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Land surface characteristics
Features and attributes of earth's land surface.
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Results 1 - 52 of 52 listed alphabetically [list by similarity]
PDF A dryland river transformed--the Little Colorado, 1936-2010 [More info]
We mapped substantial migration of the river channel between the City of Winslow and the Navajo Nation community of Leupp; in a human lifetime the river has moved more than a mile across its valley floor.
PDF Advanced Remote Sensing Research [More info]
New and experimental methods of analyzing geospatial imagery, including detailed spectral analysis of land surface materials, historical image analysis, and long wave infrared image analysis.
PDF Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Overview [More info]
General characteristics and spatial resolution of imagery products available from this type of sensor.
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor characteristics [More info]
Description of datasets of AVHRR data available from the EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, SD in three formats: High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT), Local Area Coverage (LAC), and Global Area Coverage (GAC).
Assessing the impacts of climate variability and change on the Nation's resources [More info]
Site for a USGS project under the U.S. Global Change Research Program for a national assessment of the impacts of climate variability and change on resources with links to impacts in Alaska, western U.S., public lands, and water resources.
PDF Candidate cave entrances on Mars [More info]
Newly discovered candidate cave entrances into Martian near-surface lava tubes, volcano-tectonic fracture systems, and pit craters and describes their characteristics and exploration possibilities.
PDF Declassified Intelligence Satellite Photographs [More info]
Over 990,000 photos taken from 1959 through 1980 are available for use in studying land surface change. Especially useful because these were taken before Landsat was launched.
Development of a global slope dataset for estimation of landslide occurrence resulting from earthquakes [More info]
Technical description of methods used to generate global slope data from SRTM topography data
Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (DOQs) [More info]
Description of what Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles are and how to obtain them plus information on the DOQ program, points of contact, DOQ status graphic, examples of DOQs, and free data viewer software.
PDF Drought Monitoring with VegDRI [More info]
The Vegetation Drought Response Index is a drought monitoring and mapping tool integrating satellite observations of vegetation and climate with land cover, soil characteristics, and other environmental factors.
PDF Earth as art three [More info]
Images from the Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 satellites chosen for their aesthetic appeal, with color manipulated to enhance color variation or details.
EarthExplorer [More info]
Query and order satellite images, aerial photographs, and cartographic products through the U.S. Geological Survey. Log in as a guest or as a registered user with more privileges. Uses Java Script or Applet Versions for PC, MacIntosh, and Unix programs.
Eastern Earth Surface Processes Team [More info]
The Eastern Earth Surface Processes Team provides geologic mapping regional geologic studies to determine stratigraphy and geologic structure, topical studies to understand geologic and surficial processes, and syntheses of earth science data.
Forecast Mekong [More info]
Data and reports about the overall environment in the Mekong river watershed. Includes downloadable remote-sensing data and interactive maps.
Geographic science of Alaska [More info]
Descriptions, results, and data on research projects using geographic analysis and monitoring and remote sensing to study ecosystems and land processes in the Arctic region.
Geologic mapping in National Parks: National Park Service Support Project [More info]
Summaries of geologic projects in cooperation with the National Park Service including Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Joshua Tree National Park, Yosemite National Park, and others.
PDF Geology of National Parks [More info]
Two sheets of 3D images showing geologic features of many National Parks. Red-and-cyan viewing glasses are need to see the three-dimensional effect.
Glacier effects of the M7.9 Denali fault earthquake of November 3, 2002 [More info]
Description and photos documenting offsets and 260 km rupture in the Denali glacier in central Alaska after the November 3, 2002 earthquake, the 9th largest earthquake in the United States in the last 200 years.
PDF Hazards Management in Grand County, Colorado-Fire Fuels Characterization [More info]
Using land cover, vegetation, vegetation health, and other characteristics derived from remote-sensing imagery, we develop geospatial models depicting the susceptibility of this area to wildfires.
PDF Integrated monitoring of ecological conditions in wetland-upland landscapes [More info]
Landscapes of interwoven wetlands and uplands offer a rich set of ecosystem goods and services. Changes in climate and land use can affect the value of those services. We study these areas to understand how they may be changing.
PDF Land-cover change research at the U.S. Geological Survey-assessing our nation's dynamic land surface [More info]
Estimates of change in major types of land use and land cover from 1973 to 2000 should help model potential future change as climate, population, public policy, and technology change.
Landsat Data Continuity Mission [More info]
Main site for Landsat missions, which provide information about land surface features of the earth. Includes imagery, links to general and technical information, ordering of data, and partners.
PDF Landsat Data Continuity Mission [More info]
A partnership between NASA and USGS to assure continuous satellite imaging of the earth's surface that was begun 40 years ago.
Landsat: A Global Land-Imaging Project [More info]
A visible, long-term record of natural and human-induced changes on the global landscape since 1972.
Mars Global Digital Dune Database; MC-1 [More info]
Distribution and morphological character of moderate to large size dune fields on Mars from 65 degrees North to the north pole.
Mass Wasting Following the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire near Durango, Colorado, a Field Trip Guidebook [More info]
Guidebook with photos, maps, and diagrams explaining how forest fires have affected the likelihood of mass wasting, with discussions of steps taken to minimize future impacts.
