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Hot spots and cold snaps: Daily stream temperature data across the U.S. from 1979-2021

USGS scientists recently published four decades of modeled daily stream temperature values for nearly 60,000 river reaches across the lower 48 United States

Published: Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:17:38 EST

Volcano Watch — A sight to see: maintaining HVO’s webcams during a historic eruption

Visual observations have been a backbone in studies of volcanoes, from 2,000 years ago to now. They remain fundamental to understanding how volcanoes work, and technological advancements, such as livestreaming cameras, allow volcanic eruptions to be viewed from around the world.

Published: Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:19:54 EST

New Maps — February 19, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 42 deposits and deformation

Episode 42 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea lasted for just under 10 hours on February 15, 2026. These maps show lava flow and tephra accumulation during episode 42, as well as ground deformation spanning the eruptive episode.

Published: Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:21:36 EST

Powell Center Working Groups - Class of 2026

The Powell Center is pleased to announce two new working groups beginning in FY26. These projects were ranked by the Science Advisory Board and reflect the highest quality science, breadth, depth, and relevance reflective of the mission of the USGS.

Published: Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:33:55 EST

Photo & Video Chronology — February 16, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 42 fountains and fallout

Episode 42 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea lasted for just under 10 hours on February 15, 2026. Both the north and south vents erupted, with peak lava fountain heights at the south vent reaching about 400 m (1300 ft). A volume of 15 million cubic yards (11.4 million m³) of lava erupted. Light tephra (fine ash & Pele’s hair) was reported in the communities downwind.

Published: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:26:03 EST

Ozette Lake: A natural seismograph along the northern Cascadia Subduction Zone (Video)

Ozette Lake, on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, is the largest unaltered lake in the state. Glacially carved to depths of about 100 meters (328 feet), the lake is just 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) from the present-day Pacific coastline. Its sediments preserve a record of seismic activity going back more than 14,000 years.

Published: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:01:33 EST

A brief history of volcanology: from myths and legends to a modern and interdisciplinary science

Volcanology has evolved over millennia from myths and legends to a modern and interdisciplinary science. Better monitoring networks and improved understanding of how volcanoes work make people around the world safer from volcanic hazards.

Published: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:00:00 EST

New User’s Guide to Updated Hydrographic Framework

The National Hydrography Dataset Plus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR) is a powerful suite of geospatial datasets that enable scientists to map and study watersheds and rivers across the 48 Contiguous United States (CONUS).

Published: Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:23:58 EST

Volcano Watch — Handling the pressure: what gases trapped inside crystals tell us

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists use tiny features within crystals in erupted lava to answer big questions about the underlying plumbing system at Kīlauea.

Published: Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:10:40 EST

USGS Science Shared at St. Petersburg Science Festival

The USGS celebrated science with the St. Petersburg community at the St. Petersburg Science Festival

Published: Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:27:50 EST

Boats, Trains, and Automobiles: A Historic Snapshot of Connecticut River Infrastructure

Looking across the Connecticut River from a USGS streamgage in Suffield, Connecticut, you can see structural remnants from the past and present infrastructure that have shaped and affected the river.

Published: Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:23:39 EST

Artemis II Mission returns to the Moon

The Artemis missions are making progress back to the Moon, paving the way for human exploration of the lunar south pole and on to Mars. Artemis II is set to launch in the coming weeks, delivering humans farther into the solar system than we’ve ever been! Although the four astronauts will not land on the Moon this time, we’re getting set up for future landings and beyond!

Published: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:09:12 EST

USGS Geophysicist among Federal Technical Experts at Seafloor Mapping Presentations in the Philippines

In September 2025, USGS Research Geophysicist Guy Cochrane served as a technical expert on seafloor mapping and marine benthic ecosystems during two presentations in the Philippines.

