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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.
USGS predicts Gulf beach erosion from Marco, gets set to measure storm effects
To learn more about USGS’s role in providing science to decision-makers before, during, and after Hurricane Marco, visit usgs.gov/Marco.
Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake Near Sparta, North Carolina
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck near Sparta, North Carolina August 9, 2020 at 8:07 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Seismic instruments indicate the earthquake originated at a depth of about 2.3 miles. The USGS currently estimates there is a low likelihood of casualties or damage from this earthquake.
USGS Field Crews Document Isaias' Effects Along Atlantic Coast
To learn more about USGS’s role in providing science to decision makers before, during, and after Hurricane Isaias, visit the USGS Hurricane Isaias page at https://www.usgs.gov/isaias.
A Research Retrospective: Offshore Fault Mapping of the San Andreas
Study of New Offshore Fault Mapping Related to the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: In 2019, for the first time ever, scientists comprehensively mapped a previously overlooked offshore section of the San Andreas Fault system which may provide insight on how the fault could rupture in the future.
USGS Works to Predict and Track Isaias' Effects
To learn more about USGS’s role in providing science to decision makers before, during and after Tropical Storm Isaias, visit https://www.usgs.gov/isaias.
This story was updated August 3 to reflect changes in the coastal change and landfall forecasts for Isaias.
TRAILS Project Earns the 2020 Esri SAG Award
The Department of Interior sponsored National Digital Trails Project and USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) have been selected to receive a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award for the Trail Routing, Analysis, and Information Linkage System (TRAILS) decision support tool.
USGS Celebrates 100 Years of Bird Banding Lab
Birds bring joy merely by their presence, from their bold colors and majestic songs to their grace as they glide through the sky. Birds contribute more than beauty to the environment and society. Many plants depend on hummingbirds and other species to pollinate them. Hawks and owls prey on rodents and other pests. Fruit- and grain-eating birds help spread plants’ seeds.
Coloring the Sky, Powering our Lives
As the brilliant blooms burst overhead this Fourth of July, some might wonder how fireworks get those bright colors.
Plan Your Next River Trip to Explore the Great Outdoors From Your Computer Using Streamer
Streamer is an online mapping application for exploring downstream and upstream along America’s rivers and streams.
June 23, 2020 Oaxaca, Mexico Earthquake
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck offshore Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 23, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. ET. Seismic instruments indicate the earthquake originated at a depth of 16 miles (26 km).
It’s Pollinator Week!
Pollinators in the form of bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles provide vital but often invisible services, from supporting terrestrial wildlife and plant communities, to supporting healthy watersheds.