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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: 3082

Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Sea otter studies in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

No abstract available.
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Brenda E. Ballachey, Kimberly A. Kloecker, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson, H.A. Coletti, James A. Estes

Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea

Common eiders nesting in the Baltic Sea are exposed to generally high levels of contaminants including potentially genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorines. Blood samples were collected from eiders at eight sites in the Baltic Sea and two sites in the Beaufort Sea. DNA content variation was estimated using the flow cytometric method, and subsequently utilized as a...
Authors
C. W. Matson, J. C. Franson, Tuula E. Hollmén, Mikael Kilpi, Martti Hario, Paul L. Flint, J. W. Bickham

Response of predators to Western Sandpiper nest exclosures Response of predators to Western Sandpiper nest exclosures

In 2001, predator exclosures were used to protect nests of the Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) in western Alaska. During the exclosure experiment, nest contents in exclosures had significantly higher daily survival rates than control nests, however, late in the study predators began to cue in on exclosures and predate the nest contents. An Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus) dug under one...
Authors
Amanda C. Niehaus, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Brian J. McCaffery

Surface rupture and slip distribution of the Denali and Totschunda faults in the 3 November 2002 M 7.9 earthquake, Alaska Surface rupture and slip distribution of the Denali and Totschunda faults in the 3 November 2002 M 7.9 earthquake, Alaska

The 3 November 2002 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake resulted in 341 km of surface rupture on the Susitna Glacier, Denali, and Totschunda faults. The rupture proceeded from west to east and began with a 48-km-long break on the previously unknown Susitna Glacier thrust fault. Slip on this thrust averaged about 4 m (Crone et al., 2004). Next came the principal surface break, along 226 km...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, David P. Schwartz, Timothy E. Dawson, Heidi D. Stenner, James J. Lienkaemper, Brian Sherrod, Francesca R. Cinti, Paola Montone, Patricia Craw, Anthony J. Crone, Stephen F. Personius

Observations of deep long-period (DLP) seismic events beneath Aleutian arc volcanoes; 1989-2002 Observations of deep long-period (DLP) seismic events beneath Aleutian arc volcanoes; 1989-2002

Between October 12, 1989 and December 31, 2002, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) located 162 deep long-period (DLP) events beneath 11 volcanic centers in the Aleutian arc. These events generally occur at mid- to lower-crustal depths (10-45 km) and are characterized by emergent phases, extended codas, and a strong spectral peak between 1.0 and 3.0 Hz. Observed wave velocities and...
Authors
J.A. Power, S.D. Stihler, R.A. White, S.C. Moran

Movements of flightless long-tailed ducks during wing molt Movements of flightless long-tailed ducks during wing molt

We examined the movements of flightless Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) during the wing molt in the near-shore lagoons of the Beaufort Sea in Alaska. Estimates of site fidelity during the 21-day flightless period ranged from 1-100%, with considerable variation among locations and within locations among years. There was no effect of low-level experimental disturbance or an...
Authors
Paul L. Flint, Deborah L. Lacroix, John A. Reed, Richard B. Lanctot

Estimating the time of melt onset and freeze onset over Arctic sea-ice area using active and passive microwave data Estimating the time of melt onset and freeze onset over Arctic sea-ice area using active and passive microwave data

Accurate calculation of the time of melt onset, freeze onset, and melt duration over Arctic sea-ice area is crucial for climate and global change studies because it affects accuracy of surface energy balance estimates. This comparative study evaluates several methods used to estimate sea-ice melt and freeze onset dates: (1) the melt onset database derived from SSM/I passive microwave...
Authors
Gennady I. Belchansky, David C. Douglas, Ilia N. Mordvintsev, Nikita G. Platonov

Duration of the Arctic sea ice melt season: Regional and interannual variability, 1979-2001 Duration of the Arctic sea ice melt season: Regional and interannual variability, 1979-2001

Melt onset dates, freeze onset dates, and melt season duration were estimated over Arctic sea ice, 1979–2001, using passive microwave satellite imagery and surface air temperature data. Sea ice melt duration for the entire Northern Hemisphere varied from a 104-day minimum in 1983 and 1996 to a 124-day maximum in 1989. Ranges in melt duration were highest in peripheral seas, numbering 32...
Authors
G. I. Belchansky, David C. Douglas, Nikita G. Platonov

Foraging depths of sea otters and implications to coastal marine communities Foraging depths of sea otters and implications to coastal marine communities

We visually observed 1,251 dives, of 14 sea otters instrumented with TDRs in southeast Alaska, and used attribute values from observed dives to classify 180,848 recorded dives as foraging (0.64), or traveling (0.36). Foraging dives were significantly deeper, with longer durations, bottom times, and postdive surface intervals, and greater descent and ascent rates, compared to traveling...
Authors
James L. Bodkin, George G. Esslinger, Daniel H. Monson

Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2003 Water resources data, Alaska, water year 2003

Water resources data for the 2003 water year for Alaska consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stages of lakes; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This volume contains records for water discharge at 118 gaging stations; stage or contents only at 4 gaging stations; water quality at 28 gaging stations; and water levels for 53 observation...
Authors
D. F. Meyer, D.P. Bartu, J.D. Eash, W.A. Swenson

A comparison of genetic ariation between an anadromous steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, population and seven derived populations sequestered in freshwater for 70 years A comparison of genetic ariation between an anadromous steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, population and seven derived populations sequestered in freshwater for 70 years

In 1926 cannery workers from the Wakefield Fisheries Plant at Little Port Walter in Southeast Alaska captured small trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from a portion of Sashin Creek populated with a wild steelhead (anadromous O. mykiss) run. They planted them into Sashin Lake which had been fishless to that time and separated from the lower stream by two large waterfalls that prevented upstream...
Authors
Frank Thrower, Charles Guthrie, Jennifer L. Nielsen, John Joyce

Small boats disturb fish-holding marbled murrelets Small boats disturb fish-holding marbled murrelets

Disturbance of seabirds by people at nesting colonies can reduce reproductive success and alter population demographics (Vermeer and Rankin 1984). In response to disturbance, adult seabirds may increase the incidence of alarm postures and alarm calling (Burger and Gochfeld 1993), increase heart and breathing rates (Culik and others 1990; Wilson and others 1991), reduce attendance of nest...
Authors
Suzann G. Speckman, John F. Piatt, Alan M. Springer
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