Mass wasting presentation [More info]
Presentation explaining the various types of mass wasting, how they work, and how they differ from one another, with diagrams and photos.
PDF Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Overview [More info]
Includes 500 meter surface reflectance and vegetation indices, which can be used to study change in energy balance and vegetation over time.
PDF Monitoring and analysis of sand dune movement and growth on the Navajo Nation, southwestern United States [More info]
We combine long-term records from aerial photographs, detailed mapping using survey-grade GPS, and ground-based lidar with meteorological monitoring. Sand dune migration rates are currently about 35 meters per year.
PDF Monitoring floods and fires during the summer of 2011--The value of the Landsat satellite 40-year archives [More info]
Examples showing the use of historical satellite imagery for assessing the extent and severity of landscape hazards such as fires and floods.
National Geospatial Technical Operations Center [More info]
Organizational unit within USGS supporting acquisition and management of trusted geospatial data, products, and services needed for The National Map, the National Atlas, and related efforts.
National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) [More info]
Main page for National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), a comprehensive set of digital spatial data about surface water features, with links to references, data, software tools, applications, tutorials, technical support, and data maintenance.
National land cover characterization [More info]
Homepage for the National Land Cover Data (NLCD), a land cover classification scheme, for the United States based on data derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite data. Includes links to description, products, accuracy, and program partners.
Nationalatlas.gov - National Atlas of the United States [More info]
Portal to general information on the National Atlas of the United States with access for producing specialized maps and links to thematic maps including interactive maps, multimedia maps, map layers data warehouse, wall maps, and printable maps.
PDF Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) of the Great Plains, United States [More info]
Geographic analysis of the changes in storage and release of carbon in this large area as land use patterns, especially agriculture, have changed.
PDF Relations among geology, physiography, land use, and stream habitat conditions in the Buffalo and Current River systems, Missouri and Arkansas [More info]
PDF Satellite map of Port-au-Prince, Haiti - 2010 - infrared [More info]
Post-earthquake map derived from 1:24,000-scale base maps incorporating high- and medium-resolution remotely sensed imagery following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake near the capital city of Port au Prince, Haiti, on January 12, 2010
PDF Satellite map of Port-au-Prince, Haiti - 2010 - natural color [More info]
Post-earthquake map derived from 1:24,000-scale base maps incorporating high- and medium-resolution remotely sensed imagery following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake near the capital city of Port au Prince, Haiti, on January 12, 2010
PDF Scanning and georeferencing historical USGS quadrangles [More info]
We are scanning all scales and all editions of approximately 250,000 topographic maps published by USGS since the inception of the topographic mapping program in 1884. They will be available to the public at no direct cost.
PDF Science supporting Gulf of Mexico oil-spill response, mitigation, and restoration activities-Assessment, monitoring, mapping, and coordination [More info]
Explains and shows data and expertise we were able to provide to Federal agencies and decision makers to help them deal with this difficult situation.
Sinkholes [More info]
Explains sinkhole formation and distribution, with special emphasis on their occurrence in Missouri
Space Acquired Photography [More info]
Ordering and descriptive information for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) imagery acquired by the USGS from Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, International Space Station, Space Shuttle, and Shuttle Large Format Camera missions.
PDF Space Acquired Photography [More info]
These photographs were taken by Gemini mission astronauts with handheld cameras or by the Large Format Camera (LFC) that flew on space shuttle Challenger in October 1984.
Standardized National Vegetation Classification System [More info]
Document on the National Vegetation Classification Standard with information on applications, background, development, characteristics, nomenclature standards, relationship to other classifications, and how to do vegetation mapping.
Tapestry of time and terrain: union of two maps, geology and topography [More info]
Colored map compiled by merging geologic and topographic maps of the United States through computer processing and enhancement with links to panoramic movie using QuickTime, descriptions of features, and a game entitled Puzzle of Regions.
PDF Terrestrial essential climate variables (ECVs) at a glance [More info]
Explains 16 distinct types of scientific information that are needed to understand climate change, including the specific parameters measured, why they are needed, who measures them, and the type and amount of information that are not yet available.
Topographic Science [More info]
Explains and illustrates the types of topographic information USGS obtains, how we use this information, and how to obtain topographic data for your own work.
PDF USGS Alaska State Mosaic [More info]
Using 172 Scenes from the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics 2001 collection geometrically and radiometrically aligned, we produced seamless, relatively cloud-free image of the entire state.
USGS Geography Products [More info]
USGS mapping sciences page containing links describing cartographic and geographic products and programs. The information products are available in printed and digital formats.
PDF Using terrestrial light detection and ranging (lidar) technology for land-surface analysis in the Southwest [More info]
Tripod-mounted lidar makes it inexpensive and efficient to measure and map geographic features that change with time, such as sand dunes and erosional features, and soil microtopography.
Watershed processes and modeling [More info]
Links to published materials produced by the Watershed Processes and Modeling Project on watershed model TOPMODEL, compilation of STATSGO soils data, climate change, landscape heterogeneity in ecoregions, and other links.
Western Region Geology and Geophysics Center [More info]
Overview of the research of this organizational unit with links to projects and activities and to geologic information on the western U.S.
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