Earthquakes Pose Risk to Global Mineral Supplies
USGS scientists study how seismicity could impact mineral commodity supplies like copper and rhenium.
USGS scientists study how seismicity could impact mineral commodity supplies like copper and rhenium.
Monitoring Kīlauea Volcano's Current Eruption
Eruptions within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been intermittent since December 23, 2024.
Eruptions within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been intermittent since December 23, 2024.
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.
Postfire Debris-Flow Hazard Assessments Help Manage Further Loss
This interactive dashboard shows the likelihood and potential severity for debris-flows.
This interactive dashboard shows the likelihood and potential severity for debris-flows.
Understanding Earth's Electrical Conductivity Helps Protect from Space Weather
The study can also help support mineral and geothermal resource assessment.
The study can also help support mineral and geothermal resource assessment.
Rapid Response Seismometers Help Scientists Assess Hazards
Seafloor seismographs were quickly deployed following a major earthquake offshore Northern California.
Seafloor seismographs were quickly deployed following a major earthquake offshore Northern California.
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.
Office of Risk and Resilience
Office of Risk and Resilience
Working to ensure that relevant and actionable USGS hazards and risk information is developed and delivered in user-friendly ways to support risk-reduction efforts at a national scale.
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
California’s Seasonally Rotating Pocket Beaches
California’s Seasonally Rotating Pocket Beaches
Projecting Accelerated Erosion of O‘ahu's Shorelines
Projecting Accelerated Erosion of O‘ahu's Shorelines
Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Rainier during July 2025
Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Rainier during July 2025
Publications
Evidence for fluid pressurization of fault zones and persistent sensitivity to injection rate beneath the Raton Basin Evidence for fluid pressurization of fault zones and persistent sensitivity to injection rate beneath the Raton Basin
Subsurface wastewater injection has increased the seismicity rate within the Raton Basin over more than two decades, with the basin-wide injection rate peaked between 2009-2015. To understand the evolution of injection-induced earthquakes, we systematically analyzed 2016-2024 broadband recordings with a machine-learning-based phase picker and constructed a catalog with 95,993 earthquakes...
On the importance of geological and geophysical lunar field work enabled by Artemis Base Camp On the importance of geological and geophysical lunar field work enabled by Artemis Base Camp
We report on six Findings related to the benefit of Artemis Base Camp (ABC) to lunar geoscience (Figure 1). These Findings are on the topics of 1) Repeat field site visits; 2) Geological experiments; 3) Satellite ABC campus(es); 4) Advanced lab equipment; 5) Frequent and resource-intensive EVAs; and 6) Geoscience STEM engagement. Lastly, we consider certain issues and caveats meriting...
Cascading land surface hazards as a nexus in the Earth system Cascading land surface hazards as a nexus in the Earth system
Earth’s surface is sculpted by numerous processes that move sediment, ranging from gradual and benign to abrupt and catastrophic. Although infrequent, high-magnitude sediment mobilization events can be hazardous to people and infrastructure, leaving topographic imprints on the landscape and remarkable narratives in the historical record. Hazardous events such as fires, storms, and...
Science
Engineering and Risk
The well-known statement "Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do" highlights the need to make our communities more earthquake resilient. The impact of earthquakes on public safety and the national economy can be reduced through improvement of the built environment to resist earthquake effects such as ground shaking. Extending natural hazards science to risk involves (1) conducting research to...
Seafloor Benthic Mapping and Characterization: Enhancing our Understanding of Aleutian Islands’ Hazards, Potential Seabed Minerals and Deep Corals
A USGS-led expedition in the Aleutian Arc off Alaska will provide critical information on energy resources, underwater earthquakes and other hazards, seafloor habitats, and biological resources, including key fisheries, as well as potential seabed minerals.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization
