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

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:50:16 EDT

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?

Volcano Minute — Intrusion and eruption at Kīlauea

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:36:26 EDT

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.

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:17:50 EDT

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.

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

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:03:43 EDT

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.

A previously undocumented process of hydrothermal manganese mineralization

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 11:15:35 EDT

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.

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

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 01:00:00 EDT

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.

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

U.S. Geological Survey — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:50:59 EDT

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.

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

U.S. Geological Survey — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:34:44 EDT

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.

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

U.S. Geological Survey — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:41:43 EDT

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

2025 CASC Annual Summary

U.S. Geological Survey — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:01:00 EDT

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

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

U.S. Geological Survey — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:00:00 EDT

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

Study Outlines a Range of Possible Fire Futures for Alaska

U.S. Geological Survey — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:43:50 EDT

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.

USGS Updates U.S. Critical Mineral Deposits

U.S. Geological Survey — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:50:18 EDT

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey has released an updated database showing known U.S. deposits of 59 critical minerals needed to strengthen the American economy and protect national security.

Landsat MSS Level-1 Products Reprocessed to Correct Brightness Values

U.S. Geological Survey — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:24:16 EDT

Several Landsat 2 and Landsat 3 Multispectral Sensor (MSS) Level-1 products were recently reprocessed to correct brightness value errors that were initially discovered in early 2025.

Scheduled website outage

U.S. Geological Survey — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 02:56:44 EDT

On September 29-30, the USGS website content management system will be upgraded. During this timeframe, parts or all of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website may be temporarily inaccessible or may not appear/function correctly.

Remote Sensing Phenology Metrics for 2025 Released

U.S. Geological Survey — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:49:50 EDT

The 2025 Remote Sensing Phenology Metrics have been released. This suite of phenology metrics was derived from time-series eVIIRS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data.

FORT Science in Action 2026, Part 15: Stable isotope analyses for improved understanding of wildlife-environment interactions

U.S. Geological Survey — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:00 EDT

This past year, USGS scientists leveraged stable isotopes to provide novel insights on wildlife-ecosystem interactions: grizzly bear diets in Alaska and mercury contamination of fish communities in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Isotopic analyses were conducted at the USGS Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Stable Isotope Laboratory which specializes in chemical and isotopic tracers.

Yellowstone’s newest hydrothermal monitoring station and “renewed” camera

U.S. Geological Survey — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:30:00 EDT

In early September, monitoring capabilities in Yellowstone received a significant boost with the renewal of the Yellowstone Lake camera and the installation of a new monitoring station at Geyser Hill, near Old Faithful.

New USGS Study Shows How Barrier Island Geomorphology Altered Sediment Distribution During and After Hurricane Sandy, Impacting Future Island Storm Resistance

U.S. Geological Survey — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 07:40:41 EDT

The paper, authored by USGS scientists Jennifer Miselis, Noreen Buster, Dan Ciarletta, Julie Bernier, and Rose Palermo, and Louisiana State University scientist Emily Wei, was published in Nature Communications and represents work conducted with the support of NPS staff at Fire Island National Seashore.

Volcano Minute — Volcano monitoring work in American Samoa: aloha to talofa

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:52:45 EDT

Today we’re heading to the remote volcanic islands of American Samoa, where scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recently visited to repair and service critical volcano‑monitoring stations.

Volcano Watch — From aloha to talofa: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors American Samoa

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:50:09 EDT

During a two-week trip to American Samoa in August and September, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff repaired and serviced the volcano monitoring network and conducted joint K-12 outreach with local emergency management partners.

High-resolution bathymetry of Lake Chelan, Washington

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:22:42 EDT

In 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey completed a 3-week field operation in Lake Chelan, Washington, the third deepest lake in the conterminous United States, to acquire sediment cores, high-resolution bathymetry data, and chirp sub-bottom profiles.

The USGS Celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day, an Occasion with Deep Ties Across the Bureau’s Diverse Science

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:03:27 EDT

USGS science helps keep America’s outdoor traditions vibrant and sustainable.

MacGillivray’s Warbler First Confirmed State Record for Maryland

U.S. Geological Survey — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:13:04 EDT

The USGS Bird Banding Lab’s fall migration station at Patuxent Research Refuge captured a new species record for the state of Maryland in September 2026.

FORT Science in Action 2026, Part 14: Using aerial imagery to monitor changing rivers and manage invasive species

U.S. Geological Survey — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:00:00 EDT

Staff across DOI use uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) for a variety of purposes, from monitoring natural hazards to measuring environmental change. FORT scientists have years of experience using UAS to examine how rivers and riparian habitat change over time, and they are training researchers across DOI on how to use UAS for conventional and novel purposes, like tracking invasive pythons.

Low-Flow, High Stakes: CAP Fellows Review Climate-Driven Flows and Management Across the U.S.

U.S. Geological Survey — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:31:59 EDT

In a new publication, the 2022-2024 Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral Fellows cohort explores how climate-driven low-flows in rivers alter water quality, how those water quality changes influence ecosystem health, and how instream flow management has been used across the U.S. to address these challenges.

New Data Visualizations Dive into Inland Fisheries as Food Sources

U.S. Geological Survey — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:50:54 EDT

Three new data visualizations highlighting recreational inland fisheries harvest have been added to the USGS Earth is in Flux science visualization gallery. The interactive visuals showcase the nutritional contribution, economic value, and climate vulnerability of inland recreational fish consumption by country and taxa.

Landsat Product Supports Water Management Worldwide

U.S. Geological Survey — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:00:52 EDT

When it comes to the world’s water supply, effective management is vital. One of the challenges is understanding how much water crops and vegetation actually use. How much water is required? How much water is “too much”?

15,000 years of change in Yellowstone's Lower Geyser Basin

U.S. Geological Survey — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Recent collaborative research into past climate of Yellowstone’s Lower Geyser Basin has revealed some surprises about how the area has changed over the past many millennia. And it has lessons for how the region might continue to change in the future.

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

U.S. Geological Survey — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 20:31:44 EDT

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff conducted a monitoring overflight of the eruption site in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea during the afternoon of September 18, 2026. No active lava was observed on the surface during the overflight, though spatter was visible in the north vent overnight.