Natural Hazards

More about Natural Hazards Data at NGDC

Behavior of Columns during Earthquakes
	Column failure is a primary cause of structure collapse in earthquakes. This set illustrates a variety of types of column failure, including: inadequate beam-to-column and slab-to-column connection, over stressed columns, and columns of unequal length.

Catalog of Submarine Volcanoes and Hydrological Phenomena Associated with Volcanic Events
	Catalog of Submarine Volcanoes and Hydrological Phenomena Associated with Volcanic Events (by P. Hedervari, 1986) covers the time span of 1900 A.D. through 1959 A.D. The information presented includes submarine eruptions, new volcanic islands, tsunamis, seiches, and base surges related to volcanic activity. 35 pages; soft cover.

Catalog of Tsunamis in the Pacific, 1969-1982
	Catalog of Tsunamis in the Pacific, 1969-1982 (S.L. Soloviev, Ch.N. Go, and Kh.S. Kim, 1992) was originally published in Russian in 1986 by the Geophysical Committee of the Academy of the Sciences of the former Soviet Union. The material was then translated into English. 207 pages, 88 figures, 46 tables; available in xeroxed copies.

Catalog of Tsunamis on the Western Coast of Mexico
	Catalog of Tsunamis on the Western Coast of Mexico (by A. Sanchez and S. Farreras, 1993) is a compilation of all information pertaining to tsunamis of seismic origin observed and/or recorded on the Pacific Ocean coast of Mexico from 1732 through 1992. The text is in both Spanish and English. 79 pages of text, 26 tables, 5 figures, and 67 marigrams; soft cover format.

Chi-Chi, Taiwan Earthquake, September 21, 1999

At 1:47 AM local time, a magnitude MW 7.6 earthquake was felt throughout the island of Taiwan. A five county area, including the city of Taichung, experienced the greatest number of casualties and most severe damage. 2,405 deaths and 10,718 injuries were reported. As many as 82,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed, resulting in nearly 600,000 people being temporarily or permanently displaced from their homes.

Crater Peak (Mt. Spurr), Alaska: Eruptions of 1992
	This set follows the story of Crater Peak activity from June through October 1992. It depicts precursors, the eruptions, and effects on the environment and the population.

DMSP OLS Daily Mosaics
	Daily mosaics of orbits from DMSP, Visible and Thermal

DMSP OLS Gas Flare Monitoring
	Gas flares detected by DMSP OLS

DMSP OLS Global Composites
	Anuual Composites made from cloud free orbits

DMSP OLS Lunar Cycle Composite
	A DMSP OLS composite from the low moon half of a lunar cycle.

Duzce, Turkey Earthquake, November 12, 1999
	These slides show damage from the second major earthquake (7.2) to hit Kocaeli province, in northwestern Turkey, in four months. The epicenter is on the eastern fringe of the area affected by the Izmit earthquake that occurred in August and killed more than 17,000 people.

Earthquake Damage - General
	This set provides an overview and summary of effects caused by eleven earthquakes in eight countries. The images depict surface faulting, landslides, soil liquefaction, and structural damage.

Earthquake Damage in Mexico City, Mexico, September 19, 1985
	Pictures of different types of damaged buildings and the major kinds of structural failure that occurred in Mexico City, at a 350 km distance from the epicenter of a magnitude 8.1 earthquake. Effect of subsoils on earthshaking and building damage, is emphasized.

Earthquake Damage in San Francisco, California, April 18, 1906
	The 1906 San Francisco magnitude 8.3 earthquake was the largest 20th century event to occur in the conterminous United States. This set includes a panoramic view of San Francisco in flames a few hours after the earthquake, damage scenes from the area, and other historic photographs. B&W

Earthquake Damage to Schools
	The set graphically illustrates the potential danger that major earthquakes pose to school structures and occupants. It includes pictures from 1886 to 1988 of nine destructive earthquakes in the U.S. and eight earthquakes that occurred in foreign countries. B&W/Color

Earthquake Damage to Transportation Systems
	A serious result of large-magnitude earthquakes is the disruption of transportation systems, inhibiting emergency response. These slides depict damage to transportation systems sorted by cause such as ground failure, faulting, vibration damage, and tsunamis. B&W/Color

Earthquake Damage, Armenian SSR, December 7, 1988
	This magnitude 6.9 earthquake in northwestern Armenia was followed minutes later by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock. These photographs show damage in and around the devastated cities of Spitak and Leninakan.

