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Browse more than 65,000 articles authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.
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Utilization of stochastic ground motion simulations for scenario-based performance assessment of geo-structures Utilization of stochastic ground motion simulations for scenario-based performance assessment of geo-structures
Probabilistic seismic performance assessments of engineered structures can be highly sensitive to the seismic input excitation and its variability. In the present study, the scenario-based performance assessment recommended by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) P-58 guidelines is adopted to estimate seismic fragility of concrete dams for various seismic hazard scenarios. Due to...
Authors
M. Amin Hariri-Ardebili, Sanaz Rezaeian
Influence of dams on sauger population structure and hybridization with introduced walleye Influence of dams on sauger population structure and hybridization with introduced walleye
Dams have negatively affected freshwater biodiversity throughout the world. These negative effects tend to be exacerbated for aquatic taxa with migratory life histories, and for taxa whose habitat is fundamentally altered by the formation of large reservoirs. Sauger (Sander candadensis; Percidae), large-bodied migratory fishes native to North America, have seen population declines over...
Authors
William C. Rosenthal, Elizabeth G. Mandeville, Ashleigh Pilkerton, Paul C. Gerrity, Joseph A. Skorupski, Annika W. Walters, Catherine E. Wagner
Experimental assessment of egg mat gear retention and collection efficacy Experimental assessment of egg mat gear retention and collection efficacy
Assessment of egg deposition is widely used to provide an index of spawning efforts for lithophilic spawning fishes. However, little is known about the collection efficacy and bias of fish egg collection methods. We conducted a two-phased study consisting of a simulated-river flume study (two-part design), and a field study (an egg drift comparison with capture on mats) to assess egg...
Authors
Madeline Grace Tomczak, Robin L. DeBruyne, Brian Schmidt, Dustin Bowser, Jason L. Fischer, Gregory W. Kennedy, Nicole R. King, Christine M. Mayer, Edward F. Roseman
Multi-decadal vegetation transformations of a New Mexico ponderosa pine landscape after severe fires and aerial seeding Multi-decadal vegetation transformations of a New Mexico ponderosa pine landscape after severe fires and aerial seeding
Wildfires and climate change are having transformative effects on vegetation composition and structure, and post-fire management may have long-lasting impacts on ecosystem reorganization. Post-fire aerial seeding treatments are commonly used to reduce runoff and soil erosion, but little is known about how seeding treatments affect native vegetation recovery over long periods of time...
Authors
Andreas Paul Wion, Jens T. Stevens, Kay Beeley, Rebecca Oertel, Ellis Q. Margolis, Craig D. Allen
Post-fire sediment yield from a central California watershed: Field measurements and validation of the WEPP model Post-fire sediment yield from a central California watershed: Field measurements and validation of the WEPP model
In a warming climate, an intensifying fire regime and higher likelihood of extreme rain are expected to increase watershed sediment yield in many regions. Understanding regional variability in landscape response to fire and post-fire rainfall is essential for managing water resources and infrastructure. We measured sediment yield resulting from sequential wildfire and extreme rain and...
Authors
Amy E. East, Joshua B. Logan, Helen Willemien Dow, Douglas P. Smith, Pat Iampietro, Jonathan A. Warrick, Thomas Lorenson, Leticia Hallas, Benjamin Kozlowicz
The influence of vesicularity on grain morphology in basaltic pyroclasts from Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes The influence of vesicularity on grain morphology in basaltic pyroclasts from Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes
Vesicularity of individual pyroclasts from airfall tephra deposits is an important parameter that is commonly measured at basaltic volcanoes. Conventional methods used to determine pyroclast vesicularity on a large number of clasts has the potential to be time consuming, particularly when rapid analysis is required. Here we propose dynamic image analysis on two-dimensional (2D)...
