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Results for “Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)”

Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

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At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1987

Volcanic processes in the Solar System

This article stresses that terrestrial volcanism represents only part of the range of volcanism in the solar system. Earth processes of volcanicity are dominated by plate tectonics, which does not seem to operate on other planets, except possibly on Venus. Lunar volcanicity is dominated by lava effusion at enormous rates. Mars is similar, with the addition to huge shield volcanoes developed over fixed hotspots. Io, the moon closest to Jupiter, is the most active body in the Solar System and, for example, much sulphur and silicates are emitted. The eruptions of Io are generated by heating caused by tides induced by Jupiter. Europa nearby seems to emit water from fractures and Ganymede is similar. The satellites of Saturn and Uranus are also marked by volcanic craters, but they are of very low temperature melts, possibly of ammonia and water. The volcanism of the solar system is generally more exotic, the greater the distance from Earth. -A.Scarth

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1987

Three volcanoes erupt in Alaska

This is a description, illustrated with photographs, of the 1986 eruptions of Augustine, Pavlof and Akutan volcanoes. Augustine erupted pyroclastic flows, a large eruptive column, ash, and eventually a dome. Pavlof had an important Strombolian eruption which was one of the biggest in the last 30 years. Akutan had a small eruption at the same time. -A.Scarth

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1988

Salton Sea Scientific Drilling Program

This article briefly describes the progress of drilling in the Salton Sea to depths exceeding 10 000 ft (3050 m) in the search for geothermal energy supplies. -A.Scarth

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1988

US Geological Survey begins seismic ground response experiments in Washington State

This article briefly describes the experimental monitoring of minor seismic features caused by distant nuclear explosions, mining blasts and rhythmic human pushing against wooden homes. Some means of response prediction are outlined in Washington State and some effects of seismic amplification by weak clayey sediments are described. The results of several experiments are described. -A.Scarth

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1989

Geological hazards programs and research in the USA

Geological hazards have been studied for centuries, but government support of research to lessen their effects is relatively new. This article briefly describes government programs and research underway in the USA that are directed towards reducing losses of life and property from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. -from Author

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1989

NEIC - the National Earthquake Information Center

The National Earthquake Information Center of the US Geological Survey has three main missions. First, the NEIC determines as rapidly and as accurately as possible, the location and size of all destructive earthquakes that occur worldwide. Second, the NEIC collects and provides to scientists and to the public an extensive seismic database that serves as a solid foundation for scientific research. Third, the NEIC pursues an active research program to improve its ability to locate earthquakes and to understand the earthquake mechanism. These efforts are all aimed at mitigating the risks of earthquakes to mankind. -from Authors

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1987

Charles F. Richter: A personal tribute

With the death of Charles Richter in 1985, the seismological community lost a renowned colleague, and many of us lost a close friend and advisor. Charles was born on a farm in Ohio in 1900, received his A.B. from Stanford in 1920, and his Ph.D. from Caltech in 1928. Virtually his entire professional career was spent at the Seismological Laboratory in Pasadena, first as an employee of the Carnegie Institution of Washington and later as a Caltech faculty member. Following his retirement from Caltech in 1970, he was active for several years in the consulting firm of Lindvall, Richter, and Associates. His wife, Lillian, died in 1972, and they had no children. Richter served as President of the Seismological Society of America from 1959 to 1960 and was the second recipient of its medal in 1977.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1990

Can an earthquake prediction and warning system be developed?

Natural disasters affect countries large and small, rich, or poor, whatever their political persuasion. The toll exacted by natural calamities each year drains the human and economic resources of every nation and stands as one of the formidable barriers to national, regional, and world development. Over the last 20 years, natural disasters have killed nearly 3 million people and disrupted the lives of over 800 million others. In 2 years there were more than 50 serious natural disasters, including landslides in Italy, France, and Colombia; a typhoon in Korea; wildfires in China and the United States; a windstorm in England; grasshopper plagues in Africa's horn and the Sahel; tornadoes in Canada; devastating earthquakes in Soviet Armenia and Tadzhikstand; infestations in Africa; landslides in Brazil; and tornadoes in the United States

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1991

Engineering seismology

Twenty years have elasped since the first issue of Earthquakes & Volcanoes. Apart from the remarkable increases in the number of scientists actively enagaged in earth sciences, what are the outstanding achievements during the past 20 years in the field of engineering seismology, which is my own speciality?

