All News

Can a geological thermometer help forecast hydrothermal explosions in Yellowstone?

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 4 May 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Hydrothermal explosions are notoriously hard to predict. But a geological thermometer based on hot spring chemistry might help.

Low Streamflow in Massachusetts Affected by Climate and Human Activity

krossos@usgs.gov — Fri, 1 May 2026 10:54:05 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigated possible reasons for why Massachusetts has set record low streamflows recently even though climate conditions have been generally wetter than they were decades ago. They found that the low streamflows in the state are most influenced by a combination of human causes, such as population growth, and minimal precipitation during summer months.

Every Bird Counts – Delivering Gold Standard Science for North America’s Birds

megan_evans@ios.doi.gov — Fri, 1 May 2026 10:41:25 EDT

Each spring, as migratory birds span continents, our ability to protect them depends on one simple but powerful force: people paying attention. This World Migratory Bird Day, the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!” underscores how everyday observers and community scientists provide the essential data that drives bird conservation.

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea summit eruptions outside of Halemaʻumaʻu

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:21:08 EDT

We are used to seeing eruptions from the summit region of Kīlauea contained to the region that is referred to as Halemaʻumaʻu. Halemaʻumaʻu, home of Pele, is a crater situated within the larger, steep-walled caldera at the summit of Kīlauea named Kaluapele. While eruptions at the summit of Kīlauea most frequently occur within Halemaʻumaʻu, they can occur outside of the modern caldera as well.

Photo & Video Chronology — April 30, 2026 — Satellite imagery showing changes to Kīlauea summit region

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:56:10 EDT

Satellite images collected before and during the episodic lava fountaining eruption at the summit of Kīlauea show how the deposits from this eruption have changed the local landscape.

Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Spring 2026 Seminar

lisa_hoaks@ios.doi.gov — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:38:11 EDT

Join us for a virtual seminar to learn about our work on the Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA.

Proactive Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation in South Carolina

tmcconnell@usgs.gov — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:14:27 EDT

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Clemson University, and Dr. Luke Bower with the South Carolina Cooperative Research Unit have worked collaboratively with wildlife officials from North Carolina and Georgia to develop the Aquatic Planning Tool. The Aquatic Planning tool helps managers grapple with freshwater fish conservation questions

Tree rings provide an important multi-century context for the current wildfire crisis

sally_house@ios.doi.gov — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:40:35 EDT

Join us for a USGS Fueling Discovery webinar that takes in-depth look at what centuries of tree-ring data can tell us about today’s wildfire crisis.

Webinar Series - Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Science

ssoileau@usgs.gov — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:54:03 EDT

Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Science is a public webinar series hosted by USGS Wildland Fire Science and the Ecosystems Mission Area. These webinars are meant to provide information on the breadth of USGS fire science used by stakeholders to make decisions before, during, and after wildfires in ecosystems across the U.S.

USGS Astrogeology at LPSC 2026: Advancing Planetary Science and Collaboration

jrichie@usgs.gov — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:00:59 EDT

Insights, Networking, and Scientific Progress at the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference

Several USGS Astrogeology Science Center scientists and technicians attended the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Texas from March 10–14, 2026, for professional development and to share their expertise in planetary science.

Lithium in Eastern States Could Replace Imports for a Century or More

seth_amgott@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:11:34 EDT

RESTON, Va. — The Appalachian region of the eastern United States contains an estimated 2.3 million metric tons of undiscovered, economically recoverable lithium, enough to replace 328 years of U.S. imports at last year’s level, according to new research by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Detecting a Grassland Invader, Above and Below Ground

cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:47:39 EDT

Invasive plants are rapidly transforming the prairie grasslands of the Southern Great Plains. Researchers supported by the South Central CASC are turning to innovative tools to better detect these species, map their spread, and assess their impacts, both above and below the soil.

USGS announces release of updated 3D Hydrography Program data service and supporting tables

ajonesi@usgs.gov — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:30:00 EDT

The updated service includes new geospatial data based on 3D Elevation Program data. Nationwide Flow Network Derivatives (FNDs) and flow probability statistics are included as separate, downloadable files.

Tracking sediment erosion and transport in a reef-adjacent watershed

ppearsall@usgs.gov — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:41:42 EDT

A new study from USGS uses strontium isotopes and mixing models to determine the provenance of terrestrial sediment clouding an ecologically important bay in southwestern Puerto Rico, offering a clearer path for restoration efforts aimed at protecting coastal waters and territorially protected coral reef habitats.

New Nationwide Tool Helps Answer: Do We Have Enough Water?

jlavista@usgs.gov — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 EDT

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey released the first nationwide tool to help water planners determine if communities have enough water for current and future needs.

How much water erupts from Old Faithful Geyser?

