U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Over Grand County Drones Are Bird Watching, Not People Watching

Grace Hood — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:41:04 +0000

The U.S. Geological Survey is turning the unblinking eye in the sky of drones to a more benign purpose. Instead of watching the battlefield, they’re bird watching.

Midwest Rivers Crest As Flooding Turns Deadly

Korva Coleman — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:22:00 +0000

Flooding continues to plague the upper Midwest, as waters crested at record highs in places and weary river-town residents watched the flood markers for signs of relief.

NPR's David Schaper, reporting from Chicago, tells our Newscast Unit that the Mississippi River continues to rise, overtopping small levees north of St. Louis.

You Ask, USGS Answers: Denver Has Questions On Climate Change

Nathan Heffel — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:29:57 +0000

Confused about climate change? Well, The U.S. Geological Survey is taking on the task and answering your questions with their ‘Climate Connections’ video series.

Strong Quake In China Kills Dozens, Injures Thousands

Mark Memmott — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:18:00 +0000

"A powerful earthquake jolted China's Sichuan province Saturday near where a devastating quake struck five years ago," The Associated Press writes. According to CNN, early estimates put the death toll around 100. More than 1,000 other people were reportedly injured. Both figures could change substantially as more information comes in.

Could Tapping Undersea Methane Lead To A New Gas Boom?

Christopher Joyce — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:53:00 +0000

The new boom in natural gas from shale has changed the energy economy of the United States. But there's another giant reservoir of natural gas that lies under the ocean floor that, theoretically, could dwarf the shale boom.

No one had tapped this gas from the seabed until this week, when Japanese engineers pulled some up through a well from under the Pacific. The gas at issue here is called methane hydrate. Methane is natural gas; hydrate means there's water in it.