Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Hazards 101
Eruptions, Earthquakes, and More...There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
Get your questions answered.
Welcome to an introduction of the natural hazards that shape our world. The USGS conducts research to assess these hazards and provides valuable information that can help society stay safe from these threats.
Every year in the United States, natural hazards lead to disasters that threaten millions of lives and result in billions of dollars in damage. They can have long-lasting effects by changing landscapes and affecting human health, safety, and economic prosperity.
We have all kinds of educational materials for all levels of learning. View some samples below.
The Science of Earthquakes
Could a Tsunami Happen Here?
Journey Along a Geomagnetic Fieldline
Landslides 101
About Volcano Hazards
Rising Waters
Why the West Burns
Climate Change-ing the Coast
Hazards of a Fragile Ecosystem
Publications
Santa Rosa's past and future earthquakes
Living with volcano hazards
Wildland Fire Science — Supporting wildland fire and land management
Magnetic monitoring of earth and space
Restoring coastal ecosystems and abrupt climate change
Science
Interactive U.S. Landslide Data Maps
Science Seminar Series
National Innovation Center Seminar Series
An open-source interactive time series viewer for geophysical data
Partner Education
Multimedia
![Animation shows tides washing away brown mud from the shoreline and eroding green marshgrass. A graph follows the tide.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/FINAL-sediment.gif?itok=oup3-w-4)
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
![Click image for full description and details.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/USGS-Wildland-Fire-Science-Strategic-Plan-2021-v9-letter.png?itok=2b9bX8hL)
$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
![nightly view of highway with large cracks from earthquake and car in the distance.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Highway-173-SW-Trona-CA-earthquakes-july-2019_0.jpeg?itok=KBWC7b0P)
Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
Schematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
Schematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
![Catching the Quakes - Using Seismic Signals to Track Debris Flows](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/video/youtube-Zx1Rg5Jt0nY.jpg?itok=8L5TYZ60)
USGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
USGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
Elastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
Elastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
![Volcano Web Shorts 6: Societal Impacts of Volcanism](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/video/maxresdefault_22.jpg?itok=X3JIu7N7)
USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
News
New Climate Science Educational Resources Website for the Pacific Islands
Nifosi Talks Virtually With Young Girls Of Color About STEM Education
USGS Astrogeology Embraces Virtual STEM Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
What is an invasive species and why are they a problem?
An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health. A few well-known examples include the unintentional introduction of the West Nile virus, chestnut blight, the South American...
Welcome to an introduction of the natural hazards that shape our world. The USGS conducts research to assess these hazards and provides valuable information that can help society stay safe from these threats.
Every year in the United States, natural hazards lead to disasters that threaten millions of lives and result in billions of dollars in damage. They can have long-lasting effects by changing landscapes and affecting human health, safety, and economic prosperity.
We have all kinds of educational materials for all levels of learning. View some samples below.
The Science of Earthquakes
Could a Tsunami Happen Here?
Journey Along a Geomagnetic Fieldline
Landslides 101
About Volcano Hazards
Rising Waters
Why the West Burns
Climate Change-ing the Coast
Hazards of a Fragile Ecosystem
Publications
Santa Rosa's past and future earthquakes
Living with volcano hazards
Wildland Fire Science — Supporting wildland fire and land management
Magnetic monitoring of earth and space
Restoring coastal ecosystems and abrupt climate change
Science
Interactive U.S. Landslide Data Maps
Science Seminar Series
National Innovation Center Seminar Series
An open-source interactive time series viewer for geophysical data
Partner Education
Multimedia
![Animation shows tides washing away brown mud from the shoreline and eroding green marshgrass. A graph follows the tide.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/FINAL-sediment.gif?itok=oup3-w-4)
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
![Click image for full description and details.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/USGS-Wildland-Fire-Science-Strategic-Plan-2021-v9-letter.png?itok=2b9bX8hL)
$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
$71-$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
USGS geologist Josie Nevitt and geodesist Todd Ericksen collect a sample from the fault zone of the main rupture.
![nightly view of highway with large cracks from earthquake and car in the distance.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Highway-173-SW-Trona-CA-earthquakes-july-2019_0.jpeg?itok=KBWC7b0P)
Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
Highway 178 SW of Trona. Taken earlier in the morning July 6, 2019 after the M7.1 earthquake which struck eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley, near Ridgecrest, CA.
Schematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
Schematic showing a current (J0) in the space environment above the Earth’s surface of increasing intensity over time. This current generates a magnetic fields (B) that is also increasing in intensity over time.
![Catching the Quakes - Using Seismic Signals to Track Debris Flows](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/video/youtube-Zx1Rg5Jt0nY.jpg?itok=8L5TYZ60)
USGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
USGS Research Geophysicist Kate Allstadt conducts experiments at the U.S. Geological Survey debris-flow flume, near Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Allstadt and her group are working toward an understanding of how debris flows generate seismic signals.
Elastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
Elastic rebound is what happens to the crustal material on either side of a fault during an earthquake. The idea is that a fault is stuck until the strain accumulated in the rock on either side of the fault has overcome the friction making it stick.
![Volcano Web Shorts 6: Societal Impacts of Volcanism](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/video/maxresdefault_22.jpg?itok=X3JIu7N7)
USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
USGS geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS, (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic eruptions and their impacts on society.
Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.
News
New Climate Science Educational Resources Website for the Pacific Islands
Nifosi Talks Virtually With Young Girls Of Color About STEM Education
USGS Astrogeology Embraces Virtual STEM Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
What is an invasive species and why are they a problem?
An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health. A few well-known examples include the unintentional introduction of the West Nile virus, chestnut blight, the South American...