Research Team Forecasted Beach Impacts from Hurricane Idalia
USGS and NOAA partner to continually improve coastal change forecasts
USGS and NOAA partner to continually improve coastal change forecasts
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Deploys New Equipment on Kīlauea Summit
New webcam and more
New webcam and more
Alarming Future for California's Coastline
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100
Computer modeling and new research predict significant erosion by 2100
New USGS-FEMA study highlights economic earthquake risk in the United States
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Every year in the United States, natural hazards threaten lives and livelihoods and result in billions of dollars in damage. We work with many partners to monitor, assess, and conduct targeted research on a wide range of natural hazards so that policymakers and the public have the understanding they need to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience.
Reducing Risk
Reducing Risk
USGS scientists develop new products to make science available to the public, emergency managers, and decision-makers. These efforts increase public safety and reduce risk and economic losses caused by natural hazards.
Subduction Zone Science
Subduction Zone Science
The most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another.
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News
Get to know CVO: Wes and the CVO Seismic Network
Get to know CVO: Wes and the CVO Seismic Network
Marine Mineral Formations in the Arctic Ocean Challenge Existing Geologic Theories
Marine Mineral Formations in the Arctic Ocean Challenge Existing Geologic Theories
Get to know CVO: Maciej Obryk and the USGS debris-flow flume
Get to know CVO: Maciej Obryk and the USGS debris-flow flume
Publications
U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program decadal science strategy, 2024–33
Executive Summary Earthquakes represent one of our Nation’s most significant and costly natural hazards, with estimated annual loses from earthquakes close to $15 billion in 2023. Over the past two centuries, 37 U.S. States have experienced an earthquake exceeding a magnitude of 5, and 50 percent of States have a significant potential for future damaging shaking; these statistics speak to the need
Assessing community needs for terrestrial analog studies
Executive SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed and released a survey to assess the terrestrial analog needs of the planetary science community. The goal was to assess the current state of terrestrial analog studies and determine community needs related to the use of field sites for training and research, data dissemination and archiving, and sample collections.The survey was designed
Evidence for low effective stress within the crust of the subducted Gorda plate from the 2022 December Mw 6.4 Ferndale earthquake sequence
Stress levels on and adjacent to megathrust faults at seismogenic depths remain a key but difficult to constrain parameter for assessing seismic hazard in subduction zones. Although strong ground motions have been observed to be generated from distinct, high-stress regions on the downdip end of the megathrust rupture areas in many great earthquakes, we lack direct constraints on the stress level i
Science
Severe Magnetic Storm (ongoing)
October 10, 2024: 22:00 Eastern Time
M 6.9 October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake ended decades of tranquility in the San Francisco Bay region. It was a wakeup call to prepare for the potentially even more devastating shocks that are inevitable in the future. Since 1989, the work of the U.S. Geological Survey and other organizations has improved understanding of the seismic threat in the Bay region, promoted awareness of earthquake hazards, and...
2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards
Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall. This...