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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The dynamic influence of subsurface geological processes on the assembly and diversification of thermophilic microbial communities in continental hydrothermal systems The dynamic influence of subsurface geological processes on the assembly and diversification of thermophilic microbial communities in continental hydrothermal systems
An accepted paradigm of hydrothermal systems is the process of phase separation, or boiling, of a deep, homogeneous hydrothermal fluid as it ascends through the subsurface resulting in gas rich and gas poor fluids. While phase separation helps to explain first-order patterns in the chemistry and biology of a hot spring’s surficial expression, we know little about the subsurface...
Authors
Kenneth W.W. Sims, Cole M. Messa, Sean R Scott, Andrew D Parsekian, Andrew Miller, Abraham L. Role, Timothy P. Moloney, Everett L. Shock, Jacob B. Lowenstern, R. Blaine McCleskey, Matthew A. Charette, Bradley Carr, Sylvain Pasquet, Henry Heasler, Cheryl Jaworowski, W. Steven Holbrook, Melody R. Lindsay, Daniel R. Colman, Eric S. Boyd
Incremental evolution of modeling a prognosis for polar bears in a rapidly changing Arctic Incremental evolution of modeling a prognosis for polar bears in a rapidly changing Arctic
Updating predictions of the response of high-profile, at-risk species to climate change and anthropogenic stressors is vital for informing effective conservation action. Here, we review two prior generations of Bayesian network probability models predicting changes in global polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population status, and provide a contemporary update based on recent research...
Authors
Bruce G. Marcot, Todd C. Atwood, David C. Douglas, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Anthony M. Pagano, Steven C. Amstrup
Leveraging machine learning to automate regression model evaluations for large multi-site water-quality trend studies Leveraging machine learning to automate regression model evaluations for large multi-site water-quality trend studies
Large multi-site trend studies provide an opportunity to evaluate progress of waterbodies towards water-quality goals across broad geographic areas. Such studies often aggregate the results of site-specific models and thus contend with evaluating each model for appropriate fit and statistical assumptions. We explored the use of four traditional machine learning models (logistic...
Authors
Jennifer C. Murphy, Jeffrey G. Chanat
Critical minerals for a carbon-neutral future Critical minerals for a carbon-neutral future
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative is filling data gaps and fostering more holistic understanding of critical mineral resources in the United States using a novel mineral systems framework.
Authors
Douglas C. Kreiner, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Warren C. Day
Networks of tree-ring based streamflow reconstructions for the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A Networks of tree-ring based streamflow reconstructions for the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A
Water resources in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are characterized by significant interannual to interdecadal variation. Paleo-proxy reconstructions such as those derived from tree-rings provide longer-term context and supplement information on this expected range of variability, which can improve planning, management, and response related to extreme events and hydrologic change. However...
Authors
Jeremy S. Littell, Gregory T. Pederson, Justin T. Martin, Stephen T. Gray
Broad-scale assessment of methylmercury in adult amphibians Broad-scale assessment of methylmercury in adult amphibians
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic contaminant that has been mobilized and distributed worldwide and is a threat to many wildlife species. Amphibians are facing unprecedented global declines due to many threats including contaminants. While the biphasic life history of many amphibians creates a potential nexus for methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in aquatic habitats and subsequent health effects, the...
Authors
Brian J. Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, Brian J. Halstead, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Michael J. Adams, Adam R. Backlin, Adrianne Brand, Colleen Emery, Robert N. Fisher, Jillian Elizabeth Fleming, Brad Glorioso, Daniel A. Grear, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, David Miller, Erin L. Muths, Christopher Pearl, Jennifer Rowe, Caitlin Teresa Rumrill, J. Hardin Waddle, Megan Winzeler, Kelly L. Smalling
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Beyond conductive targets: Characterizing lithium-prospective lacustrine evaporite mineral systems of North America’s Basin and Range Province with regional-scale AEM Beyond conductive targets: Characterizing lithium-prospective lacustrine evaporite mineral systems of North America’s Basin and Range Province with regional-scale AEM
The Basin and Range province of North America hosts substantial lacustrine evaporite mineral systems prospective for lithium, a critical mineral currently listed for mineral resource assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey. Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys are being conducted to support these assessments by identifying shallow clays and brines, as well as through improving the...