Earthquake Damage, Northern Iran, June 21,1990
	This unusually destructive magnitude 7.7 earthquake appeared to be multiple earthquakes occurring in rapid succession. This set depicts damage resulting from intensive ground motion and soil liquefaction, acting on unreinforced masonry, steel structures, and concrete buildings.

Earthquake Intensity Database
	The Earthquake Intensity Database contains damage and felt reports for over 22,000 U.S. earthquakes from 1638 to 1985.

Earthquake Strong Motion, 1996
	Collection of over 15,000 digitized and processed accelerograph records from 1933 to 1994.

Earthquakes in Central California, 1980-1984
	Slides showing earthquake damage from the following central California events: Livermore, 1980, Coalinga, 1983, and Morgan Hill, 1984. All of these earthquakes were greater than magnitude 5.8 or caused estimated damage in excess of 8 million dollars.

Earthquakes in Southern California
	These slides show damage from the following Southern California earthquakes: Imperial Valley, 1979, Westmorland, 1981, Palm Springs, 1986, and Whittier, 1987. All of these earthquakes were greater than magnitude 5.9 or caused estimated damage in excess of one million dollars.

El Quindio, Colombia Earthquake, January 25, 1999
	The El Quindio earthquake was one of the most destructive in Colombia in recent years because of three factors: the presence of faults, infill walls, and "soft" soils. This set depicts damage from the January event.

Environmental Hazards and Mud Volcanoes in Romania
	Romanian researchers have a long tradition of studying the natural hazards, which disrupt their society. These slides show examples of landslides, rockfalls, sheet erosion, and mudflows.

Erosional Landforms
	Dramatic views of erosional landforms sculpted by rivers, glaciers, and waves. Many of the locales include U.S. National Parks and Monuments.

Eruption of Mount St. Helens, May 18, 1980
	The Mount St. Helens eruption has afforded geologists a unique opportunity to learn about volcanoes. These slides not only include pictures of the eruption, but pre-eruption activity and post-eruption geomorphology.

Faults
	Faults reveal information about crustal movements and earthquake size and recurrence intervals. This set describes fault types and mechanisms and their effects on natural and manmade features.

Fire vs. Water: The Erosional & Depositional Geology of Hawaiian Islands
	The opposing forces of volcanism and erosion shape Hawaii's dramatic geology. This set shows constructional volcanic features and their subsequent erosion.

Geological Hazard Photos, 1997
	Collection of photographs of damage from natural hazards in TIF, GIF, and JPG formats. Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides and other geologic hazards are represented.

Great Alaska Earthquake, Prince William Sound, March 28, 1964
	The Prince William Sound magnitude 8.4 earthquake was one of the largest ever on the North American Continent. These slides show geological changes, the effects of four major landslides triggered by the event, tsunami damage, and other damage to structures, transportation systems, and utilities.

Great Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) Earthquake, January 17, 1995
	The worst damage from this 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred along a previously undetected fault, where many businesses and residences were located. This set shows damage in the downtown region and along the waterfront.

Hawaii Volcanism: Impact on the Environment
	While not generally life-threatening, Hawaiian lava flows are highly destructive to populated and cultivated areas. This set depicts the impact on communities, vegetation, marine life, roads, and coastlines. It also shows the benefits including geothermal power, increased land area, and research opportunities.

