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Natural Hazards Mission Area

Every year in the United States, natural hazards threaten lives and livelihoods and result in billions of dollars in damage. We work with many partners to monitor, assess, and conduct targeted research on a wide range of natural hazards so that policymakers and the public have the understanding they need to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience.

News

Effects of Climate Variability on Coastal Erosion in the Pacific Northwest

Effects of Climate Variability on Coastal Erosion in the Pacific Northwest

New USGS map shows where landslides are most likely to occur in U.S.

New USGS map shows where landslides are most likely to occur in U.S.

Un nuevo mapa del USGS muestra dónde es más probable que ocurran deslizamientos de tierra en el país

Un nuevo mapa del USGS muestra dónde es más probable que ocurran deslizamientos de tierra en el país

Publications

A novel surface energy balance method for thermal inertia studies of terrestrial analogs

Surface thermal inertia derived from satellite imagery offers a valuable tool for remotely mapping the physical structure and water content of planetary regolith. Efforts to quantify thermal inertia using surface temperatures on Earth, however, have consistently yielded large uncertainties and suffered from a lack of reproducibility. Unlike dry or airless bodies, Earth's abundant water and dense a
Authors
Ari Koeppel, Christopher S. Edwards, Lauren A. Edgar, Scott A Nowicki, Kristen A. Bennett, Amber Gullikson, Sylvain Piqueux, Helen A. Eifert, Daphne Chapline, A. Deanne Rogers

Challenging ring-current models of the Carrington storm

A detailed analysis is made of horizontal-component geomagnetic-disturbance data acquired at the Colaba observatory in India recording the Carrington magnetic storm of September 1859. Prior to attaining its maximum absolute value, disturbance at Colaba increased with an e-folding timescale of 0.46 hr (28 min). Following its maximum, absolute disturbance at Colaba decreased as a trend having an e-f
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Kalevi Mursula

RegionGrow3D: A deterministic analysis for characterizing discrete three-dimensional landslide source areas on a regional scale

Regional-scale characterization of shallow landslide hazards is important for reducing their destructive impact on society. These hazards are commonly characterized by (a) their location and likelihood using susceptibility maps, (b) landslide size and frequency using geomorphic scaling laws, and (c) the magnitude of disturbance required to cause landslides using initiation thresholds. Typically, t
Authors
Nicolas Wahde Mathews, Ben Leshchinksy, Benjamin B. Mirus, Michael J. Olsen, Adam M. Booth

Science

September 17, 2024 Magnetic Disturbance

Space Weather Events of September 16, 2024 - September 17, 2024 22:00 Eastern time
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September 17, 2024 Magnetic Disturbance

Space Weather Events of September 16, 2024 - September 17, 2024 22:00 Eastern time
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Earthquake Response and Investigations

Post-earthquake scientific and engineering investigations are undertaken by the USGS and its partners to capture critical information to understand the causes and impacts of the event, lessons from which can substantially improve the Nation’s resilience after future earthquakes.
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Earthquake Response and Investigations

Post-earthquake scientific and engineering investigations are undertaken by the USGS and its partners to capture critical information to understand the causes and impacts of the event, lessons from which can substantially improve the Nation’s resilience after future earthquakes.
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M6.0 South Napa, California Earthquake – August 24, 2014

The M6.0 South Napa, California Earthquake was the largest earthquake to strike the San Francisco Bay Area in over 25 years. It caused significant damage to over 100 structures and was widely felt across the region.
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M6.0 South Napa, California Earthquake – August 24, 2014

The M6.0 South Napa, California Earthquake was the largest earthquake to strike the San Francisco Bay Area in over 25 years. It caused significant damage to over 100 structures and was widely felt across the region.
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