All News

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit episode 53

ldesmither@usgs.gov — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:53:23 EDT

Lava fountaining episode 53 at the summit of Kīlauea started on August 12 at 3:45 p.m. HST.

Science Spotlight: USGS Monitoring of Glacial Outburst Flood in Juneau Alaska

lmcduffie@usgs.gov — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:01:30 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center is working in cooperation with the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), and the Corps of Engineers (COE) to provide real-time warning of an impending glacial outburst flood and monitor Mendenhall River conditions during the flood.

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

mzoeller@usgs.gov — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:30:00 EDT

On Tuesday, August 11, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists completed a brief helicopter overflight of Halema‘uma‘u crater, site of the Kīlauea summit eruption that is expected to see a fifty-third lava fountaining episode in the coming days.

Reeling in Cleaner Data: Experts Use AI to Support Resilient Inland Fisheries

cduzet@usgs.gov — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:06:29 EDT

An interdisciplinary team of fisheries science experts is using artificial intelligence to help tackle one of the most data-limited areas of environmental science: inland fisheries.

Expanding Our Global ZIGsight into Freshwater Ecology

jlmckay@usgs.gov — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:01:17 EDT

The Zooplankton International Geospatial (ZIG) dataset is a global, harmonized collection of freshwater zooplankton records paired with water chemistry data, built through a multi‑year community effort. It includes information from 311 lakes across 37 countries, providing extensive long‑term observations that help researchers analyze ecological change.

Western Fisheries Research Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Meeting - August 19, 2026

nandita_kohli@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:37:34 EDT

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for oversight of the animal care and use program and the components as described in the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Advancing the Science and Management of Range Shifts

sbayliss@usgs.gov — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:39:01 EDT

Scientists from the USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers published a new paper outlining a research agenda for supporting management of species with shifting ranges, including understanding the drivers of range shifts, evaluating management strategies, and improving how science supports decision-making across ecological and jurisdictional boundaries.

Understanding Uncertainty, Four Realms at a Time

sbayliss@usgs.gov — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:31:03 EDT

By melding scientific measures with human emotional responses and values, National CASC researchers and partners discuss a more holistic way to understand the uncertainties caused by accelerating global changes.

Addressing Knowledge Gaps on the Potential Effects of Critical Minerals on Aquatic Life

kkovacs@usgs.gov — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:25:04 EDT

Join this Friday's Findings to learn how USGS is investigating the potential effects of critical minerals on aquatic life and characterizing the bioavailability and toxicity of these elements in aquatic ecosystems.

USGS advances water data collaboration in Kyrgyz Republic

smieszek@usgs.gov — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:51:50 EDT

USGS scientists traveled to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic June 20-27, 2026, to meet with government agencies and other organizations with active water projects to discuss how USGS science could support priorities and address challenges for water resource management in the country.

As above, so below? Trends in groundwater and streamflow across the United States 1980-2020

rhammer-lester@usgs.gov — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:16:24 EDT

Joint trend analysis of streamflow and groundwater on a national scale is a critical step toward understanding how national water budget components respond concurrently and interactively to environmental drivers. A new USGS study shows that groundwater and streamflow don’t always respond to drivers of change in the same way.

Could earthquakes sustain Yellowstone’s underground life?

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Although earthquakes present a major geologic hazard for humans, they may be key in the long-term survival of subsurface microbial communities.

Volcano Minute — What can chemistry tell us about lava fountain heights?

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 08:33:35 EDT

Kīlauea’s summit has been erupting intermittent lava fountains since December 23rd, 2024, producing 52 episodes of lava fountains so far—some shooting more than 1,700 feet into the air, taller than the Empire State Building in New York City. But why do these fountain heights rise and fall?

Volcano Watch — Will Kīlauea summit lava fountains get taller? Time and chemistry will tell!

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 07:22:29 EDT

Kīlauea’s current summit eruption started on December 23, 2024. Fifty-two episodes of lava fountains have happened on average every 11 days, and we still have many questions about this eruptive behavior. Here, we look at lava fountain heights with magma chemistry to better understand what might be controlling the variability in fountain heights.

