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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: 175347

In situ soil moisture sensors in undisturbed soils In situ soil moisture sensors in undisturbed soils

Soil moisture directly affects operational hydrology, food security, ecosystem services, and the climate system. However, the adoption of soil moisture data has been slow due to inconsistent data collection, poor standardization, and typically short record duration. Soil moisture, or quantitatively volumetric soil water content (SWC), is measured using buried, in situ sensors that infer...
Authors
Todd Caldwell, Michael H. Cosh, Steven R. Evett, Nathan Edwards, Heather Hofman, Bradley Illston, Tilden P. Meyers, Marina Skumanich, Kent Sutcliffe

A practical guide to understanding and validating complex models using data simulations A practical guide to understanding and validating complex models using data simulations

Biologists routinely fit novel and complex statistical models to push the limits of our understanding. Examples include, but are not limited to, flexible Bayesian approaches (e.g. BUGS, stan), frequentist and likelihood-based approaches (e.g. packages lme4) and machine learning methods.These software and programs afford the user greater control and flexibility in tailoring complex...
Authors
Graziella Vittoria DiRenzo, Ephraim Hanks, David A. W. Miller

Rainforest carnivore ecology in a managed forest reserve: Differential seasonal correlates between habitat components and relative abundance Rainforest carnivore ecology in a managed forest reserve: Differential seasonal correlates between habitat components and relative abundance

Studies of relationships between seasons and Neotropical carnivore distributions tend to focus on water and prey availability without considering other habitat components such as escape, foraging, and resting cover. Our goal was to evaluate habitat characteristics that may be important for predicting the seasonal (dry or rainy) relative abundance of four commonly captured Neotropical...
Authors
Lauren N. Watine, Emma V. Willcox, Joseph D. Clark, Craig A. Harper

Spatial and temporal patterns in Arctic mosquito abundance Spatial and temporal patterns in Arctic mosquito abundance

Organisms that undergo a shift in ontogeny and habitat type often change their spatial distribution throughout their life cycle, but how this affects population dynamics remains poorly understood.We examined spatial and temporal patterns in Aedes nigripes abundance, a widespread univoltine Arctic mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae), hypothesizing that the spatial distribution of adults...
Authors
Melissa H DeSiervo, Rebecca A Finger-Higgens, Matthew P. Ayres, Ross A Virginia, Lauren E Culler

Evaluation of fish behavior at the entrances to a Selective Water Withdrawal structure in Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon, 2021 Evaluation of fish behavior at the entrances to a Selective Water Withdrawal structure in Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon, 2021

Imaging sonar was used to assess the behavior, abundance, and timing of fish at the entrances to the Selective Water Withdrawal (SWW) intake structure located in the forebay of Round Butte Dam, Oregon during the spring of 2021. The purposes of the SWW are (1) to direct surface currents in the forebay to attract and collect downriver migrating juvenile salmonid smolts (Chinook salmon...
Authors
Collin D. Smith, Tyson W. Hatton

Spatial analysis of globally detected volcanic lightning from the June 2019 eruption of Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands Spatial analysis of globally detected volcanic lightning from the June 2019 eruption of Raikoke volcano, Kuril Islands

The 21–22 June 2019 eruption of Raikoke volcano, Russia, provided an opportunity to explore how spatial trends in volcanic lightning locations provide insights into pulsatory eruption dynamics. Using satellite-derived plume heights, we examine the development of lightning detected by Vaisala’s Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) from eleven, closely spaced eruptive pulses. Results from one
Authors
Cassandra M. Smith, Alexa R. Van Eaton, David J. Schneider, Larry G. Mastin, Robin S. Matoza, Kathleen McKee, Sean Maher

Investigating impacts of small dams and dam removal on dissolved oxygen in streams Investigating impacts of small dams and dam removal on dissolved oxygen in streams

Small surface-release dams are prevalent across North American watersheds and can alter stream flow, thermal regimes, nutrient dynamics, and sediment transport. These dams are often implicated as a cause of negative water quality impacts—including reduced dissolved oxygen (DO)—and dam removal is increasingly employed to restore natural stream processes and improve DO. However, published...
Authors
Katherine M. Abbott, Peter A. Zaidel, Allison H. Roy, Kristopher M. Houle, Keith H. Nislow

Preliminary national-scale seismic risk assessment of natural gas pipelines in the United States Preliminary national-scale seismic risk assessment of natural gas pipelines in the United States

Although the gas pipeline infrastructure in the United States is vulnerable to the seismic hazards of (i) strong ground shaking, and (ii) ground failures induced by surface faulting, liquefaction, or landslides, limited national guidance exists for operators to consistently evaluate the earthquake response of their pipelines. To provide additional information for stakeholders and...
Authors
N. Simon Kwong, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Nico Luco, J. W. Baker, K. A. Ludwig

Assessing direct and indirect long-term economic impacts from earthquakes to the U.S. National Bridge Inventory Assessing direct and indirect long-term economic impacts from earthquakes to the U.S. National Bridge Inventory

Using the 2018 National Seismic Hazard Model and the 2018 National Bridge Inventory, an annualized earthquake loss (AEL) study was conducted for approximately 610,000 bridges in the conterminous United States, quantifying both direct and indirect economic losses. The typical AEL framework has been augmented with new replacement unit cost data and bridge-specific parameters for modifying...
Authors
Kishor S. Jaiswal, N. Simon Kwong, Doug Bausch, David J. Wald, Kuo-wan Lin, Sharon Yen, Jerry Shen, Jeffrey Ger

Distribution and demography of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers in San Diego County, 2015–19 Distribution and demography of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers in San Diego County, 2015–19

We surveyed for Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) at 33 locations along multiple drainages in San Diego County, including portions of Agua Hedionda Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Escondido Creek, Los Penasquitos Creek, Otay River, San Diego River, San Dieguito River, San Luis Rey River, Sweetwater River, and Tijuana River. Resident flycatchers were only...
Authors
Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. Kus, Shannon M. Mendia
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