U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

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On July 29, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, tying for the sixth-largest earthquake ever recorded by modern seismic instruments. This visualization shows the model we created of the earthquake’s rupture, illustrating how the ground moved and how far the shaking spread across the region. Studying events like this helps scientists better understand past earthquakes and prepare scenarios for potential future ones. 📹: Shakemovie animation showing seismic waves emanating from the magnitude 8.8 Kamchatka Peninsula earthquake.

From Rocks to Rockets: Former USGS Geologist Selected as Astronaut Candidate 🚀 Meet Lauren Edgar, once a geologist studying the Earth, Moon, and Mars, now one of NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's newest astronaut candidates! Before joining NASA, Lauren Edgar was a research geologist at our USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, AZ, where she studied the Earth, Moon, and Mars. She led the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program at the USGS, training scientists and astronauts in extreme places like Iceland, Arizona, New Mexico, and Antarctica to prepare for future Moon and Mars missions. Lauren has 17+ years of experience supporting Mars rover missions, defining science goals for NASA’s Artemis III mission, and training astronauts and engineers for geology in space. Join us in congratulating Lauren Edgar on becoming part of NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class! 📸1: Lauren Edgar uses a hand lens to identify minerals in a sample from a complex esker in Iceland. Credit: USGS 📸2: Lauren Edgar. Credit: NASA 📸3: NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class. Credit: NASA

PFAS in Fish: What It Could Mean for Humans 🐟💧 USGS scientists, in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, studied largemouth bass in Massachusetts ponds and rivers with different levels and sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These manmade chemicals can stick around in the environment, build up in animals, and cause negative health effects. By studying how fish are affected, scientists can better understand potential risks for humans, since some of the same health impacts have been observed in people. It also helps them understand how PFAS from different types of sources, direct sources (point sources, such as a pipeline) and diffuse sources (nonpoint sources, such as runoff), affect fish differently in various water bodies. Findings: 🔹Fish exposed to PFAS showed changes in immune function, similar to effects previously observed in humans. 🔹Comparing species, top-of-the-food-chain bass had 220 times more PFAS than bottom-of-the-food-chain banded killifish, highlighting how these chemicals accumulate in ecosystems. This study can be used to inform PFAS management and continued public health research as the findings provide us with a better understanding of how PFAS moves through aquatic systems and how it affects the health of wildlife and humans. Learn more 👉 https://ow.ly/cj2250X0gkn 📸: USGS researcher collects blood samples from the caudal vein of a largemouth bass to monitor fish health and the impacts of PFAS. Credit: David Armstrong, USGS

Did you know the tallest mountain in Texas was once part of a tropical reef? 🏔️🪸 Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park stands at 8,751 feet, but hundreds of millions of years ago, it was underwater. Over time, tectonic forces lifted it up, and erosion revealed the fossilized remains we see today. Plant and animal matter from the ancient reef washed into a basin, now called the Permian Basin, home to the largest continuous oil and gas resource ever discovered in the U.S. Guadalupe Peak isn't just a mountain — it’s a time machine made of rock. ⏳ That’s why it’s considered a geoheritage site. These sites highlight the rocks, mountains, and landforms that connect geology to our history, culture, and economy. Guadalupe Peak is special for its: 🔬 Science 🎓 Education 🎨 Culture 💎 Economic value 🌄 Natural beauty & wonder Want to explore more amazing geoheritage sites? Check them out here: https://ow.ly/6jI950WYaZ6 Got a favorite place you want us to feature next? Tell us in the comments. 📸1: View of Guadalupe Peak across upper Pine Spring Canyon from the Bush Mountain Trail. 📸 2: Fossilized remnants of the Permian age reef can be found throughout the park. 📸 3: The high mesas and ridges of the Guadalupe Mountains stretch northeastward beyond the depths of upper McKittrick Canyon.