From Debris to Dwelling: How Dredged Sediment Is Shaping Salmon Habitat

nandita_kohli@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 19:17:05 EDT

How can human-built features and natural processes interact to support ecological goals?

The Klamath Dams Are Down: A Closer Look at Juvenile Salmon Migration

nandita_kohli@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 18:57:51 EDT

The Klamath dams have been removed. What will this mean for juvenile salmon on their way to the ocean?

Peering beneath the surface of Long Valley Caldera with geodetic surveys

jlball@usgs.gov — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 17:00:00 EDT

Long Valley Caldera has been volcanically quiet in recent years, but that doesn’t mean scientists have stopped watching...

Photo & Video Chronology — Maintaining volcano monitoring instrumentation

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 18:27:07 EDT

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers and gas scientists conducted maintenance in July 2026 on volcano monitoring stations located on Mauna Loa, Hualālai, and Kohala volcanoes.

IGBST Public Notifications and Resources

ssoileau@usgs.gov — Mon, 3 Aug 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.

A new camera is now observing activity in Biscuit Basin

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 00:30:00 EDT

In response to the June 13, 2026, hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin, a new camera was installed to track activity over a broader area than had previously been possible.

USGS Launches Interactive Streamflow Map Tools

krossos@usgs.gov — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 06:06:51 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey New England Water Science Center launched two new web applications that use color to indicate the status of certain water conditions at USGS streamgages. Both web tools are colorful, interactive maps that visually depict whether a gage is above or below typical water levels or within certain state-required baseflow limits.

Volcano Minute — Aloha to Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:09:35 EDT

After nearly a decade as the Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator, Talmadge Magno will retire on August 1, 2026.

Volcano Watch — A decade of disaster response: Mahalo to Talmadge Magno, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:28:34 EDT

Talmadge Magno, Administrator of Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency (CD), who navigated the Island of Hawaiʻi response to volcanic eruptions from multiple volcanoes, the COVID-19 pandemic, fires, earthquakes, tsunami warnings, hurricanes, and historic Kona low storms, retires effective on August 1, 2026.

Photo & Video Chronology — Full moon and lava fountain: Kīlauea summit episode 52

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:42:30 EDT

Lava fountaining episode 52 at the summit of Kīlauea took place over about 7.5 hours on July 28-29, 2026, coinciding with a full moon.

Don't try to have a pillow fight with these pillows!

jlball@usgs.gov — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:53:01 EDT

Geology can be a very descriptive science, and sometimes the terms they use are both informative and playful. When lava is extruded underwater, or flows into water, a diagnostic shape called “pillow lava” can form.

Hydrologic Technician Job Opening in Richmond, VA

ckandel@usgs.gov — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:53:56 EDT

Love to work outdoors? Ready for a job involving opportunities for independence and teamwork maintaining and troubleshooting at the front line of USGS water data collection? We have a current job opening for a hydrologic technician in our Richmond office.

Green Crab: The Tiny Invader with a Big Appetite

nandita_kohli@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:34:50 EDT

WFRC Researchers are developing innovative tools to detect and prevent the continued spread of this invasive species in the Pacific Northwest.

Director’s Message – Progress with our Fish Commission Partners

nandita_kohli@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:29:00 EDT

Collaboration across the Commissions has grown significantly since 2020, strengthening our collective impact.

Science in Action: Midnight Gillnetting On Lake Washington Shores

nandita_kohli@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:23:31 EDT

USGS Scientists and partners are taking a closer look at how nearshore lighting impacts young salmon survival in Lake Washington, WA.

Utah and Navajo Nation Geologic Mapping Partnership

blopezhetland@usgs.gov — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:04:40 EDT

As part of a groundbreaking STATEMAP project, the Utah Geological Survey recently published the geologic map of the Oljeto 7.5-minute quadrangle in collaboration with the Navajo Nation.