Earth Science Matters - Volume 18, Spring 2024
Coring Expedition to Palmyra Atoll
Helping managers better understand pre-human vegetation, climate variability, and sea level changes
Assessing giant sequoia mortality and regeneration following high severity wildfire
In the wake of prolonged drought and massive fires in the western U.S., the fate and future of the iconic giant sequoia has been a top concern for many. USGS scientists are partnering with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service to gather data on fire effects on giant sequoia populations. These crucial data are allowing managers to tackle difficult conservation and management decisions.
In monarch butterfly decline mystery, scientists rule out habitat loss in migration zone
DENVER, Colo. — A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey and partners in the U.S. and Mexico lends new insight into the puzzle of monarch butterfly population declines, showing that migration habitat in Texas and Mexico has largely remained intact over the period of decline.
Snow Avalanche Research at the USGS that Supports Partners
Snow avalanches are a major natural hazard with substantial impacts on society, including human safety and commerce. USGS researchers are studying them in order to better inform avalanche forecasting efforts, hazard mitigation, and land-use planning in avalanche terrain.
Blue Carbon Science Explorer Topic
A new hub for blue carbon work from across the Bureau
Past patterns of marine temperature and ecosystem health help predict future ecosystem behavior
Have you ever wondered how scientists test and develop their climate models of what the future may be like? The answer lies in the past! Climate models are tested against reconstructions of past climate conditions. Those reconstructions are pieced together using proxy evidence buried in sediments and preserved in fossils.
Fire, Ecosystems, Climate: It’s Complicated
USGS is disentangling the interwoven fire-ecosystem-climate relationship to better understand and predict how it will change into the future.
Ostracodes: Tiny recorders of Arctic ocean and ecosystem changes
Ostracodes are small (0.5 – 1.5 mm), seafloor-dwelling crustaceans who are sensitive to different environmental conditions. Changes in the environment affect their growth so, scientists can study their shells to learn about past ocean and environmental conditions. Since 1991, USGS researchers have been compiling a database of ostracode samples that’s making it easier to learn about the past.