AccuWeather.com has an article about a subdivision in Lakeport, California where a landslide moving at a rate of inches per day is tearing homes apart.
Since 1972 the “Roadside Geology” series has provided introductory information on the geology of states and small regions of the United States.
The books provide a combination of maps, travel logs, photos and commentary for the geology that can be seen along highways or visited at parks and public viewing areas. They are popular with geologists, teachers, students and others who are interested in the Earth.
The city of Piedmont is suing some of its residents over a landslide (triggered by improper drainage) that shut down a street and required costly clean-up.
GeoCorps America is a program offering paid, short-term geoscience positions in some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world.
Just a few of the Fall/Winter Positions….
Curator Intern – Dinosaur National Monument GIS Technician – Delaware Water Gap
Hydrological Technician – Redwoods National Park
Physical Science Technician – Grand Canyon National Park
Guest Scientist – Yosemite National Park
You have probably heard of the Richter Scale for measuring earthquakes, the Saffir-Simpson Scale for hurricanes and the Fujita Scale for tornadoes. The Volcanic Explosivity Index is used to compare the size of explosive volcanic eruptions.
The California Geological Survey has a collection of landslide hazard maps online for viewing as pdf documents. They are plotted on 7.5 minute topographic maps.
“A new video from the U.S. Geological Survey illustrates Lake Mead’s healthy and robust ecosystem and the aquatic science research and monitoring that happens on the lake.” Quoted from the USGS video release.
Did you know that most homeowners insurance policies do not cover damage from any type of subsidence? That includes collapse from sinkholes, oil production, ground water pumping and underground mining activity. Most insurance companies offering homeowners coverage exclude almost any type of geologic hazard from coverage – unless you make specific arrangements to acquire it yourself.
The folks at MyTopo.com are now printing supersized topo maps; large enough make a huge 8′ x 5′ (or 5′ x 8′) map that will look fantastic on the wall of your office, conference room, lobby, cabin or den. These maps are custom-centered on any location that you pick using their online map-making tool.
We are affiliates of MyTopo.com and receive a commission on sales.
Raven Maps are beautiful examples of shaded-relief wall maps that display the elevation of a state in vibrant colors. These large maps look great in a classroom, den or office. Use one to mark the locations of your work or company.
“The Lyell Glacier, the largest glacier in Yosemite National Park, has stagnated, or ceased its downhill movement, according to a recent study conducted by scientists from the National Park Service and the University of Colorado. The adjacent Maclure Glacier is still moving at its historical rate, about one inch per day.” Quoted from the Yosemite National Park press release.
Researchers used Doppler radar images to help find numerous pieces of the Sutter’s Mill meteorite. The meteorite entered Earth’s atmosphere at 28.6 kilometers per second – a new speed record.
The Department of Geological Sciences at California State University Long Beach encourages applications for the Johnson-Conrey Fellowship to support any field of study leading to a MS Degree in Geological Sciences. Interested students may learn about the Department and apply for the fellowship through our website: http://www.csulb.edu/depts/geology/
“New Caltech research suggests creeping faults can turn destructive which could explain the unexpectedly large 2011 earthquake in Japan and give new insight on potential future quakes along the San Andreas Fault. In contrast to some current theories, the research suggests that earthquake ruptures might not stop at creeping fault segments—which are considered stable—instead activating the supposedly stable segments and triggering a bigger quake with more destructive power across a large area.” Quoted from a Caltech media release.
Petrified Forest National Park is the most famous location in the world for observing petrified wood. It is one of several government and private parks in the United States that feature petrified wood.
Earthquake insurance can be expensive. That is part of the reason why only about 12% of California homeowners have coverage. The good news is that some premiums are being reduced.
The Eruptions blog has a post that corrects inaccurate information about Newberry Caldera and the Salton Buttes that has appeared in some major news sources.
According to the Energy Information Administration the Monterey Shale in southern California could hold up to 15.4 billion barrels of oil. On December 12 the Bureau of Land Management will auction some of the first
An article on the MSNBC.com website explores volcanic hazards in the southwestern United States and how geologists are starting to coordinate their mitigation, forecasting and planning efforts.
USGS recently opened a fifth volcano observatory in the United States. The new one is the California Volcano Observatory. California might have more volcanoes than you realize. The observatory lists as high to very high thread the following: Clear Lake Volcanic Field, Lassen Volcanic Center, Long Valley Caldera, Medicine Lake, Mono-Inyo Chain, Mount Shasta and Salton Buttes.
“While there has never been a documented case of a hurricane making landfall in California, the Golden State has had its share of run-ins and close calls with tropical cyclones. In fact, California has been affected by at least a few tropical cyclones in every decade since 1900. Three of those storms brought gale-force winds, [...] flooding, damage and, occasionally, casualties.” Quoted from the NASA press release.
USGS has published: “Seafloor Geology and Benthic Habitats, San Pedro Shelf, Southern California”. This is a really interesting publication with lots of seafloor photos, sediment facies maps, descriptions of geologic and biologic constituents at or near the seafloor, and much more.
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Homeowners Insurance usually does not cover damage caused by floods, landslides, earthquakes and other geohazards.
Frac Sand is a high-purity silica sand used in hydraulic fracturing to enhance the flow of oil and gas from tight rock units.
Diamonds from Coal? Diamonds form under a variety of conditions that rarely involve coal as a source of carbon.
Fluorescent Minerals glow with spectacular colors when illuminated in the dark with an ultraviolet lamp.
Helium is a byproduct of the natural gas industry. Its most important use is in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
Canada Diamond Mines: Canada is the third largest producer of gem-quality diamonds in the world.
Utica Shale: New wells in eastern Ohio prove that the Utica Shale will be a major source of natural gas and natural gas liquids.
Spectacular Fossils of the Green River Formation. Some of the world's best-preserved fossil fish from an intermountain lake.
Opals: Gem quality opal is one of the most spectacular gemstones. A single stone can flash with every color of the spectrum.
