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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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First principles calibration of 40Ar abundances in 40Ar/39Ar mineral neutron fluence monitors: Methodology and preliminary results First principles calibration of 40Ar abundances in 40Ar/39Ar mineral neutron fluence monitors: Methodology and preliminary results
The accuracy and traceability of geochronometers are of vital importance to questions asked by many Earth scientists. The widely applied 40Ar/39Ar geochronometer relies on the co-irradiation of samples with neutron fluence monitors (reference materials) of known ages; the ages and uncertainties of these monitors are critical to our ability to apply this chronometer. Previously, first...
Authors
Leah E. Morgan, Brett Davidheiser-Kroll, Klaudia F. Kuiper, Darren F. Mark, Noah M. McLean, Jan Wijbrans
Dynamic estimates of geologic CO2 storage resources in the Illinois Basin constrained by reinjectivity of brine extracted for pressure management Dynamic estimates of geologic CO2 storage resources in the Illinois Basin constrained by reinjectivity of brine extracted for pressure management
Geologic carbon storage (GCS) is likely to be an important part of global efforts to decarbonize the energy industry. Widespread deployment of GCS relies on strategies to maximize CO2 injection rates while minimizing reservoir pressurization that could induce seismicity and/or fluid leakage into groundwater resources. Brine extraction from CO2 storage formations with subsurface...
Authors
Michelle R. Plampin, Steven T. Anderson, Steven M. Cahan, Stefan Finsterle
Growth portfolios buffer climate-linked environmental change in marine systems Growth portfolios buffer climate-linked environmental change in marine systems
Large-scale, climate-induced synchrony in the productivity of fish populations is becoming more pronounced in the world's oceans. As synchrony increases, a population's “portfolio” of responses can be diminished, in turn reducing its resilience to strong perturbation. Here we argue that the costs and benefits of trait synchronization, such as the expression of growth rate, are context...
Authors
Steven Campana, Szymon Smolinski, Bryan Black, John Morrongiello, Sella Alexandroff, Carin Andersson, Bjarte Bogstad, Paul Butler, Come Denechaud, David C Frank, Audrey Geffen, Jane Aanestad, Peter Gronkjaer, Einar Hjorleifsson, Ingibjorg G. Jonsdottir, Mark Meekan, Madelyn Jean Mette, Susanne E. Tanner, Peter van der Sleen, Gotje von Leesen
A size-based stock assessment model for invasive blue catfish in a Chesapeake Bay sub-estuary during 2001–2016 A size-based stock assessment model for invasive blue catfish in a Chesapeake Bay sub-estuary during 2001–2016
Stock assessment modeling provides a means to estimate the population dynamics of invasive fishes and may do so despite data limitations. Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) were introduced to the Chesapeake Bay watershed to support recreational fisheries but also consume species of conservation need and economic importance. To assess management tradeoffs, managers need to understand the...
Authors
Corbin David Hilling, Yan Jiao, Mary C. Fabrizio, Paul L. Angermeier, Aaron J. Bunch, Donald J. Orth
Stream corridor and upland sources of fluvial sediment and phosphorus from a mixed urban-agricultural tributary to the Great Lakes Stream corridor and upland sources of fluvial sediment and phosphorus from a mixed urban-agricultural tributary to the Great Lakes
Like many impaired Great Lakes tributaries, Apple Creek, Wisconsin (119 km2) has Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) targets for reducing suspended sediment and total phosphorus by 51.2 % and 64.2 %, respectively. From August 2017 - October 2018, a stream sediment budget and fingerprinting integrated study was conducted to quantify upland and stream corridor sources of suspended sediment and...
Authors
James D. Blount, Leah Kammel, Faith Fitzpatrick
Effects of mass capture on survival of greater white-fronted geese in Alaska Effects of mass capture on survival of greater white-fronted geese in Alaska
Mass capture of flightless geese during the summer is a common trapping technique to obtain large numbers of individuals for research and marking, but few studies have assessed the impacts of this method on the survival of after-hatch-year geese. We evaluated the effects of holding time and captured flock size on the survival of >26,000 subadult (second yr) and adult (≥third yr) greater...
