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Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.

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Measure surface displacement from Searles Valley quake #2
Measure surface displacement from Searles Valley quake #2
Measure surface displacement from Searles Valley quake #2

USGS Research Geologists Christopher DuRoss measures surface displacement resulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

USGS Research Geologists Christopher DuRoss measures surface displacement resulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

rupture
Northern end of rupture resulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley quake
Northern end of rupture resulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley quake
Northern end of rupture resulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley quake

Fault rupture crosses dirt road, with California Geologial Survey vehicles for scale. Displacement at this location is primarily normal (vertical). Photograph taken near the northern end of the rupture resulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

Fault rupture crosses dirt road, with California Geologial Survey vehicles for scale. Displacement at this location is primarily normal (vertical). Photograph taken near the northern end of the rupture resulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

Razorbill with Atlantic herring in bill on Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Razorbill with Atlantic herring in bill on Seal Island NWR
Razorbill with Atlantic herring in bill on Seal Island NWR
Razorbill with Atlantic herring in bill on Seal Island NWR

Razorbill with Atlantic herring in bill on Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge.

aerial view of road damage after the Ridgecrest, CA earthquake
Road Damage from the Ridgecrest, CA Earthquake
Road Damage from the Ridgecrest, CA Earthquake
Road Damage from the Ridgecrest, CA Earthquake

On July 8, 2019, California Geological Survey and USGS geologists and geophysicists with National Guard and Navy personnel, view the road damage resulting from 3 to 5 feet of right-lateral motion near the expected maximum slip locality along the primary tectonic rupture associated with the M 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake on July 5, 2019.

On July 8, 2019, California Geological Survey and USGS geologists and geophysicists with National Guard and Navy personnel, view the road damage resulting from 3 to 5 feet of right-lateral motion near the expected maximum slip locality along the primary tectonic rupture associated with the M 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake on July 5, 2019.

lidar truck
Scanning surface rupture from Searles Valley earthquake
Scanning surface rupture from Searles Valley earthquake
Scanning surface rupture from Searles Valley earthquake

 

USGS Earthquake Science Center Mobile Laser Scanning truck operated by Ben Brooks and Todd Ericksen scanning the surface rupture near the zone of maximum surface displacement of the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

 

USGS Earthquake Science Center Mobile Laser Scanning truck operated by Ben Brooks and Todd Ericksen scanning the surface rupture near the zone of maximum surface displacement of the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

Surface faulting
Surface faulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake
Surface faulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake
Surface faulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake

Oblique photograph showing surface faulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake. The dirt track (center) is right-laterally offset approximately 2.5 m (~8 ft).

Oblique photograph showing surface faulting from the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake. The dirt track (center) is right-laterally offset approximately 2.5 m (~8 ft).

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #1
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #1
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #1

USGS Geologists Beth Haddon and Josie Nevitt measure fault displacement along the principal rupture.

USGS Geologists Beth Haddon and Josie Nevitt measure fault displacement along the principal rupture.

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #2
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #2
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #2

USGS geologists Josie Nevitt and Beth Haddon make measurements of fault rupture.

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #3
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #3
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #3

USGS Geophysicists Elizabeth Cochran and Nick VanDerElst install a seismometer on the base.

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #4
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #4
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #4

USGS geodesist Todd Ericksen sets up GPS surveying equipment on July 5th.

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #5
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #5
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #5

USGS geophysicist Ken Hudnut demonstrating Drop Cover and Hold Technique during the foreshock sequence to the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

USGS geophysicist Ken Hudnut demonstrating Drop Cover and Hold Technique during the foreshock sequence to the M7.1 Searles Valley earthquake.

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #6
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #6
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #6

Aerial view shot from Blackhawk helicopter overflight on July 6 of the zone of high surface displacement.

Aerial view shot from Blackhawk helicopter overflight on July 6 of the zone of high surface displacement.

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #7
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #7
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #7

USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.

USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.

fault rupture
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #8
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #8
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #8

Truck scanning road offset on the base with USGS geologist Josie Nevitt walking along side.

nightly view of highway with large cracks from earthquake and car in the distance.
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence - M7.1 Highway 178
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence - M7.1 Highway 178
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence - M7.1 Highway 178

Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.

Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.

Image shows a road with damage from an earthquake
Damage to Access Road from Searles Valley Earthquake
Damage to Access Road from Searles Valley Earthquake
Damage to Access Road from Searles Valley Earthquake

Fault scarp at offset access road site. Center line has been offset up and to the right as one looks across the fault towards the east.

Fault scarp at offset access road site. Center line has been offset up and to the right as one looks across the fault towards the east.

fault scarp
Fault scarp near epicenter of Searles Valley earthquake
Fault scarp near epicenter of Searles Valley earthquake
Fault scarp near epicenter of Searles Valley earthquake

Fault scarp close to the epicenter. In this location the fault has a main strand where much of the slip occurred, as well as distributed fractures.

Fault scarp close to the epicenter. In this location the fault has a main strand where much of the slip occurred, as well as distributed fractures.

Image shows a road with cracks from an earthquake at night
Highway 178 SW of Trona
Highway 178 SW of Trona
Highway 178 SW of Trona

California State Route 178 SW of Trona, following the M7.1 earthquake. Road is now closed for repairs. 

California State Route 178 SW of Trona, following the M7.1 earthquake. Road is now closed for repairs. 

Image shows two people standing on a desert rise
Inspecting the Fault Scarp
Inspecting the Fault Scarp
Inspecting the Fault Scarp

Scientists from USGS & CGS and Navy escort, and a UCLA engineer from the GEER team, inspect ~12 +/- 3 foot high fault scarp with from 3 to 5 feet of right-lateral motion near the expected maximum slip locality along the primary tectonic rupture associated with the M 7.1 event.

Scientists from USGS & CGS and Navy escort, and a UCLA engineer from the GEER team, inspect ~12 +/- 3 foot high fault scarp with from 3 to 5 feet of right-lateral motion near the expected maximum slip locality along the primary tectonic rupture associated with the M 7.1 event.

Image shows a group of people standing on a road surrounded by desert
Planning for Surveying for Earthquake Damage
Planning for Surveying for Earthquake Damage
Planning for Surveying for Earthquake Damage

Team discussion among CGS and USGS earthquake scientists at the location of the primary surface fault rupture where is has disrupted and offset an access road at the NAWS China Lake. The fault runs NW to SE across the road, which runs from west to east. The east side of the road is uplifted relative to the west side.

Team discussion among CGS and USGS earthquake scientists at the location of the primary surface fault rupture where is has disrupted and offset an access road at the NAWS China Lake. The fault runs NW to SE across the road, which runs from west to east. The east side of the road is uplifted relative to the west side.