David Phillips
Science and Products
Rodgers Creek Fault Traced through Santa Rosa
For the first time, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey have mapped the active surface trace of the Rodgers Creek Fault through the central part of the northern California city of Santa Rosa. Urban development has, until now, obscured its exact location.
Crude Oil Byproducts in Groundwater Plumes
A new study suggests that the degraded breakdown products of oil-spill contaminants in groundwater could be just as important to monitor as the original contamination itself.
New Maps Illuminate Monterey Bay Area Seafloor
Six new sets of maps reveal the diverse and complex range of seafloor habitats along 130 kilometers (80 miles) of the central California coast from the Monterey Peninsula north to Pigeon Point. The publicly available maps can be used by a large stakeholder community to understand and manage California’s vast and valuable marine resources.
Hot Days Can Trigger Yosemite Rockfalls
After more than three years of monitoring the towering granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park, scientists have new insights into a potentially important mechanism that can trigger rockfalls in the park. Although many conditions can trigger rockfalls, some rockfalls are more likely to happen in the hottest part of the day, during the hottest part of the year.
USGS Science for an El Niño Winter
El Niño is a phenomenon that occurs when unusually warm ocean water piles up along the equatorial west coast of South America. When this phenomenon develops, it affects weather patterns around the globe, including the winter weather along the west coast of North America. This unusual pattern of sea surface temperatures occurs in irregular cycles about three to seven years apart.
Airborne Sensor Shows Promise for Monitoring Water Quality
To demonstrate the potential of using remote sensing to monitor water quality across broad areas, U.S Geological Survey and NASA scientists teamed up for the simultaneous collection of water quality measurements from the air and in the water.
New California Fog Maps Reveal Pictures for Planning
A new series of maps of fog and low clouds covering the northern and central California coasts reveals daytime and nighttime patterns with a level of detail never previously mapped. U.S. Geological Survey scientists used new analyses of satellite images to understand the dynamics of fog.
50-Year-Old Mystery Solved: Seafloor Mapping Reveals Cause of 1964 Tsunami that Destroyed Alaskan Village
Minutes after the 1964 magnitude-9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake began shaking, a series of tsunami waves swept through the village of Chenega in Prince William Sound, destroying all but two of the buildings and killing 23 of the 75 inhabitants.
New Geological Evidence Aids Tsunami Hazard Assessments from Alaska to Hawaii
New evidence for frequent large tsunamis at a remote island near Dutch Harbor, Alaska provides geological data to aid tsunami hazard preparedness efforts around the Pacific Rim.
New Remote Sensing Handbook Published
A newly published, three-volume “Remote Sensing Handbook” is a comprehensive coverage of all remote sensing topics written by over 300 leading global experts.
3D Images of Magma Below Mono Craters Area
A new conceptual model of the magma system below Mono Lake and Mono Craters in eastern California gives scientists a more detailed understanding of volcanic processes at depth, and a better model for forecasting volcanic unrest.
Joint Venture, U.S. Geological Survey Join Forces
Joint Venture Silicon Valley and the U.S. Geological Survey today jointly announced a partnership to address regional challenges from natural hazards, climate and land use change, and continued availability of clean air and water resources.