Current Events

Volcano Minute — The 1926 eruption of Mauna Loa occurred 100 years ago this year

This past April marked one hundred years since Mauna Loa’s 1926 Southwest Rift Zone eruption — an eruption remembered for its dramatic lava flows, community impacts, and scientific firsts. 

Published: Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:05:12 EDT

Media Alert: Low-level flights to image geology of eastern North Dakota

RESTON, Va.  – The U.S. Geological Survey plans low-level airplane flights over eastern North Dakota and small nearby areas of Minnesota and South Dakota to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. The survey will begin in early June and will continue into the fall, weather and other flight restrictions permitting. 

Published: Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:14:19 EDT

Media Alert: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology of Lake Superior Basin

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey plans low-level helicopter flights over the Lake Superior Basin in western Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northeastern Minnesota to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. The survey will begin in June and will continue into the fall, weather and other flight restrictions permitting.

Published: Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:54:19 EDT

Volcano Watch — Remembering the 1926 Mauna Loa eruption a century later

April marked the 100-year anniversary of Mauna Loa’s 1926 Southwest Rift Zone eruption. This eruption is most remembered for the destruction of Ho‘ōpūloa village, a few miles north of Miloliʻi Bay. It also marks the first known instance of aerial photography of an advancing Hawaiian lava flow, and well-organized police-led eruption crowd management.

Published: Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:10:46 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

USGS scientists conduct Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight on June 9, 2026, to document changes to the eruptive vents and crater floor after episode 48 that took place on June 1. 

Published: Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:10:20 EDT

Magnitude-4.7 Earthquake Information Statement

On Tuesday, June 9, 10:37 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.7 earthquake occurred 14 mi (23 km) east of Pāpa‘ikou on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 24 mi (39 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. 

Published: Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:07:49 EDT

USGS Participates in 2026 Native American Fish and Wildlife Society National Conference

USGS staff from multiple centers participated in the 2026 Native American Fish and Wildlife Society’s national annual conference. 

Published: Tue, 9 Jun 2026 09:01:29 EDT

Species on the Move: Northeast CASC Researchers Discuss Species Range Shift in Recent Podcast Episode

In a recent episode of Ask MIT Climate, a climate-focused podcast of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeast CASC Research Ecologist Toni Lyn Morelli and former Northeast CASC Fellow Alexej Sirén discuss how species are responding to a warming climate. 

Published: Mon, 8 Jun 2026 14:40:15 EDT

Study Reveals That Inland Recreational Fishery Harvest is Quite the Catch

New research shows that inland recreational fisheries likely harvest far more fish than previously reported. A recent article in The Conversation summarizes this research and highlights the significant and underestimated role recreational fisheries play in food security, ecosystems, and economies.

Published: Mon, 8 Jun 2026 14:22:06 EDT

USGS and Kazakh hydrogeologists meet to discuss groundwater monitoring and resource management

USGS hosted a delegation of scientists from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation (MWRI), at the USGS Idaho Water Science Center in Boise (May 11–15, 2026). 

Published: Mon, 8 Jun 2026 08:45:00 EDT

Young mountains, old rocks: A geological overview of the Teton range

The Teton Range, just south of Yellowstone National Park, is the youngest mountain range in the Rockies, and possibly North America. The forces that built (and are still actively building) the Tetons differ fundamentally from those that formed the other mountain ranges in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Published: Mon, 8 Jun 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Surveying the tephra cone on Halemaʻumaʻu crater rim

For over a year, after each fountaining episode at Kīlauea's summit, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists have surveyed the elevation along a transect across the new pu‘u (cone) on the western margin of Halema‘uma‘u that has formed from the fallout of the lava fountains. 

Published: Fri, 5 Jun 2026 22:47:43 EDT

USGS Expertise Informs Design and Construction of New Eel Ladder at Maryland’s Eden Mill Dam

Scientists and engineers from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Eastern Ecological Science Center worked with Harford County, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore upstream access for American eels at Eden Mill Dam on Deer Creek. Together they designed and built a new eelway that now allows juvenile eels to safely bypass the barrier.

Published: Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:15:57 EDT

Volcano Watch — “Stick Season” in Hawaii? What Happened to the Leaves around Kīlauea Summit?

As you walk along Crater Rim Trail from Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluffs) heading towards the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, you’ll notice far less green vegetation and foliage than usual.  

Published: Thu, 4 Jun 2026 17:23:14 EDT

Volcano Minute — What happened to the leaves around Kīlauea summit?

If you’ve been hiking near the summit of Kīlauea lately in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park—especially along Crater Rim Trail between the Steam Vents and Uēkahuna—you may have noticed something surprising: bare tree branches with far fewer leaves than usual. A brown landscape where vegetation normally thrives. 