Hawaii Volcanism: Lava Forms
	Over the last several million years, the Hawaiian Islands were built of successive lava flows. These are the most recent additions to a long line of volcanoes trailing to the northwest. This set includes very colorful images of lava fountains, lakes, cascades, flows, spatter, and lava entry to the sea from recent eruptions.

Historical Tsunami Database - Runup
	The Tsunami Runup Search provides information on locations where tsunami effects occurred. These data include arrival date and time, travel time, maximum water heights, horizontal inundation distances, deaths, injuries, and damage for specific locations.

Historical Tsunami Database - Source Event
	The Tsunami Source Event Search provides information on the source of the tsunami. These data include source location, date, and time, event magnitude, maximum water height, total number of deaths, inuries, and damage for the event.

Hokkaido Nansei-Oki Tsunami, July 12, 1993
	Minutes after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the Sea of Japan, one of the largest tsunamis in Japan's history engulfed the coastline of Okushiri Island and the central west coast of Hokkaido. This set shows damage to ships, dwellings, and businesses, and clocks stopped by the tsunami.

Izmit (Kocaeli) Turkey Earthquake, August 17, 1999: Coastal Effects
	At 3:02 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred near the Izmit Bay, Marmara Sea, Turkey. The images show slope failure, subsidence, slumping, and liquefaction. The resulting tsunami wreaked havoc on waterfront properties.

Izmit (Kocaeli) Turkey Earthquake, August 17, 1999: Structural Damage
	The earthquake damaged buildings across seven provinces for a distance of 250 km. Casualties totaled 17,000 and additional thousands were missing and presumed dead. Injuries numbered 23,984 and an estimated 500,000 people were left homeless with 200,000 living on the streets. Damage estimates range from $10 billion to $40 billion.

Landers and Big Bear, California Earthquakes, June 28, 1992
	The magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Landers, California was closely followed by a magnitude 6.7 near Big Bear. The two quakes were separated by 3 hours in time, 17 miles in distance, and 7,000 feet in elevation. This set depicts the terrain differences, structural damage, liquefaction, faulting, and resultant landslides.

Landslides, Set 1
	The slopes above streams and rivers are subjected to processes that cause them to recede from the channel. These processes, collectively called mass wasting, are classified according to speed of movement and type of materials transported. This set depicts diverse types of mass wasting.

Landslides, Set 2
	Expanding on the topics in Set 1, this set includes rockfalls, rock avalanches, mudflows, debris flows, slumps, creep, and sinkholes. Photos are from the western U.S., Puerto Rico, and Peru.

Loma Prieta Earthquake, Part 1
	On October 17, 1989, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurred near Loma Prieta in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This set depicts earth cracks and structural damage in the more rural areas affected by the quake including Boulder Creek, Aptos, Los Gatos, San Jose, Scott's Valley, and Watsonville.

Loma Prieta Earthquake, Part 2
	This set focuses on the effects of the earthquake (also known as the "San Francisco World Series Earthquake") in San Francisco and Oakland. It highlights the damage in the Marina District of San Francisco, Market Street, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and the Nimitz Freeway.

Major Tsunamis of 1992 - Nicaragua and Indonesia
	This set shows damage from the September, 1992 tsunami (waves 8-15 meters high) that struck Nicaragua's Pacific coast (6 slides) and the December, 1992 tsunami in the Flores region of Indonesia (14 slides).

Most Intense Tropical Storms, 1997
	This poster includes images and information for 10 typhoons, 2 cyclones, and 2 hurricanes. Hurricanes Linda and Guillermo were the only western-hemisphere storms to surpass 128 knots average wind speed. Super Typhoon Paka lasted a rarely seen duration of twenty days. Cyclone Pancho-Helinda travelled nearly the entire width of the Indian Ocean. Size: 24x36 inches.

Most Intense Tropical Storms, 1998
	Although 1998 produced fewer tropical storms than the average, the storms were particularly intense. The destructive power of these storms was evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Thousands of lives and homes were destroyed by flooding, landslides and wind. The roster of most intense tropical storms includes 4 typhoons, 5 cyclones, and 5 hurricanes. Size: 24x36 inches.

