What I Learned on My Summer Internship at the EPA
By Alex GorskyMy internship at the Environmental Protection Agency was a whirlwind of excitement and opportunity. I was able to meet so many interesting and important people. Not only did I meet directors of each of the EPA’s program offices, I also got to meet Administrator Lisa Jackson. At the…
I want to buy a topographic map. How do I get it?
You can purchase topographic maps several ways: Download or online from the USGS Store at http://store.usgs.gov Click on Maps in the left margin or click on the Map Locator near the center of the screen. Topographic maps in GeoPDF format are available for free download by using the Map…
What do I need to know to get my GPS into correct operation?
We generally emphasize the following four points: a) Select a coordinate system (also called a "position format") you feel comforatble using. We suggest using Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) or latitude/longitude. Most users find UTM coordinates easier to locate on USGS…
Why aren't we drilling in the Bakken Formation?
Oil has been produced from the Bakken Formation since the 1950’s. However, drilling has increased significantly in the last several years. The USGS does not maintain statistics on oil production, however, this information can be obtained from publicly available sources like the North Dakota…
How do scientists study the south Florida Ecosystem?
Scientists travel to Florida several times a year to collect samples. In the Everglades, peat cores are taken and modern pollen traps are set throughout the area. The cores are cut into 2cm pieces. Each piece is treated with strong chemicals in a lab to dissolve the remains of any organisms and to…
What is USGS WaterALERT?
The U.S. Geological Survey WaterAlert service sends e-mail or text messages when certain parameters measured by a USGS data-collection station exceed user-definable thresholds. The development and maintenance of the WaterAlert system is supported through the USGS Cooperative Water Program , the USGS…
What is a fault and what are the different types?
A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other. This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an earthquake - or may occur slowly, in the form of creep . Faults may range in length from a few millimeters to thousands of…
What was the extent of ash deposition from the largest Yellowstone eruptions?
During the three giant caldera-forming eruptions that occurred between 2.1 million and 640,000 years ago, tiny particles of volcanic debris ( volcanic ash ) covered much of the western half of North America, likely a third of a meter deep several hundred kilometers from Yellowstone and several…
How Hot Is A Volcano?
Lava and Lava Flows The temperature of basalt lava at Kilauea reaches 1,160 degrees Celsius (2,120 degrees Fahrenheit). -- USGS/VHP Website, 1998 The tube system (lava tubes) of episode 53 (Pu'u O'o eruption, Hawaii) carried lava for 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the vent to the sea. So…
How many earthquakes worldwide occur each day? Each year?
Descriptor Magnitude Average Annually Great 8 and higher 1 Major 7 - 7.9 1 Strong 6 - 6.9 120 Moderate 5 - 5.9 800 Light 4 - 4.9 6,200 (estimated) Minor 3 - 3.9 49,000 (estimated) Very Minor < 3.0 Magnitude 2 - 3: about 1,000 per day Magnitude 1 - 2:…
What is the National Hydrography Dataset?
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is the culmination of recent cooperative efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It combines the best of the EPA Reach File Version 3.0 (RF3) and USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) hydrography files: hydrologic…
What determines if a well will go dry?
A well is said to have gone dry when water levels drop below a pump intake. This does not mean that a dry well will never have water in it again, as the water level may come back through time as recharge increases. The water level in a well depends on a number of things, such as the depth of the…