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…
What is the Alaska Science Portal?
The portal is a searchable, web map-based tool to facilitate public and partner access to information on over 160 subjects under USGS study in Alaska.
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 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 are Tsunamis?
Tsunamis are ocean waves caused by large earthquakes and landslides that occur near or under the ocean. Scientists do not use the term 'tidal wave' because these waves are not caused by tides. Tsunami waves are unlike typical ocean waves generated by wind and storms. When tsunamis approach…
How can I find streamflow or water-level data that will tell me if a particular river will be suitable for rafting, kayaking, or fishing today?
USGS has a general information page at http://recreation.usgs.gov Private organizations, such as American Whitewater , provide alternative resources that use USGS and other information for planning water-based activities.
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…
Are earthquake probabilities or forecasts the same as prediction?
No. Probabilities are estimated from the rate of aftershocks and these are sometimes confused with the prediction of a particular event.
At what magnitude does damage begin to occur in an earthquake?
It isn't that simple. There is not one magnitude above which damage will occur. It also depends on other variables, such as the distance from the earthquake, what type of soil you are on. That being said, damage does not usually occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or…
How can I find the source and vintage of each data layer of the "Digital Map - Beta?"
Not only will the credit legend, in the lower left-hand corner of the map, list the date and source of the data, but metadata will contain this information as well. The quadrangle-specific metadata are embedded in the GeoPDF. Metadata can be opened by clicking on the paper clip icon in the lower…
Is there water under the ground?
Yes. The main body of subsurface water is found in the saturated zone of aquifers. Aquifers can be only a few feet below the surface or more than a thousand feet deep. Aquifers are the primary source of drinking water in arid and semi-arid parts of the United States where the amount of surface water…