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
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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Applying U.S. Geological Survey science to understand effects to water supply in the Upper Colorado River Basin Applying U.S. Geological Survey science to understand effects to water supply in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Introduction The Colorado River Basin is a vital source of water to more than 40 million people in the Western United States and Mexico, including in major cities like Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and supports irrigation for about 16,000 square kilometers of agricultural land. Since 2000, the southwestern United States has been unusually dry due to low
Authors
Natalie K. Day, Cory A. Williams
Harmless tags or hazardous ads? Investigating the potential for ear tags to increase predation on neonatal ungulates Harmless tags or hazardous ads? Investigating the potential for ear tags to increase predation on neonatal ungulates
Studies involving individually marked animals provide insights predicated on the assumption marked individuals are accurate models of their unmarked counterparts. Taxa-specific and marker-specific examinations are needed to determine if marked animals are suitable models for the parameter(s) being measured. Our objective was to determine if brightly colored ear tags influenced the...
Authors
Matthew T. Turnley, W. Sue Fairbanks, Robert Charles Lonsinger, Michael J. Cherry, Marlin M. Dart, Randy W. DeYoung, Derek P. Hahn, Levi J. Heffelfinger, Celine M.J. Rickels, Evan P. Tanner, H. George Wang, M. Colter Chitwood
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) as an apex predator: Investigating the ecological role of the world’s most abundant large carnivore The American black bear (Ursus americanus) as an apex predator: Investigating the ecological role of the world’s most abundant large carnivore
Introduction American black bears (Ursus americanus) have been documented to have top-down effects, both consumptive (through predation) and nonconsumptive (through fear effects). However, their behavioural and dietary adaptability has led to uncertainty about the conditions under which these may occur.Objectives We aimed to (1) investigate when, where, and how often black bears...
Authors
John M. Nettles, Caroline M. Abramowitz, Wesley W. Boone, Stephen N. Harris, Chloe E. Horton, Meghan P. Keating, Dana L. Nelson, Samantha N. Smith, Katelyn N. Steen, Erin K. Buchholtz, David S. Jachowski
Using imaging spectroscopy and elevation in machine learning to estimate soil salinity in intermittently tidal wetlands Using imaging spectroscopy and elevation in machine learning to estimate soil salinity in intermittently tidal wetlands
Coastal soil salinization patterns are changing due to drought, sea level rise (SLR), and changing freshwater inflow. These changes are expected to impact coastal wetland plant health and ecosystem function, such as changes to biomass and productivity. These impacts have led to greater interest in how we monitor soil salinization across spatial and temporal scales. Remote sensing is a...
Authors
German Silva, Dar Roberts, Kristin B. Byrd, Dana Chadwick, Ian Walker, Jennifer King
A global dataset of terrestrial biological nitrogen fixation A global dataset of terrestrial biological nitrogen fixation
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the main natural source of new nitrogen inputs in terrestrial ecosystems, supporting terrestrial productivity, carbon uptake, and other Earth system processes. We assembled a comprehensive global dataset of field measurements of BNF in all major N-fixing niches across natural terrestrial biomes derived from the analysis of 376 BNF studies. The...
Authors
Carla R. Reis Ely, Steven S. Perakis, Cory C. Cleveland, Duncan Menge, Sasha C. Reed, Sarah A. Batterman, Timothy E. Crews, Katherine A Dynarski, Maga G. Gei, Michael J. Gundale, Sarah E. Jovan, Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, Mark B. Peoples, Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero, Verity G. Salmon, Fiona M. Soper, Anika P. Staccone, Benton Taylor, Bettina Weber, Nina Wurzburger
Elk personality and anthropogenic food subsidy: Managing conflict and migration loss Elk personality and anthropogenic food subsidy: Managing conflict and migration loss
The continued decline of long-distance ungulate migrations threatens to decouple important ecological processes that increase biodiversity and wildlife abundance. Past research has focused on preserving migration paths where habitat fragmentation and loss disrupt movement corridors. However, shifting residency-migration trade-offs are the stronger driver of migration loss in some...