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:30:00 EDT

In a recent study, scientists used several novel methods to measure the volume of water erupted from the iconic Old Faithful Geyser. The average volume of water from 45 eruptions was 27.9 cubic meters (7,370 gallons) but varied from 12.2 to 44.3 cubic meters (3,223 to 11,703 gallons).

Photo & Video Chronology — April 23, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 45

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:52:02 EDT

Episode 45 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at 1:34 a.m. HST on April 23, after two days of precursory activity, and ended at 10:01 a.m. HST the same day. The north vent erupted lava fountains for 8.5 hours, and there was no significant tephra fallout on infrastructure due to northerly winds. Minor ash was reported in Pāhala.

SPCMSC and University of Miami Scientists Collaborate on New Experiments to Guide National Park Service Coral Restoration Plans

marquetta_wilson@ios.doi.gov — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:00:00 EDT

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey’s St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) and the University of Miami have launched a new collaborative effort to support the National Park Service (NPS) in restoring endangered corals within Dry Tortugas National Park.

Models Don’t Always Keep Up With Species Range Shifts

cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:20:12 EDT

A new National CASC study found that models that predict species range shifts don’t necessarily align with how species are actually moving in response to a changing climate. This finding could help researchers refine these models to improve future forecasts of biodiversity redistribution.

Volcano Watch — Shallow earthquakes and ground deformation at Kīlauea’s summit highlight hazards near Halemaʻumaʻu

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:31:06 EDT

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) detected an increase in shallow seismicity and localized ground deformation beneath the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, in Kīlauea summitʻs south caldera region. This activity highlights the dynamic and hazardous nature of the closed area in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where changes can occur quickly, resulting in rapidly escalating hazards.

IGBST Public Notifications and Resources

ssoileau@usgs.gov — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:15:00 EDT

As part of ongoing efforts required under the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) captures and monitors grizzly bears for research and monitoring purposes. Here you will find capture notifications for the current field season.

California Water Science Center Scientists Share their Research at 2026 IEP Annual Workshop

harry_ackley@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:37:04 EDT

From March 16th through the 18th, Scientists from the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) presented their research at the 2026 Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) Workshop in Sacramento.

Sharing science at the Pacific Islanders Encouraging Fun, Science & Technology (PIEFEST) festival

jlball@usgs.gov — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:56:15 EDT

P.I.E.F.E.S.T. – what’s that?? It stands for Pacific Islanders Encouraging Fun, Engineering, Science, and Technology, and the 5th Annual P.I.E.F.E.S.T. in San Mateo, CA was where California Volcano Observatory Scientists spent their Saturday on April 11.

April Science You Can Use newsletter features wildfire risk mitigation research from USGS and collaborators

edietrich@usgs.gov — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:56:12 EDT

The US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station publishes a monthly newsletter, Science You Can Use, that summarizes current scientific research for land managers. This month's newsletter features multiple components of the wildfire mitigation research completed by the interdisciplinary Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team. Read the newsletter and learn more about WiRē through the links below.

No longer in the dark: Shining a light on Yellowstone’s hydrothermal explosions

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Determining the ages of hydrothermal explosions in Yellowstone is difficult because traditional dating methods often don’t work on those deposits. But an emerging application of a technique called luminescence dating literally sheds new light on this important problem.

Protecting Tennessee’s Native Bass Heritage

dchilds@usgs.gov — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 22:18:39 EDT

USGS researchers at the Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit (TNCFRU), The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Tennessee Tech University (TTU), and bass anglers are working together to address an emerging conservation challenge: the spread of invasive Alabama bass (Micropterus henshalli) into Tennessee waters.

Amphibian Week with USGS: Science for Healthy Habitats

sally_house@ios.doi.gov — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:44:15 EDT

Amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians) are key contributors to healthy ecosystems and important indicators of environmental change. During Amphibian Week, the USGS is highlighting how long-term science is helping us understand amphibian declines and support conservation across the nation. Attend our webinar or one of our local events for more amphibian fun!

USGS Investigates Groundwater Drought Metrics Across the United States

krossos@usgs.gov — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:59:54 EDT

In a pioneering study led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), researchers analyzed groundwater levels across the conterminous United States to see how certain drought metrics, like severity and duration, change over time.

USGS and Uzbek hydrogeologists meet to discuss groundwater availability and resource management

smieszek@usgs.gov — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:51:50 EDT

USGS hosted a delegation of scientists from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology (MinGeo) at the USGS Arizona Water Science Center in Tucson (March 30-April 3, 2026).

Volcano Watch — Fountains and festivities: Kīlauea erupts episode 44 as Merrie Monarch begins

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:03:30 EDT

As Hilo was bustling with activity for the Merrie Monarch Festival, Kīlauea was brewing for episode 44 of lava fountaining, which happened for 8.5 hours on the day that the renowned hula competition began.