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1990

Earth sciences and emergency management

As understanding of California's earthquake risk had increased over the past decade, there has been a concurrent expansion of interactions between emergency management professionals and earth scientists. The effort have resulted not from a formal plan-though the U.S National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program has provided much of the support for scientific advances since 1977-but from interactions focused on specific projects. three examples stand out, perhaps suggesting how mutually beneficial exchanges can simultaneously enhance science and public safety.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1992

The Parkfield earthquake prediction of October 1992; the emergency services response

The science of earthquake prediction is interesting and worthy of support. In many respects the ultimate payoff of earthquake prediction or earthquake forecasting is how the information can be used to enhance public safety and public preparedness. This is a particularly important issue here in California where we have such a high level of seismic risk historically, and currently, as a consequence of activity in 1989 in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Humboldt County in April of this year (1992), and in southern California in the Landers-Big Bear area in late June of this year (1992). We are currently very concerned about the possibility of a major earthquake, one or more, happening close to one of our metropolitan areas. Within that context, the Parkfield experiment becomes very important.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1988

State public policy issues involved with the Parkfield prediction experiment.

The earthquake-prediction experiment at Parkfield may well be the most important such experiment currently underway worldwide. Its importance, however, extends beyond the scientific data that will be gathered and whether those data that will be gathered and whether those data can provide reliable prediction methods. Important public policy lessons are being learned (and are yet to be learned), and these lessons may be transferable to other parts of California and the nation. Indeed, the Parkfield experiment has captured the interest of numerous Californians, including State officials, emergency managers, the news media, and at least some of the public.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (USGS)↗
USGS1988

What was that?

At 4:20 local time on September 19, 1986, Mrs. Laurie Harder saw a meteor passing across the sky above her home in Yellowknife, N.W.T. She reported her observation to Yellowknife Seismic Station staff who examined the records of the Yellowknife seismic array to see if the associated meteoroid had hit Earth and generated observalbe seismic signals.

Yellowknife↗
USGS1988

Geophysical instrumentation near Parkfield

The geophysical instrumentation operated by the U.S Geological Survey and others near Parkfield is designed to monitor ongoing tectonic processes that generate earthquakes and to record the strong shaking that results from larger shocks and its effects. this discussion focuses on the former objectives; the latter is discussed in the next section "Ground Shaking and Engineering Studies on the Parkfield Section of the San Andreas Fault Zone." Because scientists expect the anticipated earthquake to resemble the historic Parkfield earthquakes, and in particular that in 1966, the data from the 1966 shock were used to site instruments for optimun benefit before, during, and after the next shock. the primary feature used for siting was the "1966 rupture zone," which is shown as the orange fault traces on the maps in this section. This zone defines the extent of surface tectonic cracks in 1966 and includes the source areas for fore shocks to the 1934 and 1966 earthquakes (north end of the zone) as well as for apparent precursory fault creep in 1966 (near center of the zone). Scientists believe that if precursors to the next shock are observed, they most likely will be near the 1966 rupture zone.

California↗
USGS1988

History of significant earthquakes in the Parkfield area

Seismicity on the San Andreas fault near Parkfield occurs in a tectonic section that differs markedly from neighboring sections along the San Andreas to the northwest and to the southeast. Northwest of the Parkfield section, small shocks (magnitudes of less than 4) do occur frequently, but San Andreas movement occurs predominantly as aseismic fault creep; shocks of magnitude 6 and larger are unknown, and little, if any, strain is accumulating. In contrast, very few small earthquakes and no aseismic slip have been observed on the adjacent section to the southeast, the Cholame section, which is considered to be locked, in as much as it apparently ruptures exclusively in large earthquakes (magnitudes greater than 7), most recently during the great Fort Tejon earthquake of 1857. The Parkfield section is thus a transition zone between two sections having different modes of fault failure. In fact, the regularity of significant earthquakes at Parkfield since 1857 may be due to the nearly constant slip rate pattern on the adjoining fault sections. Until the magnitude 6.7 Coalinga earthquake on May 2, 1983, 40 kilmoeters northeast of Parkfield, the Parkfield section had been relatively free of stress changes due to nearby shocks; the effect of the Coalinga shock on the timing of the next Parkfield shock is not known.

California↗
USGS1989

Mount St. Helens and Kilauea volcanoes

From the south, snow-covered Mount St. Helens looms proudly under a fleecy halo of clouds, rivaling the majestic beauty of neighboring Mount Rainer, Mount Hood, and Mount Adams. Salmon fishermen dot the shores of lakes and streams in the mountain's shadow, trucks loaded with fresh-cut timber barrel down backroads, and deer peer out from stands of tall fir trees.

Mt. St. Helen and Kilauea↗