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Explore a wide variety of videos that highlight natural hazards, the risks they pose and the science we conduct to better understand and prepare for them.

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Image of the Week - Southern California Wildfires Update
Image of the Week - Southern California Wildfires Update
Image of the Week - Southern California Wildfires Update

After a month, the wildfires of Southern California are nearly contained. Landsat 8 imagery shows the dramatic burn scars left behind.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

After a month, the wildfires of Southern California are nearly contained. Landsat 8 imagery shows the dramatic burn scars left behind.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Great view of the Great Marsh, Cape Cod, MA
Great view of the Great Marsh, Cape Cod, MA
Great view of the Great Marsh, Cape Cod, MA

USGS scientists, along with collaborators from the Marine Biological Laboratory, deployed a carbon flux tower on Great Marsh in 2017. Great Marsh is a 3800 acre salt marsh complex behind the Sandy Neck barrier beach in Barnstable, Cape Cod. This ecosystem is home to a variety of animals, including deer, fox, owls, and the rare Diamondback terrapin.

USGS scientists, along with collaborators from the Marine Biological Laboratory, deployed a carbon flux tower on Great Marsh in 2017. Great Marsh is a 3800 acre salt marsh complex behind the Sandy Neck barrier beach in Barnstable, Cape Cod. This ecosystem is home to a variety of animals, including deer, fox, owls, and the rare Diamondback terrapin.

Kīlauea Summit Eruption | Lava Returns to Halemaʻumaʻu
Kīlauea Summit Eruption | Lava Returns to Halemaʻumaʻu
Kīlauea Summit Eruption | Lava Returns to Halemaʻumaʻu

In March 2008, a new volcanic vent opened within Halema‘uma‘u, a crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaiʻi. This new vent is one of two ongoing eruptions on the volcano. The other is on Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone, where vents have been erupting nearly nonstop since 1983.

In March 2008, a new volcanic vent opened within Halema‘uma‘u, a crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaiʻi. This new vent is one of two ongoing eruptions on the volcano. The other is on Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone, where vents have been erupting nearly nonstop since 1983.

Listen to Earthquakes
Listen to Earthquakes
Listen to Earthquakes

Seismometers record vibrations from a wide assortment of ground motion events. Each event type has a distinctive ground-motion signal with unique frequency and amplitude—its own seismic signature. Seismologists are trained to identify the source of seismic events seen on a webicorder based on its ‘seismic signature’.

Seismometers record vibrations from a wide assortment of ground motion events. Each event type has a distinctive ground-motion signal with unique frequency and amplitude—its own seismic signature. Seismologists are trained to identify the source of seismic events seen on a webicorder based on its ‘seismic signature’.

USGS Astrogeology Geologic Map GIS Template
USGS Astrogeology Geologic Map GIS Template
USGS Astrogeology Geologic Map GIS Template

Review of all elements included in the GIS template provided to NASA-funded mappers producing USGS SIM-series planetary geologic maps.

Review of all elements included in the GIS template provided to NASA-funded mappers producing USGS SIM-series planetary geologic maps.

Image of the Week - Southern California Wildfires, December 2017
Image of the Week - Southern California Wildfires, December 2017
Image of the Week - Southern California Wildfires, December 2017

The Thomas fire has burned more than 230,000 acres and continues to blaze across souther California. These images show some of the burn scar left behind.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

The Thomas fire has burned more than 230,000 acres and continues to blaze across souther California. These images show some of the burn scar left behind.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

New camera shows snowfall on summit
New camera shows snowfall on summit
New camera shows snowfall on summit

A new HVO webcam provides improved views of Mauna Loa's summit caldera, Moku‘āweoweo, from the northwest rim. This time-lapse sequence shows a full day on Sunday, Dec. 3, starting and ending at midnight. The full moon and sensitive low-light ability of the camera allow good views throughout the nighttime hours.

