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The Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences is now part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
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earth matters
science and insights for people who care about Earth, its resources and its environment

Natural Hazards

Optical fiber map
October 19, 2017
Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences

The same optical fibers that deliver high-speed internet and HD video to our homes could one day double as seismic sensors for monitoring and studying earthquakes.

 

illustration of satellite approaching Florida
September 1, 2017
Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment

Stanford experts comment on how climate change and infrastructure planning contribute to the severity of impacts from extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey.

The Meyerland area of Houston on Sunday in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
August 28, 2017

The fallout from Hurricane Harvey shouldn't have been a surprise because climate change is increasing the odds of extreme precipitation and storm surge flooding, says Noah Diffenbaugh.

bricks fell from a house because of an earthquake
August 2, 2017

New research shows manmade and naturally occurring earthquakes in the central U.S. share the same characteristics, information that will help scientists predict and mitigate damage from future earthquakes.

April 28, 2017

Studying how and why bridges have collapsed in the past identifies the limitation of current risk assessment approach and demonstrates the value of new perspectives on climate change impact.

Clouds and waves
April 24, 2017

A new four-step “framework” aims to test the contribution of climate change to record-setting extreme weather events.

flood street
March 21, 2017
Stanford Professor Noah Diffenbaugh warns that heavy California rains like those experienced this past winter are here to stay.
Child wears mouth mask in Beijing with air pollution in background.
February 28, 2017

Rather than talk about the negative things, point to the co-benefits of finding climate solutions – from economics and jobs to water and the air we breathe.

fault slip diagram
February 27, 2017

A new software tool can help reduce the risk of triggering manmade earthquakes by calculating the probability that oil and gas injection activities will trigger slip in nearby faults.

Jon Payne holding whale vertebrae
December 19, 2016

Some of our favorite research stories from Stanford Earth scholars in 2016.

Oklahoma oil rigs
November 30, 2016

Stanford scientists predict that over the next few years, the rate of earthquakes induced by wastewater injection in Oklahoma will decrease significantly. But the potential for damaging earthquakes will remain high.