Map showing the 1‐year chance of minor (top) and moderate (bottom) damaging earthquake shaking in the United States in 2018. Hazard from the western United States from the 2014 National Seismic Hazard Maps (Petersen et al., 2014) is shown on the left of both maps for comparison. (Public domain.)

Induced Earthquakes
Current research on induced earthquakes due to human activities. Observations, modeling, and hazards.

Earthquake Early Warning
A few seconds matter. USGS has been working to develop an earthquake early warning for the United States.

Faults, Earthquake Geology, and Special Earthquake Studies
The study of active fault zones, and collections of information for specific significant earthquakes.

• Overview
• Earthquake Geology and Paleoseismology
• Tectonic Geomorphology and Near-Field Geodesy
• Earthquake Response
• Salton Seismic Imaging
• Special Earthquakes, Earthquake Sequences, and Fault Zones
• Hazard and Risk Assessment

To mitigate earthquake losses, scientists evaluate the earthquake hazards across the country.

Hazard and Risk Assessment
To mitigate earthquake losses, scientists evaluate the earthquake hazards across the country.

Earthquake Processes and Effects
Crustal deformation, ground motion, ground failure, and the effects of earthquakes.

• Overview
• Tracking Stress Buildup and Crustal Deformation
• Fault Slip Rates and Post-Earthquake Motions
• Ground Movement and Ground Shaking
• Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)
• Rock Physics Lab
• San Francisco Bay Area Arrays and East Bay Seismic Experiment
• Neogene Deformation

Monitoring Improvements
Scientists are doing research to improve earthquake monitoring, detection, and analysis.

External Grants
The USGS supports external research that will assist in achieving the goals of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NERHP).