A new HVO webcam provides improved views of Mauna Loa's summit caldera, Moku‘āweoweo, from the northwest rim. This time-lapse sequence shows a full day on Sunday, Dec. 3, starting and ending at midnight. The full moon and sensitive low-light ability of the camera allow good views throughout the nighttime hours.

Majuro Atoll — Topobathymetric Model
Majuro Atoll — Topobathymetric Model
Majuro Atoll — Topobathymetric Model

This video is of is a three-dimensional (3D) view of the Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands topobathymetric model which consists of topography (land elevation) and bathymetry (water depth). This video shows the importance of high-resolution, detailed topobathymetric models because the highest natural elevation for the Majuro Atoll is only three meters.

This video is of is a three-dimensional (3D) view of the Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands topobathymetric model which consists of topography (land elevation) and bathymetry (water depth). This video shows the importance of high-resolution, detailed topobathymetric models because the highest natural elevation for the Majuro Atoll is only three meters.

Tour of the Planetary Geologic Mapping Python Toolbox
Tour of the Planetary Geologic Mapping Python Toolbox
Tour of the Planetary Geologic Mapping Python Toolbox

A tour of the Planetary Geologic Mapping Python toolbox, a suite of GIS tools from the Astrogeology Science Center.
 

A tour of the Planetary Geologic Mapping Python toolbox, a suite of GIS tools from the Astrogeology Science Center.
 

Overflight of Mauna Loa's Summit Caldera
Overflight of Mauna Loa's Summit Caldera
Overflight of Mauna Loa's Summit Caldera

A routine helicopter overflight today provided good views of Mauna Loa's summit caldera. The video starts from the northeast end of the caldera, near North Pit, and travels southwest. In the southwest portion of the caldera, the prominent 1940 cone is followed by the 1949 cone on the caldera rim. The video ends with the steep walls of South Pit.

A routine helicopter overflight today provided good views of Mauna Loa's summit caldera. The video starts from the northeast end of the caldera, near North Pit, and travels southwest. In the southwest portion of the caldera, the prominent 1940 cone is followed by the 1949 cone on the caldera rim. The video ends with the steep walls of South Pit.

Introduction to GIS Data for ArcMap 10.1 and Higher
Introduction to GIS Data for ArcMap 10.1 and Higher
Introduction to GIS Data for ArcMap 10.1 and Higher

An introduction to GIS data using ArcMap 10.1 and higher; intended for planetary geologic mappers. 
 

An introduction to GIS data using ArcMap 10.1 and higher; intended for planetary geologic mappers. 
 

USGS Hurricane Preparedness
USGS Hurricane Preparedness
USGS Hurricane Preparedness

Before a hurricane, USGS Scientists undertake a data collection effort of a grand scale. They install a temporary mobile network of sensors along the coasts to collect additional data on the intensity of storm surge, one of the most dangerous elements of a hurricane.

Before a hurricane, USGS Scientists undertake a data collection effort of a grand scale. They install a temporary mobile network of sensors along the coasts to collect additional data on the intensity of storm surge, one of the most dangerous elements of a hurricane.

Image of the Week - Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
Image of the Week - Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
Image of the Week - Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

Landsat 8 imagery shows the change in vegetation on Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Landsat 8 imagery shows the change in vegetation on Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Image of the Week: Hurricane Irma Slams Barbuda
Image of the Week: Hurricane Irma Slams Barbuda
Image of the Week: Hurricane Irma Slams Barbuda

Hurricane Irma's full force hit the small island of Barbuda, damaging estimated 95% of structures.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Hurricane Irma's full force hit the small island of Barbuda, damaging estimated 95% of structures.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Image of the Week: Hurricane Harvey Flooding
Image of the Week: Hurricane Harvey Flooding
Image of the Week: Hurricane Harvey Flooding

Hurricane Harvey dumped over 50 inches of rain near Houston, leaving extensive flooding throughout the area.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Hurricane Harvey dumped over 50 inches of rain near Houston, leaving extensive flooding throughout the area.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Excavating the Teton Trench September 2017 - Day 2
Excavating the Teton Trench September 2017 - Day 2
Excavating the Teton Trench September 2017 - Day 2

USGS scientists Rich Briggs, Ryan Gold, Chris DuRoss, and Jaime Delano spent September 5-21, 2017 outside of Jackson, Wyoming doing fieldwork at a site to collect paleoseismology data on a segment of the Teton Fault. This video shows the second day of the site excavation inside the flagged the boundaries set up by the group.
 

