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: 3111
Colonization, population growth, and nesting success of Black Oystercatchers following a seismic uplift Colonization, population growth, and nesting success of Black Oystercatchers following a seismic uplift
We present data on the colonization of Middleton Island, Alaska, by Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) following the creation of an extensive rocky intertidal zone after the Alaskan earthquake of 1964. The first pair of oystercatchers was detected in 1976, and it was another 5 years before the population increased to three pairs. Oystercatcher numbers increased steadily...
Authors
V.A. Gill, Scott A. Hatch, Richard B. Lanctot
Remotely triggered seismicity on the United States west coast following the Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake Remotely triggered seismicity on the United States west coast following the Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake
The Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake in central Alaska of 3 November 2002 triggered earthquakes across western North America at epicentral distances of up to at least 3660 km. We describe the spatial and temporal development of triggered activity in California and the Pacific Northwest, focusing on Mount Rainier, the Geysers geothermal field, the Long Valley caldera, and the Coso...
Authors
S. G. Prejean, D.P. Hill, E. E. Brodsky, S. E. Hough, M.J.S. Johnston, S. D. Malone, D. H. Oppenheimer, A.D. Pitt, K. B. Richards-Dinger
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 L. 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
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
Detecting denning polar bears with Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) imagery Detecting denning polar bears with Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) imagery
Polar bears give birth in snow dens in midwinter and remain in dens until early spring. The survival and development of cubs is dependent on a stable environment within the maternal den. To mitigate potential disruption of polar bear denning by existing and proposed petroleum activities, we used forward-looking infrared (FLIR) viewing to try to detect heat rising from dens.We flew...
Authors
Steven C. Amstrup, G. York, T. L. McDonald, R. Nielson, Kristin S. Simac
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
A quantitative approach to identifying predators from nest remains A quantitative approach to identifying predators from nest remains
Nesting success of Dusky Canada Geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis) has declined greatly since a major earthquake affected southern Alaska in 1964. To identify nest predators, we collected predation data at goose nests and photographs of predators at natural nests containing artificial eggs in 1997-2000. To document feeding behavior by nest predators, we compiled the evidence from...
Authors
R. Michael Anthony, J.B. Grand, T.F. Fondell, B.F. Manly
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
Spatial and temporal multiyear sea ice distributions in the Arctic: A neural network analysis of SSM/I data, 1988-2001 Spatial and temporal multiyear sea ice distributions in the Arctic: A neural network analysis of SSM/I data, 1988-2001
Arctic multiyear sea ice concentration maps for January 1988-2001 were generated from SSM/I brightness temperatures (19H, 19V, and 37V) using modified multiple layer perceptron neural networks. Learning data for the neural networks were extracted from ice maps derived from Okean and ERS satellite imagery to capitalize on the stability of active radar multiyear ice signatures. Evaluations...
Authors
G. I. Belchansky, David C. Douglas, I.V. Alpatsky, Nikita G. Platonov
Phase II Report, Vital Signs Monitoring Plan, Southwest Alaska Network Phase II Report, Vital Signs Monitoring Plan, Southwest Alaska Network
No abstract available.
Authors
A.J. Bennett, K.L. Oakley, D.C. Mortenson
Identifying marine bird distribution and evaluating visitor impacts Identifying marine bird distribution and evaluating visitor impacts
No abstract available.
Authors
Mayumi L. Arimitsu, Marc D. Romano, John F. Piatt