Authors
Gavin G. Cotterill, Eric K. Cole, Paul C. Cross, Sarah R. Dewey, Ben L. Wise, Tabitha A. Graves
Global maps of critical mineral production in 2023 Global maps of critical mineral production in 2023
Introduction The global production of many mineral commodities, especially critical minerals, is concentrated in a few countries that have mineral resources and the infrastructure necessary to mine and process those resources. For this reason, the type and amount of mineral production differ by country. For example, many countries produce such metallic ores as gold and silver, whereas...
Authors
Jaewon Chung, Sean Xun, Steven D. Textoris
Launching into societal benefits from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission Launching into societal benefits from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission
The 10th Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Applications Meeting, held one year after the satellite's launch, highlighted significant milestones in mission progress and showcased the innovative work of SWOT Early Adopters (EA) using mission data products. Over 100 participants from diverse sectors convened to discuss operational applications leveraging SWOT's unprecedented water...
Authors
Margaret Srinivasan, Vardis Tsontos, Matthew Bonnema, Santiago Pena-Luque, Alexandre de Amorim-Teixiera, Alexandre Abdalla Araujo, Edward Beighley, Charon Birkett, Curtis Chen, Louise Croneborg-Jones, Cedric David, Shailen Desai, Alain Dib, Bradley Doorn, Robert W. Dudley, Bareerah Fatima, Luciana Fenoglio, Renato Prata de Moraes Frasson, Chandana Gangodagamage, Stephanie Granger, Isabel Houghton, Gregg Jacobs, Indu Jayaluxmi, Pierre-Yves Le Traon, Cassandra Nickles, Nicolas Picot, Guy Schumann, Babette Tchonang, Paula Torre Zaffaroni, Peter Van Oevelen, Jinbo Wang, Jerry Wegiel
Site response and wave propagation effects in the eastern United States Site response and wave propagation effects in the eastern United States
Fourier amplitude spectra from regional earthquakes in the eastern United States are used in a parametric inversion for source, path, and site effects. Five earthquakes are selected for analysis during the installation of the United States National Seismic Network (US), Earthscope’s USArray Transportable Array (TA), and other temporary arrays to maximize station coverage. A global search...
Authors
Stephen H. Hartzell, Luis B. Martinetti, Carlos Mendoza, Robert G. Schmitt
Contributions of Great Salt Lake playa- and industrially-sourced priority pollutant metals in dust contribute to possible health hazards in the communities of northern Utah Contributions of Great Salt Lake playa- and industrially-sourced priority pollutant metals in dust contribute to possible health hazards in the communities of northern Utah
Communities and ecosystems of northern Utah, USA receive particulate pollution from anthropogenic activity and dust emissions from sources including the Great Salt Lake (“the Lake”) playa. In addition to affecting communities, anthropogenic pollution is delivered to the Lake's playa sediments, which are eroded during dust events. Yet, spatial variability in dust flux and composition and...
Authors
Annie L. Putman, Molly A. Blakowski, Destry N. DiViesti, Diego P. Fernandez, Morgan C. McDonnell, Patrick C. Longley, Daniel K. Jones
High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon
The distribution of river-bed grain sizes plays a foundational role in river morphology and ecology. River-bed grain size is a key driver of channel form and process, and has first order effects on aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish nesting, and biogeochemical processes. Despite this importance, tools to spatially quantify grain-size distributions, particularly submerged grain...
Authors
James White, Karen Michelle Bartelt, Brandon Overstreet, Jacob Ryan Kelley
The U.S. Geological Survey National Atmospheric Deposition Program, National Trends Network, 2023 The U.S. Geological Survey National Atmospheric Deposition Program, National Trends Network, 2023
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been a National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) partner agency since 1981. NADP is composed of five atmospheric monitoring networks that verify Clean Air Act effectiveness and provide essential data to protect human health and preserve ecosystems for current and future generations. Stakeholders include land management agencies overseeing...
Authors
Ryan C. McCammon, Noel A. Deyette