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.
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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Geophysical logging For hydrogeology Geophysical logging For hydrogeology
Geophysical logging is the measurement and analysis of electrical, acoustic, nuclear, and other physical properties in a borehole using wireline or direct push technology. Geophysical logging is one of the primary methods of collecting subsurface information for hydrogeologic investigations. Groundwater scientists and engineers should have a basic understanding of borehole geophysics and...
Authors
John Williams, Frederick L. Paillet
Exploring centennial barrier-inlet evolution: Insights from undeveloped and developed phases at Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey Exploring centennial barrier-inlet evolution: Insights from undeveloped and developed phases at Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey
This study aims to identify the natural processes and the subsequent responses to coastal engineering and development on the alongshore evolution of the IB-BI-LBI inlet-barrier system. The primary focus will be the quantification of barrier island and inlet sediment partitioning at decadal to centennial timescales, from 1839-1941. We analyze historical alongshore evolution and track...
Authors
Shane Nichols-O’Neill, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer L. Miselis
Vital sign monitoring is good medicine for parks Vital sign monitoring is good medicine for parks
Nearly 70 years ago a young ranger naturalist working in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Frederick B. Turner, became fascinated with the abundance of frogs next to his cabin at “Soldier Creek” (known as Lodge Creek today). This interest blossomed into Turner’s PhD research and his publication in 1960 about the local population of Columbia spotted frogs (shown to right) became a classic...
Authors
Andrew M. Ray, David P. Thoma, Kristin L. Legg, Robert H. Diehl, Adam Sepulveda, Mike Tercek, Robert Al-Chokhachy
The Arctic Rivers Project: Using an equitable co-production framework for integrating meaningful community engagement and science to understand climate impacts The Arctic Rivers Project: Using an equitable co-production framework for integrating meaningful community engagement and science to understand climate impacts
As the Arctic and its rivers continue to warm, a better understanding of the possible future impacts on people would benefit from close partnership with Indigenous communities and scientists from diverse fields of study. We present efforts by the Arctic Rivers Project to conduct community-engaged research to increase collective understanding of the historical and potential future impacts...
Authors
Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Alestine Andre, Victoria Buschman, Dylan Blaskey, Cassandra M. Brooks, Yifan Cheng, Evelynn Combs, Karen Cozzetto, Serena Fitka, Joshua C. Koch, Aine Lawlor, Elizabeth Moses, Emily Murray, Edda A. Mutter, Andrew Newman, Charles Prince, Patricia Salmon, Jenessa Tlen, Ryan C. Toohey, Michael L. Williams, Keith Musselman
Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle anomalies Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle anomalies
Seismic images of Earth’s interior have revealed two continent-sized anomalies with low seismic velocities, known as the large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), in the lowermost mantle. The LLVPs are often interpreted as intrinsically dense heterogeneities that are compositionally distinct from the surrounding mantle. Here we show that LLVPs may represent buried relics of Theia mantle...
Authors
Qian Yuan, Mingming Li, Steven J. Desch, Byeongkwan Ko, Hongping Deng, Edward J. Garnero, Travis S.J. Gabriel, Jacob A. Kegerreis, Yoshinori Miyazaki, Vincent Eke, Paul D. Asimow
Increasing salt marsh elevation using sediment augmentation: Critical insights from surface sediments and sediment cores Increasing salt marsh elevation using sediment augmentation: Critical insights from surface sediments and sediment cores
Sea-level rise is particularly concerning for tidal wetlands that reside within an area with steep topography or are constrained by human development and alteration of sedimentation. Sediment augmentation to increase wetland elevations has been considered as a potential strategy for such areas to prevent wetland loss over the coming decades. However, there is little information on the...
