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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Shallow fault slip of the 2020 M5.1 Sparta, North Carolina, earthquake Shallow fault slip of the 2020 M5.1 Sparta, North Carolina, earthquake
The 2020 M 5.1 Sparta, North Carolina, earthquake is the largest in the eastern United States since the 2011 M 5.8 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake and produced a ∼2.5‐km‐long surface rupture, unusual for an event of this magnitude. A geological field study conducted soon after the event indicates oblique slip along a east‐southeast‐trending fault with a consistently observed thrust...
Authors
Frederick Pollitz
Pardus in the press: Drivers of leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) attack occurrence on humans in Nepal Pardus in the press: Drivers of leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) attack occurrence on humans in Nepal
The negative impact of large carnivore presence in human-dominated landscapes manifests as livestock depredation and in extreme cases as attacks on humans. In the case of conflict with leopards in Nepal, attacks resulting in human fatality have become more frequent over time, thus creating an urgent socio-ecological and management issue.We estimated the occurrence of leopard attacks in...
Authors
Shashank Poudel, Joshua P. Twining, Richard C. Stedman, Shravan Kumar Ghimire, Angela K. Fuller
ENSO and NAO linkages to interannual salinity variability in north central Gulf of Mexico estuaries through teleconnections with precipitation ENSO and NAO linkages to interannual salinity variability in north central Gulf of Mexico estuaries through teleconnections with precipitation
Though the importance of Earth's internal climate modes such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) to regional-scale climate variability is well recognized, the degree to which these oscillations are reflected by spatio-temporal salinity variability over interannual timescales in estuaries is less understood. Here an 11-year continuous...
Authors
Gregg Snedden
A reference genome assembly for the continentally distributed ring-necked snake, Diadophis punctatus A reference genome assembly for the continentally distributed ring-necked snake, Diadophis punctatus
Snakes in the family Colubridae include more than 2,000 currently recognized species, and comprise roughly 75% of the global snake species diversity on Earth. For such a spectacular radiation, colubrid snakes remain poorly understood ecologically and genetically. Two subfamilies, Colubrinae (788 species) and Dipsadinae (833 species), comprise the bulk of colubrid species richness...
Authors
Erin P. Westeen, Merly Escalona, Eric Beraut, Mohan P. A. Marimuthu, Oanh Nguyen, Robert N. Fisher, Erin Toffelmier, H. Bradley Shaffer, Ian J. Wang
a-positive: A robust estimator of the earthquake rate in incomplete or saturated catalogs a-positive: A robust estimator of the earthquake rate in incomplete or saturated catalogs
Detection thresholds in earthquake catalogs frequently change in time due to station coverage improvements and network saturation effects during active periods such as mainshock-aftershock cascades. This presents a challenge to seismicity-rate estimation; there is a tradeoff between using as low a minimum magnitude as possible to maximize data while not undercounting the rate due to...
Authors
Nicholas van der Elst, Morgan T. Page
Structured decision making remains underused in ecological restoration despite opportunities Structured decision making remains underused in ecological restoration despite opportunities
Ecological restoration is considered an essential activity as we attempt to repair anthropogenic degradation. Yet, resources are limited and it is important that efforts focus on activities that are effective and yield successful restoration. Structured decision making (SDM) is an organized framework that is designed to incorporate differing values across stakeholders and evaluate...
Authors
Morgan L. Piczak, Jessica A. Robichaud, Peter Morrison, Andrew M. Rous, Ingeborg M. Mulder, Cassandra J. Hill, Tanya S. Prystay, Hanna Rosner-Katz, Kelly Filer Robinson, Joseph R. Bennett, Steven J. Cooke
Summary of the history and research of the U.S. Geological Survey gas hydrate properties laboratory in Menlo Park, California, active from 1993 to 2022 Summary of the history and research of the U.S. Geological Survey gas hydrate properties laboratory in Menlo Park, California, active from 1993 to 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Clathrate Hydrate Properties Project, active from 1993 to 2022 in Menlo Park, California, stemmed from an earlier project on the properties of planetary ices supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program. We took a material science approach in both projects, emphasizing chemical purity...
Authors
Laura A. Stern, Stephen H. Kirby
Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene
The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence-based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Staci M. Amburgey, Brian Gratwicke, Victor Acosta Chaves, Anat M. Belasen, David Bickford, Carsten Bruhl, Natalie E. Calatayud, Nick Clemann, Simon Clulow, Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailovic, Jeff Dawson, David A. De Angelis, C. Kenneth Dodd, Annette Evans, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Mattia Falaschi, Sergio Gonzalez-Mollinedo, David M. Green, Roseanna Gamlen-Greene, Richard A. Griffiths, Brian J. Halstead, Craig Hassapakis, Geoffrey Heard, Catharina Karlsson, Tom Kirschey, Blake Klocke, Tiffany A. Kosch, Sophia Kusterko Novaes, Luke Linhoff, John C. Maerz, Brittany A. Mosher, Katherine M. O'Donnell, Leticia M. Ochoa-Ochoa, Deanna H. Olson, Kristiina Ovaska, J. Dale Roberts, Aimee J. Silla, Tariq Stark, Jeanne Tarrant, R. Upton, Judit Voros, Erin L. Muths
Polar bear's range dynamics and survival in the Holocene Polar bear's range dynamics and survival in the Holocene
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the apex predator of the Arctic, largely dependent on sea-ice. The expected disappearance of the ice cover of the Arctic seas by the mid 21st century is predicted to cause a dramatic decrease in the global range and population size of the species. To place this scenario against the backdrop of past distribution changes and their causes, we use a fossil...
Authors
Heikki Seppa, Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz, Beth Elaine Caissie, Marc Macias Fauria
Local topography and streambed hydraulic conductivity influence riparian groundwater age and groundwater-surface water connection Local topography and streambed hydraulic conductivity influence riparian groundwater age and groundwater-surface water connection
The western U.S. is experiencing increasing rain to snow ratios due to climate change, and scientists are uncertain how changing recharge patterns will affect future groundwater-surface water connection. We examined how watershed topography and streambed hydraulic conductivity impact groundwater age and stream discharge at eight sites along a headwater stream within the Manitou...
Authors
Sara R. Warix, Alexis Navarre-Sitchler, Andrew H. Manning, Kamini Singha
Testosterone identifies hatchling sex for Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) Testosterone identifies hatchling sex for Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii)
The threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination, and individuals appear externally sexually monomorphic until sexual maturity. A non-surgical sex identification method that is suitable for a single in situ encounter with hatchlings is essential for minimizing handling of wild animals. We tested (1) whether plasma testosterone...
Authors
M. A. Walden, Kevin J. Loope, Elizabeth Ann Hunter, Stephen J. Divers, Jessica R. Comolli, Todd Esque, Kevin T. Shoemaker
Development of a volcanic risk management system at Mount St. Helens—1980 to present Development of a volcanic risk management system at Mount St. Helens—1980 to present
Here, we review volcanic risk management at Mount St. Helens from the perspective of the US Geological Survey’s (USGS) experience over the four decades since its 18 May 1980 climactic eruption. Prior to 1980, volcano monitoring, multidisciplinary eruption forecasting, and interagency coordination for eruption response were new to the Cascade Range. A Mount St. Helens volcano hazards...
Authors
Heather M. Wright, Carolyn L. Mastin, John S. Pallister, Christopher G. Newhall, Michael A. Clynne, John W. Ewert