Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Hazards 101
Eruptions, Earthquakes, and More...There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
Get your questions answered.
Get your questions answered.
Welcome to an introduction of the natural hazards that shape our world. The USGS conducts research to assess these hazards and provides valuable information that can help society stay safe from these threats.
Beginner's Guide to Natural Hazards
Beginner's Guide to Natural Hazards
Natural hazards teaching resources for elementary school students...or those new to the subject.
Level Up Your Hazards Education
Level Up Your Hazards Education
Natural hazards teaching resources for middle school and high school students...or those who want to kick their science fair project up a notch.
Every year in the United States, natural hazards lead to disasters that threaten millions of lives and result in billions of dollars in damage. They can have long-lasting effects by changing landscapes and affecting human health, safety, and economic prosperity.
We have all kinds of educational materials for all levels of learning. View some samples below.
The Science of Earthquakes
The Science of Earthquakes
The Science of Earthquakes
Could a Tsunami Happen Here?
Could a Tsunami Happen Here?
Could a Tsunami Happen Here?
Journey Along a Geomagnetic Fieldline
Journey Along a Geomagnetic Fieldline
Journey Along a Geomagnetic Fieldline
Landslides 101
Landslides 101
Landslides 101
About Volcano Hazards
About Volcano Hazards
About Volcano Hazards
Rising Waters
Rising Waters
Rising Waters
Why the West Burns
Why the West Burns
Why the West Burns
Climate Change-ing the Coast
Climate Change-ing the Coast
Climate Change-ing the Coast
Hazards of a Fragile Ecosystem
Hazards of a Fragile Ecosystem
Hazards of a Fragile Ecosystem
Science
Interactive U.S. Landslide Data Maps
Interactive U.S. Landslide Data Maps with access to GIS data.
Science Seminar Series
Welcome to the Pacific Coastal Marine Science Center (PCMSC) Seminar Series! Our seminars are on the first and third Tuesday of every month, usually from 10:00 – 11:00 am Pacific Time (1:00 - 2:00 pm Eastern) via Microsoft Teams. Please check each seminar announcement closely, as times may change. In addition, we also co-host a special “Coastal Change Hazards” seminar on the second Tuesday every...
National Innovation Center Seminar Series
This bi-weekly seminar series is an opportunity to present innovation successes and prospects across USGS Mission Areas. It is a forum for our scientists and partners to learn about existing and potential innovative technologies to help fill known observation gaps, as well as to present cutting edge research and technology opportunities which could be leveraged to advance USGS science through...
An open-source interactive time series viewer for geophysical data
To help users connect and comprehend USGS data, we propose to develop an interactive viewer for multi-channel geophysical data using existing Python PyViz tools.
Partner Education
This collection of webpages represents subduction zone education products from many of our partners.
Multimedia
Marsh lateral shoreline erosion and shore-proximal sediment deposition
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
USGS 21st Century Science - WILDLAND FIRE (portrait)
$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #7
USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence - M7.1 Highway 178
Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
Powerlines
Schematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
Schematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
Catching the Quakes - Using Seismic Signals to Track Debris Flows
USGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
USGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
Elastic Rebound
Elastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
Elastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
Volcano Web Shorts 6: Societal Impacts of Volcanism
USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
Two views of spattering from west vent
Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
What is an invasive species and why are they a problem?
An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health. A few well-known examples include the unintentional introduction of the West Nile virus, chestnut blight, the South American...
- Overview
Every year in the United States, natural hazards lead to disasters that threaten millions of lives and result in billions of dollars in damage. They can have long-lasting effects by changing landscapes and affecting human health, safety, and economic prosperity.
We have all kinds of educational materials for all levels of learning. View some samples below.
The Science of EarthquakesThe Science of EarthquakesCould a Tsunami Happen Here?Could a Tsunami Happen Here?Journey Along a Geomagnetic FieldlineJourney Along a Geomagnetic FieldlineLandslides 101Landslides 101About Volcano HazardsAbout Volcano HazardsRising WatersRising WatersWhy the West BurnsWhy the West BurnsClimate Change-ing the CoastClimate Change-ing the CoastHazards of a Fragile EcosystemHazards of a Fragile EcosystemScience
Interactive U.S. Landslide Data Maps
Interactive U.S. Landslide Data Maps with access to GIS data.Science Seminar Series
Welcome to the Pacific Coastal Marine Science Center (PCMSC) Seminar Series! Our seminars are on the first and third Tuesday of every month, usually from 10:00 – 11:00 am Pacific Time (1:00 - 2:00 pm Eastern) via Microsoft Teams. Please check each seminar announcement closely, as times may change. In addition, we also co-host a special “Coastal Change Hazards” seminar on the second Tuesday every...National Innovation Center Seminar Series
This bi-weekly seminar series is an opportunity to present innovation successes and prospects across USGS Mission Areas. It is a forum for our scientists and partners to learn about existing and potential innovative technologies to help fill known observation gaps, as well as to present cutting edge research and technology opportunities which could be leveraged to advance USGS science through...An open-source interactive time series viewer for geophysical data
To help users connect and comprehend USGS data, we propose to develop an interactive viewer for multi-channel geophysical data using existing Python PyViz tools.Partner Education
This collection of webpages represents subduction zone education products from many of our partners.Multimedia
Marsh lateral shoreline erosion and shore-proximal sediment depositionSalt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
USGS 21st Century Science - WILDLAND FIRE (portrait)$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.216.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.216.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
Searles Valley Earthquake field photo #7USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence - M7.1 Highway 178Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
PowerlinesSchematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
Schematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
Catching the Quakes - Using Seismic Signals to Track Debris FlowsUSGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
USGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
Elastic ReboundElastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
Elastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
Volcano Web Shorts 6: Societal Impacts of VolcanismUSGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
Two views of spattering from west ventTwo views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
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- FAQ
What is an invasive species and why are they a problem?
An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health. A few well-known examples include the unintentional introduction of the West Nile virus, chestnut blight, the South American...