Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Multimedia

Images

Map of SW Puerto Rico coast and seafloor
Finding Seafloor Faults Linked to Puerto Rico Earthquake
Finding Seafloor Faults Linked to Puerto Rico Earthquake
Finding Seafloor Faults Linked to Puerto Rico Earthquake

Map of the portion of the southwest coast of Puerto Rico affected by an earthquake sequence that began in December 2019, along with portions of the seafloor where faults involved in the earthquake sequence were suspected to exist.

Map of the portion of the southwest coast of Puerto Rico affected by an earthquake sequence that began in December 2019, along with portions of the seafloor where faults involved in the earthquake sequence were suspected to exist.

Map of seismic research site on seafloor off Puerto Rico
Scientists find signs of undersea faults off SW Puerto Rico
Scientists find signs of undersea faults off SW Puerto Rico
Scientists find signs of undersea faults off SW Puerto Rico

Locations of multichannel seismic reflection profiles (in black), collected during cruise FA2020-14. The profiles are overlain on colored and shaded multibeam bathymetry, Lidar topography (green and white) and near-shore bathymetry (darker blue), and NOAA coastal relief model (light blue and white).

Locations of multichannel seismic reflection profiles (in black), collected during cruise FA2020-14. The profiles are overlain on colored and shaded multibeam bathymetry, Lidar topography (green and white) and near-shore bathymetry (darker blue), and NOAA coastal relief model (light blue and white).

Scientist on research vessel prepares to launch hydrophone
Scientist launches instrument used to map seafloor off Puerto Rico
Scientist launches instrument used to map seafloor off Puerto Rico
Scientist launches instrument used to map seafloor off Puerto Rico

USGS marine technician Wayne Baldwin prepares to deploy the hydrophone array during a seismic research cruise off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico on board the R/V Sultana in March 2020.

USGS marine technician Wayne Baldwin prepares to deploy the hydrophone array during a seismic research cruise off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico on board the R/V Sultana in March 2020.

Marine technician deploy a hydrophone off Puerto Rico
USGS marine technicians launch a hydrophone off Puerto Rico seafloor
USGS marine technicians launch a hydrophone off Puerto Rico seafloor
USGS marine technicians launch a hydrophone off Puerto Rico seafloor

USGS marine technicians Alex Nichols (L) and Eric Moore (R) deploy the hydrophone array on a seismic research cruise off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico aboard the R/V Sultana in March 2020.

USGS marine technicians Alex Nichols (L) and Eric Moore (R) deploy the hydrophone array on a seismic research cruise off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico aboard the R/V Sultana in March 2020.

USGS technicians launch "sparker" used in seafloor mapping
Three scientists launch a "sparker" used in seafloor mapping
Three scientists launch a "sparker" used in seafloor mapping
Three scientists launch a "sparker" used in seafloor mapping

USGS research geologist Jason Chaytor (L) and marine technicians Alex Nichols (center) and Eric Moore (R) deploy the “sparker” sound source on a seismic research cruise off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico aboard the R/V Sultana in March 2020.

USGS research geologist Jason Chaytor (L) and marine technicians Alex Nichols (center) and Eric Moore (R) deploy the “sparker” sound source on a seismic research cruise off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico aboard the R/V Sultana in March 2020.

landslide
Landslide triggered by M6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Landslide triggered by M6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Landslide triggered by M6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico

USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of a landslide failure along a residential road in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of a landslide failure along a residential road in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Videos

Puerto Rico 2020 — Temporary Seismic Stations Post-Dec 28, 2019 Quake
Puerto Rico 2020 — Temporary Seismic Stations Post-Dec 28, 2019 Quake
Puerto Rico 2020 — Temporary Seismic Stations Post-Dec 28, 2019 Quake

Dr. Elizabeth Vanacore talks about the installation of temporary seismic stations in southwest Puerto Rico.

Dr. Elizabeth Vanacore talks about the installation of temporary seismic stations in southwest Puerto Rico.