Interactive map of geothermal resources and infrastructure in Nevada

The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology's Great Basin Geothermal Energy web app provides a large amount of information on geothermal energy in Nevada. The map includes:

Interactive map of Minnesota's bedrock geology

The Minnesota Geological Survey's interactive map provides bedrock geology and fault information for the state of Minnesota.

Click here to access the Minnesota Geological Survey's interactive map

Source: Minnesota Geological Survey

Interactive map of Kentucky's geology and natural resources

The Kentucky Geological Survey's interactive map provides a large amount of information on Kentucky's geology and natural resources in interactive map form, including:

Interactive map of Idaho's geology and natural resources

The Idaho Geological Survey's provides a large amount of information on Idaho's geology and natural resources in interactive map form, including:

Surface geology, including geochemical data
Oil and gas
Geothermal wells and thermal springs
Mine locations
Aggregate sources
Young faults

The map allows users to select multiple layers that can be overlain on each other. By doing this, users can see how different features are related.

Interactive map of the geology of California

The California Geological Survey's interactive geological map allows users to identify the different rock types and fault lines throughout California.

In addition to the web viewer, the GIS data can be downloaded for further use.

Click here to use the California geological interactive map

Source: California Geological Survey

What is an Enhanced Geothermal System?

Traditional geothermal power uses natural steam or very hot water trapped in deep rock formations. Extraction wells – often more than a mile deep¹ – are drilled into the hot rocks, allowing the steam or hot water to flow up to the surface.

Can droughts be predicted?

Sometimes. Many droughts can be predicted up to a month in advance,^1,2 and in rare cases it may be possible to predict drought conditions more than a year in advance.² However, the complexity of Earth’s climate makes drought forecasting very difficult.

What is surface water and what affects its availability?

Material adapted from: Vandas, S.J., Winter, T.C., and Battaglin, W.A. 2002. Water and the Environment, p. 20-23. Published by the American Geosciences Institute Environmental Awareness Series. Click here to download the full handbook.

How do groundwater and surface water interact?

Material adapted from: Vandas, S.J., Winter, T.C., and Battaglin, W.A. 2002. Water and the Environment, p. 28-29. Published by the American Geosciences Institute Environmental Awareness Series. Click here to download the full handbook.

EARTH Magazine: The Geology of Middle-earth

The vaguely familiar, yet primeval landscape of New Zealand served as the backdrop for the blockbuster film adaptations of the entire “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Hobbit” trilogy, the third and final installment of which opens widely this week. The geology that created this landscape is front and center in EARTH’s February cover story, “The Geology of Middle-earth.”

American Geosciences Institute

geoscience