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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Understanding and modeling tephra transport: Lessons learned from the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens Understanding and modeling tephra transport: Lessons learned from the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Discoveries made during the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens advanced our understanding of tephra transport and deposition in fundamental ways. The eruption enabled detailed, quantitative observations of downwind cloud movement and particle sedimentation, along with the dynamics of co-pyroclastic-density current (PDC) clouds lofted from ground-hugging currents. The deposit was...
Authors
Larry G. Mastin, Steven Carey, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Julia Eychenne, Russell Sparks
Ungulate migrations of the western United States, volume 3 Ungulate migrations of the western United States, volume 3
Ungulates (hooved mammals) have a broad distribution across the western United States and play an important role in maintaining predator-prey dynamics, affecting vegetation communities, and providing economic benefits to regional communities through tourism and hunting. Throughout the diverse landscapes they occupy, many ungulate populations undertake seasonal migrations to exploit...
Authors
Matthew Kauffman, Blake Lowrey, Jodi Berg, Scott Bergen, Doug Brimeyer, Patrick Burke, Teal Cufaude, James W. Cain, Jeffrey Cole, Alyson Courtemanch, Michelle Cowardin, Julie Cunningham, Melia DeVivo, Jennifer Diamond, Orrin Duvuvuei, Julien Fattebert, Joanna R. Ennis, Darby Finley, Jessica Fort, Gary Fralick, Eric Freeman, Jeff Gagnon, Julie Garcia, Emily Gelzer, Morgan Graham, Jacob Gray, Evan Greenspan, L. Embere Hall, Curtis Hendricks, Andy Holland, Brian Holmes, Katey Huggler, Mark A. Hurley, Emily Jeffreys, Aran Johnson, Lee Knox, Kevin Krasnow, Zack Lockyer, Hannah Manninen, Mike McDonald, Jennifer L. McKee, James Meacham, Jerod Merkle, Barb Moore, Tony W. Mong, Clayton Nielsen, Brendan Oates, Kim Olsen, Daniel Olson, Lucas Olson, Matt Pieron, Jake Powell, Annemarie Prince, Kelly Proffitt, Craig Reddell, Corinna Riginos, Robert Ritson, Sierra Robatcek, Shane Roberts, Hall Sawyer, Cody Schroeder, Jessie Shapiro, Nova Simpson, Scott Sprague, Alethea Steingisser, Nicole Tatman, Benjamin Turnock, Cody F. Wallace, Laura Wolf
Fighting misinformation in seismology: Expert opinion on earthquake facts vs fiction Fighting misinformation in seismology: Expert opinion on earthquake facts vs fiction
Misinformation carries the potential for immense damage to public understanding of science and for evidence-based decision making at an individual and policy level. Our research explores the following questions within seismology: which claims can be considered misinformation, which are supported by a consensus, and which are still under scientific debate? Consensus and debate are...
Authors
Sarah Dryhurst, Femke Mulder, Irina Dallo, John Kerr, Sara K. McBride, Laure Fallou, Julia S. Becker
Insights from the Alabama Hills into Mesozoic magmatism and tectonics in eastern California Insights from the Alabama Hills into Mesozoic magmatism and tectonics in eastern California
New zircon U-Pb ages for the Alabama Hills Granite in Owens Valley, eastern California, range from 103 to 102 Ma, nearly 20 Ma older than previously published zircon ages. The data preclude previously implied links between the pluton and the adjacent Late Cretaceous Mount Whitney Intrusive Suite. Geochronologic and isotopic data indicate a connection between the Alabama Hills Granite and
Authors
Ryan Edward Frazer, Sean P. Gaynor, Drew S. Coleman, Jennifer M. Wenner
Habitat utilization, demography, and behavioral observations of the squat lobster, Eumunida picta (Crustacea: Anomura: Eumunididae), on western North Atlantic deep-water coral habitats Habitat utilization, demography, and behavioral observations of the squat lobster, Eumunida picta (Crustacea: Anomura: Eumunididae), on western North Atlantic deep-water coral habitats
Deep-sea coral habitats, comprising mostly Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus 1758), are well developed on the upper and middle continental slope off the southeastern United States (SEUS). These habitats support a diverse and abundant invertebrate fauna, yet ecology and biology of most of these species are poorly known. Ten cruises conducted off the SEUS (Summer–Fall; Cape Lookout, NC–Cape...
