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Earthquake Hazards Program

The USGS monitors and reports on earthquakes, assesses earthquake impacts and hazards, and conducts targeted research on the causes and effects of earthquakes. We undertake these activities as part of the larger National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), a four-agency partnership established by Congress.

News

The Loneliest Seismometers on Earth

The Loneliest Seismometers on Earth

Updates for ShakeAlert False Alert for M5.9 Earthquake near Carson City, NV (Dec. 2025)

Updates for ShakeAlert False Alert for M5.9 Earthquake near Carson City, NV (Dec. 2025)

USGS releases aftershock forecast for M8.8 Russian Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake

USGS releases aftershock forecast for M8.8 Russian Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake

Publications

Site response models based on geometric parameters for southern California sedimentary basins Site response models based on geometric parameters for southern California sedimentary basins

Site response in sedimentary basins is influenced by complex three-dimensional (3D) features, including trapping of seismic waves, focusing of seismic energy and basin resonance. Current ground motion models (GMMs) incorporate basin effects using one-dimensional parameters like VS30 and shear wave velocity isosurface depths, which are limited in capturing lateral and 3D effects. To...
Authors
Rashid Shams, Chukwuebuka C. Nweke, Grace Alexandra Parker

Latest Pleistocene to 19th-century earthquakes on bending-moment reverse faults of the Seattle fault zone, Washington Latest Pleistocene to 19th-century earthquakes on bending-moment reverse faults of the Seattle fault zone, Washington

Fault-related folds and their associated secondary faults play a critical yet often underrecognized role in accommodating strain and generating earthquakes in active fold-and-thrust belts. In the Seattle fault zone (SFZ), Washington, USA, we present new paleoseismic, geomorphic, and geophysical evidence for late Pleistocene and Holocene earthquakes on shallow, south-dipping secondary...
Authors
Stephen J. Angster, Brian L. Sherrod, Jessie K. Pearl, Lydia M. Staisch, Wes Johns, Richard J. Blakely

Remote compositional analyses of space-weathered lunar maria Remote compositional analyses of space-weathered lunar maria

Visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) reflectance spectroscopy has revolutionized our understanding of planetary surface compositions. However, space-weathering processes on airless bodies complicate quantitative compositional analyses. Here, we present a framework to isolate the signatures of space weathering in VSWIR spectra of lunar maria by leveraging radiative transfer modeling...
Authors
Ji-In Jung, Matheiu G. Lapotre, Ralph E. Milliken, Sarah E. Minson

Science

Earthquake Sequence Product

The USGS earthquake Sequence Product aims to identify and describe earthquakes that are clustered in space and time as “sequences.” Its overarching goal is to provide simple contextual information regarding the spatial and temporal interconnection of earthquakes.
Earthquake Sequence Product

Earthquake Sequence Product

The USGS earthquake Sequence Product aims to identify and describe earthquakes that are clustered in space and time as “sequences.” Its overarching goal is to provide simple contextual information regarding the spatial and temporal interconnection of earthquakes.
Learn More

Engineering and Risk

The well-known statement "Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do" highlights the need to make our communities more earthquake resilient. The impact of earthquakes on public safety and the national economy can be reduced through improvement of the built environment to resist earthquake effects such as ground shaking. Extending natural hazards science to risk involves (1) conducting research to...
Engineering and Risk

Engineering and Risk

The well-known statement "Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do" highlights the need to make our communities more earthquake resilient. The impact of earthquakes on public safety and the national economy can be reduced through improvement of the built environment to resist earthquake effects such as ground shaking. Extending natural hazards science to risk involves (1) conducting research to...
Learn More

2025 Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Long-term National Seismic Hazard Model

As we near full release of the 2025 Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands National Seismic Hazard Model, please check the table below for links to input model documentation, data releases, computer software, and review panel reports. Links will be updated as items are published.
2025 Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Long-term National Seismic Hazard Model

2025 Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Long-term National Seismic Hazard Model

As we near full release of the 2025 Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands National Seismic Hazard Model, please check the table below for links to input model documentation, data releases, computer software, and review panel reports. Links will be updated as items are published.
Learn More

Multimedia

2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map
2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map
2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map
10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded
10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded (Updated 2025)
10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded (Updated 2025)
Deep Ice Seismometer Thumbnail Deep Ice Seismometer Thumbnail
World's deepest seismometer braces the South Pole!
A group assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory.
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 1279
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 1279
USGS Rob Anthony sets up equipment in a freezer to test a Seismometer.
Testing the Deep Ice Seismometer
Testing the Deep Ice Seismometer
A photo of the seismometer being assembled.
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0578
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0578
Assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton.
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0407
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0407
ENS icon
ENS icon
ENS icon
seismic waves emanating from M8.8 Russia quake seismic waves emanating from M8.8 Russia quake
M 8.8 Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake ShakeMovie
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