Current Events

Volcano Minute — Fifty lava fountains: Hawaii Five-O

Last Saturday, June 27th, marked a golden milestone—Hawaii’s 50th lava fountaining episode in the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea’s summit. 

Published: Thu, 2 Jul 2026 22:07:27 EDT

USGS Scientist and National Weather Service and University of Alaska Southeast colleagues receive Alaska State Legislature Recognition for Response to Juneau’s annual Suicide Basin Outburst Floods

On July 1, 2026, the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature recognized Jamie Pierce, Aaron Jacobs, Dr. Eran Hood, and Dr. Jason Amundson for their outstanding service and leadership in responding to Juneau’s recurring glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) events.

Published: Thu, 2 Jul 2026 19:16:17 EDT

Volcano Watch — Hawaii Five-O! Fifty fountaining episodes at Kīlauea summit

Hawaii, the 50th state, reached a golden anniversary last Saturday, June 27. Surprise, it’s the 50th fountaining episode of the ongoing episodic eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. 

Published: Thu, 2 Jul 2026 18:23:48 EDT

America at 250, Seen from Space

To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released a new portrait of the nation from space. 

Published: Wed, 1 Jul 2026 14:13:32 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a monitoring overflight of Kīlauea summit on June 30, 2026, following episode 50 of lava fountaining that occurred on June 27, 2026. 

Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:20:55 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 50

Episode 50 of lava fountaining in the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 7 hours on June 27, 2026.

Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:50:30 EDT

From Earth to Sky: How Minerals Create the Dazzling Colors of Independence Day Fireworks

As fireworks burst across the sky this Fourth of July in celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday, each vivid streak of color can be traced back to a mineral hidden beneath our feet.

Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:00:00 EDT

Why is there a volcano in California's Central Valley?

Is it a really overdone fried egg? A pancake? A flower? Nope, it's a volcano!

Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:39:59 EDT

Collaborative Innovation for Giant Sequoia Conservation

The USGS and partners are developing an AI-based tool capable of detecting dead and dying giant sequoia trees from high-resolution remote sensing imagery. 

Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:12:18 EDT

New high-resolution geophysics in the Outer California Borderland

A new study focused on the Cortes Basin, located within the Outer California Borderland offshore of southern California, presents detailed evidence of numerous stacked submarine landslides on and beneath the seafloor. The research provides new insights into how offshore fault systems and changing sea levels have shaped this region.

Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:30:13 EDT

Annual NLCD Collection 1.2 Now Available

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is excited to announce the release of the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Conterminous U.S. (CU), Collection 1.2. This release builds on the popular Annual NLCD CU Collection 1.0 by extending the dataset through 2025. 

Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:45:02 EDT

SEABOSS 3.0 Reaches New Milestone with Successful Testing

The next generation of the Seabed Observation and Sampling System—SEABOSS 3.0—is steadily coming to life. Building on months of cross‑center planning and knowledge sharing, the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center team recently hosted Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center ocean engineer Gerry Hatcher for a week of instrument assembly, refinement, and testing in Woods Hole, MA.

Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:39:02 EDT

USGS Remote Sensing Data Tracks Coastal Change from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

In response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the USGS collected and released aerial imagery covering over 250 kilometers (155 miles) of the west coast of Florida.

Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:53:31 EDT

From Streamgage to Smartphone

All 58 counties in California have a history of severe flood damage. This week, Watch Duty, the free app millions use to track wildfires, expanded to monitor flooding across the 50 states. It draws on several sources, including real-time USGS streamgage data, which its reporters turn into plain-language updates. The app flags when a water level becomes dangerous, so people can act fast.

Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:39:19 EDT

What do Yellowstone and the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup have in common? Heat maps!

Heat is everywhere—from the boiling hot springs and fumaroles of Yellowstone to the fast-paced action of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.  In both settings, scientists and analysts use heat maps to visualize activity, whether it's geothermal energy or the positions of players on the field. How are these maps made, and what do they reveal about their respective domains?

Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Volcano Minute — A hui hou to Bruce Houghton

Today, we say a hui hou to one of volcanology’s true giants. Professor Bruce Houghton retired last year from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa after 25 years as the Gordon A. Macdonald Chair of Volcanology—a position held by only two people in the past fifty years. 

Published: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 20:49:50 EDT

Volcano Watch — A hui hou to a giant of volcanology

In 2025, Professor Bruce Houghton retired from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa after 25 years as the Gordon A. Macdonald Chair of Volcanology. He was only the second person to hold the position in the past half century. With his retirement, let's reflect on a career that helped shape how scientists understand explosive eruptions, volcanic hazards, and how communities live with active volcanoes.

Published: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:00:01 EDT

Magnitude-3.2 Earthquake Information Statement

A magnitude-3.2 earthquake occurred 8 miles (12 km) south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 13 miles (21 km) below sea level at 8:34 a.m. HST on June 25, 2026.

Published: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:29:24 EDT

New England WSC Products in the Second Quarter of 2026

List of products from the New England Water Science Center released in the second quarter of 2026.

Published: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EDT

Media Alert: USGS Hydrologic Study to Use Non-Toxic Dye in Lake Fork Creek

The USGS will run a dye‑tracing study in Lake Fork Creek, west of Leadville, Colorado, June 25–26, 2026, releasing a non‑toxic dye between 7–9 a.m. and monitoring it downstream.

Published: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:51:38 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted a misty monitoring overflight of Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea summit on June 24, 2026. 

Published: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:35:39 EDT

Magnitude-3.6 Earthquake Information Statement

On Wednesday, June 24, 8:29 a.m. HST, a magnitude-3.6 earthquake occurred 9 mi (14 km) south of the village of Volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 5 mi (7 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. 

Published: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:03:59 EDT

USGS Releases Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in Buda Limestone of Texas

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey released its assessment of undiscovered gas and oil in the Buda Limestone formation near the Texas Gulf Coast, assessing that there are technically recoverable resources of 184 billion cubic feet of gas and 12 million barrels of oil.

Published: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:57:15 EDT

A New Framework for Making Actionable Science More Actionable

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

Published: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:41:49 EDT

USGS Scientist Contributes to World Ocean Assessment

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.

Published: Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:16:15 EDT

New 3D Elevation Program Fact Sheet for North Dakota

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

Published: Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:39:07 EDT

Magnitude-3.8 Earthquake Information Statement

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.
 

Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:00:13 EDT

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

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.

Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:30:00 EDT

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

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?

Published: Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:25:04 EDT

Volcano Minute — Episodes and Eruptions

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?

Published: Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:38:29 EDT