David Phillips
Science and Products
Media Advisory and Photo Op: USGS Employees Get Ready to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On!” in the Great ShakeOut
MENLO PARK, Calif. — U.S. Geological Survey employees in Menlo Park, Calif. will participate in an earthquake safety drill, and test their emergency response plan as part of the Great ShakeOut on Oct. 15, an annual day of action to practice how to protect yourself from an earthquake.
Many Atolls May be Uninhabitable Within Decades Due to Climate Change
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — A new study shows that the combined effect of storm-induced wave-driven flooding and sea level rise on island atolls may be more severe and happen sooner than previous estimates of inundation predicted by passive “bathtub” modeling for low-lying atoll islands, and especially at higher sea levels forecasted for the future due to climate change.
El Niño and La Niña will Exacerbate Coastal Hazards Across Entire Pacific
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The projected upsurge of severe El Niño and La Niña events will cause an increase in storm events leading to extreme coastal flooding and erosion in populated regions across the Pacific Ocean, according to a multi-agency study published today in Nature Geoscience.
Megathrust Quake Faults Weaker and Less Stressed than Thought
MENLO PARK, Calif. — Some of the inner workings of Earth’s subduction zones and their “megathrust” faults are revealed in a paper published today in the journal “Science.” U.S. Geological Survey scientist Jeanne Hardebeck calculated the frictional strength of subduction zone faults worldwide, and the stresses they are under.
Media Advisory: Yes, Humans Really Are Causing Earthquakes — Public Lecture
The earthquake rate has dramatically increased in the central United States in the last six years. Oklahoma had more magnitude 3 or greater earthquakes in 2014 than California.
South Napa Earthquake – One Year Later
One year ago, the largest earthquake in over 25 years hit the San Francisco Bay Area, causing significant damage in California’s famous Napa Valley. The magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred early in the morning on August 24, 2014, on the West Napa Fault.
New Scientist-in-Charge at USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
The U.S. Geological Survey is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Seth Moran to serve as the new Scientist-in-Charge of the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory. Moran succeeds John Ewert, who served in the position for the past five years. Moran took the helm on August 9.
Media Advisory: GeoGirls Dig Geology at Mount St. Helens
Twenty middle school girls from Washington and Oregon are participating in “GeoGirls,” an outdoor program jointly organized by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Mount St. Helens Institute.
Media Advisory: Cascadia Quake and Orphan Tsunami — Public Lecture
One winter's night in the year 1700, a mysterious tsunami flooded fields and washed away houses in Japan. It arrived without the warning that a nearby earthquake usually provides.
Climate Change Reduces Coral Reefs’ Ability to Protect Coasts
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Coral reefs, under pressure from climate change and direct human activity, may have a reduced ability to protect tropical islands against wave attack, erosion and salinization of drinking water resources, which help to sustain life on those islands.
USGS Releases New Estimate of Copper Potential for Northeast Asia
SPOKANE, Wash. — Significant amounts of undiscovered copper may be present in northeast Asia according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report. USGS scientists evaluated the potential for copper in undiscovered porphyry copper deposits in Russia and northeastern China as part of a global mineral resource assessment.
Washington State Volcano Preparedness Month
May is Volcano Preparedness Month in Washington state, providing residents an opportunity to become more familiar with volcanic risk in their communities and learn about steps they can take to reduce potential impacts. This year, Volcano Preparedness Month coincides with the 35th anniversary of the May 18, 1980 catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens.