSHMP to discuss and review inputs to the National Seismic Hazard Models (NSHMs).
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National Seismic Hazard Model Project Steering Committee

The National Seismic Hazard Model Project (NSHMP) Steering Committee is a panel of nine subject matter experts that meets routinely with the NSHMP to discuss and review inputs to the National Seismic Hazard Models (NSHMs).
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3-D Geologic and Seismic Velocity Models of the San Francisco Bay Region

The USGS 3-D Geologic and Seismic Velocity Models of the San Francisco Bay region provide a three-dimensional view of the geologic structure and physical properties of the region down to a depth of 45 km (28 miles). Construction of this 3D Bay Area model has been a joint effort of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program .
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3-D Geologic and Seismic Velocity Models of the San Francisco Bay Region

The USGS 3-D Geologic and Seismic Velocity Models of the San Francisco Bay region provide a three-dimensional view of the geologic structure and physical properties of the region down to a depth of 45 km (28 miles). Construction of this 3D Bay Area model has been a joint effort of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program .
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Auroras and Earthquakes: Strange Companions

Release Date: JULY 6, 2020 In 1722 and 1723 a London clockmaker, George Graham, observed daily and consistent variations on one of his instruments, a “Needle upon the Pin” (a compass), for which he had no explanation. Swedish scientists obtained some of Graham’s instruments to record what is now known to be the variations in Earth’s magnetic field. In 1741, they noticed a significant deflection of...
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Auroras and Earthquakes: Strange Companions

Release Date: JULY 6, 2020 In 1722 and 1723 a London clockmaker, George Graham, observed daily and consistent variations on one of his instruments, a “Needle upon the Pin” (a compass), for which he had no explanation. Swedish scientists obtained some of Graham’s instruments to record what is now known to be the variations in Earth’s magnetic field. In 1741, they noticed a significant deflection of...
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The Blind Zone of Earthquake Early Warning

Release Date: MAY 29, 2020 Residents in California, Oregon, and Washington have been told that earthquake early warning (EEW) is at their doorstep and will alert them to the shaking from an earthquake before it arrives. Some media reports have said there will be “up to a minute of warning”. The problem is, for onshore earthquakes these claims are exaggerated, and under some conditions a warning is...
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The Blind Zone of Earthquake Early Warning

Release Date: MAY 29, 2020 Residents in California, Oregon, and Washington have been told that earthquake early warning (EEW) is at their doorstep and will alert them to the shaking from an earthquake before it arrives. Some media reports have said there will be “up to a minute of warning”. The problem is, for onshore earthquakes these claims are exaggerated, and under some conditions a warning is...
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Numerical Models of the Physics Underpinning Induced Earthquakes

The USGS uses computer simulations to evaluate the physical relationships between fluid injection (or extraction) and earthquakes. We can only indirectly study these relationships using observations, so computer simulations help us gain a better physical understanding for the processes that are most likely causing these earthquakes. Scientists can also use such simulations to understand complex...
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Numerical Models of the Physics Underpinning Induced Earthquakes

The USGS uses computer simulations to evaluate the physical relationships between fluid injection (or extraction) and earthquakes. We can only indirectly study these relationships using observations, so computer simulations help us gain a better physical understanding for the processes that are most likely causing these earthquakes. Scientists can also use such simulations to understand complex...
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Hazard Estimation for Induced Earthquakes

In 2016, 2017, and 2018, the USGS released induced earthquake hazard models. These models forecast the expected strength and frequency of potential ground shaking from future induced and natural earthquakes for a one-year period, based primarily on earthquake data from the previous year. Areas of high induced earthquake hazard were identified in Oklahoma-southern Kansas, the Raton Basin (CO/NM...
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Hazard Estimation for Induced Earthquakes

In 2016, 2017, and 2018, the USGS released induced earthquake hazard models. These models forecast the expected strength and frequency of potential ground shaking from future induced and natural earthquakes for a one-year period, based primarily on earthquake data from the previous year. Areas of high induced earthquake hazard were identified in Oklahoma-southern Kansas, the Raton Basin (CO/NM...
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2002 United States (Lower 48) Seismic Hazard Long-term Model

Seismicity catalogs, gridded seismic hazard curve data, gridded ground motion data, and mapped gridded ground motion values are available for the 2002 National Seismic Hazard Model for the Conterminous U.S. Seismicity catalogs are available for the western U.S. (in Mw) and central and eastern U.S. (in mb).
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2002 United States (Lower 48) Seismic Hazard Long-term Model

Seismicity catalogs, gridded seismic hazard curve data, gridded ground motion data, and mapped gridded ground motion values are available for the 2002 National Seismic Hazard Model for the Conterminous U.S. Seismicity catalogs are available for the western U.S. (in Mw) and central and eastern U.S. (in mb).
Learn More