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Coastal Science Informs Dredging Efforts at Columbia River Mouth

Data helps managers optimize sand management strategies, reduce erosion

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Using Distant Seismometers to Monitor and Analyze Volcanic Eruptions

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Earthquake in Southern California 90 Years Ago Changed the Way We Build

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The 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, Earthquake Sequence

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USGS Remote Sensing Data Tracks Coastal Erosion from California Storms

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Páginas bilingües resaltan la ciencia de peligros naturales del USGS en Puerto Rico

Bilingual webpages highlight USGS natural hazards science in Puerto Rico

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Natural Hazards Mission Area

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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New Wave Glider will study Earthquake Processes along U.S. Subduction Zones

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New research informs dredging efforts at Columbia River mouth, conserving valuable resource

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Midwinter Dry Spells Amplify Post-Fire Snowpack Decline in California

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Publications

Prolonged influence of urbanization on landslide susceptibility

Landslides pose a threat to life and infrastructure and are influenced by anthropogenic modifications associated with land development. These modifications can affect susceptibility to landslides, and thus quantifying their influence on landslide occurrence can help design sustainable development efforts. Although landslide susceptibility has been shown to increase following urban expansion, the l
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Landslide Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Fault roughness at seismogenic depths and links to earthquake behavior

Fault geometry affects the initiation, propagation, and cessation of earthquake rupture, as well as, potentially, the statistical behavior of earthquake sequences. We analyze 18,250 (−0.27
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

User’s Guide to planetary image analysis and geologic mapping in ArcGIS Pro

Geologic maps are valuable tools in planetary science. Though planetary geologic maps are similar to terrestrial (Earthbased) geologic maps, the nature of planetary exploration introduces unique challenges for geologic mappers. Terrestrial geologic mappers prepare products from field-based observation, often comparing or refining those with aerial and (or) orbital images. Planetary geologic mappin
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center
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Science

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Interactive aftershock map

Frequently Asked Questions about 2023 Earthquakes in Türkiye

The recent earthquakes in Turkey (Türkiye) have led to an unbearable loss of life and injuries across the Kahramanmaraş region. They have also led to a lot of questions about what happened and what we can learn. The following FAQs provide quick basic answers to many questions, but do not include all the complexities inherent in earthquake science and this specific event.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program
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Frequently Asked Questions about 2023 Earthquakes in Türkiye

The recent earthquakes in Turkey (Türkiye) have led to an unbearable loss of life and injuries across the Kahramanmaraş region. They have also led to a lot of questions about what happened and what we can learn. The following FAQs provide quick basic answers to many questions, but do not include all the complexities inherent in earthquake science and this specific event.
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map of Long Beach earthquake

M6.4 March 10, 1933 Long Beach, California Earthquake

The magnitude 6.4 Long Beach, California earthquake, which struck near 5pm local time on March 10, 1933, was a landmark event. It was the largest known earthquake in the Los Angeles region at the time, since the advent of written record-keeping. It occurred at a pivotal point historically, during an active debate about seismic hazard in the area.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center
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M6.4 March 10, 1933 Long Beach, California Earthquake

The magnitude 6.4 Long Beach, California earthquake, which struck near 5pm local time on March 10, 1933, was a landmark event. It was the largest known earthquake in the Los Angeles region at the time, since the advent of written record-keeping. It occurred at a pivotal point historically, during an active debate about seismic hazard in the area.
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Hazard Risk Assessment theme photowhich is a selection from plate 2 of a rock-fall hazard assessment in American Fork Canyon

Overview of Hazards and Risk Assessments

Landslide hazard and risk assessments help people understand the dangers from landslides to their towns and cities, homes, facilities, and businesses. Landslide hazard assessments are estimates of the probability that landslides will affect a particular area or location, typically within a given timeframe.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Landslide Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center
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Overview of Hazards and Risk Assessments

Landslide hazard and risk assessments help people understand the dangers from landslides to their towns and cities, homes, facilities, and businesses. Landslide hazard assessments are estimates of the probability that landslides will affect a particular area or location, typically within a given timeframe.
Learn More
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