Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Book Chapters

Browse more than 5,500 book chapters authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.

Filter Total Items: 6197

Floods of water and lava in the Columbia River Basin: Analogs for Mars Floods of water and lava in the Columbia River Basin: Analogs for Mars

The Columbia River Basin (CRB) is home to the best studied examples of two of the most spectacular geologic processes on Earth and Mars: flood volcanism and catastrophic water floods. Additionally, features formed by a variety of eolian, glacial, tectonic, and mass-wasting processes can also be seen in the CRB. These terrains provide exceptional terrestrial analogs for the study of...
Authors
Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Victor R. Baker, Windy L. Jaeger, David R. Gaylord, Bruce Bjornstad, Noam Greenbaum, Stephen Self, Thorvaldur Thordarson, Naomi Porat, Marek G. Zreda

The Evolution of analytical technology and its impact on water-quality studies for selected herbicides and their degradation products in water The Evolution of analytical technology and its impact on water-quality studies for selected herbicides and their degradation products in water

This chapter aims to describe advances in analytical instrumentation and methods for the analyses of herbicides and their degradation products and to assess their impact on major findings of broad surveys of herbicides in water conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) over the last two decades. Standards for water purity have been set and continually revised by governments as new...
Authors
Michael T. Meyer, Elisabeth A. Scribner

Inorganic chemical composition and chemical reactivity of settled dust generated by the World Trade Center building collapse Inorganic chemical composition and chemical reactivity of settled dust generated by the World Trade Center building collapse

Samples of dust deposited around lower Manhattan by the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center (WTC) collapse have inorganic chemical compositions that result in part from the variable chemical contributions of concrete, gypsum wallboard, glass fibers, window glass, and other materials contained in the buildings. The dust deposits were also modified chemically by variable interactions...
Authors
Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Philip L. Hageman, Paul J. Lamothe, Thomas L. Ziegler, Gregory P. Meeker, Peter M. Theodorakos, Isabelle Brownfield, Monique G. Adams, Gregg A. Swayze, Todd M. Hoefen, Joseph E. Taggart, Roger N. Clark, S. Wilson, Stephen J. Sutley

Materials characterization of dusts generated by the collapse of the World Trade Center Materials characterization of dusts generated by the collapse of the World Trade Center

The major inorganic components of the dusts generated from the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings on September 11, 2001 were concrete materials, gypsum, and man-made vitreous fibers. These components were likely derived from lightweight Portland cement concrete floors, gypsum wallboard, and spray-on fireproofing and ceiling tiles, respectively. All of the 36 samples collected...
Authors
Gregory P. Meeker, Stephen J. Sutley, Isabelle Brownfield, Heather Lowers, Amy M. Bern, Gregg A. Swayze, Todd M. Hoefen, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Roger N. Clark, Carol A. Gent

Environmental mapping of the World Trade Center area with imaging spectroscopy after the September 11, 2001 attack Environmental mapping of the World Trade Center area with imaging spectroscopy after the September 11, 2001 attack

The Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) was flown over the World Trade Center area on September 16, 18, 22, and 23, 2001. The data were used to map the WTC debris plume and its contents, including the spectral signatures of asbestiform minerals. Samples were collected and used as ground truth for the AVARIS mapping. A number of thermal hot spots were observed with...
Authors
Roger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, Todd M. Hoefen, Robert O. Green, Keith E. Livo, Gregory P. Meeker, Stephen J. Sutley, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Betina Pavri, Charles M. Sarture, Joe Boardman, Isabelle Brownfield, Laurie C. Morath

Radionuclides as tracers and timers in surface and groundwater Radionuclides as tracers and timers in surface and groundwater

Environmental radionuclides—in combination with stable isotopes, geochemistry, and other hydrological techniques—provide a powerful tool, often indispensable, for studying the cycling of water in continental hydrological systems. The use of environmental radionuclides in surface water studies is reviewed in the chapter. The chapter also briefly discusses groundwater and geothermal water...
Authors
Robert L. Michel

Polaris Polaris

No abstract available.
Authors
James F. Howle

Extraterrestrial GIS Extraterrestrial GIS

No abstract available.
Authors
Trent M. Hare, Randolph L. Kirk, James A. Skinner, Kenneth L. Tanaka

18. Arctostaphylos Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 165. 1763. 18. Arctostaphylos Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 165. 1763.

Arctostaphylos is richly diverse and taxonomically challenging. Unequivocal fossils appear as far back as the middle Miocene. Many pulses of diversification and decimation may have taken place in the genus since then; evidence suggests that there has been a rapid radiation in the last 1.5 million years. Some morphological features are not clearly differentiated among taxa and appear to...
Authors
V. Thomas Parker, Michael C. Vasey, Jon E. Keeley

A field guide to Newberry Volcano, Oregon A field guide to Newberry Volcano, Oregon

Newberry Volcano is located in central Oregon at the intersection of the Cascade Range and the High Lava Plains. Its lavas range in age from ca. 0.5 Ma to late Holocene. Erupted products range in composition from basalt through rhyolite and cover ~3000 km2. The most recent caldera-forming eruption occurred ~80,000 years ago. This trip will highlight a revised understanding of the volcano...
Authors
Robert A. Jenson, Julie M. Donnelly-Nolan, Daniele McKay

A history of irrigated areas of the world A history of irrigated areas of the world

No abstract available.
Authors
Prasad S. Thenkabail, Xueliang L. Cai, Y.J. Li, Chandrashekhar M. Biradar, Praveen Noojipady, Venkateswarlu Dheeravath, Manohar Velpuri, Obi Reddy P. Gangalakunta
Was this page helpful?