Publications
Browse more than 160,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
Science Quality and Integrity
Science Quality and Integrity
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Mission Area Publications
Mission Area Publications
We are focused on some of the most significant issues society faces, and our science is making a substantial contribution to the well-being of the Nation and the world. Learn more about the major topics our research covers and the programs focused on those topics.
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U.S. Geological Survey science supports a thriving Chesapeake Bay watershed economy U.S. Geological Survey science supports a thriving Chesapeake Bay watershed economy
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science supports the Chesapeake Bay watershed economy by linking natural resources to key economic sectors. The roles of USGS monitoring, data, and analysis inform land-use and resource-management decisions for Department of Interior leadership and other stakeholders.
Authors
Anthony J. Good, James S. Webber, Emily Pindilli, Shonte Jenkins
National-scale remotely sensed lake surface temperature in the contiguous United States National-scale remotely sensed lake surface temperature in the contiguous United States
Temperature is a master variable in aquatic ecosystems. Despite its importance for ecosystem function, our capacity to measure temperature is often limited to focal systems with intensive in situ measurements or larger systems with readily accessible data from disparate data streams. These limitations are consequential for holistically understanding aquatic ecosystem status and change...
Authors
Michael Frederick Meyer, Timothy J. Stagnitta, Wilson Barg Salls, Brendan F Wakefield, Tyler King
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta Province of Nigeria and Cameroon, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta Province of Nigeria and Cameroon, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 11.4 billion barrels of oil and 88.2 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Niger Delta Province of Nigeria and Cameroon.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
dMODELS, a MATLAB software package for modeling crustal deformation near volcanic centers and active faults using Global Navigation Satellite System data—User guide dMODELS, a MATLAB software package for modeling crustal deformation near volcanic centers and active faults using Global Navigation Satellite System data—User guide
dMODELS is a MATLAB software package that implements the most common analytical models used to interpret deformation measurements near faults and active volcanic centers. This manual focuses on inversion of deformation data from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The included case studies emphasize the GNSS inversion component of the software. Source models include...
Authors
Maurizio Battaglia, Deja Celestine, D. Sarah Stamps
Aging of biosolids in fields prolongs the release of biosolid-borne PFAS and promotes the release of select PFCA in water Aging of biosolids in fields prolongs the release of biosolid-borne PFAS and promotes the release of select PFCA in water
Land application of biosolids can introduce PFAS into croplands. Biosolids transported to surface waters through runoff may subsequently release PFAS into aquatic environments. The objective was to evaluate the effects of the aging of biosolids and the presence of sediment on the release of biosolid-borne PFAS to water at the water-sediment interface under anaerobic conditions. Through...
Authors
Qu Wen, Daniel S Snow, Nirupam Aich, Michelle M. Lorah, Kelly L. Smalling, John Hribljan, Paul Ayayee, Xudong Lin
Thermal habitat use of lake trout in Lake Erie Thermal habitat use of lake trout in Lake Erie
Understanding the thermal habitat use of fish populations is vital for effective rehabilitation or management, particularly in the face of climate change, given limited thermal tolerances of some species. In Lake Erie, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) rehabilitation efforts by means of stocking have been ongoing for four decades. However, high water temperatures and lengthening periods...
Authors
Tyler Reid Funnell, Travis O. Brenden, Susanna Q. Keilig, Corey Krabbenhoft, Richard Kraus, Tom MacDougall, James Markham, Charles Murray, Jason Robinson, Christopher C. Wilson, Christopher S. Vandergoot
DRIFteRS: A dataset of drift invertebrate densities in streams and rivers across western North America, 1997–2024 DRIFteRS: A dataset of drift invertebrate densities in streams and rivers across western North America, 1997–2024
Prey availability is among the most influential and highly variable determinants of fish growth and freshwater habitat carrying capacity, yet it remains understudied compared to physical habitat variables (Ouellet et al., 2025; Rosenfeld et al., 2014; Weber et al., 2017). We often lack a clear understanding of how much food is available to fishes, how it varies spatially and temporally...