Authors
Lyndsay B. Ball, Paul A. Bedrosian, Chloe Danielle Gustafson
Quantifying salinity in the layered coastal aquifers underlying and adjacent to Delaware Bay USA using AEM-derived resistivity Quantifying salinity in the layered coastal aquifers underlying and adjacent to Delaware Bay USA using AEM-derived resistivity
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) methods are particularly well suited to coastal aquifer salinity studies, yet the quantitative translation from bulk resistivity to fluid salinity carries uncertainty that can impact mapped salinity distributions and interpretations of the freshwater-saline interface and hydrostratigraphic layers. A recent AEM survey of the region near the Delaware Bay, USA
Authors
Lyndsay B. Ball, Burke J. Minsley, Gavin Scott Wilson, Holly A. Michael, Douglas A. Burns, Mark R. Nardi, Emmanuel G. Charles
Stream hydrology and a pulse subsidy shape patterns of fish foraging Stream hydrology and a pulse subsidy shape patterns of fish foraging
Pulsed subsidy events create ephemeral fluxes of hyper-abundant resources that can shape annual patterns of consumption and growth for recipient consumers. However, environmental conditions strongly affect local resource availability for much of the year, and can heavily impact consumer foraging and growth patterns prior to pulsed subsidy events. Thus, a consumer's capacity to exploit...
Authors
Kevin Fitzgerald, J. Ryan Bellmore, Jason B. Fellman, Matthew L. H. Cheng, Claire Delbecq, Jeffrey A. Falke
System-scale airborne electromagnetic surveys in the lower Mississippi River Valley support multidisciplinary applications System-scale airborne electromagnetic surveys in the lower Mississippi River Valley support multidisciplinary applications
The lower Mississippi River Valley spans over 200,000 square kilometres in parts of seven states, encompassing areas of critical groundwater supplies, natural hazards, infrastructure, and low-lying coastal regions. From 2018 - 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey acquired over 82,000 line-kilometres of airborne electromagnetic, radiometric, and magnetic data over this region to provide...
Authors
Burke J. Minsley, Ryan F. Adams, William H. Asquith, Bethany L. Burton, Bennett Eugene Hoogenboom, Stephanie R. James, Courtney D. Killian, Katherine J. Knierim, Wade H. Kress, Maxwell A. Lindaman, Andrew T. Leaf, James R. Rigby, Jonathan P. Traylor
Dating the penultimate great earthquake in south-central Alaska using tree-ring crossdating and radiocarbon wiggle-matching Dating the penultimate great earthquake in south-central Alaska using tree-ring crossdating and radiocarbon wiggle-matching
A forest bed of tree stumps currently in the intertidal zone at Girdwood, south-central Alaska, records coseismic submergence during the penultimate great earthquake. Tree-ring samples from ten spruce stumps were crossdated to develop a 149-year-long ring-width chronology. Radiocarbon wiggle-matching found that single-ring ages from the chronology were offset 28 ± 7 years older than the...
Authors
David J Barclay, Peter J. Haeussler, Robert C. Witter
Relationship between explosive and effusive volcanism in the Montes Apenninus region of the Moon Relationship between explosive and effusive volcanism in the Montes Apenninus region of the Moon
Lunar Pyroclastic Deposits (LPDs) are sites of explosive volcanism and often occur in areas of effusive volcanism on the Moon. On Earth, it has been observed that most volcanism has both effusive and explosive phases, whereas on the Moon, these two types of volcanism have typically been considered separately. We hypothesize that the relationship between explosive and effusive volcanism...
Authors
Lori M. Pigue, Kristen A. Bennett, Briony H.N. Horgan, Lisa Gaddis