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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: 175660

Within-marsh and landscape features structure ribbed mussel distribution in Georgia, USA, marshes Within-marsh and landscape features structure ribbed mussel distribution in Georgia, USA, marshes

Ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa, are marsh fauna that are used in coastal management and restoration due to the ecosystem services they provide. Ribbed mussel restoration efforts may be improved with a greater understanding of the environmental drivers of ribbed mussel distribution at multiple spatial scales to predict areas where restoration could be successful. This study sought to...
Authors
William K. Annis, Elizabeth Ann Hunter, John M. Carroll

Underwater videographic observations of domesticated Delta smelt in field enclosures Underwater videographic observations of domesticated Delta smelt in field enclosures

The delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) is a small, euryhaline fish species endemic to the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta; it is protected under the U.S. and California Endangered Species Acts, and because of declines in population abundance, the delta smelt may be vulnerable to extinction. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is conducting studies to test the viability of...
Authors
Ethan Enos, Oliver Patton, Frederick V. Feyrer

New model of the Barry Arm landslide in Alaska reveals potential tsunami wave heights of 2 meters, values much lower than previously estimated New model of the Barry Arm landslide in Alaska reveals potential tsunami wave heights of 2 meters, values much lower than previously estimated

The retreat of Barry Glacier has contributed to the destabilization of slopes in Barry Arm, creating the possibility that a landslide could rapidly enter the fjord and trigger a tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently released a report documenting potential tsunami wave heights in the event of a large, fast-moving landslide at the Barry Arm fiord near Prince William Sound...
Authors
Marisa A. Macias, Katherine R. Barnhart, Dennis M. Staley

S/P amplitude ratios derived from single-component seismograms and their potential use in constraining focal mechanisms for micro-earthquake sequences S/P amplitude ratios derived from single-component seismograms and their potential use in constraining focal mechanisms for micro-earthquake sequences

Focal mechanisms, which reflect the sense of slip in earthquakes, provide important constraints for understanding crustal tectonics and earthquake source physics, including the interactions among earthquakes during mainshock–aftershock sequences or seismic swarms. Focal mechanisms of small (magnitude ≲3.5) earthquakes are usually determined by first‐motion P‐wave polarities, sometimes...
Authors
David R. Shelly, Robert John Skoumal, Jeanne L. Hardebeck

Biophysical methods and data analysis for simulating overland flow in the Everglades Biophysical methods and data analysis for simulating overland flow in the Everglades

The Everglades in south Florida supply fresh drinking water for more than 7 million people, host a National Park, and are classified as a Ramsar wetland of international distinction. Predicting trajectories of water flow and water storage changes in the future is important to managing the Congressionally authorized restoration of the Everglades. Here we describe the needed data sources...
Authors
Judson Harvey, Jay Choi

The importance of lake emergent aquatic vegetation for estimating Arctic-boreal methane emissions The importance of lake emergent aquatic vegetation for estimating Arctic-boreal methane emissions

Areas of lakes that support emergent aquatic vegetation emit disproportionately more methane than open water but are under-represented in upscaled estimates of lake greenhouse gas emissions. These shallow areas are typically less than ∼1.5 m deep and can be detected with synthetic aperture radar (SAR). To assess the importance of lake emergent vegetation (LEV) zones to landscape-scale...
Authors
Ethan D. Kyzivat, Laurence C. Smith, Fenix Garcia-Tigreros, Chang Huang, Chao Wang, Theodore Langhorst, Jessica V. Fayne, Merritt E. Harlan, Yuta Ishitsuka, Dongmei Feng, Wayana Dolan, Lincoln H. Pitcher, Kimberly Wickland, Mark Dornblaser, Robert G. Striegl, Tamlin M. Pavelsky, David E. Butman, Colin J. Gleason

Teams, networks, and networks of networks advancing our understanding and conservation of inland waters Teams, networks, and networks of networks advancing our understanding and conservation of inland waters

Networks are defined as groups of interconnected people and things, and by this definition, networks play a major role in the science of inland waters. In this article, we bring the latest social network research to understand and improve inland waters science and conservation outcomes. What we found is that relationships matter. Different teams and networks have different objectives and
Authors
Emily Read, Jennifer Cross, Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Samantha K. Oliver, Catherine M. O’Reilly

Measurement and variability of lake metabolism Measurement and variability of lake metabolism

Aim: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of what contributes to lake metabolism, a brief overview of methods for estimating lake metabolism, and drivers of metabolism variability within and across lakes. Main concepts covered: In this article, we describe the key drivers of within and across lake variability in metabolism including lake morphometry, nutrients, light...
Authors
Jacob Aaron Zwart, Ludmila S Brighenti

Hydrological cycle and water budgets Hydrological cycle and water budgets

In this chapter, we describe the hydrological cycle and each of its components (pools). The hydrological cycle is important to the transport and cycling of nutrients and energy. Quantifying the various components of the hydrological cycle, referred to as constructing water budget for a defined area, is an important framework for wise and equitable water management. The hydrological cycle...
Authors
Dale M. Robertson, Howard A. Perlman, T. N. Narisimhan

Worldwide wetland loss and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services Worldwide wetland loss and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services

Aim: Best strategies for future conservation and management to address global and regional trends in wetland loss and degradation are assessed in this article. Main concepts covered: Direct drivers of wetland loss and change include land drainage and filling, hydrologic alteration, degradation from pollutants and sediments, and conversion to agriculture, urban and industrial usage...
Authors
Beth Middleton

An introduction to current climate projections and their use in climate impacts research An introduction to current climate projections and their use in climate impacts research

Using climate projections to evaluate future climate impacts and their associated risks requires a background knowledge of the nature of climate change, use of climate models to develop future projections, and knowledge of how to address climate scenario uncertainty. This chapter provides an overview of climate and climate change, some of the foundational climate science that underlies...
Authors
Jeremy S. Littell

Wetlands under global change Wetlands under global change

Wetlands are among the ecosystem types most threatened by global change, including both climate change and other anthropogenic factors such as sea level rise, urban development, deforestation, agricultural land use, drainage, levees, tidal flow restrictions, pollution, eutrophication, and fires. Wetlands not only store disproportionate amounts of carbon compared to other terrestrial...
Authors
Eric Ward
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