| Description |
The USGS Coastal and Marine Geology program (CMGP) provides expertise to the nation in understanding hazards related to offshore earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis the U.S. and territorial coasts. As the recent 2011 Japan giant earthquake and tsunami have brought to light, there is still much we do not understand about conditions that lead to these unusually large events. All U.S. and territorial coastlines are vulnerable to both remote and remote hazards. This project focuses on regional geologic studies of active margins that are considered to be most at risk based on 1) the potential human and economic loss from earthquakes, landsides, and tsunamis, 2) the lack of high resolution mapping and/or age dating in the area at risk, and 3) the need for information to validate models and provide input into the hazards probabilistic studies project. These field studies are an integral part of a coordinated CMGP effort to understand hazards and to develop scientifically sound contributions to forecasts of loss of life, infrastructure, and property from catastrophic geologic events associated with coastal and marine geologic processes. |