Authors
Kira van Helden, Johanne Schmith, Drew T. Downs
Integrating depth measurements from gaging stations with image archives for spectrally based remote sensing of river bathymetry Integrating depth measurements from gaging stations with image archives for spectrally based remote sensing of river bathymetry
Remote sensing can be an effective tool for mapping river bathymetry, but the need for direct measurements to calibrate image-derived depth estimates impedes broader application of this approach. One way to circumvent the need for field campaigns dedicated to calibration is to capitalize upon existing data. In this study, we introduce a framework for Bathymetric Mapping using Gage...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Brandon Overstreet, Paul J. Kinzel
A global assessment of SAOCOM-1 L-band stripmap data for InSAR characterization of volcanic, tectonic, cryospheric, and anthropogenic deformation A global assessment of SAOCOM-1 L-band stripmap data for InSAR characterization of volcanic, tectonic, cryospheric, and anthropogenic deformation
SAOCOM-1 is an L-band (23.5 cm) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation made up of two satellites launched in 2018 and 2020 by Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE, Argentina). In this contribution, we present a global summary of interferometric SAR (InSAR) observations of ground deformation with SAOCOM-1 stripmap data for tracking volcanic, tectonic, glacier, and...
Authors
Francisco Delgado, Tara Shreve, Sven Borgstrom, Pablo Le’on-Ibanez, Joaqu’in Castillo, Michael P. Poland
Using mobile acoustic monitoring and false-positive N-mixture models to estimate bat abundance and population trends Using mobile acoustic monitoring and false-positive N-mixture models to estimate bat abundance and population trends
Estimating the abundance of unmarked animal populations from acoustic data is challenging due to the inability to identify individuals and the need to adjust for observation biases including detectability (false negatives), species misclassification (false positives), and sampling exposure. Acoustic surveys conducted along mobile transects were designed to avoid counting individuals more...
Authors
Bradley James Udell, Bethany R. Straw, Susan C. Loeb, Kathryn Irvine, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Cori Lausen, Jonathan D. Reichard, Jeremy T.H. Coleman, Paul M. Cryan, Winifred F. Frick, Brian E. Reichert
The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico
Globally, freshwater fishes are among the taxa most vulnerable to climate change but are generally understudied in tropical island ecosystems where climate change is predicted to alter the intensity, frequency and duration of extreme flow events. These changes may impact stream ecosystems and native and non-native biota in complex ways.We compiled an extensive dataset of fish assemblages...
Authors
B. J. E. Myers, A. C. Engman, A. Ramírez, A. Torres-Molinari, Abigail Lynch, Mitchell J. Eaton, P. B. Cooney, T. J. Kwak
Sixty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s check-list of North American birds Sixty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s check-list of North American birds
This is the 24th supplement since publication of the 7th edition of the Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologists’ Union [AOU] 1998). It summarizes decisions made between April 25, 2023 and April 30, 2024 by the American Ornithological Society’s (formerly American Ornithologists’ Union) Committee on Classification and Nomenclature—North and Middle America. The Committee...
Authors
R. Terry Chesser, Shawn Billerman, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Blanca Hernandez-Banos, Rosa Alicia Jimenez, Oscar W. Johnson, Andrew W. Kratter, Nicholas Mason, Pamela Ramussen, J.V. Remsen
Tire-derived contaminants 6PPD and 6PPD-Q: Analysis, sample handling, and reconnaissance of United States stream exposures Tire-derived contaminants 6PPD and 6PPD-Q: Analysis, sample handling, and reconnaissance of United States stream exposures
The environmental ubiquity of tire and road wear particles (TRWP) underscores the need to understand the occurrence, persistence, and environmental effects of tire-related chemicals in aquatic ecosystems. One such chemical is 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q), a transformation product of the tire antioxidant 6PPD. In urban stormwater runoff 6PPD-Q can exceed acute toxicity thresholds for several...
Authors
Rachael F. Lane, Kelly Smalling, Paul M. Bradley, Justin Blaine Greer, Stephanie E. Gordon, John D. Hansen, Dana W. Kolpin, Andrew R. Spanjer, Jason R. Masoner
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Central Plains Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Washington Water Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)