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Publications

Browse more than 160,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS.  Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.

Filter Total Items: 175538

Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing of hydrologic processes—Diverse deployments and new applications by the U.S. Geological Survey Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing of hydrologic processes—Diverse deployments and new applications by the U.S. Geological Survey

Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing instruments harness the temperature-dependent properties of glass to measure temperature continuously along optical fibers by using precise pulses of laser light. In the mid-2000s, this technology was refined for environmental monitoring purposes such as snowpack-air exchange, groundwater/surface-water exchange, and lake-water stratification...
Authors
Martin A. Briggs, David M. Rey, Chad C. Opatz, Neil C. Terry, Connor P. Newman, Lance R. Gruhn, Carole D. Johnson

Assessing earthquake risks to lifeline infrastructure systems in the United States Assessing earthquake risks to lifeline infrastructure systems in the United States

The security and economic stability of the United States rely heavily on robust lifeline infrastructure systems and yet the risks to such systems are seldom quantified at the national scale. For example, while earthquake risks to buildings in the United States have been investigated at the national scale regularly, such risks to gas pipelines have rarely been investigated nationally. In...
Authors
N. Simon Kwong, Kishor S. Jaiswal

The importance of sampling design for unbiased estimation of survival using joint live-recapture and live resight models The importance of sampling design for unbiased estimation of survival using joint live-recapture and live resight models

Survival is a key life history parameter that can inform management decisions and basic life history research. Because true survival is often confounded with emigration from the study area, many studies are forced to estimate apparent survival (i.e., probability of surviving and remaining inside the study area), which can be much lower than true survival for highly mobile species. One...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, William L. Kendall

Planting seeds for thriving data management Planting seeds for thriving data management

The volumes and varieties of data coming from all types of scientific instrumentation around the globe and beyond are rapidly growing. To reuse and capitalize on these data effectively, scientists must be able to share and access them efficiently, which requires the data to be well managed. Many scientists intuit that research data management (RDM) done well does not mean using dusty USB...
Authors
Abigail Benson, Stace Beaulieu, Bradley Wade Bishop, Stephen C. Diggs, Stephen Killfoile Formel

Bayesian calibration of the 40K decay scheme with implications for 40K-based geochronology Bayesian calibration of the 40K decay scheme with implications for 40K-based geochronology

The K/Ar and 40Ar/39Ar geochronometers are based on the naturally occurring radionuclide 40K. Their precision and accuracy are limited by uncertainties on the 40K decay constants and, in the case of the 40Ar/39Ar geochronometer, the isotopic composition of neutron fluence monitors. To address these limitations, we introduce a Bayesian calibration of the 40K decay scheme. We formulate...
Authors
Jack N. Carter, Caroline Hasler, Anthony Fuentes, Andrew Tholt, Leah E. Morgan, Paul R. Renne

An enhanced national-scale urban tree canopy cover dataset for the United States An enhanced national-scale urban tree canopy cover dataset for the United States

Moderate-resolution (30-m) national map products have limited capacity to represent fine-scale, heterogeneous urban forms and processes, yet improvements from incorporating higher resolution predictor data remain rare. In this study, we applied random forest models to high-resolution land cover data for 71 U.S. urban areas, moderate-resolution National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Tree...
Authors
Lucila Marie Corro, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Mehdi Heris, Peter Christian Ibsen, Karen Schleeweis, James E. Diffendorfer, Austin Troy, Kevin Megown, Jarlath P.M. O'Neil-Dunne

Properties of solid bitumen formed during hydrous, anhydrous, and brine pyrolysis of oil shale: Implications for solid bitumen reflectance in source-rock reservoirs Properties of solid bitumen formed during hydrous, anhydrous, and brine pyrolysis of oil shale: Implications for solid bitumen reflectance in source-rock reservoirs

Solid bitumen reflectance (BRo in %) is widely used as a thermal maturity proxy in source-rock reservoirs, yet solid bitumen texture and physical attributes may be affected by varying environmental constraints during its formation, e.g., water saturation, mineral catalysis, or salinity. Herein we investigated the development of solid bitumen properties during artificial maturation using...
Authors
Paul C. Hackley, Justin E. Birdwell, Ryan J. McAleer

Ranking river basins for stream temperature research and monitoring in the contiguous United States Ranking river basins for stream temperature research and monitoring in the contiguous United States

There is a need to prioritize research and data collection in river basins by integrating information from environmental, ecological, and socioeconomic datasets to maintain acceptable water quality for human uses and ecosystem health. Multiple anthropogenic and natural stressors are responsible for driving changes in stream temperatures that can alter ecosystems and degrade water quality...
Authors
Ramon C. Naranjo, Zachary Johnson, Lisa Lucas, Nancy T. Baker, Christopher Green

Optimizing per vessel hour capture efficiency for rare, heterogeneously distributed fishes: Invasive grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the Sandusky River Optimizing per vessel hour capture efficiency for rare, heterogeneously distributed fishes: Invasive grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the Sandusky River

Natural resources management is often concerned with conserving rare-native or controlling rare-invasive fishes. Informing and assessing conservation and control efforts frequently requires information from captures. When little is understood about spatial and temporal fish distributions, captures can be infrequent and costly. If successful management depends on effective management...
Authors
Robert Daniel Hunter, Song S. Qian, Jason L. Fischer, Ryan Brown, Lucas Nathan, John M. Dettmers, James Roberts, Corbin David Hilling, Matthew Ross Acre, Robert L. Mapes, Ryan Young, Christine M. Mayer

New paleomagnetic constraints on the eruption timing, stratigraphy, and post-emplacement deformation of the Picture Gorge Basalt within the Columbia River Basalt Group New paleomagnetic constraints on the eruption timing, stratigraphy, and post-emplacement deformation of the Picture Gorge Basalt within the Columbia River Basalt Group

The Picture Gorge Basalt (PGB) is part of the Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG). The PGB, which outcrops in eastern Oregon, is considered coincident in time with the voluminous Grande Ronde Basalt. New radiometric ages have expanded the age‐range of the PGB, suggesting it began erupting prior to the Steens Basalt to its south and continued until after cessation of the Grande...
Authors
Anthony Francis Pivarunas, Margaret Susan Avery, Jonathan T. Hagstrum, Scott E.K. Bennett, Andrew T. Calvert

Predicting invasiveness of freshwater fishes imported into North America: Regional differences in models and outcomes Predicting invasiveness of freshwater fishes imported into North America: Regional differences in models and outcomes

Biological invasions driven by international trade heighten the urgency for development of invasion risk models, as the traits and parameters that consistently predict successful invasion remain unresolved. For four regions of North America that include parts of the United States and Canada (Sacramento-San Joaquin River Basins, Lower Colorado River Basin, Great Lakes Region, Mid-Atlantic...
Authors
Jennifer G. Howeth, Sarah A. Amjad, Crysta A. Gantz, Nicholas E. Mandrak, Paul L. Angermeier, Michael P. Marchetti, Julian D. Olden, David M. Lodge
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