Earth Science

The Center investigates scientific processes related to societal problems arising in coastal and marine environments, including natural hazards, resources, and environmental change. Increased understanding of these topics will provide the basis for: predicting future coastal erosion, the fate of wetlands and coral reefs, accumulation of sediments, sediment transport and stability, circulation, movement of pollution through aqueous environments, and the locations of economically valuable minerals.

Since 1976, the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center (NHRAIC) has served as a national and international clearinghouse of knowledge concerning the social science and policy aspects of disasters. The Center collects and shares research and experience related to preparedness for, response to, recovery from, and mitigation of disasters, emphasizing the link between hazard mitigation and sustainability to both producers and users of research and knowledge on extreme events. A basic goal of the Center is to strengthen communication among researchers and the individuals, organizations, and agencies concerned with reducing damages caused by disasters. More than a quarter century of cultivating discourse among these groups has placed NHRAIC center-stage in both the national and global hazards communities.

The Mid-American Geospatial Information Center (MAGIC) provides access to NASA remote sensing data. Users include state agencies, federal agencies, regional and local governments, academic institutions, public schools, businesses and the general public. As a catalyst for advanced technology, MAGIC combines products from NASA's remote sensing programs with Texas-based developments in leading-edge information technology, computer visualization techniques and Internet2 data transmission network.

This web site offers a cyberspace glimpse into the world of Dr. Robert Reisz's vertebrate palaeontology research group at the University of Toronto's Mississauga Campus. Robert and his associates study the fauna of the Late Palaeozoic, a fascinating interval of Earth's history that saw the first flowering of groups that were ultimately ancestral to modern mammals, reptiles and amphibians. This period of evolutionary experimentation appears to have been suddenly terminated at the end of the Palaeozoic, probably by a cataclysmic mass extinction that made way for the earliest dinosaurs and many other new forms.

The TRC is actively involved with all aspects of tsunami research; inundation field surveys, numerical and analytical modeling, and hazard assessment, mitigation and planning.
The TRC has developed the tsunami inundation maps for California and the tsunami code MOST, now used by NOAA. MOST is the only validated code used in the US for tsunami hazard mapping with detailed inundation predictions. TRC faculty and students have surveyed all except one of the "modern" tsunamis since 1992, and have been working on meta-tsunami surveys for the 1946 Aleutian and 1956 Amorgos, Greece events. The TRC is a unit of the Department of Civil Engineering.

Reports of recent volcanism, published by the Smithsonian since 1968, are provided by the Global Volcanism Network, a collective term for hundreds of correspondents, scientists, and other volcano observers that contribute information. The volume and quality of information is a testimonial to the dedication and international cooperation of the world's volcano watchers (amateur as well as professional). Despite the pressure of ongoing eruptions, they have repeatedly provided detailed and timely data.

These satellite images show some of the world's most active volcanoes. Additional volcano information can be obtained from the Michigan Tech Geology Department. The Java animations below contain the last four satellite images. Volcanoes are listed from north to south. These products are made available, in part, through an IBM Shared University Research Grant.

A National Volcano Early Warning System NVEWS is being formulated by the Consortium of U.S. Volcano Observatories (CUSVO) to establish a proactive, fully integrated, national-scale monitoring effort that ensures the most threatening volcanoes in the United States are properly monitored in advance of the onset of unrest and at levels commensurate with the threats posed. Volcanic threat is the combination of hazards (the destructive natural phenomena produced by a volcano) and exposure (people and property at risk from the hazards).

To address the potential for conflict and cooperation on water issues, Michigan Technological University has launched the Michigan Tech Water Initiative. The purpose of the Michigan Tech Water Initiative program is to provide the multidisciplinary perspectives and tools to manage water-related problems of local, regional, and international interest. The Michigan Tech Water Initiative has three primary foci: undergraduate and graduate education, technical and policy-related research, and community outreach. The Michigan Tech Water Initiative community consists of any faculty, students, and staff that have water-related interests.

