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Dive into the world of science! Read these stories and narratives to learn about news items, hot topics, expeditions underway, and much more.
M5.0 Earthquake Hits West Texas, New Mexico Border
On March 26, 2020, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck West Texas near the New Mexico border. Seismic instruments indicate the earthquake originated at a depth of 5.3 miles (8.5 kilometers).
M5.7 Earthquake Felt near Salt Lake City, UT
Updated Forecast Shows 1% Chance of Aftershock Above 5.7
President Proposes $971.2 Million FY 2021 Budget for USGS
Budget Focuses on Bringing Science, Facilities, and Infrastructure into the 21st Century
New Landslide Guidebook for Puerto Rico Residents
A new landslide guidebook released February 5 is now available for Puerto Rico residents to learn more about the landslide hazards that can impact the island.
Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake in Puerto Rico
Links to forecasts and scenerios (below) will continue to be updated, however, text in this story will not be updated unless there is significant change to the aftershock behavior or to the USGS response to the earthquake.
7-day aftershock forecast [English]
Large M7.7 Caribbean Quake Felt as Far Away as Florida
On January 28, 2020, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea, roughly equidistant from the coasts of Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands. Seismic instruments immediately detected the earthquake that originated at a depth of about 6.2 miles (10 km).
As Aftershocks Continue in Puerto Rico, USGS Supports Quake Recovery
A sequence of earthquakes in southwest Puerto Rico continues to affect people living there, with the largest recent aftershock a magnitude 5.2 on Jan. 15. U.S. Geological Survey scientists on the island and the mainland are providing up-to-date scientific information to help the Commonwealth government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency make decisions that protect the public.
The Other 364 Days of the Year: The Real Lives of Wild Reindeer
Caribou, North America’s wild reindeer, have lives apart from their famous role on Christmas Eve. To learn more about how these Arctic antler-bearers spend the other 364 days of the year, we talked to USGS caribou expert Dr. Layne Adams, who has studied these animals for more than 35 years.
Phosphorus and River Water Quality
Investigating the effects of historical phosphorus on current river water quality.
USGS provides update for the National Seismic Hazard Model
USGS experts recently released a study that incorporates the latest earthquake science findings into an update of the National Seismic Hazard Model for the “lower-48” United States. Read the full report here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/8755293019878199
In the Field with Kate Scharer
What’s a day in the life of a research geologist like?
Yellowstone's migrating bison manipulate springtime green-up
On a typical June day in Yellowstone National Park, it’s not unusual to see hundreds of bison grazing in the Lamar Valley. The herds appear to aimlessly move back and forth through meadows threaded by a winding river, just passive figures in an idyllic scene. But as it turns out, that’s far from the full picture.