Data Analysis Tools

Neural networks are powerful deep learning models that help us make accurate environmental predictions. This data visualization describes how to train an artificial neural network, and how the USGS uses them to make physically-realistic predictions with less data.

The USGS has been monitoring stream temperature in the Delaware River Basin since 1901, and has amassed over 650,000 daily temperature measurements. This data visualization story explores temporal and locational patterns in stream temperature observations, and how spatial variability and data gaps add complexity to prediction efforts.

During large, short-term events, the USGS collects streamflow and additional data (including storm tide, wave height, high-water marks, and additional sensor deployments) to aid in documenting flood events. The USGS Flood Event Viewer provides convenient, map-based access to downloadable event-based data.

This mapper identifies USGS Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS). FPS are monitoring stations that track the amount of water in streams and rivers across the Nation to meet long-term federal information needs. They are strategically positioned to serve as a backbone for the larger National Streamflow Network that is operated in cooperation with over 1,200 federal, state, tribal, and local agencies.

A majority of the water in the western U.S. comes from snowmelt, but changes in the timing, magnitude, and duration of snowmelt can alter water availability downstream. This data visualization story explores what changing snowmelt means for water in the West, and how new USGS efforts can advance snow science by modeling snowpack and snowmelt dynamics and linking these results to streamflow.

Water quality is essential for understanding water availability by providing insights into the drivers of change and possible availability constraints. Using data from eight monitoring organizations including the USGS, the Multisource Water-Quality Trends in the Delaware River Basin mapper shows changing water-quality trends from 2008-2018 in rivers and streams across the Delaware River Basin.

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center has collaborated with Lowell Observatory to create a graphical interface for their main asteroid characterization web portal. The portal uses data from the astorb database maintained by Lowell Minor Planet Services.

The Map and Data Products page offers bulk download of the Fire Danger Forecast data suite.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) South Atlantic Water Science Center and the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have been collecting and compiling water-use information in Georgia since 1980 as part of an ongoing cooperative agreement.

Changes in streamflow conditions can affect infrastructure, water supply, and ecosystems. The IWAAs Surface Water Flow Trends mapper provides access to information about long-term changes in low flows, mean flows, and peak flows. View national trends for the last 100, 75, or 50 years, or calculate trend values for a custom time period at an individual site.

The USGS is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of groundwater resources of the Adelaida area. Use this map to explore the hydrogeology of the area, including land use, geology, and USGS hydrologic data by watershed or water management district. 

A simulation-based power analysis can be used to estimate the sample sizes needed for a successful monitoring program, but requires technical expertise and sometimes extensive computing resources. We developed a web-based lookup app, called TrendPowerTool.