Knowra United States Geological Survey United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a federal science agency that studies the nation’s geology, water, ecosystems, and natural hazards and provides data and assessments.
Earthquake early warning : A system that detects an earthquake’s first seismic waves and rapidly warns areas where stronger shaking is expected. USGS contributes seismic data and ShakeAlert warnings for parts of the western United States.
Geologic mapping : The representation of the distribution, structure, and age of geological materials on maps. USGS field investigations use mapping to establish where rocks and structures occur.
John Wesley Powell : An American geologist, explorer, and ethnologist who directed the USGS from 1881 to 1894. Powell shaped the early survey’s research priorities and its studies of western lands and water.
National Earthquake Information Center : A USGS center that determines earthquake locations, magnitudes, and other information for earthquakes worldwide. Its rapid reporting makes USGS a central source of authoritative earthquake information.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration : A United States federal agency focused on oceans, atmosphere, weather, climate, and related environmental science. NOAA shares Earth-science responsibilities with USGS but emphasizes weather, oceans, and atmosphere.
United States National Seismic System : A network of sensors, institutions, and data systems that monitors and analyzes earthquakes across the United States. USGS operates and coordinates much of the monitoring infrastructure used to characterize earthquakes.
Seismology : The study of earthquakes and the propagation of seismic waves through Earth. USGS uses seismic observations to locate earthquakes and characterize their sources and impacts.
Geological Survey Act of 1879 : The federal law that established the United States Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior. The act created USGS and charged it with classifying public lands and examining geological structure and resources.
United States Volcano Observatories : A network of observatories that monitors volcanoes in the United States and assesses volcanic hazards. USGS observatories translate geophysical monitoring into warnings and hazard assessments.
Federal Emergency Management Agency : A federal agency that coordinates disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation in the United States. FEMA coordinates emergency management, while USGS supplies scientific hazard information.
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