Authors
Josh Dooley, Joel Schmutz, Julian B. Fischer, Dennis Marks
Longman's Beaked Whale (Indopacetus pacificus) in Fiji Longman's Beaked Whale (Indopacetus pacificus) in Fiji
Beaked whales (Ziphidae) are the second largest family of cetaceans with 23 currently recognized species, and the Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) is one of the least known globally (Reeves et al., 2003; Yamada et al., 2019). Longman's beaked whales occur in tropical waters from the western Indian Ocean to the eastern Pacific (Jefferson et al., 2015), with strandings in the...
Authors
Sam R Fisher, Steve Anstey, Isikeli Nasaunivalu, Robert N. Fisher
Small-scale variation in trap placement affects arthropod capture rates on sticky traps in riparian woodlands Small-scale variation in trap placement affects arthropod capture rates on sticky traps in riparian woodlands
Arthropods are important prey for many avian taxa, particularly during the breeding season. Many studies have used sticky traps to estimate relative abundance of arthropods as avian prey, but we know little about the potential biases associated with sticky traps. We evaluated the effect of small-scale variation in trap placement on the biomass of arthropods caught on sticky traps in six...
Authors
Dominic D. LaRoche, Chris Kirkpatrick, Courtney J. Conway
Nitrogen isotopes indicate vehicle emissions and biomass burning dominate ambient ammonia across Colorado's Front Range urban corridor Nitrogen isotopes indicate vehicle emissions and biomass burning dominate ambient ammonia across Colorado's Front Range urban corridor
Urban ammonia (NH3) emissions contribute to poor local air quality and can be transported to rural landscapes, impacting sensitive ecosystems. The Colorado Front Range urban corridor encompasses the Denver Metropolitan Area, rural farmland/rangeland and montane forest between the city and the Rocky Mountains. Reactive nitrogen emissions from the corridor are partly responsible for...
Authors
J. David Felix, Alexander Berner, Gregory A. Wetherbee, Sheila F. Murphy, Ruth C. Heindel
Pyroclastic deposits of Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley, California, USA: Ballistics, pyroclastic surges, and dry granular flows Pyroclastic deposits of Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley, California, USA: Ballistics, pyroclastic surges, and dry granular flows
We describe and interpret deposits associated with the final Ubehebe Crater-forming, phreatomagmatic explosive phase of the multivent, monogenetic Ubehebe volcanic center. Ubehebe volcano is located in Death Valley, California, USA. Pyroclastic deposits occur in four main facies: (1) lapilli- and blockdominated beds, (2) thinly bedded lapilli tuff, (3) laminated and cross-laminated ash...
Authors
Gregory Valentine, Judith E. Fierstein, James D L White
Climatic influence on the expression of strike-slip faulting Climatic influence on the expression of strike-slip faulting
Earthquakes on strike-slip faults are preserved in the geomorphic record by offset landforms that span a range of displacements, from small offsets created in the most recent earthquake (MRE) to large offsets that record cumulative slip from multiple prior events. An exponential decay in the number of large cumulative offsets has been observed on many faults, and a leading hypothesis is...
Authors
Nadine G. Reitman, Yann Klinger, Richard W. Briggs, Ryan D. Gold
Rock alteration mapping in and around fossil shallow intrusions at Mt. Ruapehu New Zealand with laboratory and aerial hyperspectral imaging Rock alteration mapping in and around fossil shallow intrusions at Mt. Ruapehu New Zealand with laboratory and aerial hyperspectral imaging
Diagnostic absorption features in hyperspectral data can be used to identify a specific mineral or mineral associations. However, it is unknown how accurate hyperspectral mapping can be for identifying alteration mineral compositions at the resolution required to describe structures such as fossil intrusions, or whether it can accurately quantify the alteration present. This study...
Authors
Abbey Douglas, Gabor Kereszturi, Lauren N. Schaefer, Ben M. Kennedy