Current Events

Photo & Video Chronology — Flaming vents at Kīlauea summit

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists—and astute watchers of the HVO livestream cameras—have periodically observed yellow to orange-colored flames emanating from the two vents inside of Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. What causes this to occur? 

Published: Fri, 9 Oct 2026 16:24:02 EDT

253-year coral record reveals Maui reef’s long history of land-use impacts

Study traces changes in sediment and nutrient delivery from Maui’s watershed to Olowalu reef, linking a mid-20th-century increase in terrestrial inputs to declining coral growth.

Published: Fri, 9 Oct 2026 14:44:34 EDT

Volcano Minute —Great Hawaii Shakeout Earthquake Drill 2026

Earthquakes happen every day in the State of Hawaii. Most are too small to feel, but occasionally a larger earthquake reminds us that strong ground shaking can occur across the Hawaiian Islands. 

Published: Thu, 8 Oct 2026 18:14:02 EDT

Volcano Watch — Remembering a time when I forgot that Hawaii has earthquakes

I am a seismologist at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)—earthquakes are always on my mind. But this wasn’t always the case. 

Published: Thu, 8 Oct 2026 16:53:52 EDT

Small but Mighty: America’s Smallest Falcon Adapts in Texas

American Kestrels are a species experiencing continent-wide population declines. Showcased in a short video, Kestrels in West Texas appear to be adapting to the Southern High Plains Ecosystem. 

Published: Thu, 8 Oct 2026 09:18:04 EDT

Maine Cooperative Research Unit earns Excellence in Science award

The U.S. Geological Survey awarded the Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit with its 2025 Excellence in Science award. Faculty Joseph Zydlewski and Christina Murphy lead a variety of fisheries and ecology research within the University of Maine’s wildlife biology department.

Published: Thu, 8 Oct 2026 08:46:07 EDT

Kīlauea Status Report

Satellite imagery shows the extent of the Sept 30-Oct 1 near surface dike in Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano. Recent activity has impacted the ongoing eruption resulting in an update of interpretations and possible outcomes.
 

Published: Wed, 7 Oct 2026 21:41:03 EDT

Deep-sea sulfide minerals can spontaneously heat and combust when exposed to air

Findings from Escanaba Trough, a seafloor spreading center offshore of the Oregon/California border, highlight a potential hazard that could merit special consideration if deep-sea mining of seafloor massive sulfide deposits moves forward.

Published: Wed, 7 Oct 2026 17:54:26 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit intrusion cracks and ground deformation

As flames, spatter, and lava flows erupted from the north and south vents in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea on the night of September 30, 2026, magma was also making a new path below the surface of the caldera. This intrusive activity, which caused earthquakes and ground deformation, resulted in the formation of new cracks on the north part of the floor of Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera.

Published: Wed, 7 Oct 2026 15:21:18 EDT

Upcoming CDI Monthly Meetings (Oct 2026-Sept 2027)

CDI Monthly Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month, from 11-12:30 pm Eastern Time. 

Published: Wed, 7 Oct 2026 08:01:00 EDT

USGS Scientists Share Their Research at the 2026 Bay-Delta Science Conference

Since the year 2000, the Bay-Delta Science Conference, held every two years in Northern California, has been co-hosted by the Delta Stewardship Council and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The conference serves as a leading forum for scientific research that supports management of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Bay-Delta).

Published: Wed, 7 Oct 2026 03:14:57 EDT

A Case Study for Radon as a Tracer of Seabed Minerals

During the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, the team collected water samples from just above the seafloor as well as sediment and mineral samples. Scientists from the USGS Global Seabed Mineral Resources program will analyze these samples for naturally occurring radioactive radon, which may be a useful geochemical tracer for locating deep-sea mineral deposits.

Published: Tue, 6 Oct 2026 10:13:36 EDT

Media Alert: Low-level Flights to Image Geology over Eastern California

RESTON, Va. – Low-level airplane flights will begin in early October over eastern California and a sliver of western Nevada to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. 

Published: Mon, 5 Oct 2026 12:40:02 EDT

New England WSC Products in the Third Quarter of 2026

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

Published: Mon, 5 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EDT

The misplaced pearl

With new thermal features popping up frequently and old ones experiencing periods of activity and quiescence, have you ever wondered how Yellowstone National Park keeps it all straight? Sometimes it’s tricky! 

