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Publications

USGS research activities relevant to Alaska have yielded more than 9400 historical publications. This page features some of the most recent newsworthy research findings.

Filter Total Items: 3090

Effects of dietary selenium on tissue concentrations,pathology, oxidative stress, and immune function in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) Effects of dietary selenium on tissue concentrations,pathology, oxidative stress, and immune function in common eiders (Somateria mollissima)

Common eiders (Somateria mollissima) were fed added Se (as L-selenomethionine) in concentrations increasing from 10 to 80 ppm in a pilot study (Study 1) or 20 (low exposure) and up to 60 (high exposure) ppm Se in Study 2. Body weights of Study 1 ducks and high-exposure ducks in Study 2 declined rapidly. Mean concentrations of Se in blood reached 32.4 ppm wet weight in Study 1 and 17.5...
Authors
J. Christian Franson, David Hoffman, Alicia M. Wells-Berlin, Matthew C. Perry, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Daniel L. Finley, Paul L. Flint, Tuula E. Hollmén

Inventory of montane-nesting birds in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska Inventory of montane-nesting birds in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska

The Alaska Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey conducted an inventory of birds in montane areas of the four northern parks in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska. This effort represents the first comprehensive assessment of breeding range and habitat associations for the majority of avian species in the Arctic Network. Ultimately, these data provide a framework upon...
Authors
T. Lee Tibbitts, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Robert E. Gill, Colleen M. Handel

Development of airborne remote sensing methods for surveys of Pacific walrus Development of airborne remote sensing methods for surveys of Pacific walrus

In April 2003, we conducted an operational test of an airborne multispectral scanner (AMS) over pack ice in the Bering Sea to evaluate the potential of this system as a survey tool for Pacific walruses. We scanned a total of 28,875 km2 of sea ice habitat at a spatial resolution of 4 m and collected high resolution photographs from a subset of the thermally detected walrus groups. We...
Authors
Douglas M. Burn, Mark S. Udevitz, M.A. Webber, Joel L. Garlich-Miller

Continuous resistivity profiling data from the upper Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, 2004-2005 Continuous resistivity profiling data from the upper Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, 2004-2005

The Neuse River Estuary in North Carolina has suffered impacts of eutrophication in recent years. As part of a larger project to better constrain nutrient budgets in the estuary, field investigations were performed to study occurrence and discharge of fresh and brackish ground water and nutrients beneath the estuary itself (fig. 1). A Continuous Resistivity Profiling (CRP) system...
Authors
VeeAnn A. Cross, John F. Bratton, Emile M. Bergeron, Jeff K. Meunier, John Crusius, Dirk Koopmans

Alaska resource data file, Noatak quadrangle Alaska resource data file, Noatak quadrangle

This report gives descriptions of the mineral occurrences in the Noatak 1:250,000-scale quadrangle, Alaska. The data presented here are maintained as part of a statewide database on mines, prospects and mineral occurrences throughout Alaska.
Authors
Donald J. Grybeck, Julie A. Dumoulin

Alaska resource data file: Point Lay quadrangle, Alaska Alaska resource data file: Point Lay quadrangle, Alaska

This report gives descriptions of the mineral occurrences in the Point Lay 1:250,000-scale quadrangle, Alaska. The data presented here are maintained as part of a statewide database on mines, prospects and mineral occurrences throughout Alaska.
Authors
Donald J. Grybeck

Aqueous geochemical data from the analysis of stream-water samples collected in June and July 2005 — Taylor Mountains 1:250,000 scale quadrangle, Alaska Aqueous geochemical data from the analysis of stream-water samples collected in June and July 2005 — Taylor Mountains 1:250,000 scale quadrangle, Alaska

We report on the chemical analysis of water samples collected from the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-scale quadrangle. Parameters for which data are reported include pH, conductivity, water temperature, major cation and anion concentrations, trace-element concentrations, and dissolved organic-carbon concentrations. Samples were collected as part of a multiyear U.S. Geological Survey project...
Authors
Bronwen Wang, Seth Mueller, Sarah Stetson, Elizabeth Bailey, Greg Lee

Major- and Trace-Element Concentrations in Rock Samples Collected in 2005 from the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-scale Quadrangle, Alaska Major- and Trace-Element Concentrations in Rock Samples Collected in 2005 from the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-scale Quadrangle, Alaska

The data consist of major- and minor-element concentrations for rock samples collected during 2005 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Samples were analyzed by fire assay (Au, Pd, Pt), cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (Hg), and the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) 10 and 42 element methods. For details of sample preparation and analytical techniques see USGS Open...
Authors
Edward P. Klimasauskas, Marti L. Miller, Dwight Bradley, Tom K. Bundtzen, Travis L. Hudson

A Century of Retreat at Portage Glacier, South-Central Alaska A Century of Retreat at Portage Glacier, South-Central Alaska

Introduction: The Portage Glacier, in south-central Alaska, is viewed by thousands of visitors annually who come to the U.S. Forest Service Begich, Boggs Visitor Center located on the road system between Anchorage and Whittier, Alaska. During the past century, the terminus of the glacier has retreated nearly 5 kilometers to its present location (fig. 1). Like other glaciers that...
Authors
Ben W. Kennedy, Dennis C. Trabant, Lawrence R. Mayo

Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: An unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest Geothermal disruption of summit glaciers at Mount Spurr Volcano, 2004-6: An unusual manifestation of volcanic unrest

Mount Spurr, a 3,374-m-high stratovolcano in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska, showed signs of volcanic unrest beginning in 2004 and lasting through 2006. These signs included increases in heat flow, seismicity, and gas flux, which we interpret as the results of a magmatic intrusion in mid-2004. In response, debris-laden meltwater beneath the glacier in Mount Spurr's geothermally active...
Authors
Michelle L. Coombs, Christina A. Neal, Rick L. Wessels, Robert G. McGimsey

Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2005 Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2005

Summary The collection of papers that follows continues the series of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigative reports in Alaska under the broad umbrella of the geologic sciences. This series represents new and sometimes-preliminary findings that are of interest to Earth scientists in academia, government, and industry; to land and resource managers; and to the general public. The...
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Kenneth J. Bird, Michelle L. Coombs, Christina A. Neal, Rick L. Wessels, Robert G. McGimsey, John F. Slack, W.C. Pat Shanks, Susan M. Karl, Pamela A. Gemery, Peter E. Bittenbender, W. Ian Ridley, W. Matthew Burns, Daniel O. Hayba, Elisabeth L. Rowan, Robert A. Ayuso, Peter J. Haeussler, Gregory A. Wandless, Anna Colvin

Oil and gas resources of the Arctic Alaska Petroleum Province Oil and gas resources of the Arctic Alaska Petroleum Province

The Arctic Alaska Petroleum Province, encompassing all the lands and adjacent Continental Shelf areas north of the Brooks Range-Herald arch, is one of the most petroleum-productive areas in the United States, having produced about 15 billion bbl of oil. Seven unitized oil fields currently contribute to production, and three additional oil fields have been unitized but are not yet...
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Kenneth J. Bird
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