All News

A New Framework for Making Actionable Science More Actionable

cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:41:49 EDT

Researchers propose a practical approach to help scientists better understand and serve natural resource managers.

USGS Scientist Contributes to World Ocean Assessment

ppearsall@usgs.gov — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:16:15 EDT

USGS Research Geologist Curt Storlazzi is among more than 650 international scientists contributing to the United Nations' third World Ocean Assessment, now available in a dynamic, easy-to-navigate web format.

New 3D Elevation Program Fact Sheet for North Dakota

jmbaker@usgs.gov — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:39:07 EDT

Learn about 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) lidar data for North Dakota in the new fact sheet -
The 3D Elevation Program - Supporting North Dakota's Economy

Magnitude-3.8 Earthquake Information Statement

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:00:13 EDT

A magnitude-3.8 earthquake occurred 13 miles (21 km) south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 3 mi (6 km) below sea level at 6:20 a.m. HST on June 22, 2026.

Oops, it did it again: Another small hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Early on the morning of Saturday, June 13, 2026, a small hydrothermal explosion occurred at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park. Although smaller than the explosion that occurred in the same area in 2024, it emphasizes the dynamic and hazardous nature of hydrothermal activity in the region.

Volcano Watch — What is the difference between an eruption and an episode?

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:25:04 EDT

Over the last year and a half, the historic episodic eruption at the summit of Kīlauea has had 49 episodes of lava fountaining, with episode 50 in the forecast for next week. But why are these individual fountaining events considered episodes instead of separate eruptions, and what’s the difference?

Volcano Minute — Episodes and Eruptions

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:38:29 EDT

Over the last year and a half, Kīlauea’s summit has produced an impressive 49 episodes of lava fountaining—and episode 50 may be just around the corner. Why are these considered episodes instead of separate eruptions?

USGS: Lithium in Carolinas Could Replace Imports for a Century or More

jolene_gittens@ios.doi.gov — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:46:03 EDT

RESTON, Va. — The southern Appalachian region of the eastern United States contains an estimated 1.43 million metric tons of undiscovered, economically recoverable lithium oxide, enough to replace 201 years of U.S. imports at last year’s level, according to new research by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Media Alert: Low-level flights to image geology of southern Colorado

jolene_gittens@ios.doi.gov — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:35:11 EDT

RESTON, Va. – The U.S. Geological Survey plans low-level helicopter flights over southern Colorado to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. The survey will begin in June and continue for two months, weather and other flight restrictions permitting.

Explore Global Coastal Research Using the COAWST Applications Catalog

sernst@usgs.gov — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:07:14 EDT

Around the world, scientists are using the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Waves-Sediment Transport (COAWST) Modeling System to better understand and forecast short-term changes in coastal conditions. To showcase the breadth of this work, the USGS developed the COAWST Applications Catalog—a collection of published COAWST-based studies spanning multiple countries, coastlines, and scientific questions.

USGS Releases Expedition Report for Samoa Basin Box Coring Effort

ppearsall@usgs.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:05:44 EDT

On leg three of the American Samoa Mapping Project, an interagency-supported hydrograph survey project led by NOAA and in partnership with BOEM, USGS collected box cores and interdisciplinary datasets to inform prospectivity analyses throughout the region.

A More Intelligent World

shipra_shukla@ios.doi.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:24:37 EDT

Two scientists from the California Water Science Center will share their work at the 2026 Esri User Conference, highlighting innovative applications of Geographic Information System (GIS) and water science. Their presentations showcase how geospatial tools help advance scientific understanding and support informed resource management.

Magnitude-4.5 Earthquake Information Statement

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:56:27 EDT

On Wednesday, June 17, 2:14 a.m. HST, a magnitude-4.5 earthquake occurred 11 mi (17 km) southeast of Pāhala on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 21 mi (33 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

Central Plains Water Science Center Quarterly Newsletter - June 2026

cdow@usgs.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:58:26 EDT

June 2026 issue of the KSWSC Quarterly Newsletter from the USGS Central Plains Water Science Center.

New Research Shows a Troubling Trend for Chesapeake Bay Osprey

cknapp@usgs.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:53:45 EDT

USGS research shows that Osprey reproduction declined when nests were located in areas with higher‑salinity water, a trend observed across multiple areas of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Central Plains Water Science Center Presents: Science Seminar Series - June 2026

cdow@usgs.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:51:06 EDT

Topic: Pesticides in Streams and Other Environmental Matrices in Areas Impacted by Pesticide Coated Seeds.