Mapping history, one contour at a time 🗺️ Today, we look back to 1952, when USGS cartographers meticulously documented the nation’s landscapes. These historical images capture the precision and expertise applied in early topographic surveying and map production. USGS produced its first topographic map in 1882, only a few years after the agency’s establishment. Over the past 140+ years and millions of maps later, topographic mapping remains an integral component of USGS science, supporting government planning, resource management, research, and field exploration. Learn more about our early mapping history in "History of the Topographic Branch": https://lnkd.in/gNjx83fD 📸1-3: Inking contours, Topographic Division 📸4: Drafting Unit, Rocky Mountain Region

Across the American West, migratory ungulates—like elk, mule deer, moose, pronghorn, and bison—move with the seasons to find food and escape harsh weather. 🦬🦌 But their ancient migration routes are increasingly disrupted by roads, fences, energy development, and growing recreation activity on public and private lands. However, it’s not just ungulates that roam the West. USGS scientists, and partners, are also out on the western landscape, and they’ve been busy. They lead the collaborative Corridor Mapping Team, working with state, federal, and Tribal wildlife agencies to map more than 200 ungulate migration routes across the West. Partnering with groups like Wyoming Migration Initiative, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Native American Fish & Wildlife Society, and others, we use GPS data to chart these seasonal paths, giving managers the tools to protect habitat, reduce barriers, and keep herds on the move. Scientists may not be as photogenic as the wildlife they study (it’s hard to compete with horns and antlers), but they know their science—and it’s science that helps keep migrations healthy. Healthy migrations mean healthy ecosystems, hunting opportunities, and wildlife viewing. Learn more: https://ow.ly/tSfm50WS8BH 📸: Bison migrating out of the Gardiner Basin, Yellowstone National Park. Credit: National Park Service 🗺️: Map showing migration routes of 182 herds in the western U.S. Mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, pronghorn, bison, and moose migration routes are depicted on the map. 📸: Elk migrating between their summer and winter ranges within the Caribou Range in Idaho. Credit: Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Did somebody say maptime? 🗺️ Ohhh, you said NAP-time? Well, wake up! We’ve got some maps for you! The USGS has released a first-of-its-kind national topographic map designed specifically for hikers, climbers, and outdoor explorers! Whether you’re scaling peaks, discovering trails in Yosemite National Park, or soaking in scenic views, these maps are your ultimate adventure guide.   The maps are available for anywhere in the United States and have unmatched detail for precise navigation.  Perfect for planning hikes, climbs, or off-grid adventures. Learn more: https://ow.ly/JGk950WOkT9 And don’t forget, if you plan on hiking in a National Park, check with National Park Service first for safe hiking practices and any required reservations or permits. 🗺️: The Half Dome, CA 25K Recreational Topo. 📸: Person hiking in Yosemite National Park. Credit: NPS

🌍 Announcing a New Cooperative National Geologic Map The USGS National Geologic Synthesis Project, supported by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, has released a groundbreaking new map that unifies decades of work by state and federal geologic surveys. This national map depicts geologic units at and beneath the surface across the contiguous U.S., from the youngest sands and gravels to ancient bedrock. It brings together standardized data from more than 100 state and regional maps, offering new insights into: 🔹 Age and composition of geologic units across regions 🔹 Potential energy and critical mineral resources 🔹 Glacial till and past glacial activity This integrated view of our Nation’s geology marks a major step forward in understanding the regional distribution of natural resources and natural hazards while informing land-use decisions, infrastructure planning, and national security issues. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gfHrQM3C 📹: Animated gif showing different map layers of the USGS Cooperative National Geologic Map.

Hurricanes may be unstoppable, but data helps us prepare. 🌪️ Landsat satellites don’t just capture dramatic hurricane images from space. Their data, along with the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), helps experts model how hurricane winds interact with the land below, from forests to neighborhoods to open fields. Why does this matter? Land cover affects wind speed and damage potential. A dense tree line can slow down winds before they hit your home, while wide-open terrain leaves buildings more exposed. This is especially important in hurricane-prone Florida, where more storms strike the coastline than any other state. From 1980–2024, Florida experienced 30 hurricanes, each causing over $1 billion in losses, according to NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Landsat and NLCD data help: 🔹Set safer building codes 🔹Model hurricane losses more accurately 🔹Protect communities and reduce costs With Landsat and NLCD data, communities can plan smarter, build stronger, and stay safer. Learn more: https://ow.ly/2ZY550WM9e2 📸 1: A beach house in Cape San Blas, Florida destroyed by Hurricane Michael, which struck the Florida Panhandle as a Category Four storm Oct. 10, 2018. 📸2: On September 28, 2022, Landsat 8 passed over Hurricane Ian, capturing its eye just before landfall. The storm's center measured 42 kilometers (26 miles) wide.