Videos

In preparation for marine work in the cold waters off Alaska professionals from academia, industry and government must, every few years, take an offshore survival class to increase their chances of survival in the event of a seafaring mishap.

"Science for a Changing World" is a short film (eight minutes) describing a brief history of the USGS and the significance of USGS work and mission in today's world and its value in the past.

Landslides occur in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and cause $1-2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities on average each year. USGS scientists aim to improve our understanding of landslide hazards to help protect communities and reduce associated losses.

Video Sections:

-- a Centennial perspective of the Novarupta-Katmai eruption, the largest of the 20th century

By Judy Fierstein, USGS

--The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project

By Laura Valoppi, Lead Scientist

On May 25, 2012, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center Dive Team documented first ever egg deposition by State- and Provincially-threatened lake sturgeon on a man-made spawning reef constructed in the Middle Channel of the St. Clair River Area of Concern, while the reef was still being constructed.

On May 25, 2012, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center Dive Team documented first ever egg deposition by State- and Provincially-threatened lake sturgeon on a man-made spawning reef constructed in the Middle Channel of the St. Clair River Area of Concern, while the reef was still being constructed.

This Quicktime movie shows the impressive spattering at the western margin of the lava lake at Halema‘uma‘u. The continuous spattering is often punctuated by bursts which throw lava onto the ledge (left portion of image), and this accumulating lava is building a spatter rampart.

USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.

This Quicktime movie shows spattering that is typical at the margins of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater. The slow migration of the lava lake surface is normally towards the area of spattering, where the lava sinks back into the magmatic system. Spatter in this clip is being thrown about 5-10 meters (yards) in height.

Photogrammetry is the science of making precise measurements by the use of photography. USGS geologist Angie Diefenbach describes how she uses a digital camera and computer software to understand the growth rate of lava domes during a volcanic eruption.

Debris flows are hazardous flows of rock, sediment and water that surge down mountain slopes and into adjacent valleys. Hydrologist Richard Iverson describes the nature of debris-flow research and explains how debris flow experiments are conducted at the USGS Debris Flow Flume, west of Eugene, Oregon.

USGS volcano seismologist, Seth Moran, describes how seismology and seismic networks are used to mitigate volcanic hazards.

USGS technologist Rick LaHusen describes how the development and deployment of instruments plays a crucial role in mitigating volcanic hazards.

Volcanic ash is geographically the most widespread of all volcanic hazards. USGS geologist Larry Mastin describes how volcanic ash can disrupt lives many thousands of miles from an erupting volcano. The development of ash cloud models and ash cloud disruption to air traffic is highlighted.

Got Science?
Come to the U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park Open House on Saturday and Sunday May 19 and 20.

Speak with scientists, pan for gold, make a quake! 
Eat learn and have fun.
It's free! So bring the whole family!

Early cherry blossoms and flower blooms and record high temperatures nationwide highlight a phenomenon everyone already seems to know, but science has confirmed -- spring is coming earlier in the year almost everywhere. During this lecture, Dr.

In this episode, we talk about organic carbon. The benefit of studying carbon extends to many issues, including tracing mercury contamination or investigating disinfection by-products in drinking water treatment. It is amazing what can be discovered by monitoring the volume and flux of carbon through the environment.

The National Elevation Dataset (NED) is the primary elevation data product produced and distributed by the USGS National 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The NED provides seamless raster elevation data of the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the island territories.

Gas hydrates are a significant potential energy source occurring in ocean-floor sediments at water depths greater than 500 meters and beneath Arctic permafrost. The USGS operates a gas hydrates laboratory on its Menlo Park campus.