Texas LiDAR-derived StreamStats application now available

tara_gross@ios.doi.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:10:42 EDT

Texas StreamStats with new LiDAR-derived data provides an opportunity for improved accuracy of watershed delineations and streamlines.

Eastern Ecological Science Center Marine Research Highlights

kknotts@usgs.gov — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:25:00 EDT

June is National Ocean Month! Explore USGS ocean science and learn how environmental DNA (eDNA) helps Eastern Ecological Science Center study marine ecosystems.

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit eruption episode 49

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:52:49 EDT

Episode 49 of lava fountaining during the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea took place for 7.5 hours on June 14. The eruption is currently paused.

What a Super El Niño could mean for Alaska’s seabirds, salmon, and seas

sally_house@ios.doi.gov — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:35:28 EDT

NOAA has declared an El Niño in June 2026, with a "Super El Niño" expected to peak this winter. USGS researchers are tracking how warming waters threaten Alaska's ecosystems, from seabird die-offs and harmful algal blooms to heat-stressed salmon. USGS science helps reveal the connections between these climate events and the fish and wildlife that Alaskans and ecosystems depend on.

Supporting Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Recovery Efforts

sally_house@ios.doi.gov — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:42:31 EDT

Join us for a Pollinator Week edition of Friday's Findings that highlights methods the USGS is developing to find undiscovered populations of the endangered rusty patched bumble bee.

Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
Time: 2:00-2:30 PM Eastern/11:00 -11:30 AM Pacific
Speaker: Clint Otto, Research Ecologist, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

The fascinating history of Imperial Geyser

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:30:00 EDT

In the far southwest corner of Lower Geyser Basin is Imperial Geyser—a colorful pool that is also a perpetual spouter. The feature seems to have formed in 1927 and for a time was the most spectacular geyser in Yellowstone National Park!

Cooperative Research Unit Awards

tmcconnell@usgs.gov — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:03:41 EDT

The Cooperative Research Units Program is excited to announce the winners of our 2026 Outstanding Awards selection for Best Student or Post-Doc led paper, Outstanding MS Student, Outstanding PhD Student, and Outstanding Alumni.

Volcano Minute — The 1926 eruption of Mauna Loa occurred 100 years ago this year

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:05:12 EDT

This past April marked one hundred years since Mauna Loa’s 1926 Southwest Rift Zone eruption — an eruption remembered for its dramatic lava flows, community impacts, and scientific firsts.

Media Alert: Low-level flights to image geology of eastern North Dakota

seth_amgott@ios.doi.gov — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:14:19 EDT

RESTON, Va. – The U.S. Geological Survey plans low-level airplane flights over eastern North Dakota and small nearby areas of Minnesota and South Dakota to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. The survey will begin in early June and will continue into the fall, weather and other flight restrictions permitting.

Media Alert: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology of Lake Superior Basin

jason_burton@ios.doi.gov — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:54:19 EDT

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey plans low-level helicopter flights over the Lake Superior Basin in western Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northeastern Minnesota to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. The survey will begin in June and will continue into the fall, weather and other flight restrictions permitting.

Volcano Watch — Remembering the 1926 Mauna Loa eruption a century later

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:10:46 EDT

April marked the 100-year anniversary of Mauna Loa’s 1926 Southwest Rift Zone eruption. This eruption is most remembered for the destruction of Ho‘ōpūloa village, a few miles north of Miloliʻi Bay. It also marks the first known instance of aerial photography of an advancing Hawaiian lava flow, and well-organized police-led eruption crowd management.

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:10:20 EDT

USGS scientists conduct Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight on June 9, 2026, to document changes to the eruptive vents and crater floor after episode 48 that took place on June 1.

Magnitude-4.7 Earthquake Information Statement

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:07:49 EDT

On Tuesday, June 9, 10:37 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.7 earthquake occurred 14 mi (23 km) east of Pāpa‘ikou on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 24 mi (39 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

USGS Participates in 2026 Native American Fish and Wildlife Society National Conference

kmalpeli@usgs.gov — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 09:01:29 EDT

USGS staff from multiple centers participated in the 2026 Native American Fish and Wildlife Society’s national annual conference.