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.
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Mission Area Publications
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3D Elevation Program—West Virginia 3D Elevation Program—West Virginia
Using 3D Elevation Program data, a modern illustration of each State's landscape showcases its elevation differences in vivid detail. Each State has been consistently adjusted and colorized according to its highest and lowest elevations, accentuating differences even in States with low relief. To further emphasize landforms, shaded relief has been added on top of the elevation colors.
Authors
Alexander B. Jonesi, Cindy A. Thatcher, Jason M. Stoker
3D Elevation Program—Wisconsin 3D Elevation Program—Wisconsin
Using 3D Elevation Program data, a modern illustration of each State's landscape showcases its elevation differences in vivid detail. Each State has been consistently adjusted and colorized according to its highest and lowest elevations, accentuating differences even in States with low relief. To further emphasize landforms, shaded relief has been added on top of the elevation colors.
Authors
Alexander B. Jonesi, Cindy A. Thatcher, Jason M. Stoker
3D Elevation Program—Wyoming 3D Elevation Program—Wyoming
Using 3D Elevation Program data, a modern illustration of each State's landscape showcases its elevation differences in vivid detail. Each State has been consistently adjusted and colorized according to its highest and lowest elevations, accentuating differences even in States with low relief. To further emphasize landforms, shaded relief has been added on top of the elevation colors.
Authors
Alexander B. Jonesi, Cindy A. Thatcher, Jason M. Stoker
Effects of rice idling on occupancy dynamics and survival of giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California, 2016–24 Effects of rice idling on occupancy dynamics and survival of giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California, 2016–24
The giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) is a semi-aquatic species of snake endemic to marshes and sloughs in the Central Valley of California. Because the Central Valley has lost a substantial amount of wetland habitat, giant gartersnake populations are typically found in aquatic habitats associated with rice (Oryza sativa) agriculture. Therefore, changes to the amount and location of...
Authors
Anna C. Jordan, Jonathan P. Rose, Elliot J. Schoenig, Daniel Macias, Giancarlo R. Napolitano, Gabriel A. Reyes, Brian J. Halstead
Creating 3D point clouds, digital elevation models, and orthomosaics from historical aerial imagery through structure from motion aided photogrammetry Creating 3D point clouds, digital elevation models, and orthomosaics from historical aerial imagery through structure from motion aided photogrammetry
Detailed and accurate historical data are crucial to characterizing landscape change, whether it is caused by natural phenomena or of anthropogenic origin. Aerial imagery has been periodically collected by government and nongovernment agencies, for a broad range of purposes, since the early 20th century. The acquisition of aerial images involves using standardized equipment with large...
Authors
Jessica D. DeWitt, Kathleen M. Boston, Sindhuja Sunder, Sandra Bond, Pete G. Chirico, Jennifer A. Curtis, Tom Nobles, Neffra Matthews
Modeled groundwater and surface-water interactions surrounding Mobile Bay, Alabama, 2008–15 Modeled groundwater and surface-water interactions surrounding Mobile Bay, Alabama, 2008–15
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, has used MODFLOW 6 to develop a groundwater-flow model to simulate groundwater and surface-water interactions in the Mobile Bay, Alabama, area. The model results indicated that, on average, groundwater discharge near the coastline is equal to 2.5 percent of the surface water that flows into the...
Authors
John G. Richins, Leslie L. Duncan, Kevin Befus
Decadal trends in the quality of groundwater used for public drinking-water supply in California, 2004–23, California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program, Priority Basin Project Decadal trends in the quality of groundwater used for public drinking-water supply in California, 2004–23, California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program, Priority Basin Project
This study provides a comprehensive assessment of decadal changes in the quality of groundwater used for public drinking-water supply at 444 monitoring sites across California during 2004–23. We assessed decadal step trends in groundwater quality for 145 water-quality constituents and geochemical indicators statewide and across geographic and land-use based network groups. We evaluated...
Authors
Zeno F. Levy, Andrew L. Soldavini
Global carbon investment in terrestrial biological nitrogen fixation Global carbon investment in terrestrial biological nitrogen fixation
Biological nitrogen (N) fixation (BNF) provides the N needed to produce proteins and other biological building blocks, helping feed humanity and mitigate climate change. Due to its high energetic cost compared to other forms of N acquisition, biotic investment in BNF indicates N limitation. Globally gridded BNF flux data provide an opportunity to determine the energetic investment in BNF...
Authors
Duncan N.L. Menge, Carla R. Reis Ely, Steven S. Perakis, Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, Cory C. Cleveland, Sasha C. Reed, Benton N. Taylor, Sarah A. Batterman, Timothy E. Crews, Katherine A. Dynarski, Jennifer L. Funk, Maga G. Gei, Kevin L. Griffin, Michael J. Gundale, David F. Herridge, Sarah E. Jovan, Mark B. Peoples, Johannes Piipponen, Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero, Verity G. Salmon, Fiona M. Soper, Anika P. Staccone, Bettina Weber, Amelia A. Wolf, Nina Wurzburger
Assessment of undiscovered shale-oil and shale-gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered shale-oil and shale-gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 2.4 billion barrels of shale oil and 65.4 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa.
Authors
Michael E. Brownfield, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Kristen R. Marra, Cheryl A. Woodall, Thomas M. Finn, Phuong A. Le, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Ronald M. Drake II, Scott A. Kinney
Assessment of undiscovered tight-gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, and Hamra Basins of northern Africa, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered tight-gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, and Hamra Basins of northern Africa, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 114.1 trillion cubic feet of tight gas in the Berkine, Illizi, and Hamra Basins of northern Africa.
Authors
Michael E. Brownfield, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Thomas M. Finn, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Ronald M. Drake, Scott A. Kinney
Lead exposure of snakes near recreational and military shooting areas in a sagebrush steppe ecosystem Lead exposure of snakes near recreational and military shooting areas in a sagebrush steppe ecosystem
Lead exposure has been documented in a multitude of bird and mammal species but less frequently in reptiles. Of the studies that have evaluated lead concentrations in reptiles, few have focused on snakes. We analyzed lead concentrations in liver and two types of bone from 24 gophersnakes (Pituophis catenifer; Pc) and 12 Great Basin rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus lutosus; Col) found dead...
Authors
Vincent A. Slabe, David S. Pilliod, Michelle I. Jeffries, Kristina Joan Parker, Megan Yrazabal, Christine D. Hayes, Patricia A. Ortiz, Todd E. Katzner
Constraining the permeability and outer-rise hydration at the Central America margin Constraining the permeability and outer-rise hydration at the Central America margin
Subduction zones are important drivers of Earth's geochemical evolution; the presence of water within the subduction system has substantial implications for geohazards, including the style of seismicity and the volume of magma generated at arc volcanoes. We utilize estimates of pore fluid distributions in the outer-rise region of the Central American margin imaged using controlled-source...
Authors
Daniel Douglas, Brad T. Aagaard, John Naliboff, Samer Naif