Mount Pinatubo Revisited: A Study of Lahar Erosion
	The 5 to 7 km3 of material deposited in the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo continues to threaten structures and lives in the form of debris flows (lahars) during heavy rainstorms. This set shows how the disaster that began at Pinatubo in 1991continues to threaten the population in the area.

Nighttime Lights of the World 2003
	Annual composite of data from DMSP OLS with cities in white, fires in red, gas flares in gree, and fishing boats in blue

Northridge, California Earthquake, January 17, 1994, Set 1
	On January 17, 1994, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake near downtown Los Angeles caused extensive damage in the San Fernando and Simi Valleys, and in the northern part of the Los Angeles Basin. This set shows damage to structures in Northridge.

Northridge, California Earthquake, January 17, 1994, Set 2
	The January 1994 magnitude 6.8 earthquake near Los Angeles took 57 lives and caused $10 billion in property damage. This set includes damaged structures in communities including Sylmar, Fillmore, Granada Hills, Reseda, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles.

Proceedings, 2nd UJNR Tsunami Workshop
	Proceedings, 2nd UJNR Tsunami Workshop (A. Brennan and J. Lander, eds., 1991) contains formal papers or abstracts presented at the November, 1990 meeting in Hawaii. UNJR is the Japan Natural Resources Development Program in the United States. 260 pages; soft cover.

Report of the International Tsunami Measurements Workshop
	Report of the International Tsunami Measurements Workshop (James F. Lander and Harry Yeh, eds., 1995) contains scientific papers presented at the June, 1995 workshop in Colorado. 102 pages; xerox copied.

San Fernando Valley California Earthquakes
	This set compares damage from the San Fernando (1971) and Northridge (1994) earthquakes. These two events, separated by 10 miles and 23 years, disproved the notion that once an earthquake has occurred, an area is safe from future earthquakes.

Seismic Creep
	Seismic creep is the constant or periodic movement on a fault as contrasted with the sudden rupture associated with an earthquake. This set contains examples of creep from Hollister and Hayward, California. Several of the slides are split images of a location, comparing fault movement over the years.

Seismicity Catalog, 1996
	Parameters from over 4 million earthquakes from 2100 B.C. to 1995 A.D. and more than 200 seismicity catalogs with related seismicity data.

Shield Volcanoes of Hawaii, 2000
	This poster of shield volcanoes shows dramatic images of shield volcanoes built almost entirely of lava flows, and occurring at mid-ocean ridges and hot spots. The Hawaiian shield volcanoes threaten sensitive coastal ecosystems, transportation and communication networks, and populated regions.

Shikotan, Kuril Islands Earthquake & Tsunami, October 4, 1994, Set 1
	This set shows damage from the magnitude 8.1 earthquake in the southern Kurils. Images include a newly-created landslide formation, ground cracks, structural damage, and effects of tsunami runup on Shikotan Island. A scientific overview of this event, written by a member of the international study team, is included.

Shikotan, Kuril Islands Earthquake & Tsunami, October 4, 1994, Set 2
	This second set depicts much of the tsunami damage that occurred at Kuzhno-Kurilsk and Kunsashir Island. Tsunami heights ranged from 2.5-3.0 m. In the older part of town (fronted by a gentle beach) all houses were damaged by the wave that penetrated 200-500 m inland.

Significant Earthquake Database
	The Significant Earthquake Database contains information on more than 5,000 destructive earthquakes from 2150 B.C. to the present that meet at least one of the following criteria: Moderate damage (approximately $1 million or more), 10 or more deaths, Magnitude 7.5 or greater, Modified Mercalli Intensity X or greater, or the earthquake generated a tsunami.

Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database
	The Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database contains information for 400 volcanic eruptions incuding the latitude, longitude, elevation, type of volcano, and effects such as deaths, injuries and damage.