Authors
Elizabeth Fard, Lauren N. Brown, Richard F. Ambrose, Christine R Whitcraft, Karen M. Thorne, Nathaniel J. Kemnitz, Douglas E. Hammond, Glen M. MacDonald
Evaluating a tandem human-machine approach to labelling of wildlife in remote camera monitoring Evaluating a tandem human-machine approach to labelling of wildlife in remote camera monitoring
Remote cameras (“trail cameras”) are a popular tool for non-invasive, continuous wildlife monitoring, and as they become more prevalent in wildlife research, machine learning (ML) is increasingly used to automate or accelerate the labor-intensive process of labelling (i.e., tagging) photos. Human-machine hybrid tagging approaches have been shown to greatly increase tagging efficiency (i...
Authors
Laurence A. Clarfeld, Alexej P.K. Sirén, Brendan M. Mulhall, Tammy L. Wilson, Elena Bernier, John Farrell, Gus Lunde, Nicole Hardy, Katherine D. Gieder, Robert Abrams, Sue Staats, Scott McLellan, Therese M. Donovan
A novel boat-based field application of a high-frequency conductometric ammonium analyzer to characterize spatial variation in aquatic ecosystems A novel boat-based field application of a high-frequency conductometric ammonium analyzer to characterize spatial variation in aquatic ecosystems
Documenting dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration and form at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is key to understanding aquatic ecosystem health, particularly as DIN fuels primary productivity. In addition to point and non-point source nutrient inputs, factors such as hydrology, geomorphology, temperature, light, and biogeochemical transformations influence nutrient...
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Angela Hansen, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Don Forsberg, John Stillian, Katy O’Donnell, Crystal Lee Sturgeon, Brian A. Bergamaschi
A population-based performance evaluation of the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system for M 9 megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. A population-based performance evaluation of the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system for M 9 megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.
We evaluate the potential performance of the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system for M 9 megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) using synthetic seismograms from 30 simulated M 9 earthquake scenarios on the Cascadia subduction zone. The timeliness and accuracy of source estimates and effectiveness of ShakeAlert alert contours are evaluated with a station‐based alert
Authors
Mika Thompson, J. Renate Hartog, Erin A. Wirth
Dam removal cost databases and drivers Dam removal cost databases and drivers
The United States (U.S.) has over 90,000 dams listed in the National Inventory of Dams that provide vital infrastructure to support water management for municipal and industrial uses including irrigation, hydropower, flood control, navigation, recreation, and habitat, among other uses (NID 2023). The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) operate and...
Authors
Jennifer A. Bountry, Timothy J. Randle, Alvin Jansen, Jeffrey J. Duda, Suman Jumani, Desiree D. Tullos, Kyle McKay, Susan Bailey
Development of small uncrewed aerial systems for multi-instrument geophysical data acquisition in active geothermal systems Development of small uncrewed aerial systems for multi-instrument geophysical data acquisition in active geothermal systems
Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS) serve as critical platforms for geophysical data collection at an intermediate scale between lower resolution, regional datasets collected via crewed aerial surveys, and high resolution, but spatially sparse sampling of ground-based data collection methods. Advances in sensor design and sUAS capabilities have led to rapid advances in the amount and...
Authors
Grant Harold Rea-Downing, Claire Bouligand, Jonathan M.G. Glen, Tait E. Earney, Laurie A. Zielinski, Jacob Elliott Anderson, Peter J. Kelly
Warming-induced changes in benthic redox as a potential driver of increasing benthic algal blooms in high-elevation lakes Warming-induced changes in benthic redox as a potential driver of increasing benthic algal blooms in high-elevation lakes
Algal blooms appear to be increasing on benthic substrates of naturally nutrient-poor lakes worldwide, yet common drivers across these systems remain elusive. The phenomenon has been notable in high-elevation mountain lakes, which is enigmatic given their relative remoteness from human disturbance. We suggest that warming-induced changes in redox conditions that promote nutrient release...
Authors
Stephanie E. Hampton, Jill Baron, Robert Ladwig, Ryan P. McClure, Michael Frederick Meyer, Isabella Oleksy, Anna Shampain