Renewing the American Dream: Healthy Environment for Healthy Communities and Healthy Families
This is cross-posted from The White House BlogBy Al ArmendarizGrowing up in the tightly knit community of El Paso, Texas, I was always sure of a few things.One was that family was of the utmost importance. It’s the kind of place where several generations might live within a few blocks of each…
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…
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 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…
How can I find USGS natural hazards information (earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.)?
Go to the Natural Hazards Gateway , which includes: Earthquakes Floods Geomagnetism (solar flares, etc.) Hurricanes Landslides Seismic Zone Mapping Sinkholes Tsunamis Volcanoes Wildfires
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 is the relationship between faults and earthquakes? What happens to a fault when an earthquake occurs?
Earthquakes occur on faults - strike-slip earthquakes occur on strike-slip faults , normal earthquakes occur on normal faults , and thrust earthquakes occur on thrust or reverse faults. When an earthquake occurs on one of these faults, the rock on one side of the fault slips with respect to the…
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…
Where can I learn more about flood forecasting?
Most currently available flood maps are used to assist planners in identifying and preparing for flooding scenarios. These maps portray statistics based on long-term historical records to estimate and forecast an approaching weather system. For more information on the techniques of flood statistics…
Do you have information about water hardness in the United States?
You can view a national map of hardness in surface water at water hardness map . Hardness data (reflecting mostly calcium, plus a little magnesium) for individual drinking-water suppliers is on the following page: EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water It is important to note that the U.S.…
Where can I find information about the quality of the water in a lake or river near me?
The USGS Web site Water Resources of the United States can direct you to information about your local water body. Under the heading 'Local Information' click on 'Local Websites & USGS Contacts in Your State!' There you can select your state on a map to find local information.…
What kinds of amphibian malformations have been noticed, and how widespread is the problem?
A: Multiple limbs, missing limbs, and facial abnormalities are the main developmental malformations seen. Malformed amphibians are now documented in 44 states, in 38 species of frogs and 19 species of toads, with estimates of deformities as high as 60 percent in some local populations. Scientists…
