All articles tagged with #usgs
A 2.3-magnitude earthquake struck Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County around 10:17 a.m., about 4.5 miles underground, felt by more than 900 people. Officials say quakes of this size are typically minor with little to no damage, and there are no expected impacts in New York City; the event is linked to the Ramapo Fault region.
Yellowstone’s Norris Geyser Basin has seen the acidic Echinus Geyser erupt again since February, with bursts every 2–5 hours reaching 20–30 feet—the first sustained activity since 2017. Experts note the eruptions may last only a month or two before dormancy returns, and it’s uncertain whether they’ll continue into summer due to the geyser’s rare chemistry that allows acidic waters to coexist with a relatively intact plumbing system.
A Nature Communications study using satellite data from 1984–2024 finds Ventura County’s coast was Southern California’s fastest-growing beach, adding about 500 acres overall though sand accumulation created erosion elsewhere (e.g., near Mugu Lagoon). Growth is tied to downstream sediment from rivers and influenced by coastal structures that block sand flow; dredging helps but isn’t always effective at vulnerable spots. Future beach extent will depend on sea‑level rise and ongoing coastal development along the shore.
Ground around Yellowstone’s northern caldera has risen about an inch over a 20-mile area since July, a deformation linked to deep magma movement. Scientists say this is normal activity for the hotspot and not a sign of an imminent eruption, noting Yellowstone hasn’t erupted in about 70,000 years. Public reporting and USGS footage emphasize there’s no eruption threat at this time.
USGS scientists report a roughly one-inch uplift over a 19-mile area near Yellowstone’s Norris Geyser Basin, likely due to deep magmatic activity about 10 miles beneath the surface. It’s considered part of the Norris Uplift Anomaly and does not indicate an imminent eruption of the park’s supervolcano. A separate Yellowstone study found deep-borehole microbes spike around earthquakes, revealing subsurface life dynamics with implications for life-detection on other worlds. In short, Yellowstone stays geologically active, but a cataclysmic eruption is not expected soon.
Multiple earthquakes, including a 4.2-magnitude quake, hit the Bay Area as Super Bowl LX week begins, with epicenters in San Ramon near Levi’s Stadium. No injuries or major damage reported, Bart delays noted, and Patriots and Seahawks players arrived in San Jose for events ahead of kickoff.
A magnitude-4.2 earthquake (following a 3.9 and a series of tremors) was felt in Santa Clara on Monday morning as Super Bowl 60 preparations pick up at Levi's Stadium; the U.S. Geological Survey notes a depth of about 9.4 kilometers, with ESPN confirming the tremor felt in town and noting that the area has experienced multiple tremors in recent months.
A 3.8-magnitude earthquake near Ohlman, Illinois, occurred at about 1:27 a.m. Tuesday, roughly 5.5 miles underground and about 90 miles northeast of St. Louis. No damage was reported, but tremors were felt across the Metro East and into Missouri, and USGS encouraged residents to submit Did You Feel It reports to aid assessments.
A magnitude-4.9 earthquake centered about 12 miles northeast of Indio rattled Southern California Monday evening, with several aftershocks reported (the largest around 3.5 magnitude) and no immediate damage or injuries. USGS had initially listed a higher magnitude before upgrading to 4.9, and officials warned more aftershocks may occur in the coming days, though the chance of a larger quake is small. Millions reportedly received alerts seconds before the quake.
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake shook Northern California near Susanville, causing moderate shaking locally and light shaking as far as Sacramento and Klamath Falls, with no reports of damage. The quake occurred at a depth of 3.4 miles and was part of the region's typical seismic activity.
San Ramon experienced a series of at least nine earthquakes, with the largest being a 4.0 magnitude, due to complex fault interactions and fluid infiltration in the area, which has been hit by nearly 150 quakes in the past month.
The Kīlauea volcano on Hawaiʻi is currently paused but is expected to erupt again between December 22 and 27, with ongoing monitoring indicating a new episode of high lava fountains. The volcano has been erupting episodically since December 23, 2024, with the next episode likely to occur within the forecast window, although the timing may shift based on inflation rates.
The USGS has released a free, detailed 25K Recreational Topo series of topographic maps designed for hikers, bikers, and boaters, emphasizing trails, water sources, and landmarks with a clear, consistent layout, accessible via a web app, and supporting safe outdoor exploration with current data and offline capabilities.
A strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred near Siargao Island in the Philippines on October 17, 2025, at a depth of 69 km, felt by thousands across the region with minimal expected damage and low risk of fatalities, according to USGS estimates.
A recent earthquake felt in Berkeley was near the overdue Hayward Fault, with USGS indicating an 18% chance of aftershocks over magnitude 3 and a 2% chance of larger ones in the next week, raising concerns about a potential significant quake in the region.