USGS CoreCast

A worldwide earthquake drill, known as the Great ShakeOut, will be held on Thursday, October 17 at 10:17AM local time. The drill is your chance to practice how to protect yourself in the event of an earthquake. Mike Blanpied, the Associate Program Coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and Mark Benthien, the Director of Communication, Education and Outreach with the Southern California Earthquake Center and coordinator of the Great ShakeOut worldwide, have come to discuss the importance of earthquake preparedness.

An interview with USGS scientist David Krabbenhoft about an article he co-authored in Science about global change's effects on mercury around the world.

On April 30, 2013, USGS released an updated assessment of the Bakken Formation of North Dakota and Montana as part of the National Oil and Gas Assessment. We are joined by USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator Brenda Pierce and Bakken Assessment Lead Stephanie Gaswirth to learn more about the assessment itself; why it was performed; and some context for the Bakken Formation.

Four previously undiscovered photos of undocumented Russian Crown Jewels were recently discovered in the USGS library. The photos appear in a 1922 album called ‘Russian Diamond Fund ’ that was uncovered in the rare book room of the library.

The next Great ShakeOut earthquake drill will be held on October 18, 2012. During the drill, participants will ‘drop, cover, and hold on’ to practice how to protect themselves during an earthquake. To give us some details on ShakeOut, we are joined by two guests. First is Mike Blanpied, who is the Associate Program Coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Second is Mark Benthien, who is the Director of Communication, Education and Outreach with the Southern California Earthquake Center and also coordinates the Great ShakeOut worldwide.

A year after the August 23, 2011 Virginia earthquake, USGS geologist Dr. Mike Blanpied discusses whether a similar event could occur again in the region in the near future, and in an earthquake, what you can do to stay stay safe.

A year after the August 23, 2011 Virginia earthquake, USGS geologist Dr. Mike Blanpied discusses USGS efforts currently underway to learn more about the cause of the event. Dr. Blanpied discusses how scientists are using the August 23 earthquake to inform estimates of the region's seismic hazard.

America has questions about climate change, and the USGS has real answers. In this episode of Climate Connections, USGS scientists answer questions gathered from students at H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, DC. Questions include: If you could tell the public one thing about climate change, what would it be? Does climate change impact humans or animals more? How will climate change affect DC? When did climate change begin?

The United States has 169 active volcanoes. More than half of them could erupt explosively, sending ash up to 20,000 or 30,000 feet where commercial air traffic flies. USGS scientists are working to improve our understanding of volcano hazards to help protect communities and reduce the risks.Video Sections: Volcanoes: Monitoring Volcanoes Volcanoes: National Volcano Early Warning System Volcanoes: Science for Public Safety

Landslides occur in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and cause $1-2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities on average each year. USGS scientists aim to improve our understanding of landslide hazards to help protect communities and reduce associated losses.   Video Sections: Types of Landslides USGS Science Did You See It? Debris Flow Early Warning System (NOAA Partnership) Tips for Homeowners Conclusion

In this episode, we follow a group of students from the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School on a class trip to Pintail Marsh at the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. There they join USGS ecologist Tara Chestnut to investigate and sample for the amphibian chytrid fungus. Join us, as we explore how research and wonder can bring greater light to this potentially fatal fungus, only in this episode of the USGS Oregon Science Podcast.

The wet, subtropical wilderness of Everglades National Park is home to a diversity of Floridian wildlife, but one invader is causing severe changes in these native animal populations. Many of the park’s mammals are declining dramatically as a result of invasive Burmese pythons, according to a recent study by U.S. Geological Survey scientists and partners. Mid-sized mammals such as foxes, rabbits, and raccoons that were previously populous in the Everglades are the most severely affected. USGS scientist and co-author Robert Reed to discusses the Burmese python situation and what these mammal declines mean for the Everglades ecosystem.

Scientific integrity runs deep at USGS. What is it exactly, and why is it so important? Find out in this episode of CoreCast. Host Kara Capelli talks with Linda Gundersen, Director of the USGS Office of Science Quality and Integrity.

Drought in Africa is of increasing concern as millions are suffering from malnutrition and difficulty growing crops and supporting livestock. Stunted growth in children due to malnutrition was also recently linked to climate change. Join us as we talk with USGS scientists Jim Verdin, Jim Rowland and Chris Funk about what is being done to help.

USGS Research Hydrologist Jim Landmeyer discusses how living plants can be used to clean up contaminated groundwater through a process termed phytoremediation.