Publications
Publications from the staff of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Filter Total Items: 2481
Summary of results from monitoring the Geysers with continuous passive seismic and repeat magnetotelluric measurements (2021-2023) Summary of results from monitoring the Geysers with continuous passive seismic and repeat magnetotelluric measurements (2021-2023)
Understanding temporal variations in a geothermal field can support operators in decision making that pertains to optimizing production and mitigating hazards. Between 2021 and 2023, The Geysers geothermal field in northern California was monitored with an array of continuous passive seismic sensors and annual repeat magnetotelluric (MT) measurements. Each of these data sets were...
Authors
Jared R. Peacock, David Alumbaugh, Roland Gritto, Evan Um, Craig Ulrich, Michael A. Mitchell, Craig Hartline
Preliminary depth to basement modeling at Salton Sea, California Preliminary depth to basement modeling at Salton Sea, California
The San Andreas Fault – Imperial Fault (SAF-IF) transtensional step-over zone along the southern margin of the Salton Sea hosts substantial geothermal production and lithium brine resources. Recent volcanism at the Salton Buttes and active seismicity along the SAFIF fault system highlight active tectonic and magmatic processes that pose natural hazards and may impact energy and mineral...
Authors
Jacob Elliott Anderson, Jonathan M.G. Glen, William D. Schermerhorn, Tait E. Earney, Benjamin Lyter Morbeck
Exploration for blind geothermal systems in the eastern Great Basin of Utah: An update on the “Lund North” INGENIOUS detailed study site Exploration for blind geothermal systems in the eastern Great Basin of Utah: An update on the “Lund North” INGENIOUS detailed study site
Existing geothermal production in Utah is commonly collocated with surficial expressions of geothermal heat including active hot springs and hot spring deposits. However, geothermal potential across the Great Basin region is thought to be much higher for hidden or blind geothermal systems. Accordingly, exploration techniques that can locate geothermal resources that lack surface thermal...
Authors
Christian L. Hardwick, Eugene Szymanski, Nicole R. Hart-Wagoner, S. Ashton, N. Christensen, Tait E. Earney, James E. Faulds, Jonathan M.G. Glen, A.I. Hiscock, Stefan Kirby, T. Knudsen, S. Kobe, Cary R. Lindsey, Benjamin Lyter Morbeck, Jared R. Peacock, Grant Harold Rea-Downing, William D. Schermerhorn, K. Smith
Sensitivity of benthic biota and toxicity of cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc mixtures in Washington, United States, and British Columbia, Canada Sensitivity of benthic biota and toxicity of cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc mixtures in Washington, United States, and British Columbia, Canada
Relative sensitivities and responses of juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), Hyalella azteca, two families of mayfly (Ephemerellidae, Heptageniidae), one family of caddisfly (Brachycentridae), and a natural community of benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI) to multiple metals are predicted using previously collected laboratory and field samples and a metal mixture model...
Authors
Laurie S. Balistrieri
Update of the 2008 provisional Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) assessment for the Great Basin, USA Update of the 2008 provisional Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) assessment for the Great Basin, USA
In response to the Energy Act of 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is updating the Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) resource assessment for the Great Basin, USA. The previous 2008 provisional assessment estimated how much electricity could be generated from EGS resources of the western United States using models of electric-grade heat, models of heat extraction over time, and...
Authors
Erick R. Burns, Junyuan Zhang, Hongbin Zhan, Colin F. Williams
Mapping bedrock outcrops in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (California, USA) using machine learning Mapping bedrock outcrops in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (California, USA) using machine learning
Accurate, high-resolution maps of bedrock outcrops can be valuable for applications such as models of land–atmosphere interactions, mineral assessments, ecosystem mapping, and hazard mapping. The increasing availability of high-resolution imagery can be coupled with machine learning techniques to improve regional bedrock outcrop maps. In the United States, the existing 30 m U.S...
Authors
Apoorva Ramesh Shastry, Corina Cerovski-Darriau, Brian Coltin, Jonathan D. Stock
Towards mobile wind measurements using joust configured ultrasonic anemometer for applications in gas flux quantification Towards mobile wind measurements using joust configured ultrasonic anemometer for applications in gas flux quantification
Small uncrewed aerial systems (sUASs) can be used to quantify emissions of greenhouse and other gases, providing flexibility in quantifying these emissions from a multitude of sources, including oil and gas infrastructure, volcano plumes, wildfire emissions, and natural sources. However, sUAS-based emission estimates are sensitive to the accuracy of wind speed and direction measurements...
Authors
Derek Hollenbeck, Colin W. Edgar, Eugenie Euskirchen, Kristen L. Manies
Strong shaking from past Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes encoded in coastal landforms Strong shaking from past Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes encoded in coastal landforms
Strong earthquakes along subduction zones are often devastating events, but sparse records along some tectonic margins limit our understanding of seismic hazards. Constraining shaking intensities is critical, especially in subduction zones with infrequent but large-magnitude earthquakes like the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), where the lack of recorded ground motions has led to...
Authors
Sean Richard LaHusen, Alex R. Grant, Jonathan P. Perkins, Devin McPhillips
Microbial ecology of permafrost soils: Populations, processes, and perspectives Microbial ecology of permafrost soils: Populations, processes, and perspectives
Permafrost microbial research has flourished in the past decades, due in part to improvements in sampling and molecular techniques, but also the increased focus on the permafrost greenhouse gas feedback to climate change and other ecological processes in high latitude and alpine permafrost soils. Permafrost microorganisms are adapted to these extreme environments and remain active at low
Authors
Mark Waldrop, Jessica Ernakovich, Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya, Sean Schaefer, Rachel Mackelprang, Jiri Barta, Joy O’Brien, Matthias Winkel, Robyn A. Barbato, Liam Heffernan, Mary-Cathrine Leewis, Rebecca E. Hewitt, Jenni Hultman, Yanchen Sun, Christina Biasi, James A. Bradley, Susanne Liebner, Michael P. Ricketts, Mario Muscarella, Ursel Schuette, Fumnanya Abuah, Emily Whalen, Ina Timling, Carolina Voigt, Neslihan Tas, Karen G. Lloyd, Henri M.P. Siljanen, Elizaveta M. Rivkina, Jana Voriskova, Jing Tao, Renxing Liang, Zhen Li, Jay T. Lennon, T.C. Onstott
Cooling perspectives on the risk of pathogenic viruses from thawing permafrost Cooling perspectives on the risk of pathogenic viruses from thawing permafrost
Climate change is inducing wide-scale permafrost thaw in the Arctic and subarctic, triggering concerns that long-dormant pathogens could reemerge from the thawing ground and initiate epidemics or pandemics. Viruses, as opposed to bacterial pathogens, garner particular interest because outbreaks cannot be controlled with antibiotics, though the effects can be mitigated by vaccines and...
Authors
Rachel Mackelprang, Robyn A. Barbato, Andrew M. Ramey, Ursel M. E. Schutte, Mark Waldrop
Metal-rich lacustrine sediments from legacy mining perpetuate copper exposure to aquatic-riparian food webs Metal-rich lacustrine sediments from legacy mining perpetuate copper exposure to aquatic-riparian food webs
Historic copper mining left a legacy of metal-rich tailings resulting in ecological impacts along and within Torch Lake, an area of concern in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA. Given the toxicity of copper to invertebrates, this study assessed the influence of this legacy on present day nearshore aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We measured the metal (Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd) and...
Authors
Brittany G. Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, Kate M. Campbell, Marie Noele Croteau, Tyler Kane, Amy M. Marcarelli, R. Blaine McCleskey, Gordon Paterson, Craig A. Stricker, David Walters