United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Organization

A scientific agency of the United States government that conducted the analysis for the ArkStorm 2.0 scenario, projecting over a trillion dollars in damages for California if such a mega-storm were to occur.


First Mentioned

1/5/2026, 4:53:39 AM

Last Updated

1/5/2026, 4:56:19 AM

Research Retrieved

1/5/2026, 4:56:19 AM

Summary

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is the primary scientific agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, established on March 3, 1879. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, the USGS operates as a non-regulatory research organization focused on biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. It is responsible for monitoring natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes, managing natural resources, and producing civilian mapping, including planetary maps. Notably, the agency modeled the ArkStorm 2.0 scenario, a catastrophic atmospheric river event threatening California. With a workforce of approximately 8,670 as of 2009, its mission is encapsulated in its motto, "science for a changing world."

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Motto

    science for a changing world

  • Founded

    1879-03-03

  • Founder

    Act of Congress

  • Headquarters

    Reston, Virginia, United States

  • Employee Count

    8,670 (as of 2009)

  • Previous Slogan

    Earth Science in the Public Service

  • Parent Organization

    U.S. Department of the Interior

  • Primary Disciplines

    Biology, Geography, Geology, Hydrology

  • Annual Economic Value (Landsat)

    $25.6 billion

  • Annual Economic Value (Geologic Maps)

    $14 billion to $21 billion

Timeline
  • The USGS is founded by an act of Congress to study the landscape, natural resources, and hazards of the United States. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1879-03-03

  • On its 100th anniversary, the agency adopts the slogan "Earth Science in the Public Service". (Source: Wikipedia)

    1979-03-03

  • The USGS adopts its current motto, "science for a changing world". (Source: Wikipedia)

    1997-08-01

  • The agency reports an employment level of approximately 8,670 people. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2009-12-31

  • The USGS's modeling of ArkStorm 2.0, a catastrophic atmospheric river scenario for California, is highlighted in scientific and economic discussions. (Source: Document ebe1f88d-428a-4f23-a40c-fcfb4a705668)

    2024-01-24

United States Geological Survey

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on March 3, 1879, to study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The agency also makes maps of planets and moons, based on data from U.S. space probes. The sole scientific agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS is a fact-finding research organization with no regulatory responsibility. It is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with major offices near Lakewood, Colorado; at the Denver Federal Center; and in NASA Research Park in California. In 2009, it employed about 8,670 people. The current motto of the USGS, in use since August 1997, is "science for a changing world". The agency's previous slogan, adopted on its hundredth anniversary, was "Earth Science in the Public Service".

Web Search Results
  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | USAGov

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the nation's largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency. It collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding of natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. Website U.S. Geological Survey Contact Contact the U.S. Geological Survey Toll-free number 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) Find an office near you Water resources offices Find a U.S. Geological Survey office near you Main address [...] U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | USAGov Skip to main content Image 1 An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Here's how you know Image 2 Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Image 3 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Home Close Search Image 4: Search [...] The U.S. and its government Buying from the U.S. government U.S. facts and figures A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies current page U.S. Geological Survey State and local governments Branches of government Elected officials Federal laws and regulations Indian tribes and resources for Native Americans Federal, state, territory, county, and municipal courts U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

  • United States Geological Survey - PreventionWeb.net

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves the United States by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect the quality of life. Disaster Reduction Goal [...] The USGS has critical statutory roles regarding earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes as well as equally critical responsibilities in support of the statutory roles of other agencies for coastal erosion, drought, floods, magnetic storms, tsunamis, and wildfires. USGS geospatial information supports response operations for many types of disasters, providing crucial coordination of remote sensing and other assets. Show more Latest additions Items: 161 News Published on

  • What does the USGS (United States Geological Survey) do?

    Executive Summary The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a nonregulatory Federal science agency with national scope and responsibilities, is uniquely positioned to serve the Nation’s needs in understanding and responding to global change, including changes in climate, water availability, sea level, land use and land cover, ecosystems, and global biogeochemical cycles. Global change is among... Authors [...] The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) delivers information critical to powering our economy, managing our natural resources, and keeping Americans safe and healthy.1Mapping the Nation $21B Geologic maps save users an estimated 15% in annual costs: a value of between $14B and $21B. $25.6B is the annual value to users of key Earth observation platforms like Landsat, which is managed by the... Authors Shonte Jenkins, Emily Pindilli, David Applegate, Rachel Reagan By Science and Decisions Center [...] In the 125 years since its creation, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided the science information needed to make vital decisions and safeguard society. In this anniversary year, we celebrate the mission that has guided us, the people and traditions that have shaped us, and the science and technology that will lead us into the future. Through a wealth of long-term data and... Authors Kathleen Gohn USGS offers funding to states to find critical minerals in mine waste

  • Who We Are | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov

    The USGS is a primary Federal source of science-based information on ecosystems, land use, energy and mineral resources, natural hazards, water use and availability, and updated maps and images of the Earth’s features available to the public. ### The U.S. Geological Survey works with many partners to provide objective and impartial science to resource managers, emergency response, and the public. Was this page helpful? [...] Created by an act of Congress in 1879, the USGS provides science for a changing world, which reflects and responds to society’s continuously evolving needs. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior, the USGS brings an array of earth, water, biological, and mapping data and expertise to bear in support of decision-making on environmental, resource, and public safety issues. ### Our Vision [...] Lead the Nation in 21st-century integrated research, assessments, and prediction of natural resources and processes to meet society’s needs. ### Our Mission The USGS monitors, analyzes, and predicts current and evolving Earth-system interactions and delivers actionable information at scales and timeframes relevant to decision makers. ### What We Do

  • USGS.gov | Science for a changing world

    The USGS leads national efforts to map mineral resources and analyze the supply chains needed to drive the U.S. economy including analyzing global supply chain risks and mineral needs for domestic industry, defense, and future production capacity. We partner with state geological surveys, private industry, universities and federal agencies in efforts to identify new mineral resources below ground and in old mine tailings and energy wastes. Learn More [...] Image 4: Agency logo U.S. Geological Survey Science Science Explorer Biology Climate Coasts Energy Environmental Health Geology Information Systems Maps and Mapping Minerals Methods and Analysis Natural Hazards Ocean Planetary Science Science Technology Water [...] About About Us Survey Manual Organization Key Officials Congressional Budget Careers and Employees Doing Business Emergency Management Legal Accessibility FOIA Site Policies Privacy Policy Site Map DOI and USGS link policies apply No FEAR Act USA.gov Vulnerability Disclosure Policy Image 5: Agency logo U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Image 6: Facebook") Image 7: Twitter") Image 8: YouTube")

Location Data

USGS, 345, Survey Lane, US Geological Survey Menlo Park Campus, Menlo Park, San Mateo County, California, 94025, United States

house

Coordinates: 37.4573684, -122.1700303

Open Map