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The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
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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Steps toward a satellite-based global volcano monitoring and early warning system: From pilot to demonstrator to GVEWERS Steps toward a satellite-based global volcano monitoring and early warning system: From pilot to demonstrator to GVEWERS
The consequences of volcanic eruptions span a broad range. Large explosive eruptions that recur every several hundred to thousands of years can impact global climate, but even small eruptions of a magnitude that takes place multiple times each year someplace on Earth can have devastating effects given the large number of people who live near volcanoes. Ground-based monitoring is...
Authors
Michael Poland, Juliet Biggs, M. E. Pritchard, Marco Bagnardi, Susanna K. Ebmeier, Christelle Wauthier, Andrew Eddy, Antonio Montuori, Simona Zoffoli
A ground-motion model derived using a generalized mean rupture distance for large slab interface earthquakes A ground-motion model derived using a generalized mean rupture distance for large slab interface earthquakes
Source–station distance is a central input to ground‐motion models (GMMs) for predicting seismic shaking. GMM development uses distance metrics including the Joyner–Boore distance, which is the shortest distance from an observation point to the surface projection of the earthquake rupture, and Rrup the shortest distance to the rupture in three dimensions. Thompson and Baltay (2018)...
Authors
Jessica R. Murray, Grace Alexandra Parker
Can a physics-based fire behavior model predict burn severity and post-fire debris flow hazard? Can a physics-based fire behavior model predict burn severity and post-fire debris flow hazard?
Post-wildfire flooding and debris flows pose a threat to ecosystems and infrastructure. As the frequency and size of severe wildfires increase, there is a growing need for predictive debris flow hazard modeling in unburned but fire-prone landscapes. However, no crosswalks have been established between physics-based models of fire behavior and the remotely sensed burn severity inputs...
Authors
Niko J. Tutland, Rachel A. Loehman, Jason W. Kean
Bridging remote sensing advances and management needs for small Prairie Pothole waterbodies using a multiscale accuracy assessment Bridging remote sensing advances and management needs for small Prairie Pothole waterbodies using a multiscale accuracy assessment
Remote sensing of surface water provides a powerful tool to inform the management of waterfowl habitat, but there is little information available to directly assess the relative accuracy of different remote sensing datasets. Our objective was to understand how the characteristics of remotely sensed inundation datasets inform dataset accuracy, the reliable detection of small waterbodies...
Authors
Audrey Claire Lothspeich, Owen P. McKenna, Melanie K. Vanderhoof
A practical framework for identifying genetic subpopulations and ESUs: Insights for IUCN assessments and broader management A practical framework for identifying genetic subpopulations and ESUs: Insights for IUCN assessments and broader management
Species conservation assessments evaluate extinction risk, and recovery potential, advancing species persistence through guiding resource prioritization and planning. Assessment frameworks, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and Green Status of Species, typically focus on species as a whole. Importantly, they do not routinely account for genetically...
Authors
Julia C. Geue, Laura D. Bertola, Paulette Bloomer, Anna Bruniche-Olsen, Jessica M. da Silva, J. Andrew DeWoody, Ancuta Fedorca, José A. Godoy, Catherine E. Grueber, Margaret Hunter, Christina Hvilsom, Evelyn L. Jensen, Alexander Kopatz, Anna J. MacDonald, Silvia Pérez-Espona, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Jennifer Pierson, Isa-Rita M. Russo, Helen Senn, Gernot Segelbacher, Paul Sunnucks, Cock van Oosterhout, Deborah M. Leigh
Abundance, trends, and challenges facing mountain goats throughout their North American distribution Abundance, trends, and challenges facing mountain goats throughout their North American distribution
Recent declines among some mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) populations have heightened concern about their current status and ability to cope with future challenges. We conducted a range-wide assessment of the status of mountain goats across their distribution to understand the extent and patterns of change in recent years. We queried states, provinces, National Parks, and Indigenous
Authors
Richard B. Harris, Steve Bethune, Mark Biel, Roy T. Churchwell, Julie Cunningham, Rob Found, Tabitha A. Graves, Anne Hubbs, Tyler Jessen, Bill Jex, Joshua Kirk, Meghan Larivee, Chadwick P. Lehman, Brian MacBeth, Hollie Miyasaki, Tony W. Mong, William Moore, Susan Oehlers, Todd Rinaldi, Kristin M. Rine, Rusty Robinson, Zachary L. Robinson, Jennifer Sevigny, Michael Sevigny, Kyle Smith, David Vales, Kevin White, Don Whittaker, Carmen Wong, Travis Wyman
Evaluating groundwater quality influences from oil field operations and other anthropogenic activities in an urban setting, Santa Fe Springs, California Evaluating groundwater quality influences from oil field operations and other anthropogenic activities in an urban setting, Santa Fe Springs, California
Groundwater quality is often affected by anthropogenic activities in urban settings. This study examines groundwater quality in and around the Santa Fe Springs Oil Field in Los Angeles County, California, where oil and gas production commonly intersects with high density industrial, commercial and residential land uses. Utilizing a combination of new and historical data, we evaluated...