Authors
Martha S. Nizinski, Jennifer McClain Counts, Steve W. Ross
Water-quality improvement of an agricultural watershed marsh after macrophyte establishment and point-source reduction Water-quality improvement of an agricultural watershed marsh after macrophyte establishment and point-source reduction
Green Lake, located in central Wisconsin USA within a watershed with land use dominated by agriculture, is listed as impaired under Sect. 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The primary tributary, Silver Creek, is also impaired because of high total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. Silver Creek flows through a shallow marsh before reaching the lake. Prior to 2006, the marsh was turbid and free...
Authors
Sarah Fuller, Edward P Boswell, Anita M. Thompson, Dale M. Robertson
Examining landowners’ preferences for a chronic wasting disease management program Examining landowners’ preferences for a chronic wasting disease management program
Private landowners are key partners in chronic wasting disease (CWD) management, especially in landscapes where there is limited public ownership. In this study, we evaluated landowners' preferences for alternative hypothetical CWD management programs using a stated choice experiment. We were particularly interested in understanding preferences for the use of financial incentives to...
Authors
Adam Landon, Kyle Smith, Louis Cornicelli, David C. Fulton, Leslie E. McInenly, Susan A. Schroeder
Analysis of groundwater and surface water in areas of isoxaflutole application, Tuscola and Kalamazoo Counties, Michigan Analysis of groundwater and surface water in areas of isoxaflutole application, Tuscola and Kalamazoo Counties, Michigan
The herbicide 5-cyclopropyl-4-(2-methylsulfonyl-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl) isoxazole, also known as isoxaflutole (IXF), was conditionally approved for use on corn in Michigan in 2015. The fate of IXF and its degradates in different environmental settings and the processes by which these compounds move to groundwater or to surface-water bodies have been previously studied, but little...
Authors
Carol L. Luukkonen, Mark E. Brigham
The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program’s U.S. GeoFramework Initiative — Delivering a digital database of geologic map information by 2030 The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program’s U.S. GeoFramework Initiative — Delivering a digital database of geologic map information by 2030
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program's U.S. GeoFramework Initiative responds to Congressional direction to implement the National Geologic Map Database Phase Three. The U.S. GeoFramework Initiative aims to create and deliver a new digital geologic framework of the United States by 2030. This Fact Sheet outlines the collaborations needed and plans...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, William Andrews, Joseph P. Colgan, Samuel Johnstone, David R. Soller, Richard Berg, Donald S. Sweetkind, Kristine L. Zellman, John Brock, Kate Ritzel
U.S. Geological Survey science strategy for Arctic Alaska, fiscal years 2022–24 U.S. Geological Survey science strategy for Arctic Alaska, fiscal years 2022–24
Introduction The United States is an Arctic nation because of Alaska and thus maintains tremendous interests and stewardship responsibilities in the region, especially as the region undergoes substantial environmental transformation. This Arctic Science Strategy is intended to support those interests and responsibilities by expressing the core values, mission, vision, and the broad...
Authors
Dee M. Williams, Aimee Devaris
Precipitation-driven flood-inundation mapping of Muddy Creek at Harrisonville, Missouri Precipitation-driven flood-inundation mapping of Muddy Creek at Harrisonville, Missouri
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Harrisonville, Missouri, assessed flooding of Muddy Creek resulting from varying precipitation magnitudes and durations, antecedent runoff conditions, and channel modifications (cleaned culverts and added detention storage). The precipitation scenarios were used to develop a library of flood-inundation maps that included a 3.8...
Authors
David C. Heimann, Paul H. Rydlund
Spatial models can improve the experimental design of field-based transplant gardens by preventing bias due to neighborhood crowding Spatial models can improve the experimental design of field-based transplant gardens by preventing bias due to neighborhood crowding
Field-based transplant gardens, including common and reciprocal garden experiments, are a powerful tool for studying genetic variation and gene-by-environment interactions. These experiments assume that individuals within the garden represent independent replicates growing in a homogenous environment. Plant neighborhood interactions are pervasive across plant populations and could...
Authors
Andrii Zaiats, Juan M. Requena-Mullor, Matthew J. Germino, Jennifer S. Forbey, Bryce A. Richardson, T. Trevor Caughlin