Videos

Title: The Mojave National Preserve: Geology and Water Shape Desert Plant Communities 

Geology and Water Shape Desert Plant Communities

by David Miller, Geologist and John Nimmo, Soil Hydrologist

The inside story on USGS estimates of Alaskan oil and gas resources

by Ken Bird and Rick Stanley, Geologists

(April 2, 2004, to October 28, 2006) A time-lapse camera was poised on the southwestern flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone from early 2004 through mid-2007.

Lessons From the Best-Recorded Quake in History

by Andy Michael, Geophysicist

October 16 , 2006, 06:20:23 to 08:00:22) This is another movie showing a shatter ring in action (see "Shatter ring on the PKK lava tube", 03-20-06).

The lava-tube feature seen here is called a shatter ring. Shatter rings are circular to elliptical volcanic features, typically tens of meters (yards) in diameter, which form over active lava tubes. They are typified by an upraised rim of blocky rubble and a central depression.

Surface-water and ground-water flow in the Santa Clara Valley

by Randall T. Hanson, Research Hydrologist

(Sept 21, 2006, 18:00:02 to 00:00:05) Between the morning of September 20 and the evening of September 22, 2006, there were 10 separate breakouts from the PKK lava tube. Each originated about 50 meters inland from the older sea cliff bounding the inboard edge of the East Lae‘apuki lava delta.

Between the morning of September 20, 2006 and the evening of September 22, 2006, there were 10 separate breakouts from the East Lae`apuki tube about 50 meters (165 feet) inland from the older sea cliff behind the East Lae'apuki lava delta.

Do new discoveries change our view of Santa Clara Valley earthquake hazards?

by R. D. Catchings, Geophysicist 

To document changes in the lava stream level within the Prince Kuhio Kalaniana'ole (PKK) lava tube, a time-lapse camera was placed on the brink of a lava tube skylight (an opening in the roof of the lava tube) with a view of the lava.

To document changes in the lava stream level within the Prince Kuhio Kalaniana'ole (PKK) lava tube, a time-lapse camera was placed on the brink of a lava tube skylight (an opening in the roof of the lava tube) with a view of the lava.

Grizzly bear vigorously rubbing on a natural marking tree in Glacier NP, Montana. Rubbing is a form of chemical communication. DNA analysis of hair collected from natural rub trees is used to identify individual bears and census the population.

Weaving a tale of three sedimentary basins

by Victoria E. Langenheim, Geophysicist

A pine marten climbs up and down a tree and onto the remote camera box. The camera is pointed at a bear rub tree.

New ideas on Bay Area evolution from a decade of geologic mapping

By Russ Graymer, Geologist

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

(June 24, 2006, 19:00:53 to June 25, 2006, 01:00:55) After sunset on June 24, 2006, lava burst from the PKK lava tube about 50 meters inland from the older sea cliff bounding the inboard edge of the East Lae‘apuki lava delta. Lava reached the sea cliff and began cascading over it in less than a minute, and it spread quickly across the l

After sunset on June 24, 2006, lava burst from the East Lae'apuki lava tube about 50 meters (165 feet) inland from the older sea cliff behind the East Lae'apuki lava delta. Lava reached and began cascading over the sea cliff within a minute, and quickly spread across the lava delta below.

To document changes in the lava stream level within the Prince Kuhio Kalaniana'ole (PKK) lava tube, a time-lapse camera was placed on the brink of a lava tube skylight (an opening in the roof of the lava tube) with a view of the lava.