New USGS-FEMA study highlights economic earthquake risk in the United States
The new estimate is twice that of previous annual estimates due to increased building value and the fact that the report incorporates the latest hazards as well as improvements to building inventories. Earthquake losses from the last few decades in the U.S. have ranged about $1.5 to 3 billion per year depending upon the timeframe. While less than the figures suggested by long-term loss estimates from this study, a single large earthquake impacting a populated urban area would quickly make up the difference in losses in one fell swoop. “It is fitting that this report was released on the same
New Wave Glider will study Earthquake Processes along U.S. Subduction Zones
The SV3 wave glider allows USGS scientists and collaborators to collect seafloor geodetic data, which relies on accurate measurements of the Earth's geometric shape, gravity field, and orientation in space to continuously monitor seafloor movement. The principal scientific objectives are to constrain shallow strain accumulation between large earthquakes and to estimate the amount of strain released during and shortly after large subduction zone earthquakes. Equipped to collect global navigation satellite system and acoustic ranging (GNSS-A) seafloor geodetic data from some of Earths most critical remaining data gaps, the glider can travel faster between sites and operate in high current areas like Alaska, thanks
Earthquake in Southern California 90 Years Ago Changed the Way We Build
When large, damaging earthquakes happen, it’s natural for people in the United States to ask, could it happen here? Large earthquakes have struck the U.S., many of them now beyond living memory. Some of these earthquakes provided impetus for risk-reduction efforts. The1933 Long Beach, California, earthquake was one such event. On March 10, 1933, the greater Los Angeles region, along with the rest of the country, struggled economically during the Great Depression. But not all local news was grim. Pleasant spring weather conditions prevailed across the region, and, at noon that day, the newly restored frigate Constitution sailed into Long Beach Harbor
USGS scientists Wes Thelen and Alex Iezzi talk about what they are doing to learn more about recent earthquake activity at Mount Adams (November 20, 2024)
In September, the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) and Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) located six earthquakes at Mount Adams ranging in magnitudes from 0.9 to 2.0. While six doesn’t sound like much, earthquakes at this volcano are typically located at a rate of about one earthquake every two to three years. With permission, CVO scientists rapidly installed three temporary seismic stations closer to the volcano to enlarge the permanent monitoring network. The temporary stations included a seismometer buried in the ground, a plastic case that contained batteries charged by a solar panel, and a cell antenna so data could
USGS seeking Loma Prieta felt reports from 35-year-old earthquake
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. — People who felt the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and beyond on October 17, 1989, are encouraged to share what they experienced using the USGS’s “Did you feel it?” reporting tool. Reports can now be filed in Spanish, simplified and traditional Chinese, as well as English. “The USGS wants to hear about your experience in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake if you were in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time,” said Christine Goulet, Earthquake Science Center director. “This type of data collected from the public helps us
Loma Prieta Earthquake 35th Anniversary Compilation
Take Action! This year's International ShakeOut Day is on October 17th, the same day as the Loma Prieta earthquake that occurred in 1989. The best way to stay safe during an earthquake is knowing what to do when the ground starts shaking. Check out the resources below for ways to practice and prepare for an earthquake. Retrospective Interviews On October 17, 1989, at 5:04 pm a magnitude M6.9 earthquake struck near Loma Prieta, California. It was a tragic reminder of the destructive power of earthquakes. However, it was also a watershed moment in seismic research. 30 years later, we revisit
The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake Anchorage Walking Tour
The magnitude 9.2 earthquake was the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history. The Great Alaska Earthquake, also known as the Good Friday Earthquake, occurred at a pivotal time in the history of earth science and helped lead to the acceptance of plate tectonic theory. All large subduction zone earthquakes are understood through insights learned from the 1964 event, and observations and interpretations of the earthquake have influenced the design of infrastructure and seismic monitoring systems now in place. The earthquake caused extensive damage across the State and triggered local tsunamis that devastated the Alaskan towns of Whittier, Valdez, and Seward.
First study to quantify global earthquake risk to mineral supplies
GOLDEN, Colo. — A new scientific mechanism for assessing the potential risk to worldwide mineral commodity supplies from seismic activity has been developed by USGS scientists. The methodology was developed through studying copper and rhenium but provides a framework for future studies assessing many other mineral commodities around the globe. Earthquakes have the potential to substantially affect mining operations, leading to supply chain disruptions that adversely affect the global economy. This new study quantifies that risk to copper and rhenium supply by examining the impact of earthquakes on mining, smelting, and refining operations across the globe. Many of the largest
Five Years After the Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
Rich Data Set Scientists continue to analyze the rich data set to address key questions in earthquake science, including what factors control the timing and location of aftershocks, and how the ground shakes close to large earthquakes. Investigations of the Ridgecrest Sequence have exploited data from seismic networks, geodetic networks, satellites and more. Complementing conventional seismic networks that have grown in sophistication, the scientific community also embraces additional technologies that allow earthquake shaking to be recorded in far greater detail than previously possible. One such technology was borrowed from the oil patch: simple nodal seismometers that have been used for many years to acquire seismic data for industry, primarily oil and gas exploration. These simple instruments
USGS Seeks Earthquake Hazards Research Proposals
USGS is currently soliciting project proposals for Fiscal Year 2025 grants on earthquake hazards science. The grants are a long-standing effort that contributes to the advancement of earthquake research. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is currently soliciting project proposals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 grants on earthquake hazards science and is authorized to award up to $7 million. Interested researchers can apply online at GRANTS.GOV under funding Opportunity Number G25AS00240. Note that all proposals submitted to the FY25 open application period are now limited to 15 pages, maximum. Please review the application instructions found in the GRANTS.GOV solicitation for more information. The grants offered