USGS volcanologists work directly on the rugged slopes of a volcano to measure and observe changes
in it's activity and to install and maintain a network of volcano monitoring instruments.
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USGS science reduces death, injuries, and property damage resulting from hazards such as earthquakes,
by providing the information needed to mitigate those losses.
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Solar wind from sunspot activity distorts the Earth's magnetic field, causing magnetic storms that
disrupt satellite communications and power grids.
Illustration by K. Endo, Nikkei Science, Inc., Japan
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The loss of life and property from landslides can be reduced by improving our understanding of the
causes of ground-failure. USGS science has led to significant advances in understanding ground-failure,
saving lives and property.
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Under
the Disaster
Relief Act of 1974 (Stafford
Act, 42 U.S.C 5201 et seq), the USGS has responsibility
to provide information for disaster warnings
for earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, landslides, floods,
tsunami (tidal waves), and
geomagnetic storms.
The
USGS Geologic Hazards programs
provide near real-time data
and contribute to the reduction
of human and economic losses
and disruptions associated
with natural disasters. USGS
monitoring includes the Global
Seismic Networks, the
U.S. National Networks, 16
U.S. Regional Networks,
as well as five
volcano and 14
geomagnetic observatories.
Real-time
information is available over
the Internet at NEIC,
NLIC, and volcano
observatories.
We are expanding
the fundamental knowledge
of earthquake, volcano, and
landslide processes for more
effective risk-mitigation
and disaster-response strategies.
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