Research Team Forecasted Beach Impacts from Hurricane Idalia
USGS and NOAA partner to continually improve coastal change forecasts
USGS and NOAA partner to continually improve coastal change forecasts
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Deploys New Equipment on Kīlauea Summit
New webcam and more
New webcam and more
Alarming Future for California's Coastline
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100
New USGS-FEMA study highlights economic earthquake risk in the United States
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.
Reducing Risk
Reducing Risk
USGS scientists develop new products to make science available to the public, emergency managers, and decision-makers. These efforts increase public safety and reduce risk and economic losses caused by natural hazards.
Subduction Zone Science
Subduction Zone Science
The most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another.
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News
New Study: Sediment Management is Key to Preserving Puget Sound's Estuarine Habitats
New Study: Sediment Management is Key to Preserving Puget Sound's Estuarine Habitats
New USGS-led Research Sheds Light on Deep-Sea Food Webs
New USGS-led Research Sheds Light on Deep-Sea Food Webs
Restoring Marshes as a Cost-Effective Climate Adaptation Solution for San Mateo County
Restoring Marshes as a Cost-Effective Climate Adaptation Solution for San Mateo County
Publications
Evaluation of 2-D shear-wave velocity models and VS30at six strong-motion recording stations in southern California using multichannel analysis of surface waves and refraction tomography
To better understand the potential for amplified ground shaking at sites that house critical infrastructure, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) evaluated shear-wave velocities (VS) at six strong-motion recording stations in Southern California Edison facilities in southern California. We calculated VS30 (time-averaged shear-wave velocity in the upper 30 meters [m]), which is a parameter used in gro
Preliminary implications of viscoelastic ray theory for anelastic seismic tomography models
The recent developments in general viscoelastic ray theory provide a rigorous mathematical framework for anelastic seismic tomography. They provide closed‐form solutions of forward ray‐tracing and simple inverse problems for anelastic horizontal and spherical layered media with material gradients. They provide ray‐tracing computation algorithms valid for all angles of incidence that account for ch
Performance-based earthquake early warning for tall buildings
The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system aims to issue an advance warning to residents on the West Coast of the United States seconds before the ground shaking arrives, if the expected ground shaking exceeds a certain threshold. However, residents in tall buildings may experience much greater motion due to the dynamic response of the buildings. Therefore, there is an ongoing effort to
Science
Alaska Flood Staffs
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses observations of flooding to monitor coastal conditions and support research by the USGS and its partners into a variety of coastal processes and hazards in Alaska. Local observations of flooding at flood staffs are used to document flood elevations, improve flood modeling, and support floodplain management decisions.
Typhoon Merbok Disaster Emergency Recovery Efforts
Extreme storm events, such as Extratropical-Typhoon Merbok that hit the coast of Western Alaska in September 2022, are stark reminders of the devastating impacts coastal storms can have on Alaska Native community’s livelihoods and infrastructure. A chronic lack of environmental monitoring and technical assistance in rural Alaska present major barriers to communities affected by Typhoon Merbok...
M6.7 January 17, 1994 Northridge, California Earthquake
The magnitude 6.7 Northridge, California earthquake took a heavy toll, killing 33 people, leaving over 7,000 injured, and 20,000 area residents homeless. Estimates of property damage are approximately 40 billion dollars. Damage to freeway bridges and overpasses disrupted key transportation arteries for months after the earthquake.