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The temblor that changed earthquake science turns 30

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Record Flooding in Yellowstone: What Did the Seismic Record Record?

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Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake in Khōst, Afghanistan

The USGS has up-to-date details on the June 21, 2022 event

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Hurricanes May Pose a Threat to People Along the Coasts and Far Inland

USGS Hurricane Science Series, Part Three of Six

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USGS Crews Continue to Measure and Assess Yellowstone River Flood Conditions and Probabilities

Realtime information available online

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June is Ocean Month!

Learn more about hazards related to the ocean

Marine Geohazards

USGS Participates in Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

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Natural Hazards

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.

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Reducing Risk

Venn Diagram: Hazards and Society

USGS scientists develop new products to make science available to the public, emergency managers, and decision-makers. These efforts increase public safety and reduce risk and economic losses caused by natural hazards.

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Subduction Zone Science

Simple illustration of the various parts of a subduction zone where one oceanic plate is thrust beneath another.

The most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another.

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Sound Waves Newsletter - April-June 2022

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Explore Deep-sea Data Along the Pacific Coast with EXPRESS Data Viewer

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Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake in Khōst, Afghanistan

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Publications

Characteristics, relationships and precision of direct acoustic-to-seismic coupling measurements from local explosions

Acoustic energy originating from explosions, sonic booms, bolides and thunderclaps have been recorded on seismometers since the 1950s. Direct pressure loading from the passing acoustic wave has been modelled and consistently observed to produce ground deformations of the near surface that have retrograde elliptical particle motions. In the past decade, increased deployments of colocated seismomete
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Natural Hazards, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Planetary geologic mapping protocol—2022

The Planetary Geologic Mapping Protocol covers the idealized process of compiling a NASA-funded map product of a non-terrestrial solid surface planetary body for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publication and summarizes technical specifications of the Mapping Process for authors and reviewers. Directed by community and programmatic recommendations, the USGS Planetary Geologic Map Coordination Group
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Natural Hazards, Astrogeology Science Center

Enumerating plausible multifault ruptures in complex fault systems with physical constraints

We propose a new model for determining the set of plausible multifault ruptures in an interconnected fault system. We improve upon the rules used in the Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) to increase connectivity and the physical consistency of ruptures. We replace UCERF3’s simple azimuth change rules with new Coulomb favorability metrics and increase the maximum jump di
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Natural Hazards, Geologic Hazards Science Center
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Science

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Perspective view of the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Puerto Rico Hazards | Los peligros de Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico is subject to numerous threats from natural hazards, including hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and inland flooding, environmental contaminants, and freshwater scarcity, among others. USGS science can help citizens better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to these hazards. This website compiles USGS resources available for Puerto Rico to provide...
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Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Puerto Rico Hazards | Los peligros de Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico is subject to numerous threats from natural hazards, including hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and inland flooding, environmental contaminants, and freshwater scarcity, among others. USGS science can help citizens better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to these hazards. This website compiles USGS resources available for Puerto Rico to provide...
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map of Puerto Rico shows locations of environmental contaminants in tapwater, including DBP, pesticides, pharms, VOC, PFAS

Puerto Rico Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Los peligros de Puerto Rico: Los ecosistemas y los contaminantes ambientales

USGS researchers have studied environmental contaminants and pathogens to address questions involving exposure pathways and human-health implications. They also study climate change impacts and ecosystem health. Explore the news and information related to ecosystems and environmental health research in Puerto Rico, including contaminants in tap water, and possible human exposures. Investigadores...
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Natural Hazards
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Puerto Rico Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Los peligros de Puerto Rico: Los ecosistemas y los contaminantes ambientales

USGS researchers have studied environmental contaminants and pathogens to address questions involving exposure pathways and human-health implications. They also study climate change impacts and ecosystem health. Explore the news and information related to ecosystems and environmental health research in Puerto Rico, including contaminants in tap water, and possible human exposures. Investigadores...
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land movement

Puerto Rico Hazards: Earthquakes | Los peligros de Puerto Rico: Los terremotos

USGS provides real-time earthquake data, information on historic earthquakes, resources for the most significant earthquakes, and seismicity and ground motions to support future updates to the seismic hazard models for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our seismic research can help establish better building regulations that mitigate earthquake risks and improve public safety. The Earthquake...
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Natural Hazards
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Puerto Rico Hazards: Earthquakes | Los peligros de Puerto Rico: Los terremotos

USGS provides real-time earthquake data, information on historic earthquakes, resources for the most significant earthquakes, and seismicity and ground motions to support future updates to the seismic hazard models for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our seismic research can help establish better building regulations that mitigate earthquake risks and improve public safety. The Earthquake...
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