Authors
Michael Wright, Tracy A. Davis, Matthew K. Landon, Michael Land, David H. Shimabukuro, Theron A. Sowers, Megan E Schmer, Riley Gannon, Justin T. Kulongoski, Andrew G. Hunt, Elise Watson
Comparison of data handling techniques for modeling bat acoustic activity Comparison of data handling techniques for modeling bat acoustic activity
With the proliferation of acoustic sampling to investigate bat distribution and ecology, researchers have implemented a myriad of statistical modeling approaches to interpret findings. Bats are taxa of high conservation concern; therefore, ensuring the accuracy of species-level habitat association models is critical for informing management. We sought to determine prediction differences...
Authors
Zachary W. Isenhour, Elizabeth Ann Hunter, Jesse L. De La Cruz, W. Mark Ford
Dietary composition and diversity in an endemic island bat, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) Dietary composition and diversity in an endemic island bat, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus)
Due to the importance of sufficient diets, conservation practices for endangered bats often involve protection and restoration of foraging resources. For insectivorous (or arthropodivorous) bats, detailed knowledge of prey consumption can inform effective management. In this study, we used metabarcoding techniques to investigate the diet of Lasiurus semotus, a primarily insectivorous...
Authors
Corinna Pinzari, P. Marcos Gorresen, Robert W. Peck, Karen Courtot
Exploratory ecology of reintroduced elk in Virginia Exploratory ecology of reintroduced elk in Virginia
Reintroductions of extirpated species are an important tool in wildlife conservation. Understanding how reintroduced populations acclimatize to novel environments can lend insight into social learning that in turn is valuable for assessing reintroduction success and maximizing efficacy of subsequent efforts. During 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources...
Authors
Braiden A Quinlan, Heather N Abernathy, David M Kalb, Jacalyn P Rosenberger, Emily D Thorne, W. Mark Ford, Michael J Cherry
Evidence for a biological origin of uranium-rich carbon masses within the Ediacaran Salt Range Formation of Pakistan Evidence for a biological origin of uranium-rich carbon masses within the Ediacaran Salt Range Formation of Pakistan
Thucholites are unique organic structures found in igneous and sedimentary rocks composed of a U-C-rich interior enclosed by an organic outer shell. Their formation and occurrence have perplexed scientists for over 100 years. Typically, thucholites are sparse in sedimentary rocks but where found in abundance, they may be the result of rapid paleoecological disruptions, e.g., volcanic...
Authors
Brett Valentine, Paul C. Hackley, Martha Stokes, Maitrayee Bose, Ryan J. McAleer, Imran Khan
Morphodynamic controls on the performance of dune-based coastal flood mitigation under sea-level rise Morphodynamic controls on the performance of dune-based coastal flood mitigation under sea-level rise
Dune-based adaptation is increasingly used as a nature-based solution for coastal flood mitigation, yet many assessments rely on hydrodynamic-only approaches that treat beach and dune morphology as static, neglecting storm-driven erosion that can degrade dune performance during extreme events. This study develops a process-based modeling framework coupling extreme value analysis of...
Authors
Zhengtong Yang, Natalia Herran, David Gutierrez-Barcelo, Li Erikson, Sean Vitousek, Borja Reguero