The PNSN operates seismograph stations and locates earthquakes in Washington and Oregon. Our web site provides information on Pacific Northwest earthquake activity and hazards. We are based at the University of Washington in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences.

The focal mechanism of the mainshock indicates low angle thrust faulting (dipping 8 degree NE) along a plane striking NNW (329 deg) at a depth of about 29 km. The largest aftershock (Mw 7.1) that occurred northwest of the mainshock in Nicobar Islands appears to be more northerly striking (352 deg), shallow (12 km) and steeply dipping (41 deg). The second largest aftershock also has similar focal mechanism to the largest aftershock. Eight (8) major earthquakes (Mw > 7) during 1976-2004 in the region indicates that low angle, thrust faulting is the predominant mechanisms in the region. Calculated by Won-Young Kim of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

The Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) seeks to provide a comprehensive framework to harmonize the common interests of the major space-based and in-situ systems for global observation of the Earth. IGOS is a strategic planning process, involving a number of partners, that links research, long-term monitoring and operational programmes, as well as data producers and users, in a structure that helps determine observation gaps and identify the resources to fill observation needs.

This is the Home Page for the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and its members. CEOS membership encompasses the world's government agencies responsible for civil Earth Observation (EO) satellite programs, along with agencies that receive and process data acquired remotely from space.CEOS is an international coordinating mechanism charged with coordinating international civil spaceborne missions designed to observe and study planet Earth. Comprising 23 Members (most of which are space agencies) and 21 Associates (associated national and international organizations), CEOS is recognized as the major international forum for the coordination of Earth observation satellite programs and for interaction of these programs with users of satellite data worldwide.

NeMO studies the dynamic interactions between submarine volcanic activity and seafloor hotsprings at an observatory, Axial seamount. A volcanic eruption occured at Axial in January 1998, destroying some hydrothermal vent sites and creating new ones. Since then NeMO scientists have been assessing the impact of the eruption and documenting the on-going changes in Axial's summit caldera.

The Ocean Research Interactive Observatory Networks (ORION) is a program that focuses the science, technology, education and outreach of an emerging network of science driven ocean observing systems. Building on the heritage of the ship-based expeditionary era of the last century, oceanography is commencing a new phase in which research scientists increasingly seek continuous interaction with the ocean environment to adaptively observe the earth-ocean-atmosphere system. Such approaches are crucial to resolving the full range of episodicity and temporal change central to so many ocean processes that directly impact human society, our climate and the incredible range of natural phenomena found in the largest ecosystem of the planet.

Caltech's Seismological Laboratory established in 1921, has a distinguished history of contributing to science and serving the public interest. Being internationally recognized for excellence in geophysical research and academics makes this an ideal place for study. The lab also serves as a focal point for earthquake information in Southern California and the world.

The Berkeley Seismological Laboratory (BSL) has a long history in the fields of earthquake science and earthquake information. Since 1887, the Seismological Laboratory has been involved in operating seismic networks in central and northern California. The Seismological Laboratory is involved in a number of projects in geophysical monitoring, earthquake information dissemination, and education and outreach.

The vision of the GEOsciences Network (GEON) project is to prototype interpretive environments of the future in Earth Sciences, using advanced information technologies to facilitate collaborative, inter-disciplinary science efforts. Scientists will be able to discover data, tools, and models via portals, using advanced, semantics-based search engines and query tools, in a uniform authentication environment that provides controlled access to a wide range of resources. A services-based environment facilitates creation of scientific workflows that are executed in the distributed environment. Advanced GIS mapping, 3D, and 4D visualization tools allow scientists to interact with the data. Such an environment enables new modes of science and can transform the day-to-day conduct of science.

Information on the New Madrid Fault zone including historical and recent seismic activity, map of recent quakes, topography, tectonics. etc. Includes a map of earthquakes in the midwestern US from within the past 6 months to the past hour.

A fact sheet on the New Madrid Fault Zone prepared by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Center for Earthquake Education and Technology Transfer. History of the fault zone, recent events. maps, predictions.