Stratovolcanoes of the World, 2000

Stratovolcanoes (also known as composite volcanoes) are built of successive layers of ash and lava. This poster shows many of the most well known eruptions of strato volcanoes. The magma (molten rock) within the volcano is viscous and often contains trapped gas, causing explosive eruptions. Approximately 85% of stratovolcanoes are located around the Pacific Ocean, forming what is called the "Ring of Fire."

Tide Gage Records
	A PDF file of Tide Gage Records (2.3 Mb) is available for download.

Tropical Cyclones - 1995 Atlantic Hurricanes
	During the 1995 hurricane season, eleven tropical cyclones reached hurricane status, nearly double the average. A set of 22 slides with each slide displaying a storm in either visible or infrared wavelengths. Winds from Hurricane Opal reached 130 kt. All Tropical Cyclone sets include descriptions of storm damage and maps of the storm tracks. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1995 NW Pacific Typhoons
	Set of 23 slides showing 1995's 12 typhoons. The DMSP satellite's unique imagery supports study of the structure, magnitude, and location of storms. Each slide displays a storm in either visible or infrared wavelengths. Winds from Typhoon Angela exceeded 155 kt. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1996 Indian Ocean & SW Pacific
	40 slides show each of the 20 typhoon-class cyclones in thermal-infrared and visible wavelengths. Only one of these cyclones occurred north of the equator. Winds from Cyclones Bonita and Itelle exceeded 140 kt. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1996 NE Pacific & Atlantic Hurricanes
	1996 Northeast Pacific & Atlantic Hurricanes includes 26 slides which show the 13 hurricanes in thermal infrared and visible wavelengths. Five storms occurred in the Northeast Pacific and 8 in the North Atlantic.

Tropical Cyclones - 1996 NW Pacific Typhoons
	42 slides show each of the 21 typhoons in thermal-infrared and visible wavelengths. Typhoon Dale, the most intense tropical storm of the year with winds exceeding 150 kt, is included in this set. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1998 Atlantic Hurricanes
	During 1998, 10 tropical storms reached hurricane strength in the Atlantic Ocean. 20 slides show hurricanes in both thermal-infrared and visible wavelengths. Hurricane Mitch had sustained winds of 168 kt and was responsible for over 9,000 deaths in Central America. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1998 Indian Ocean
	This set of 26 slides presents images of 13 tropical storms in thermal-infrared and visible wavelength. Cyclone 03A, the most intense cyclone to strike India in 25 years, caused the dislocation of over 15,000 people by damaging or destroying thousands of homes. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1998 NE Pacific Hurricanes
	18 images comprise this set of 9 tropical storms with each displayed in thermal-infrared and visible wavelenth. Hurricane Howard, estimated to be the strongest 1998 hurricane in the NE Pacific, reached a maximum wind speed of 130 kt. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1998 NW Pacific Typhoons
	This slide set shows satellite views of 9 NW Pacific Typhoons. 18 slides show each hurricane in both thermal-infrared and visible wavelengths. Winds from Typhoon Zeb reached 155 kt. B&W

Tropical Cyclones - 1998 Southwest Pacific
	16 images show 8 cyclones in both thermal-infrared and visible wave-lengths. Cyclone Ron produced sustained winds of 155 kt. B&W

Tsunami Travel Time Maps
	Tsunami Travel Time Maps for the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans are available as a collaboration between NGDC/WDC and the UNESCO-IOC International Tsunami Information Center.

Tsunami dart data
	Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) Data. The Bottom Pressure Recorder (BPR) data from 1986 to 2004 are available for download.

Tsunami inundation grids

NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) is building high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) for select U.S. coastal regions. These combined bathymetric-topographic DEMs are used to support tsunami forecasting and modeling efforts at the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). The DEMs are part of the tsunami forecast system SIFT (Short-term Inundation Forecasting for Tsunamis) currently being developed by PMEL for the NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers, and are used in the MOST (Method of Splitting Tsunami) model developed by PMEL to simulate tsunami generation, propagation, and inundation.

