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Science Quality and Integrity
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
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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Disease, drought, and warming: A triple threat to a declining high-elevation amphibian Disease, drought, and warming: A triple threat to a declining high-elevation amphibian
Managing species in an uncertain future is a reality for natural resource decision makers. Climate change is expected to exacerbate threats such as habitat loss and disease, and cause phenological mismatches, but there is uncertainty in the magnitude of these effects. Amphibians are among the most threatened taxa on earth, and most species in North America are uniquely tied to water...
Authors
Amanda Marie Kissel, L. Mae Lacey, Viorel D. Popescu, Marissa A. Dyck, Larissa L. Bailey, Erin L. Muths
Global pegmatite-hosted lithium, cesium, and rubidium resources: A dataset for grade and tonnage modeling Global pegmatite-hosted lithium, cesium, and rubidium resources: A dataset for grade and tonnage modeling
Quantitative mineral resource assessments of potential undiscovered deposits can inform future mineral supply scenarios, but their accuracy is conditional on building robust grade and tonnage models of known deposits. This study presents an up-to-date global compilation and analysis of recently discovered and original, in-situ pegmatite-hosted Li, Cs, and Rb resources prior to historic...
Authors
Joshua Mark Rosera, Dalton M. McCaffrey, Niki E. Wintzer
Rapid earthquake magnitude classification via P-wave strains from borehole strainmeters and Distributed Acoustic Sensing Rapid earthquake magnitude classification via P-wave strains from borehole strainmeters and Distributed Acoustic Sensing
Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) offers a promising approach for earthquake early warning (EEW) in settings where seismic networks are costly to maintain. By repurposing fiber-optic cables as dense strainmeter arrays, DAS enables real-time earthquake detection wherever those fibers are accessible. However, poor azimuthal coverage and challenges in estimating magnitude from strain...
Authors
Theresa Marie Sawi, Jeffrey J. McGuire, Andrew J. Barbour, Clara Yoon, Martin Karrenbach, Connie Stewart
Debunking the myth of the quintessential resource manager: Precision in actionable science Debunking the myth of the quintessential resource manager: Precision in actionable science
“Actionable science” is a widely held standard for identifying the merits of natural resources research. Yet, science is often framed as actionable to a vaguely identified quintessential “manager” without defining either the intended manager or use. Generic descriptions lack precision for identifying end users or their needs, limiting methodological rigor in research design and leading...
Authors
Amanda E. Cravens, Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, Megan A. Moore, Richard Eugene Waggaman Berl, Nicholas W. Cole, Oronde Oliver Drakes, Diamond Victoria Ebanks, David C. Fulton, Megan Siobhan Jones, Dawn Marie Kotowicz, Michael C Mcinturff, James R. Meldrum, Kathryn Powlen, Aaron Daniel Russell, Stefan Gabriel Tangen, Emily J. Wilkins
Landslide volume estimation from seismic waveform features using a global catalog of seismogenic events Landslide volume estimation from seismic waveform features using a global catalog of seismogenic events
Seismic waves generated by large, rapid landslides encode information about the source and can be analyzed rapidly following an event. Even remote landslides can pose hazards to downstream communities, so rapid detection and characterization using existing seismic monitoring networks could be beneficial. In this study, we expand on past regionally limited work by presenting a globally...
Authors
Elaine A. Collins, Kate E. Allstadt, Liam Toney
Cajon Pass and the southern San Andreas Fault System: Earthquake cycle stress accumulation and present-day loading Cajon Pass and the southern San Andreas Fault System: Earthquake cycle stress accumulation and present-day loading
With over a century since the last major rupture affecting the wider Los Angeles region, tectonic stress has steadily built along the southern San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems, raising concerns of an imminent large earthquake. Cajon Pass, located at the junction of these faults, represents a critical site for potential through-going ruptures in Southern California. We...