Published: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:55:14 EST

National Conservation Lands: A hub for scientific discovery

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of America’s National Conservation Lands, a group of over 900 landscapes managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for cultural, ecological, and scientific values. As part of a special edition of Park Stewardship Forum celebrating this anniversary, USGS and BLM collaborated on a piece highlighting key science opportunities on National Conservation Lands.

Published: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:39:28 EST

Synthesis Skills for Early Career Researchers Course is Open

Synthesis Skills for Early Career Researchers (SSECR; [SEE-ker]) is a newly-designed course organized by the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network.

Published: Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:38:24 EST

Dancing through the basalt dikes, now the ground is ophiolite

Last week we mentioned some of the volcanic rocks in the Bay Area, and a few of you were surprised to hear that we had them. Yes, there are old volcanoes in our part of California, but we also have volcanic rocks from quite a long way away: mid-ocean ridges! How did seafloor volcanics end up on land? For that, we have to look at the story of ophiolite (not opalite - sorry Swifties).

Published: Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:18:40 EST

Tackling Invasive Mussels with Science and Strategy

In recognition of National Invasive Species Awareness Week, join us for a Friday's Findings webinar exploring USGS research on dreissenid mussel management and control.

February 20, 2026 | 2:00–2:30 PM Eastern / 11:00–11:30 AM Pacific

Presenter: Diane Waller, Supervisory Fishery Biologist, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Published: Mon, 9 Feb 2026 14:07:50 EST

Elevated geogenic contaminants common in drinking water aquifers across the U.S.

New comprehensive analysis of groundwater quality from 1988 to 2022 can help water-resource managers and the public health community assess the potential risk from well water contaminants and contaminant mixtures and to develop additional guidance to protect public health.

Published: Mon, 9 Feb 2026 08:32:28 EST

Be my Valentine (Geyser)

In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about a geyser in Norris Geyser Basin that came back to life in August 2025 after a 20-year hiatus -- Valentine Geyser.

Published: Mon, 9 Feb 2026 06:00:00 EST

Value of U.S. mineral production rose last year, driven by precious metals prices

The USGS releases Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, the first and most authoritative source for mineral production, trade and consumption data

Published: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 12:00:00 EST

Photo & Video Chronology — February 4, 2026 — Kīlauea summit overflight

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff participated in a monitoring overflight of Kīlauea summit caldera, Kaluapele, the morning of February 4, 2026.

Published: Thu, 5 Feb 2026 18:45:04 EST

February ScienceBase Data Release Training for USGS Authors and Data Managers

The USGS Science Data Management Branch will be hosting two upcoming training events for USGS authors and data managers. The first will be our general ScienceBase data release training and the second will be training on how to create metadata for your data release.

Published: Thu, 5 Feb 2026 18:43:37 EST

Low-level helicopter flights to image geology over Wyoming and Colorado

RESTON, Va. — Low-level helicopter flights are planned over areas of Wyoming and northern Colorado to image geology using airborne geophysical technology for up to one month.

Published: Thu, 5 Feb 2026 17:59:00 EST

Volcano Watch — New Hawaii citizen science tool: Is Tephra Falling?

During Kīlauea summit lava fountaining episode 41, residents and visitors shared their observations of tephra falling via email, phone calls, and on social media. A new online tool, “Is Tephra Falling?” will allow people to share their observations in a more systematic way.

Published: Thu, 5 Feb 2026 17:05:56 EST

CASC Intern Reflects on Experience Researching Conservation Translocations

George Mason University Fish and Wildlife Adaptation Intern Andie May Hardin shares highlights and reflections from her time researching conservation translocations with the National CASC.

Published: Thu, 5 Feb 2026 11:47:32 EST

Heterosigma akashiwo in San Fracisco Bay

A new study by several scientists examines the environmental conditions that fueled a massive algal bloom in the San Francisco Bay. By analyzing water quality, circulation, and microscopic communities, the research helps explain how rare combinations of factors can drive major ecological events, including blooms of Heterosigma akashiwo, a species first identified in Japan.

Published: Wed, 4 Feb 2026 16:28:37 EST