Tsunamis - General
	Tsunami, a Japanese word meaning "harbor wave", is a series of water waves generated by sudden displacement of the ocean or other body of water. This set depicts advancing waves, harbor damage, and structural damage from seven tsunami events in the Pacific region since 1946, including before-and-after views of Scotch Cap Lighthouse (Aleutian Islands). B&W/Color

Tsunamis Affecting Alaska, 1737-1996

Tsunamis Affecting Alaska, 1737-1996 (by J. Lander, 1996.) is the third in a series of informative publications about tsunamis written by James F. Lander. The catalog describes all known tsunamis that have affected Alaska in historic time, expanding the information first provided in United States Tsunamis, 1690-1988 (see characterize the tsunami hazard. The text is illustrated with pictures, tables, marigram records, and other figures. A separate section is included for the Prince William Sound event of 1964. 195 pages, 55 illustrations, 15 tables, and 42 marigrams. Available in soft cover format only.

Tsunamis Affecting the W. Coast of the US, 1806-1992

Builds on the section treating the west coast in United States Tsunamis, the amount of data, number of events,and their evaluation. As before, detailed description information is included to better characterize the tsunami hazard. 242 pages of text, 36 illustrations, 12 tables, and 130 marigrams. This popular publication is out of print. However, we are offering xeroxed copies, at cost of reproduction.

Tsunamis in Peru-Chile
	Tsunamis in Peru-Chile (by P. Lockridge, 1985) is another tsunami catalog available from NGDC. This publication examines historical tsunami and earthquake data in the Peru-Chile area. 95 pages; soft cover.

Tsunamis in the Pacific Basin, 1900-1983

Tsunamis in the Pacific Basin, 1900-1983 (by P. Lockridge and R. Smith, 1984) shows the locations of 405 events, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides, that caused tsunamis between 1900 and 1983. Tables list dates of the events, earthquake and tsunami information, number of deaths, and type of damage. Representative locations reporting runup heights of 1.5 meters or larger are also shown on the map. Multicolored map, 43"x 60"; map is folded.

US Tsunamis, 1690-1988

United States Tsunamis 1690-1988 (by J. Lander and P. Lockridge, 1989) is a compilation of the historical records of tsunamis that have been observed or recorded in United States coastal waters, up through 1988. The publication includes discussions of events occurring on the shores of Hawaii, Alaska, the west and east coasts of the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa and other U.S. possessions in the Pacific. It also contains descriptive data about each reported tsunami event, and details the effects of the waves. Tables summarizing events and effects are included for each area. 265 pages of text, 66 illustrations, and 11 tables; available in hard-cover format.

Volcanic Ash Advisory Database
	The Volcanic Ash Advisory Databse contains Volcanic Ash Advisory messages and forecasts of ash location in the atmosphere issued by the NOAA Satellite Services Division from 1983 to 2003.

Volcanic Rocks and Features
	Volcanoes are one of the more dramatic manifestations of the dynamic nature of Earth. The rocks and features formed in an eruption reveal a great deal about the process. Pictures show lava types, ash, cinders, bombs, necks, dikes, and sills.

Volcano Location Database
	The Volcano Location Database contains information for over 1500 volcanoes including information on the location, elevation, type and last known eruption. It is a subset of the Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program Volcano Database.

Volcanoes in Eruption, Set 1
	This slide set depicts explosive eruptions, lava fountains and flows, steam eruptions, and fissure eruptions from 19 volcanoes in 13 countries. Volcano types represented include: strato, cinder cone, complex, fissure vent, lava dome, shield, and island-forming. B&W/Color

Volcanoes in Eruption, Set 2
	This set depicts ash clouds, fire fountains, lava flows, spatter cones, glowing avalanches, and steam eruptions from 18 volcanoes in 13 countries. Volcano types include: strato, cinder cone, basaltic shield, complex, and island forming. B&W/Color

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