USGS scientists Rich Briggs, Ryan Gold, Chris DuRoss, and Jaime Delano spent September 5-21, 2017 outside of Jackson, Wyoming doing fieldwork at a site to collect paleoseismology data on a segment of the Teton Fault. This video shows the second day of the site excavation inside the flagged the boundaries set up by the group.
 

Excavating the Teton Trench September 2017 - Day 1
Excavating the Teton Trench September 2017 - Day 1
Excavating the Teton Trench September 2017 - Day 1

USGS scientists Rich Briggs, Ryan Gold, Chris DuRoss, and Jaime Delano spent September 5-21, 2017 outside of Jackson, Wyoming doing fieldwork at a site to collect paleoseismology data on a segment of the Teton Fault. This video shows the first day of the site excavation inside the flagged the boundaries set up by the group.

USGS scientists Rich Briggs, Ryan Gold, Chris DuRoss, and Jaime Delano spent September 5-21, 2017 outside of Jackson, Wyoming doing fieldwork at a site to collect paleoseismology data on a segment of the Teton Fault. This video shows the first day of the site excavation inside the flagged the boundaries set up by the group.

Image of the Week: Hurricane Harvey Inundates Gulf Coast
Image of the Week: Hurricane Harvey Inundates Gulf Coast
Image of the Week: Hurricane Harvey Inundates Gulf Coast

Hurricane Harvey made landfall on August 25th. Over the next few days, record rain totals had devastated the area.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall on August 25th. Over the next few days, record rain totals had devastated the area.



At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change, operate the Landsat satellites, and maintain the longest, continuously acquired collection of images of the Earth's land surface.

SeaBOSS operations in Massachusetts Bay, MA
SeaBOSS operations in Massachusetts Bay, MA
SeaBOSS operations in Massachusetts Bay, MA

SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SeaBOSS) operations were conducted near Stellwagen Bank offshore of Massachusetts in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary aboard the sanctuary's research vessel, the R/V Auk. 
 

SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SeaBOSS) operations were conducted near Stellwagen Bank offshore of Massachusetts in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary aboard the sanctuary's research vessel, the R/V Auk. 
 

C2 West Transect – 2017
C2 West Transect – 2017
C2 West Transect – 2017

Permanent Site: C2 West Transect; Depth: 15.3 Meters (50.3 Feet); Distance from river mouth: 0.7 Kilometers (0.5 Miles); Pre/Post Dam Removal: 6 years post-dam removal; Lat/Long: 48.147841,-123.57663268; Site Description: One of our deepest sites. Substrate is all muddy sand. Seaweed is absent. Woody debris is present (1:18 seconds).

Permanent Site: C2 West Transect; Depth: 15.3 Meters (50.3 Feet); Distance from river mouth: 0.7 Kilometers (0.5 Miles); Pre/Post Dam Removal: 6 years post-dam removal; Lat/Long: 48.147841,-123.57663268; Site Description: One of our deepest sites. Substrate is all muddy sand. Seaweed is absent. Woody debris is present (1:18 seconds).

A Current Immersion
A Current Immersion
A Current Immersion

Curt Storlazzi of the USGS explains how the water cycle pulled him into oceanography, and how his personal interests parallel his profession.
 

Curt Storlazzi of the USGS explains how the water cycle pulled him into oceanography, and how his personal interests parallel his profession.