USGS Geology efforts address major societal issues that involve geologic hazards and disasters, climate variability and change, energy and mineral resources, ecosystem and human health, and ground-water availability. Our science strategy for geologic activities, Geology for a changing world 2010–2020—Implementing the U.S. Geological Survey science strategy, presents six goals with accompanying strategic actions and products to further the science directions of the USGS science strategy, “Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007–2017.”

The six goals are: 1. Characterize and interpret the geologic framework of the Earth through time; 2. Understand earth surface and climatic processes and anticipate their effects on ecosystem health and change; 3. Understand and quantify the availability of Earth's natural resources in a global context; 4. Increase the resilience of communities to geologic and environmental hazards; 5. Apply the most advanced technologies and best practices to effectively acquire, analyze, and communicate our data and knowledge; and 6. Develop a flexible and diverse workforce for the future. The goals emphasize the critical role of the USGS in providing long-term research, monitoring, and assessments for the Nation and the world and describe measures that must be undertaken to ensure geologic expertise and knowledge for the future.

Research and Monitoring

• Hazards: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Landslides, Geomagnetism, Global Seismic Network
• Landscapes and Coasts: Geologic Mapping, Coastal Marine Geology
• Natural Resources:  Minerals, Energy
• Other: Astrogeology, Data Preservation