U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Get the latest USGS resources on post-Helene landslides, including a map of current landslide observations and an event overview at: https://ow.ly/kf8V50TEGEc FEMA Image: a scientist looks out the window during an aerial reconnaissance flight to get a better understanding of the extent and severity of landslide impacts in the southern Appalachian region.

Get the latest locations of landslides associated with Hurricane Helene at our Landslide Observations Dashboard: https://ow.ly/IFbc50TEEO2 Landslides are an ongoing hazard in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. USGS and a growing list of state and federal collaborators are at work locating landslides and adding them to the map, drawing on ongoing aerial surveys of the region via fixed-wing aircraft, satellite imagery, and on-the-ground information. The dashboard will be updated as new data come in. The landslide event team does due diligence in attempting to confirm the accuracy of each landslide report but the dashboard is a rapid emergency analysis of the data that’s currently available and provisional only in nature. Image: screenshot of landslide observation dashboard as of 2:30 pm ET. FEMA

Exciting updates from the annual Principals’ Meeting of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), held on September 18 at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. USGS Director Dave Applegate had the privilege to engage with leaders from NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution during a panel discussion that focused on our collective achievements and established priorities for Arctic research. Together, they emphasized the importance of collaboration in navigating the unique challenges presented by the Arctic environment. Looking ahead, we are embarking on future visioning for the Arctic Research Plan, which will guide our efforts through 2027 and beyond. This is a crucial time to strategize and innovate as we seek to enhance our understanding of Arctic systems and address pressing environmental concerns. USGS continues to strengthen our leadership and commitment to Arctic research and stewardship. Photo 1: Gathered IARPC Principals Photo 2: Nancy Sung (IARPC Director), Katherine Calvin (NASA), Kirk Johnson (Smithsonian), Kelly Kryc (NOAA), Dave Applegate (DOI) #ArcticResearch #EarthScience

Raise your hand if you currently use or have used supercomputers in the past. 🤚 Did you know they can protect lives, infrastructure, and environmental resources threatened by volcanoes? 🌋 For the USGS, we have 3 high-performance computing systems (i.e. supercomputers) that we use to process large datasets and quickly solve complex physics equations. These incredibly fast supercomputers allow scientists to tap into machine learning, data assimilation, and probabilistic hazard assessments (i.e. more sophisticated approaches) to better evaluate potential hazards like lahars. A lahar is an Indonesian term that describes a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments that flows down the slopes of a volcano. A moving lahar looks like a roiling slurry of wet concrete and can travel great distances downstream, threatening communities many miles away from the slopes of the volcano. By knowing how these hazards might play out, we can help keep people safe by having them be better prepared for the “what if?” To learn more about how supercomputers are empowering scientists to better model potential volcanic hazards, please visit: https://ow.ly/HKpJ50Txqfk 📹: Simulation of a landslide & lahar originating from Tahoma Glacier on Mt. Rainier, WA. Colors represent flow depth in meters, ranging from 0 to more than 100 meters (>300 feet). #BePrepared #NationalPreparednessMonth #PreparednessMonth #volcanoes #landslides

Do you study or manage mine lands? We are excited to share a new report that describes how satellite and other aerial imagery can be used to assess and restore mine lands. While remote sensing has been used to study all kinds of things, from carbon storage to wildfire severity, this approach hasn’t been used widely to study mine lands yet. But there’s a lot of potential in this approach for mine lands: it allows researchers and managers to understand how mine lands have changed over large geographic areas and decades-long time scales, for relatively little cost. For example, this series of satellite images shows a coal mine in the Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia, first in 1984 when the total disturbed area was relatively small, then in 1998 when the mine had grown westward, and then in 2015, when mining ended, some vegetation recovery was visible from Landsat imagery as light green. See the report and learn about other new mine lands tools here: https://ow.ly/ZvQq50Txgp3

What kinds of science can you do as a USGS postdoctoral Mendenhall Fellow? So many kinds! Meet Dr. Maria Figueroa, a Mendenhall Fellow who is using geochemical analysis and machine learning to study critical metals on the seafloor: “Being a Mendenhall has been an incredible opportunity for growth as an early-career professional. I’m able to pursue research I’m passionate about, supported by a large network of dedicated scientists, and to learn how to translate my work into insights that inform policymakers and the public.” Learn more about the Mendenhall Fellowship: https://ow.ly/Z91150Tx6wJ Apply by November 1! 📸: Dr. Figueroa on board the R/V Falkor ship, measuring dissolved iron in porewaters from seafloor sediments.

