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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Advancing the implementation of coastal restoration in Louisiana through a co-production of science framework Advancing the implementation of coastal restoration in Louisiana through a co-production of science framework
Coastal Louisiana faces complex challenges from the compounding effects of coastal land loss and climate change. The State of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and the RESTORE Act Center of Excellence for Louisiana (LA-COE) have adopted a co-production of science framework to help ensure that scientific research funded through the LA-COE supports the...
Authors
Jacob M. Oster, Jessica R. Henkel, Alyssa Dausman, Eva D. Windhoffer, Bingqing Liu, Melissa Millman Baustian, Denise Reed, Summer Langlois, David C. Lindquist
A review of abrupt permafrost thaw: Definitions, usage, and a proposed conceptual framework A review of abrupt permafrost thaw: Definitions, usage, and a proposed conceptual framework
Purpose of Review We review how ‘abrupt thaw’ has been used in published studies, compare these definitions to abrupt processes in other Earth science disciplines, and provide a definitive framework for how abrupt thaw should be used in the context of permafrost science.Recent Findings We address several aspects of permafrost systems necessary for abrupt thaw to occur and propose a...
Authors
Hailey Webb, Matthias Fuchs, Benjamin W. Abbott, Thomas A. Douglas, Clayton D. Elder, Jessica G. Ernakovich, Eugenie Euskirchen, Mathias Göckede, Guido Grosse, Gustaf Hugelius, Miriam C. Jones, Charles Koven, Heather Kropp, Emma Lathrop, Wenwen Li, Michael M. Loranty, Susan M Natali, David Olefeldt, Christina Schädel, Edward A.G. Schuur, Oliver Sonnentag, Jens Strauss, Anna-Maria Virkkala, Merritt R. Turetsky
Ice thickness regulates heat flux in permanently ice-covered lakes Ice thickness regulates heat flux in permanently ice-covered lakes
The permanently ice-covered lakes of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, are rare ecosystems where permanent ice cover and year-round vertically stable water columns provide critical redox zones for cold-adapted microorganisms. Using 30 yr of limnological data from the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research program, we assessed the water column heat flux of four permanently ice-covered...
Authors
Hilary A. Dugan, Maciej Obryk, Michael Gooseff, Peter Doran, Amy Chiuchiolo, Jade Lawrence, John Priscu
The pre-maria geologic history of the Imbrium basin preserved by remnant highlands massifs The pre-maria geologic history of the Imbrium basin preserved by remnant highlands massifs
The Imbrium basin is one of the largest and youngest impact basins on the Moon. It has experienced multiple phases of volcanism that filled the basin with basaltic lavas, obscuring most evidence of geologic activity prior to the emplacement of mare basalts. Elevated basin ring massifs, however, can retain some of that history due to their higher topographic elevation compared to the...
Authors
Ben D. Byron, Catherine M. Elder, Lori M. Pigue, Jean-Pierre Williams
Rupture process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino earthquake Rupture process of the Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino earthquake
The Mw7.0 December 5, 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino earthquake ruptured a km long portion of the east-west trending Mendocino fault zone (MFZ). In order to clarify the rupture process, we assemble three-component seismograms from regional seismic stations, horizontal coseismic displacement vectors derived from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time series, and a Sentinel-1...
Authors
Frederick Pollitz, Katherine Anna Guns, Clara Yoon
Mapping global coral vulnerability to stony coral tissue loss disease: Implications for biosecurity and conservation Mapping global coral vulnerability to stony coral tissue loss disease: Implications for biosecurity and conservation
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has devastated Caribbean coral reefs since 2014, but its potential for global impact remains uncertain. We developed predictive models to assess the worldwide vulnerability of coral reefs to SCTLD under different origin and spread hypotheses. Using random forest regression models incorporating coral taxonomy and zooxanthellae clade associations...
Authors
Kevin D. Lafferty, Giovanni Strona
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the northern Arabian Peninsula, 2024 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the northern Arabian Peninsula, 2024
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 5.1 billion barrels of oil and 19.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in the northern Arabian Peninsula.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kira K. Timm
Sinoatrial contracaeciasis in Johnny Darters (Etheostoma nigrum) and Plains Topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus) from the South Platte drainage, Colorado Sinoatrial contracaeciasis in Johnny Darters (Etheostoma nigrum) and Plains Topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus) from the South Platte drainage, Colorado
Intra-sinoatrial nematodes were incidentally recognized in wild-caught Colorado Johnny Darters (Etheostoma nigrum, JD) in 2020–2021 and in Colorado Plains Topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus, PTM) in 2023-2024. PTM and JD were evaluated histologically. Nematodes dissected from PTM were used for morphologic evaluation and molecular identification. The first and second internal transcribed...
Authors
Paula Andrea Schaffer, Ashley K. McGrew, Jessica Henley, Catherine M. Adams, Dana L. Winkelman, Ryan M. Fitzpatrick, Pete Cadmus
Environmental characteristics of select managed ponds in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta—Implications for native fish conservation and research Environmental characteristics of select managed ponds in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta—Implications for native fish conservation and research
The use of wetlands to support native fish research and conservation efforts in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta) of California is a growing priority. The purpose of our study was to examine the physiochemical and biological characteristics of select managed ponds in the Delta to determine if they would be suitable habitats for research involving the conservation of delta smelt...
Authors
Frederick V. Feyrer, Shawn Acuña, Jordan M. Buxton, Ethan R. Enos, Michelle L. Hladik, James Orlando, Matthew J. Young
Development of regression equations to estimate flow durations, low-flow frequencies, and mean flows at ungaged stream sites in Connecticut using data through water year 2022 Development of regression equations to estimate flow durations, low-flow frequencies, and mean flows at ungaged stream sites in Connecticut using data through water year 2022
To aid Federal and State regulatory agencies in the effective management of water resources, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Department of Transportation, updated flow statistics for 118 streamgages and developed 47 regression equations to estimate selected flow duration, low flow, and...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Ahearn, Gardner C. Bent
Bright spots for advancing ecological understanding and conservation decision-making Bright spots for advancing ecological understanding and conservation decision-making
A lot can be learned by studying bright spots—defined as unexpected positive outcomes. In fields like public health, education, and oncology, identifying factors behind bright spots reveals previously unknown drivers of success that can be replicated elsewhere. This concept is being applied in conservation but is hampered by variations in definitions of bright spots and confusion with...
Authors
Holly Susan Embke, Zachary S. Feiner, Gretchen Hansen, Daniel A. Isermann, Olaf P. Jensen, Christopher I. Rounds, Quinn Smith, M. Jake Vander Zanden
Animal trajectory imputation and uncertainty quantification via deep learning Animal trajectory imputation and uncertainty quantification via deep learning
Imputing missing data in animal trajectories is crucial for understanding animal movements during unobserved periods. However, the traditional methods, such as linear interpolation and the continuous-time correlated random walk model, are often inadequate to capture the complexity of animal movements. Here, we develop a deep learning approach to animal trajectory imputation by a...
Authors
Kehui Yao, Ian P. McGahan, Jun Zhu, Daniel J. Storm, Daniel P. Walsh