What is Lidar and what is it used for?

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

"LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system— generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.

Interactive map of environmental information in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Watershed Health Assessment Framework provides a comprehensive look at Minnesota's watershed and environmental information in the form of an interactive map. The map includes information on:

NCKRI digs into the science behind #sinkholes

National Cave and Karst Research Institute

The National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) in Carlsbad, New Mexico, broadcasted live yesterday on their Facebook page. In this video, NCKRI scientist Lewis Land describe the origins of a vast sinkhole that was created when a brine well collapsed. Watch below:

State Responses to Induced Earthquakes

Friday, April 14, 2017

The surge in recent years of earthquake activity associated with some oil and gas operations, most notably in Oklahoma, has spurred a range of actions and responses from state geoscientists and regulators. States have taken measures to monitor these earthquakes and moderate the activities that may be causing them, particularly the deep underground injection of large volumes of wastewater. Many states with extensive oil and gas operations but little or no increased earthquake activity have also adopted practices to prevent and prepare for potential induced earthquakes in their area.

Our speakers are:

Jeremy Boak, Ph.D., Director, Oklahoma Geological Survey, Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy, University of Oklahoma | Slides Video
Michael H. Young, Ph.D., Associate Director for Environment, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin | Slides Video
Steven Dade, Geologist 2, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management | Slides Video

Webinar Co-Sponsors:
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Energy Society, American Geophysical Union, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Association of American State Geologists, Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society, Environmental Defense Fund, Seismological Society of America, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, U.S. Geological Survey.

CEU Credits

To earn CEU credits, please complete the associated on-demand GOLI course that was developed from this webinar with a grade of 70% or higher and then submit your application for CEUs. CEUs are awarded from the American Institute of Professional Geologists. To view the full list of on-demand GOLI courses, please browse the GOLI course catalog.

Resources to learn more:

View this webinar's Question & Answer session
Short video showing the increases in wastewater injection volume and earthquake activity in the Fort Worth Basin, Texas, from 2005-2016.
Oklahoma Geological Survey: Oklahoma Earthquakes in 2016, interactive map viewer
Oklahoma Geological Survey: Class II Saltwater Disposal for 2009-2014 at the Annual-, State-, and County- Scales by Geologic Zones of Completion, Oklahoma, Open-File Report (OF5-2015)
EARTH Magazine: Ground-shaking research: How humans trigger earthquakes
Walsh, F. R., and Zoback, M. D. (2015) Oklahoma’s recent earthquakes and saltwater disposal. Science Advances.
Ohio Seismic Network (OhioSeis) website
TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program

Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets about induced earthquakes.

State Responses: Patterns of Induced Seismicity in Central and Northwest Oklahoma

Interactive map of tsunami evacuation information for Washington

The Tsunami Evacuation Map from the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources provides a large amount of information about tsunami evacuation procedures for the state of Washington. Each of the shaded areas in the image above can be zoomed in on for more detailed information including:

Gulf shores to receive storm resilience boost

The Gulf Islands National Seashore will be the site of the largest coastal sand restoration project in U.S. history.

Interactive map of real-time and forecast information for coasts and oceans

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's nowCOAST web app provides real-time observations, forecasts, and warnings for a wide range of coastal and inland weather, water, air, and hazard issues. Available layers and services include:

New Earthquake-Induced Soil Liquefaction Publication

Cover of the new NAS report on Soil Liquefaction

The National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine have published "State of the Art and Practice of Earthquake-Induced Soil Liquefaction and its Consequences." Soil liquefaction has significant societal impact because it is one of the leading causes of damage.

Deepwater Horizon movie reviewed by SPE Distinguished Lecturer

American Association of Petroleum Geologists

After emceeing a screening of the 2016 film, "Deepwater Horizon," with 100 Colorado School of Mines petroleum engineering students, J. A.

ASCE Standards Publication Will Include Chapter on Tsunamis

Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers

The residential quarter was mountain of debris in Tagajo, Miyagi was heavily damaged in the 2011 Japanese tsunami. Cars and an oil tank carried from port to Tagajo.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which houses the Geo-Institute, announced that the 2016 revision of its ASCE Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures will, for the first time, contain a chapter on tsunamis. Part of the creation of this chapter was the establishment of a committee to study the response of buildings, and their internal structures, to tsunamis. The committee was officially established in February of 2011, just weeks before the devastating Tohoko Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. Click for more:

American Geosciences Institute

hazards