Authors
Elsa K. Toskey, Toshio Matsuoka, Peter M. Kiffney, Sean M. Naman, Martin C. Liermann, Javan Bailey, David Beauchamp, J. Ryan Bellmore, Christopher A. Binckley, Steven C. Blumenshine, Timothy J. Caldwell, Michael P. Carey, Shannon Claeson, Chelsea Clawson, Rosa Cox, Cromwell. Kara J., Robert J. Danehy, Michael J. Dodrill, Jeffrey J. Duda, Jason B. Fellman, Adrianne Z. Grimm, Tyson B. Hallbert, Chris E. Jordan, Ernest R. Keeley, Brian P. Kennedy, Theodore Kennedy, Andre E. Kohler, Erin D. Lowery, Kate H Macneale, Kyle D. Martens, Sarah A. Morley, Jeffrey Muehlbauer, Jason B. Neuswanger, Alison O'Dowd, Shelley Pneh, Mary E. Power, Suzanne J. Rhoades, Jordan Rosenfeld, Gabriel Rossi, Beth L. Sanderson, Katy K. Shelby, Thomas Starky-Owens, Jamie N. Thompson, Carol Volk, Jasmine S. Williamshen, Robert W. Wisseman
High-resolution landscape-scale maps of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in Suisun Bay and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California, during 2018—Results from high-resolution underway surveys High-resolution landscape-scale maps of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in Suisun Bay and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California, during 2018—Results from high-resolution underway surveys
We examined the abundance and distribution of nutrients and phytoplankton in the tidal aquatic environments of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and Suisun, Grizzly, and Honker Bays in California by completing three spatial surveys that used continuous underway high frequency (1 hertz) measurements and sampling onboard a high-speed boat. Surveys were conducted in May, July, and...
Authors
Jeniffer Soto Perez, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Brian Downing, Katy O’Donnell, Crystal Lee Sturgeon, Jeffrey A. Hansen, Alan D. Gelber, Elizabeth B. Stumpner, Angela Hansen
Cyanobacteria Assessment Network: Pilot study with Sentinel-2 derived chlorophyll data Cyanobacteria Assessment Network: Pilot study with Sentinel-2 derived chlorophyll data
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) affect global water quality, limiting uses like recreation and consumption because of excessive algal biomass and toxin production. These blooms cause surface scums, taste and odor issues, hypoxia, and negative health and socioeconomic impacts. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages over 400 lakes and reservoirs and seeks to improve monitoring of HABs...
Authors
Blake Schaeffer, Tyler King, Molly Reif, Bridget N. Seegers, Richard P. Stumpf, Megan M. Coffer, Dylan Friel, Veronica Lance, Sachidananda Mishra, Michael Soracco, Michelle Tomlinson, Michael Frederick Meyer, Scott D. Ducar, Schuyler C. Nardelli, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Dulcinea Marie Avouris, Wilson Barg Salls
Deep learning models for mapping surficial geology in selected physiographic regions of New York Deep learning models for mapping surficial geology in selected physiographic regions of New York
Surficial geologic mapping is required for decisions including infrastructure and water-resource development and management. Deep learning, a type of machine learning that uses training data to self-learn and perform tasks, is explored as a tool to help increase efficiency of the labour- and time-intensive mapping process. Deep learning models were trained, and their potential to aid in...
Authors
Joshua C. Woda, Jason S. Finkelstein, William E. Odom, John H. Williams
At the edge of change: Native Phragmites persistence and nonnative arrival along the dam-regulated Colorado River At the edge of change: Native Phragmites persistence and nonnative arrival along the dam-regulated Colorado River
Premise
Authors
Emily C. Palmquist, Joel B. Sankey, Claudia DiMartini, Tanyan Benson, Brooke Damon, Helen C. Fairley, Bradley J. Butterfield
Monitoring recreation on federally managed lands and waters—Aspects of visitor use Monitoring recreation on federally managed lands and waters—Aspects of visitor use
Federally managed public lands and waters receive around 1 billion recreational visits each year. Data on these visitors can aid in guiding policy decisions, managing resources effectively, and communicating the economic contributions of lands and waters. This report explores the methods used by agencies to collect data on aspects of recreational visitor use to Federal lands and waters...
Authors
Emily J. Wilkins, Dieta Hanson, Whitney Boone, Spencer A. Wood, Christian Crowley, Rudy Schuster