Published: Mon, 5 Oct 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Volcano Watch — An intrusion during an eruption at the summit of Kīlauea

As flames, spatter, and lava flows erupted from the north and south vents in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea on the night of September 30, 2026, magma was also making a new path below the surface of the caldera. How does an intrusion happen during an ongoing eruption?

Published: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:50:16 EDT

Volcano Minute — Intrusion and eruption at Kīlauea

Today we’re talking about the summit of Kīlauea. While flames, spatter, and lava erupted intermittently from the vents in Halemaʻumaʻu that have been active since December 2024, magma began to carve a new path underground beneath the caldera. 

Published: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:36:26 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff conducted a monitoring overflight of Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea the morning of October 1, 2026, following an intrusive event below the surface of the summit region the night of September 30, 2026.

Published: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:17:50 EDT

FORT Science in Action 2026, Part 18: Ecological research supporting wild horse and burro management

The wild horses and burros of the American West are a complicated management issue. Populations can grow quickly, straining ecosystems, and posing challenges for management. FORT scientists are studying wild horse and burro habitat use, demography, interactions with native wildlife, and mountain lion predation on horses, providing science to inform herd management strategies.

Published: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:03:43 EDT

A previously undocumented process of hydrothermal manganese mineralization

A USGS-led study focusing on samples from American Samoa finds that manganese-rich deposits formed beneath the seafloor by warm fluids replacing ancient carbonate sediments.

Published: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 11:15:35 EDT

FORT Science in Action 2026, Part 17: Large mammal science for management of public lands

FORT researchers investigate the foraging ecology and habitat suitability of species like bison and mule deer, to assist management partners in 1) understanding how large mammals are shaping ecosystems on public lands, and 2) maintaining quality habitat for large mammals in the face of escalating drought and fire severity in the West.

Published: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 01:00:00 EDT

FORT Science in Action 2026, Part 16: Advances in science and monitoring tools for management of bats across the continent

This year marked another twelve months of progress for the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat). FORT researchers made discoveries about the effects of forest management and development on bats, documented what makes roost sites attractive to bats, and developed new models for bat population dynamics. 

Published: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:50:59 EDT

Co-Developing an Adaptive Management Framework for a Cold-Water River Facing Ecosystem Change

Join this Friday's Findings to learn how USGS's Cooperative Research Unit science on cold-water rivers is supporting adaptive management and effective decision making for riverine systems experiencing ecosystem changes. 

Published: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:34:44 EDT

Mapping Rocky Reef Habitats Along the U.S. West Coast

Updated mapping dataset reveals rocky reefs are widespread but patchier than previously known, providing a more detailed foundation for protecting important groundfish habitat.

Published: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:41:43 EDT

2025 CASC Annual Summary

Explore highlights from our science activities and key initiatives across the CASC network in Fiscal Year 2025.

Published: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:01:00 EDT

3D National Topography Model Data Acquisition Project Tracker (3DNTM Tracker) Now Available

USGS released a web tool that provides up-to-date status information about 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) lidar data acquisition projects, including when data will become publicly available on The National Map.

Published: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:18:06 EDT

USGS Awarded NOAA Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Grant

The U.S. Geological Survey’s St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, in collaboration with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), has been awarded a competitive NOAA Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) grant to improve coastal resilience across Southwest Florida. 

Published: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:02:52 EDT

A Pristine Headwaters Ecosystem as an Outdoor Laboratory for Foundational Science

“We are working way up in the headwaters and the question we get a lot is – who cares what’s going on way up there in the woods?” U.S. Geological Survey scientist Jamie Shanley said. 

Published: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:13:21 EDT

The power of geologic mapping: Getting to know volcanoes in California’s Long Valley

How do geologists uncover the secrets of California’s volcanoes? It all starts with geologic mapping! 

Published: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:00:00 EDT

Study Outlines a Range of Possible Fire Futures for Alaska

Alaska CASC researchers project a future with more wildfire activity, showing that the annual area burned is likely to increase under all modeled emissions scenarios and that the region may shift towards deciduous-dominated forests.

Published: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:43:50 EDT