Authors
Liliane Burkhard, Bridget Smith-Konter, Katherine M. Scharer, David Sandwell
Strengthening ties between the U.S. Geological Survey and Interstate Fisheries Commissions Strengthening ties between the U.S. Geological Survey and Interstate Fisheries Commissions
Fish inhabiting marine coastal and Great Lakes waters of the United States forage, migrate, and reproduce without regard to human-made boundaries. In the mid-20th century, the 32 states along the U.S. coasts and Great Lakes recognized the growing need for coordinated, interjurisdictional fisheries management and formed four interstate or international fisheries commissions through...
Authors
Joshua D. Miller, Michael William Schmidt, Thomas Joseph O'Connell, Kurt R. Newman, Danielle Kitchen, Robert Beal, Marc Gaden, Dave Donaldson, Barry Thom, Steve VanderKooy, Patrick Campfield, John M. Dettmers, Stan Allen, David H. Hu, Jennifer M. Bayer, Deborah Epperson, Rachel E. Reagan, Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Margaret Lamont, Russell M. Strach
Fifty years of riverine harmful algal bloom modeling: A global synthesis of approaches, challenges, and opportunities Fifty years of riverine harmful algal bloom modeling: A global synthesis of approaches, challenges, and opportunities
This systematic literature review critically examines 162 articles on harmful algal bloom (HAB) modeling in riverine systems to uncover persistent gaps, redefine critical challenges, and propose trackable opportunities to advance future modeling efforts. Articles largely focused on site-specific applications (93%) across more than 80 rivers worldwide. Most modeled systems were large...
Authors
Jennifer C. Murphy, Rebecca M. Gorney, Lisa V. Lucas, Jacob Aaron Zwart, Jennifer L. Graham
Long-term monitoring identifies increase in Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) abundance following fire management in a North Carolina grassland Long-term monitoring identifies increase in Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) abundance following fire management in a North Carolina grassland
Understanding population responses to environmental change is critical for assessing vulnerability, resilience, and habitat management needs. We assessed Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) abundance and breeding productivity in an isolated North Carolina grassland (1149 ha) that transitioned from unmanaged to fire-managed during 2011–2024. Fire management was initiated in 2016...
Authors
Emily A. Nastase, Nathan J. Hostetter, John P. Carpenter, Jamie A. Collazo
Predictions of anthropogenic background PFAS concentrations in soil and relation to bedrock lithology and groundwater quality Predictions of anthropogenic background PFAS concentrations in soil and relation to bedrock lithology and groundwater quality
Detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been observed in soils in remote areas and presumably originate from atmospheric deposition. These anthropogenic background concentrations may enable some PFAS to leach to groundwater at levels that exceed regulatory criteria for drinking water. However, anthropogenic background soil concentrations and their...
Authors
Andrea K. Tokranov, Leah M. Santangelo, Joseph D. Ayotte, Sydney M. Welch, Kate Emma A. Schlosser, Jeffrey M. Marts, Anthony F. Drouin, Harrison Roakes
Trends in subdaily to daily rainfall in Florida, 1990–2022 Trends in subdaily to daily rainfall in Florida, 1990–2022
Changing rainfall patterns and intensifying rainfall extremes affect urban infrastructure and can increase flash-flood risk. Understanding how climate change has altered rainfall can support state and local agencies as they adapt and build resiliency. In this study, rainfall data from 23 weather stations in Florida were used to examine temporal and spatial trends over the period 1990...
Authors
Saira Haider, Michelle M. Irizarry-Ortiz, Jayantha T. Obeysekera, Ana C. Maran, Tarana Solaiman, Brett D. Johnston
Mangrove microbiomes as drivers of ecosystem recovery and restoration success Mangrove microbiomes as drivers of ecosystem recovery and restoration success
The microbes found in the rhizosphere, roots, leaves and stem surfaces and within the internal tissues of mangrove vegetation and their environment constitute the microbiome of the ecosystem. The organisms in the microbiome include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds, which assist in maintaining and restoring mangrove ecosystems. This review explores the role of...
Authors
Elijah I. Ohimain, Robert Eugene Turner, Beth Middleton