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.
Mission Area Publications
Mission Area Publications
We are focused on some of the most significant issues society faces, and our science is making a substantial contribution to the well-being of the Nation and the world. Learn more about the major topics our research covers and the programs focused on those topics.
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The presence of silicate melt may enhance rates of cation diffusion in olivine The presence of silicate melt may enhance rates of cation diffusion in olivine
Olivine is commonly used as a ‘crystal clock’ to extract timescales relevant to pre-eruptive perturbations within mafic magmatic systems. Diffusion chronometry applications require accurate calibrations for the rates at which Fe-Mg or other commonly measured elements like Ni, Mn, and Ca diffuse through the crystal lattice. In the past, these rates have been mainly characterized using...
Authors
Thomas Shea, Dawn Catherine Sweeney Ruth, Michael Jollands, Kenta Ohtaki, Hope Ishii, John Bradley
Vulnerability and resilience of ice-rich permafrost to thermal erosion gullying in the Arctic Foothills infrastructure corridor, Alaska Vulnerability and resilience of ice-rich permafrost to thermal erosion gullying in the Arctic Foothills infrastructure corridor, Alaska
The Arctic and its permafrost terrains are inherently dynamic, complex, and sensitive environments. Understanding the past and current changes occurring in these systems is key in predicting future variations, including the response of permafrost to climate change and to surface disturbances resulting from natural processes or anthropogenic activities. Here, we focus on advancing our...
Authors
Eva Anne Stephani, M.M. Darrow, Mikhail Kanevskiy
Ground motion selection for nonlinear response history analyses of concrete dams Ground motion selection for nonlinear response history analyses of concrete dams
Evaluating the seismic performance of a 3D concrete dam using nonlinear response history analysis (NLRHA) requires three orthogonal components of ground acceleration histories, or ground motions (GMs) for brevity. Although much progress has been made for the topic of ground motion selection and modification (GMSM) in the context of multistory buildings, NLRHA of dams requires at least...
Authors
N. Simon Kwong
Three-decades of Rocky Intertidal Photo Series Documenting interannual variability in western Prince William Sound Three-decades of Rocky Intertidal Photo Series Documenting interannual variability in western Prince William Sound
During summer 2021 we re-visited and re-photographed intertidal community scenes at seven rocky intertidal sites in Western Prince William Sound, adding another year of photos to a 32-year monitoring effort. The sites include both previously-oiled and un-oiled locations that were the subject of repeated annual photos beginning in 1990, one year after the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil...
Authors
Alan Mearns, Dave Janka, Scott Pegau, Robert Campbell, Brian H. Robinson
Assessing the efficacy of oblique bubble screens for control of aquatic invasive species Assessing the efficacy of oblique bubble screens for control of aquatic invasive species
Non-physical barriers, such as bubble screens (or curtains), are promising low-impact strategies to deter the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in streams. Bubble screens have been successfully implemented to redirect and/or deter adult fish and to capture plastics in some rivers, but their efficacy on invasive fish at multiple life stages (eggs, larvae, and adult fish) is not yet...
Authors
Vindhyawasini Prasad, C. D. Suski, P. Ryan Jackson, Amy E. George, Duane Chapman, Jesse Robert Fischer, Rafael O. Tinoco
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2021 Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2021
The Lake Superior nearshore fish community was sampled in May-June 2021 with daytime bottom trawl tows at 45 stations located in USA waters. The 45 locations sampled were long-term monitoring sites that had been annually sampled since 1978. All comparisons to 2021 results were limited to past collections from USA waters, as compared to previous years, where comparisons included USA and...
Authors
Mark R. Vinson, Daniel L. Yule, Lori M. Evrard, Owen T. Gorman, Sydney B Phillips
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2020 Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2020
The Lake Superior fish community within Management Unit WI-2 was sampled in July 2020 with daytime bottom trawls at 11 nearshore stations. The 11 locations sampled were long-term monitoring sites that had been annually sampled since 1974. In 2020, the number of species collected at each site ranged from 0 to 13, with a mean of 6.3 and median of six. All comparisons to 2020 results were...
Authors
Mark R. Vinson, Lori M. Evrard, Owen Gorman, Daniel L. Yule
Nuclear magnetic resonance logging of a deep test well for estimation of aquifer and confining-unit hydraulic properties, Long Island, New York Nuclear magnetic resonance logging of a deep test well for estimation of aquifer and confining-unit hydraulic properties, Long Island, New York
A 1,200-foot deep well in southwestern Nassau County, Long Island, N.Y. was selected to evaluate the application of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging tool. Technological advances in NMR borehole systems have allowed for reduced probe length and diameter, and focused measurement at specific diameters beyond the disturbed zone surrounding a well. This 3-inch-diameter NMR tool was
Authors
Frederick Stumm, John H. Williams
Environmental geochemistry of an epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag deposit at the abandoned Cecilia mine, Puno region, Peru Environmental geochemistry of an epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag deposit at the abandoned Cecilia mine, Puno region, Peru
The abandoned Cecilia Pb-Zn-Ag mine is located at the headwaters of the Lake Titicaca watershed in the Altiplano of Peru. The site is characterized by three months of high precipitation and nine months of limited precipitation. The environmental geochemical characterization of the abandoned mine was done to evaluate environmental risks at the site from mine wastes and mine drainage, and...
Authors
S. Palomino, Robert R. Seal,, F. Garcia, M. Ochoa, D. Machaca, A. Condorhuaman, M. Valencia
A review of Arctomecon californica (Papaveraceae) with a focus on the species’ potential for propagation and reintroduction and conservation needs A review of Arctomecon californica (Papaveraceae) with a focus on the species’ potential for propagation and reintroduction and conservation needs
Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica) occurrences have fluctuated during the past several decades, in part due to interannual variability in rainfall that influences recruitment and mortality events; yet, development in the Las Vegas Valley continues to threaten habitat supporting this species. Arctomecon californica was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act in...
Authors
Alexander Stosich, Lesley A. DeFalco, Sara J. Scoles-Sciulla
Causality-informed Bayesian inference for rapid seismic ground failure and building damage estimation Causality-informed Bayesian inference for rapid seismic ground failure and building damage estimation
Rapid and accurate estimates of seismic ground failure and building damage are beneficial to efficient emergency response and post-earthquake recovery. Traditional approaches, such as physical and geospatial models, have poor accuracy and resolution due to large uncertainties and the limited availability of informing geospatial layers. The introduction of remote sensing techniques has...
Authors
David J. Wald, Susu Xu, J. Dimasaka, H. Noh
Relative-condition parameters for fishes of Montana, USA Relative-condition parameters for fishes of Montana, USA
Body condition indices are commonly used in the management of fish populations and are a surrogate to physiological attributes such as tissue-energy reserves. Relative condition factor (Kn) describes the condition of species relative to populations in a geographic area. We developed models to allow for the calculation of Kn in Montana, USA by using the weight–length data collected by...
Authors
Robert W. Eckelbecker, Nathaniel M. Heili, Christopher S. Guy, David A. Schmetterling