After 132,000+ trips around Earth and 3.3+ million satellite images, the incredible journey of the Landsat 7 satellite comes to a close, making way for the next generation of Landsat satellites. 🛰️🌎 A joint mission between USGS and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Landsat 7 was initially designed for a five-year mission but far exceeded expectations, observing our planet for a remarkable 25 years! Its invaluable data has benefited humanity and enhanced our understanding of Earth. “Landsat 7 data have been pivotal in documenting environmental changes such as natural disasters, deforestation, and urban growth over its 25 years,” said Dave Applegate, USGS Director. “Notably capturing significant events like Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the Australian bushfires in 2019 - 2020, the dramatic growth of cities worldwide and more through its long-standing mission.” “For more than fifty years now, Landsat satellites have helped us learn more about how Earth systems work, how human activities affect those systems, and how we can make better decisions for the future. Landsat 9, the latest joint effort by NASA and USGS, proudly carries on that remarkable record,” said Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator. While we await the Landsat Next mission, Landsats 8 and 9 continue to carry out the Landsat mission, working together to image the entire Earth’s surface every 8 days. This provides a continuous record of Earth imagery dating back to 1972. Learn more 👉 https://ow.ly/28Gk50TvL4t #Landsat #EarthScience #Satellite #NASA #RemoteSensing #NASAEarth Image 1: Ganges River delta Image 2: Aftermath of Hurricane Ian Image 3: Floodwaters in St. Bernard Parish after Hurricane Katrina Image 4: Yukon Delta, one of the largest river deltas in the world

Does that critter really live here? These cuties--a tiger salamander, a painted turtle, and a whole lotta (pinned) bees--repped North Dakota ecosystems at the Jamestown Community Block Party last month. If you’re lucky enough to meet our USGS scientists out in the wild, you're in for a treat. We love to share our science at events for the public, like the Jamestown Community Block Party, in Jamestown, ND last month. Our scientists brought along some of the species they study, including tiger salamanders, painted turtles, and bumble bees. These species are native to North Dakota, but seldom seen by residents, so it’s a treat to see them up close, with scientists on hand to share information about them. Learn more about our research in the Great Plains at: https://ow.ly/2unl50TuLG8

A global study reveals a surprise: The driest places have the highest diversity of plant traits! 🌵 Common ecological knowledge, up until now, has assumed that areas with abundant rainfall house more plant trait diversity than drylands. However, this new research flips that idea on its head! With only 10% of plant traits cataloged from dryland ecosystems—despite these areas covering 45% of our planet—a team of over 120 scientists surveyed 300 dryland species across 6 continents, taking more than 130,000 trait measurements. The findings? Dry areas receiving less than ~15 inches of rainfall annually showcase trait diversity that is twice that of wetter regions! In these arid climates, reduced competition leads to unique adaptations, allowing plants like cacti to thrive in extreme environments. Drylands may be dry, but they are also a treasure trove of global adaptation and diversity. Learn more 👉https://ow.ly/zpaz50TqoO5 📷1: Joshua Tree National Park. Credit: Emily Hassell, National Park Service 📷2: A nurse tree cohort of Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert, AZ. Credit: Daniel Winkler, USGS 📷3: Chia sage (Salvia columnbariae) flowers at Lake Pleasant, AZ. Credit: Laura Shriver, USGS #PlantDiversity #Drylands #GlobalStudy #Ecology #PlantTraits

We are recruiting our Mendenhall Research Fellowship cohort for 2024! 📣 For more than 145 years, the USGS has built its reputation on providing the finest Earth science, from bedrock foundations to cutting-edge innovations. Join our ranks and drive scientific advancement as a Mendenhall Fellow. Dr. Ross Salerno, a current Mendenhall Fellow, says: "It is really exciting to be part of the Mendenhall program where my specific scientific interests are supported and integrated into research projects of national importance. The USGS is a great place to work.” Find out how to apply ➡️ https://ow.ly/ZNzs50TqW9P Image: Dr. Ross Salerno conducting fieldwork in northern Michigan, where he is studying the mineral systems and tectonic history of the area.