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.
Filter Total Items: 175041
U.S. Geological Survey risk research community of practice 2021 workshop report—Workshop on considering equitable engagement in research design U.S. Geological Survey risk research community of practice 2021 workshop report—Workshop on considering equitable engagement in research design
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Risk Research and Applications Community of Practice (Risk CoP) is a bureau-wide forum to share resources and discuss issues relevant to “conducting and applying scientific research in hazards—the dangerous processes or phenomena that may cause damage—to enhance the reduction of risk—the potential for societally relevant losses caused by hazards” (Ludwig...
Authors
Emily Brooks, Alice Pennaz, Matthew Jurjonas
Decadal shifts in the population growth, regeneration, and health of Taxodium distichum in swamps of the Cache River Watershed, Illinois Decadal shifts in the population growth, regeneration, and health of Taxodium distichum in swamps of the Cache River Watershed, Illinois
Population projection models based on long-term trends in regeneration and tree survival can be used to predict the future stability of swamp forest species using water management. Population growth and regeneration of a foundational tree species in North American cypress swamps (Taxodium distichum) were compared in the Cache River watershed of southern Illinois USA over several decades...
Authors
Beth Middleton, Darren Johnson
Trade-offs in adapting to changes in climate, land use, and water availability in California Trade-offs in adapting to changes in climate, land use, and water availability in California
Changes in land use and land cover, water systems, and climate are inextricably linked, and their combined stresses have had severe impacts in many regions worldwide. Integrated adaptation planning can support adaptive capacity by helping institutions manage land and water resources at regional to local scales. Linkages between these stressors mean that planners are often faced with...
Authors
Nathan D. Van Schmidt, Tamara Wilson, Lorraine E. Flint, R. Langridge
The dynamic influence of subsurface geological processes on the assembly and diversification of thermophilic microbial communities in continental hydrothermal systems The dynamic influence of subsurface geological processes on the assembly and diversification of thermophilic microbial communities in continental hydrothermal systems
An accepted paradigm of hydrothermal systems is the process of phase separation, or boiling, of a deep, homogeneous hydrothermal fluid as it ascends through the subsurface resulting in gas rich and gas poor fluids. While phase separation helps to explain first-order patterns in the chemistry and biology of a hot spring’s surficial expression, we know little about the subsurface...
Authors
Kenneth W.W. Sims, Cole M. Messa, Sean R Scott, Andrew D Parsekian, Andrew Miller, Abraham L. Role, Timothy P. Moloney, Everett L. Shock, Jacob B. Lowenstern, R. Blaine McCleskey, Matthew A. Charette, Bradley Carr, Sylvain Pasquet, Henry Heasler, Cheryl Jaworowski, W. Steven Holbrook, Melody R. Lindsay, Daniel R. Colman, Eric S. Boyd
Incremental evolution of modeling a prognosis for polar bears in a rapidly changing Arctic Incremental evolution of modeling a prognosis for polar bears in a rapidly changing Arctic
Updating predictions of the response of high-profile, at-risk species to climate change and anthropogenic stressors is vital for informing effective conservation action. Here, we review two prior generations of Bayesian network probability models predicting changes in global polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population status, and provide a contemporary update based on recent research...
Authors
Bruce G. Marcot, Todd C. Atwood, David C. Douglas, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Anthony M. Pagano, Steven C. Amstrup
Leveraging machine learning to automate regression model evaluations for large multi-site water-quality trend studies Leveraging machine learning to automate regression model evaluations for large multi-site water-quality trend studies
Large multi-site trend studies provide an opportunity to evaluate progress of waterbodies towards water-quality goals across broad geographic areas. Such studies often aggregate the results of site-specific models and thus contend with evaluating each model for appropriate fit and statistical assumptions. We explored the use of four traditional machine learning models (logistic...
Authors
Jennifer C. Murphy, Jeffrey G. Chanat
Critical minerals for a carbon-neutral future Critical minerals for a carbon-neutral future
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative is filling data gaps and fostering more holistic understanding of critical mineral resources in the United States using a novel mineral systems framework.
Authors
Douglas C. Kreiner, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Warren C. Day
Broad-scale assessment of methylmercury in adult amphibians Broad-scale assessment of methylmercury in adult amphibians
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic contaminant that has been mobilized and distributed worldwide and is a threat to many wildlife species. Amphibians are facing unprecedented global declines due to many threats including contaminants. While the biphasic life history of many amphibians creates a potential nexus for methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in aquatic habitats and subsequent health effects, the...
Authors
Brian J. Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, Brian J. Halstead, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Michael J. Adams, Adam R. Backlin, Adrianne Brand, Colleen Emery, Robert N. Fisher, Jillian Elizabeth Fleming, Brad Glorioso, Daniel A. Grear, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, David Miller, Erin L. Muths, Christopher Pearl, Jennifer Rowe, Caitlin Teresa Rumrill, J. Hardin Waddle, Megan Winzeler, Kelly L. Smalling
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Stream hydrology and a pulse subsidy shape patterns of fish foraging Stream hydrology and a pulse subsidy shape patterns of fish foraging
Pulsed subsidy events create ephemeral fluxes of hyper-abundant resources that can shape annual patterns of consumption and growth for recipient consumers. However, environmental conditions strongly affect local resource availability for much of the year, and can heavily impact consumer foraging and growth patterns prior to pulsed subsidy events. Thus, a consumer's capacity to exploit...
Authors
Kevin Fitzgerald, J. Ryan Bellmore, Jason B. Fellman, Matthew L. H. Cheng, Claire Delbecq, Jeffrey A. Falke
Dating the penultimate great earthquake in south-central Alaska using tree-ring crossdating and radiocarbon wiggle-matching Dating the penultimate great earthquake in south-central Alaska using tree-ring crossdating and radiocarbon wiggle-matching
A forest bed of tree stumps currently in the intertidal zone at Girdwood, south-central Alaska, records coseismic submergence during the penultimate great earthquake. Tree-ring samples from ten spruce stumps were crossdated to develop a 149-year-long ring-width chronology. Radiocarbon wiggle-matching found that single-ring ages from the chronology were offset 28 ± 7 years older than the...
Authors
David J Barclay, Peter J. Haeussler, Robert C. Witter
Relationship between explosive and effusive volcanism in the Montes Apenninus region of the Moon Relationship between explosive and effusive volcanism in the Montes Apenninus region of the Moon
Lunar Pyroclastic Deposits (LPDs) are sites of explosive volcanism and often occur in areas of effusive volcanism on the Moon. On Earth, it has been observed that most volcanism has both effusive and explosive phases, whereas on the Moon, these two types of volcanism have typically been considered separately. We hypothesize that the relationship between explosive and effusive volcanism...
Authors
Lori M. Pigue, Kristen A. Bennett, Briony H.N. Horgan, Lisa Gaddis
Systematic process for determining field-sampling effort required to know vegetation changes in large, disturbed rangelands where management treatments have been applied Systematic process for determining field-sampling effort required to know vegetation changes in large, disturbed rangelands where management treatments have been applied
Adequate numbers of replicated, dispersed, and random samples are the basis for reliable sampling inference on resources of concern, particularly vegetation cover across large and heterogenous areas such as rangelands. Tools are needed to predict and assess data precision, specifically the sampling effort required to attain acceptable levels of precision, before and after sampling. We...
Authors
Cara Applestein, Matthew J. Germino