The largest earthquake in Nevada in 65 years drew plenty of attention at the California Geological Survey (CGS) – not because it caused significant damage – but because it helps paints a clearer picture of what’s going on under the Earth’s surface in the east/central part of our state. That’s important for an institution that…
Category: Geology
The Mammoth Lakes Earthquakes – 40th Anniversary
On May 25, 1980–nearly one week after the spectacular eruption of the Mount St. Helens volcano–at 9:33 a.m. PST, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake rocked through Mammoth Lakes, California. During the next 16 minutes, four more shocks, magnitude 4.1 – 5.5 followed. This seismic activity was the beginning of an earthquake sequence that produced 72 magnitude…
Geological Survey’s Janis Hernandez Lends a Hand After Puerto Rico Quake
Janis Hernandez, a senior engineering geologist who heads California Geological Survey’s Los Angeles office, long wanted to visit the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. She can cross that off her bucket list, though she might have chosen different circumstances for her visit. “Well, I ended up seeing a lot more of the island than most…
Citizen Scientists: Help CGS Map Landslides
See a landslide? Think C-A landslide, as in CAlandslide@conservation.ca.gov.
The California Geological Survey (CGS) is asking for the public’s help in pinpointing landslides which occur in many flavors: rockfalls, rock avalanches, and debris flow–in the state.
Using GIS to Show the Interconnectivity of Our Work
Happy #GISDay! Today we celebrate how geographic information systems (GIS) are being used across the globe to make a difference. While a map is a drawing showing a limited number of things – roads, streets, county lines, etc. – an entire database of information is connected to a GIS. It’s an intelligent map that lets…
30 Years After Loma Prieta, CGS Continues to Ensure Safety of California
As the 30th anniversary of the devastating Loma Prieta Earthquake approaches, it’s time to take stock of California’s preparedness. The California Geological Survey (CGS) has a large role to play in that area: Since that magnitude 6.9 earthquake, which occurred on October 17, 1989, CGS began the Seismic Hazards Mapping Program to create maps and…
As Seen on TV: Could a Hollywood-Sized Tsunami Hit Santa Monica?
On Monday night, the Fox Television show “9-1-1” was based around a 50-foot tsunami hitting the Southern California coast near Santa Monica. The show employed the giant water tanks that were used to create the effects in the movie “Titanic.” The episode ended (to be continued!) with a cresting wave about to engulf the pier….
California Geological Survey Scientists Respond to Big SoCal Earthquakes
California Geological Survey scientists rushed to the Ridgecrest-Trona area after the July 4-5 earthquakes to gather data important to protecting public safety in the future. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurred at 10:33 a.m. on the Fourth of July. There’s always a chance a larger earthquake will follow even an earthquake of that magnitude, and such…
Cal State Fullerton Names CGS Scientist ‘2019 Geology Alumna of the Year’
Janis Hernandez of the California Geological Survey (CGS) was recently awarded 2019 Alumna of the Year by the California State University, Fullerton Geology Department. Hernandez’s professional experience includes geologic mapping, fault and landslide investigations, groundwater well construction management, and geophysical studies. In her tenure at CGS, she has worked on Seismic Hazard Zone mapping, geologic mapping,…
DOC Seals 65 Dangerous Mine Openings in Cargo Muchacho Mountains
By: Don Drysdale A project that can trace its history to 18th century Spanish explorers and involved the use of drone technology is unfolding in the southeastern California desert. The Bureau of Land Management and California Department of Conservation’s Division of Mine Reclamation (DMR) are working to eliminate 65 hazardous legacy mine shafts and openings…