By samgott@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 11, 2025.

RESTON, VA. — The U.S. Geological Survey released its assessment of potential for undiscovered oil and gas in the Niobrara Formation in southwest Wyoming and northwest Colorado, assessing that there are technically recoverable resources of 703 million barrels of oil and 5.8 trillion cubic feet of gas. 

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 09, 2025.

The ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption that began on December 23, 2024, is currently paused following the high fountaining of episode 24 for 7.5 hours on June 4-5, 2025. 

By samgott@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 09, 2025.

In 2024, the USGS developed new directions in critical mineral supply chain analysis, innovated new methods for assessing undiscovered mineral resources, and made progress towards characterizing critical minerals in mine wastes.  

By lowen@contractor.usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 09, 2025.

In 2023 and 2024, Landsat 8 experienced occasional issues with the ancillary data used in processing that impacted geolocation information in some Landsat products.  

Updated ancillary data now provide nominal geolocational accuracy for Landsat 8 products. An upcoming processing effort will correct the accuracy of the impacted products described below. 

By criggs@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 09, 2025.

USGS scientists are identifying what plants and animals were present on the (now submerged) Bering Land Bridge. The Land Bridge was an important migration route for plants and animals – including humans - between Asia and North America during the last Ice Age.

By ssobie@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 09, 2025.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall and unleashed widespread and destructive flooding, damaging winds, and extensive landslide activity across the southeast United States. A new report summarizes the U.S. Geological Survey’s initial landslide response efforts, while we reflect on the event in more detail below.

By mpoland@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 09, 2025.

YVO just released an updated version of its response plan for geological hazards in Yellowstone National Park.  The plan describes how Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists will monitor and communicate information about any future hydrothermal, seismic, and volcanic activity.

By ppearsall@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 06, 2025.

In newly published research, USGS scientists mapped ecologically vital microbial biofilm communities that thrive on intertidal mudflats—using remote sensing technology to characterize their distribution, composition, and nutritional value.

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 05, 2025.

Recently, something has been observed “dancing” above the active eruptive vents inside Halemaʻumaʻu…Hydrogen flames! Let’s take a look into what causes this and other flame phenomenon on volcanoes. 

By lsheng@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 04, 2025.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Library in Reston, VA, commemorated the 45th Anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens with a special exhibit held in the Art Hallway of the USGS National Center in May, 2025.

By cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 04, 2025.

Giant sequoia forests and other ecosystems face unprecedented climate change threats. North Central CASC scientists explain how scenario planning can help land managers prepare for a wide range of possible futures. 

By jburton@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 04, 2025.

After 25 years of capturing Earth's changing landscape, the Landsat 7 satellite received its final transmission from the U.S. Geological Survey and was officially decommissioned June 4, closing a remarkable chapter in space-based observation.

By jlawson@contractor.usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 04, 2025.

Agricultural crops are grown on nearly 16% of the land across the lower 48 states. Thanks to the Landsat Satellite Program and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD), we can tell where cropland has remained stable as cropland over the past 39 years. We can also see where it has changed from something else into cropland, or from cropland into something else. 

By mbouchard@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 04, 2025.

The Landsat 7 satellite will receive its final transmission from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on June 4, 2025, at 1:08 PM CST. The satellite launched in April 1999 and will be decommissioned after 26 years in orbit. Its science mission, which focused on collecting imagery data of Earth’s land, inland waters, and coastal waters, spanned 25 years.

By mnewbrough@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 03, 2025.

WMRA Public Radio — Randi B. Hagi — June 3, 2025

By criggs@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 03, 2025.

In the charred groves of California’s Sierra Nevada, silence has replaced the towering presence of some of the world’s largest trees. Once standing for thousands of years, these ancient giant sequoias have withstood centuries of fire—until now.

By lhsu@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 02, 2025.

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

By mpoland@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Jun 02, 2025.

Continuous infrasound (low-frequency acoustic energy) monitoring is now established in Yellowstone.  And the method is detecting activity that goes beyond geyser eruptions.

By samgott@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 30, 2025.

RESTON, VA. — Low-level airplane flights are planned to begin soon over areas of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin using airborne geophysical technology. Data collection for this survey area will start in late May or early June 2025, weather and flight restrictions permitting. 

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 30, 2025.

The ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption that began on December 23, 2024, is currently paused following the high fountaining of episode 23 on Sunday, May 25. 

By edietrich@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 30, 2025.

USGS FORT scientists with the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) recently coauthored a publication introducing a novel integrated species distribution model for North American bats. This work was conducted in collaboration with researchers from USGS NOROCK, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

By lhsu@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 30, 2025.

Synthesis science continues at the Powell Center with working groups and workshops.

By rquintal@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 30, 2025.

Spotlight on sterile male sea lamprey research.

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 29, 2025.

Episode 23 of Kīlauea's ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu occurred on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Record-setting lava fountain and plume heights were reached quickly for this eruption, less than one hour after episode 23 started. Given the increasing airborne volcanic hazards associated with this eruption, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will change episode notification types moving forward.

By cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 29, 2025.

Scientists supported by the Southwest CASC find that wildfire risk reduction strategies, like thinning and burning, can also support natural ponderosa pine regeneration.

By jburton@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 29, 2025.

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30. Throughout the season, the U.S. Geological Survey is prepared to aid coastal and inland communities by informing critical decisions before, during, and after hurricanes, which can help save lives and protect property.

By mhartwell@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 29, 2025.

The USGS provides timely, scientific information about the health of ecosystems and economies, playing a crucial role in helping communities adapt to extreme drought.

By ssobie@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 29, 2025.

USGS recently awarded more than \$23 million for earthquake monitoring and applied research. This funding supports earthquake research in high-risk areas, contributes to the maintenance and operation of seismic networks and supports further development of earthquake early warning systems.

By jburton@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 28, 2025.

As the 2025 hurricane season approaches, the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal Storm Team is leveraging data from past storms to support decision-makers, emergency responders and communities in preparing for hurricanes.

By criggs@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 28, 2025.

After a wildfire, land managers need timely information about its impact to develop treatment strategies. USGS scientists investigated the utility of instantaneous satellite-derived estimates of fire intensity in Alaska, where the remoteness and inaccessibility of many wildfire sites make ground-based investigations difficult.