Research Themes: Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events

Devastation of the coastal city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. [larger version]

Ocean hazard events like tsunamis, triggered by earthquakes and landslides, storm surges associated with hurricanes and extreme storms, oil and gas spills, floods and associated watershed contaminants, affect the health and safety of our Nation's ocean and coastal communities and ecosystems. USGS scientists study the causes, distribution and hazard potential of coastal and submarine hazard events including earthquakes and submarine landslides, as well as associated tsunami potential; coastal inundation associated with hurricanes, extreme storms, and sea-level rise; oil and gas spills; along with model development to help evaluate and forecast coastal hazard probability and occurrence.

Use the tabs below to see current research related to Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events or see all Research Themes.

• National Studies
• Regional Studies
• Applied Science

Hurricane and Extreme Storm Impact Studies Understanding the ability of extreme storms to reshape our nation's coastline and developing real-time predictions of storm impacts to support management of coastal infrastructure, resources, and community safety. Research Theme(s): Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study)

Probabilistic Forecasting of Earthquakes and Earthquake Effects in the Coastal Zone Providing leadership in tsunami and earthquake modeling, forecasting, and supporting the emergency management community. Research Theme(s): Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science)

National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards Assessing vulnerability of the Nation's coasts to storms, sea-level rise, and sediment transport processes by understanding and predicting the ways our coasts have changed and continue to change. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study)

Caribbean Tsunami and Earthquake Hazards Studies Reducing risk from large earthquakes and devastating tsunamis by studying and monitoring tectonic structure and activity in the active Caribbean region. Research Theme(s): Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study)

Tsunami Hazards Modeling, and the Sedimentary Record Developing and interpreting the geologic record of ancient tsunamis to reduce tsunami risk in the United States. Research Theme(s): Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study)

National Assessment of Shoreline Change Creating a comprehensive, regionally-consistent analysis of shoreline movement over the short and long term, including historical and modern shorelines. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

Sea-Level Rise Hazards and Decision Support Using combined scientific expertise in geology, hydrology, geography, biology, and ecology to understand and address the effects of sea-level rise on the Nation's coasts. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements Field measurements, instrumentation and modeling applications for supporting coastal and marine research Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Applied Science)

U.S. West Coast and Alaska Marine Geohazards Using the power of modern mapping and seismic technology to gather detailed seafloor data can directly impact human life and cities by improving earthquake and tsunami forecasts. Research Theme(s): Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study)

Hurricane Sandy Response - Storm Impacts and Vulnerability of Coastal Beaches Using post-Sandy lidar elevation data to update assessments of storm-induced coastal erosion hazards for Northeast beaches and to revise forecasts of coastal change that identify areas vulnerable to extreme erosion during future storms. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study)

Climate Change Impacts to the U.S. Pacific and Arctic Coasts Understanding local and regional coastal response to forecasted changes. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

The Impact of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on Pacific Ocean Atolls that House Department of Defense Installations Assessing the impacts of sea-level rise and storm-wave-induced overwash and inundation on Pacific atoll islets and their freshwater resources under various sea-level rise and climatic scenarios Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study, Applied Science)

Coastal Change Hazards Portal Visualization tool for exploring coastal hazard risks at varied scales, from local areas of interest to national scope in a geospatial format. Information includes historic shorelines, coastal change rates, sea-level rise, the Coastal Vulnerability Index and more. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Applied Science)

Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements Field measurements, instrumentation and modeling applications for supporting coastal and marine research Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Applied Science)

Climate Change Impacts to the U.S. Pacific and Arctic Coasts Understanding local and regional coastal response to forecasted changes. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

Probabilistic Forecasting of Earthquakes and Earthquake Effects in the Coastal Zone Providing leadership in tsunami and earthquake modeling, forecasting, and supporting the emergency management community. Research Theme(s): Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science)

Sea-Level Rise Hazards and Decision Support Using combined scientific expertise in geology, hydrology, geography, biology, and ecology to understand and address the effects of sea-level rise on the Nation's coasts. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

National Assessment of Shoreline Change Creating a comprehensive, regionally-consistent analysis of shoreline movement over the short and long term, including historical and modern shorelines. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

The Impact of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on Pacific Ocean Atolls that House Department of Defense Installations Assessing the impacts of sea-level rise and storm-wave-induced overwash and inundation on Pacific atoll islets and their freshwater resources under various sea-level rise and climatic scenarios Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study, Applied Science)