Published: Thu, 4 Jun 2026 16:19:14 EDT

2026 USGS Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS) Annual Research Meeting

The CEGIS Annual Research Meeting provides an opportunity for researchers and collaborators across USGS, academia, and partner organizations to discuss ongoing work, emerging research directions, and operational needs related to geospatial science and technology.

Published: Thu, 4 Jun 2026 15:59:11 EDT

Upcoming CDI Monthly Meetings

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

Published: Thu, 4 Jun 2026 08:01:00 EDT

USGS Coastal Change Products Help the EPA Safeguard Long Island Sound Shorelines

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency partnered with the USGS to expand and update the National Shoreline Change database and the Coastal Change Likelihood assessment for Long Island Sound. These products help improve understanding of past, present, and future shoreline and coastal landscape change that may impact communities, resources, and infrastructure along the Long Island Sound coast.

Published: Wed, 3 Jun 2026 14:52:29 EDT

USGS Predicts PFAS in Shallow Soils Throughout Northern New England and Identifies Possible Groundwater Risks

A  U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study across multiple states has found widespread presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in shallow soils in areas not associated with known contamination sources. The scientists also found that areas with lower concentrations in soils could have more PFAS in the groundwater.

Published: Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:11:36 EDT

Magnitude-4.6 Earthquake Information Statement

A magnitude-4.6 earthquake occurred 4 miles (6 km) west-northwest of Kahaluu-Keauhou on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 21 miles (34 km) below sea level at 5:58 p.m. HST on June 2, 2026.

Published: Wed, 3 Jun 2026 00:48:32 EDT

A Tale of Two Islands and the Future of an Ocean Sentinel Seabird

Join us for a USGS Friday's Findings webinar that shares the story of a small seabird that can tell us a lot about a changing ocean and what managers can do to help the species persist despite that change.

Published: Tue, 2 Jun 2026 14:30:46 EDT

From macro to micro: Geologists study volcanoes at all scales!

Humans interact with geology at the macro scale – that is to say, things we can touch and see with the naked eye. But we can also learn a great deal from the micro scale.

Published: Tue, 2 Jun 2026 13:45:37 EDT

Hurricane Season Arrives

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Throughout the season, the U.S. Geological Survey aids coastal and inland communities by giving people the resources they need to make informed decisions before, during, and after hurricanes. This critical information helps save lives and protect property.

Published: Tue, 2 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EDT

Friday's Findings | A USGS Webinar Series

Friday’s Findings is a public webinar series hosted by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area. Each 30-minute session provides an overview of a current science topic and includes an opportunity for attendees to engage directly with USGS scientists through a question-and-answer segment.  Webinars are held from 2:00-2:30 PM Eastern/11:00 -11:30 AM Pacific, unless otherwise noted.

Published: Tue, 2 Jun 2026 08:45:00 EDT

Photo & Video Chronology — Episode 48 at Kīlauea summit, a new record

Episode 48 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea  happened on June 1, 2026. Lava fountained from the north vent, reaching a maximum height of 650 ft (200 m). Light to moderate tephra fall was reported at overlooks in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as well as on Highway 11 near Nāmakanipaio Campground, Volcano village, Mauna Loa Estates and Ohia Estates. 

Published: Mon, 1 Jun 2026 19:14:36 EDT

Photo Roundup: February-May 2026

A selection of coastal and ocean videos and photographs from across the USGS.

Published: Mon, 1 Jun 2026 11:23:32 EDT

Beyond Yellowstone’s boardwalks: A glimpse into the remote caldera systems of Alaska

Where in the U.S. can you find the highest concentration of recently (<12,000 years ago) formed calderas? Hint: it’s not in Yellowstone, or even the contiguous United States!

Published: Mon, 1 Jun 2026 00:30:00 EDT

USGS Seeks Industry Input on Landsat 10 Mission Operations Center and Flight Operations

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking industry input on the future Landsat 10 Mission Operations Center (MOC) and flight operations architecture. The RFI, released May 7, 2026, supports planning for the next generation of Landsat ground system operations and long-term mission support.

Published: Fri, 29 May 2026 16:13:59 EDT

Powell Center Working Groups - Class of 2027

The Powell Center is pleased to announce four new working groups beginning in FY27. 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: Fri, 29 May 2026 13:33:55 EDT

The Oregon Water Science Center receives Portland State University’s 2026 Public Impact Partner Award

Learn more about the award and the USGS-Portland State Partnership.

Published: Thu, 28 May 2026 17:49:08 EDT