Home » Geologic Hazards

Geologic Hazards

USGS: Latest Earthquakes

A complete portal to earthquake information and maps of all kinds. Continuously updated by the United States Geological Survey.

Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution has a fantastic online resource for basic information about the world's volcanoes. They have a database of detailed pages for thousands of volcanoes, a collection of space images, popular FAQs, image and video galleries, and much more.

National Hurricane Center

Their website has a map of tropical cyclones and disturbances that is updated multiple times per day - in addition to lots of other hurricane information.

Live Lightning Maps

One of the most ingenious websites. LightningMaps.org has maps showing the geographic distribution of lightning across the world in near-real-time. Strokes of lightning pop onto the map as red circles. Thunder emanates from some lightning strokes as a white halo that expands outward at the speed of sound (they are the sound front of thunder). The circles then fade to yellow, then brown, then disappear over time. Click the map above to visit the website. You gotta see this - especially when big lightning is happening outside and you are safe on your couch.

Global Subsidence Map

If you have any interest in land subsidence, you probably should know about this interactive map. It is the UNESCO Global Subsidence Map published by Herrera-Garcia et al. in Science (2021). Click the map above to view.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes - Learn about earthquakes and how they have affected cities and people.

Hazard Insurance

Homeowners Insurance and Geologic Hazards Most policies do not cover geologic hazards.

Storm Surge

Storm Surge can be the most damaging and deadly aspect of a hurricane.

Largest Hurricanes

Largest Hurricanes Are they determined by wind speed, value of damage, most deaths?

Landslides

Landslides A USGS fact sheet about landslides and events that trigger them.

Volcanic Explosivity

Volcanic Explosivity Rating volcanic eruptions based upon the volume of tephra ejected.

Naming Hurricanes

Hurricane Names How are hurricanes named? Is your name on the list?

Expansive Soils

Expansive Soil Causes more damage than floods, hurricanes & tornadoes combined.

Liquefaction

Liquefaction occurs when water-saturated soil is severely shaken and loses strength.

Novarupta

Most Powerful Eruption of the 20th Century - and most people have never heard of it.

Tsunami Causes

What Causes a Tsunami? Learn how plate motions trigger earthquakes and tsunamis.

Geology Dictionary

Geology Dictionary - contains thousands of geological terms with their definitions.

Abandoned Mines

Abandoned Mines accidents take 20 to 30 lives per year. Many could be prevented.

Lightning Strikes Map

Lightning Strikes Map - shows the worldwide distribution of lightning activity.

Largest Tsunami

Largest Tsunami - The wave with the highest run-up was in Lituya Bay, Alaska.

Lightning Hotspot

World Record Lightning - This lake has more lightning than any other place in the world.

Volcanoes

Volcanoes Articles about volcanoes, volcanic hazards and eruptions past and present.

Atlantic Tsunamis

Atlantic Tsunamis Rare events that can cause damage and threaten millions of people.

Indian Ocean Tsunamis

Indian Ocean Tsunamis Deadly tsunamis triggered by earthquakes and volcanoes.

Rock Fall Photos

Yosemite Rock Fall Photos A photo sequence of a rockfall and debris avalanche by Herb Dunn.

Gifts That Rock

Gifts That Rock - What are the most popular gift items in the Geology.com store?

Geology Tools

Geology Tools - Hammers, field bags, hand lenses, maps, hardness picks, gold pans.

Pacific Tsunamis

Pacific Tsunamis This ocean is surrounded by plate boundaries, that can produce tsunami.

Yosemite Rockfall

Yosemite Rockfall Hazards have been mapped by the National Park Service.