In this stunning image, James R Rigby stands confidently in front of a breathtaking mountainous backdrop. The peaks rise majestically against a clear blue sky, their rugged contours sharply defined by the brilliant sunlight. Fluffy white clouds drift lazily above, casting gentle shadows across the landscape.
J. R. Rigby
J. R. Rigby is currently an Associate Center Director and Research Hydrologist in the Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center.
Dr. Rigby leads the Hydrologic Transport and Response Branch overseeing scientific investigations in water quality, aquatic biology, hydrologic alteration, and the hydrology of coastal systems. Prior to joining the USGS, he was a research hydrologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service at the National Sedimentation Laboratory where he led research on groundwater availability, managed aquifer recharge, watershed hydrology, and sediment transport
Education and Certifications
B.Sc., Physics, University of Mississippi
M.Sc., Hydrology, Imperial College London
Ph.D., Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University
Science and Products
Improving crop-specific groundwater use estimation in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain: Implications for integrated remote sensing and machine learning approaches in data-scarce regions Improving crop-specific groundwater use estimation in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain: Implications for integrated remote sensing and machine learning approaches in data-scarce regions
Study regionThe Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) in the United States (US).Study focusUnderstanding local-scale groundwater use, a critical component of the water budget, is necessary for implementing sustainable water management practices. The MAP is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the US and extracts more than 11 km3/year for irrigation activities. Consequently...
Authors
Sayantan Majumdar, Ryan Smith, Md Fahim Hasan, Jordan Wilson, Vincent E. White, Emilia L. Bristow, James R. Rigby, Wade Kress, Jaime A. Painter
Simulating groundwater flow in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain with a focus on the Mississippi Delta Simulating groundwater flow in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain with a focus on the Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain has become one of the most important agricultural regions in the United States but relies heavily on groundwater for irrigation. On average, more than 12 billion gallons are withdrawn daily from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer. Declining groundwater levels, especially in the Delta region of northwest Mississippi and the Cache and Grand Prairie...
Authors
Andrew T. Leaf, Leslie L. Duncan, Connor J. Haugh, Randall J. Hunt, James R. Rigby
A model of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity from electrical resistivity distribution derived from airborne electromagnetic surveys of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer, Midwest USA A model of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity from electrical resistivity distribution derived from airborne electromagnetic surveys of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer, Midwest USA
Groundwater-flow models require the spatial distribution of the hydraulic conductivity parameter. One approach to defining this spatial distribution in groundwater-flow model grids is to map the electrical resistivity distribution by airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey and establish a petrophysical relation between mean resistivity calculated as a nonlinear function of the resistivity...
Authors
Scott Ikard, Burke J. Minsley, James R. Rigby, Wade Kress
Mapped predictions of manganese and arsenic in an alluvial aquifer using boosted regression trees Mapped predictions of manganese and arsenic in an alluvial aquifer using boosted regression trees
Manganese (Mn) concentrations and the probability of arsenic (As) exceeding the drinking-water standard of 10 μg/L were predicted in the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer (MRVA) using boosted regression trees (BRT). BRT, a type of ensemble-tree machine-learning model, were created using predictor variables that affect Mn and As distribution in groundwater. These variables...
Authors
Katherine J. Knierim, James A. Kingsbury, Kenneth Belitz, Paul Stackelberg, Burke J. Minsley, James R. Rigby
Airborne geophysical surveys of the lower Mississippi Valley demonstrate system-scale mapping of subsurface architecture Airborne geophysical surveys of the lower Mississippi Valley demonstrate system-scale mapping of subsurface architecture
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain hosts one of the most prolific shallow aquifer systems in the United States but is experiencing chronic groundwater decline. The Reelfoot rift and New Madrid seismic zone underlie the region and represent an important and poorly understood seismic hazard. Despite its societal and economic importance, the shallow subsurface architecture has not been mapped...
Authors
Burke J. Minsley, James R. Rigby, Stephanie R. James, Bethany L. Burton, Katherine J. Knierim, Michael Pace, Paul A. Bedrosian, Wade Kress
Hydrogeophysics at societally relevant scales: Airborne electromagnetic applications and model structural uncertainty quantification Hydrogeophysics at societally relevant scales: Airborne electromagnetic applications and model structural uncertainty quantification
There is a critical and growing need for information about subsurface geological properties and processes over sufficiently large areas that can inform key scientific and societal studies. Airborne geophysical methods fill a unique role in Earth observation because of their ability to detect deep subsurface properties at regional scales and with high spatial resolution that cannot be...
Authors
Burke J. Minsley, Nathan Leon Foks, Wade Kress, James R. Rigby
Delta-Flux: An eddy covariance network for a climate-smart Lower Mississippi Basin Delta-Flux: An eddy covariance network for a climate-smart Lower Mississippi Basin
Networks of remotely monitored research sites are increasingly the tool used to study regional agricultural impacts on carbon and water fluxes. However, key national networks such as the National Ecological Observatory Network and AmeriFlux lack contributions from the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB), a highly productive agricultural area with opportunities for soil carbon...
Authors
Benjamin R. K. Runkle, James R. Rigby, Michele L. Reba, Saseendran S. Anapalli, Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Ken W. Krauss, Lu Liang, Martin A. Locke, Kimberly A. Novick, Ruixiu Sui, Kosana Suvocarev, Paul M. White
Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric surveys of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and Chicot Aquifer System, March 2018 and May - August 2021 Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric surveys of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and Chicot Aquifer System, March 2018 and May - August 2021
Airborne geophysical surveys were acquired in March 2018 and May 25 through August 7, 2021 using a helicopter-based platform. These surveys were collected along 10,706 line-kilometers (line-km) within selected areas of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) and the Chicot Aquifer System in the southeastern United States. The airborne geophysical surveys include electromagnetic, magnetic...
Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model (AIWUM) 2.0 input and output datasets Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model (AIWUM) 2.0 input and output datasets
Datasets are inputs and outputs of Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model (AIWUM) 2.0. AIWUM 2.0 employs remote sensing data sets and machine learning utilizing Distributed Random Forests, an ensemble machine learning algorithm to estimate annual and monthly groundwater use for irrigation and aquaculture (2014–20) throughout this region at 1 km resolution, using annual pumping data...
Floating and Towed Transient Electromagnetic Surveys used to Characterize Hydrogeology underlying Rivers and Estuaries: March - December 2018 Floating and Towed Transient Electromagnetic Surveys used to Characterize Hydrogeology underlying Rivers and Estuaries: March - December 2018
Surface and water-borne geophysical methods can provide information for the characterization of the subsurface structure of the earth for aquifer investigations. Floating and towed transient electromagnetic (FloaTEM and tTEM) surveys provide resistivity soundings of the subsurface, which can be related to lithology and hydrogeology. In the TEM method, a primary electrical current is...
Historical (1940–2006) and recent (2019–20) aquifer slug test datasets used to model transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer from recent (2018–20) airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey d Historical (1940–2006) and recent (2019–20) aquifer slug test datasets used to model transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer from recent (2018–20) airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey d
The Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer (“alluvial aquifer”) is one of the most extensively developed aquifers in the United States. The alluvial aquifer is present at the land surface in parts of southeastern Missouri, northeastern Louisiana, western Mississippi, western Tennessee and Kentucky near the Mississippi River, and throughout eastern Arkansas. Historical (1940–2006) and...
Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric survey, Shellmound, Mississippi, March 2018 (ver. 2.0, March 2024) Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric survey, Shellmound, Mississippi, March 2018 (ver. 2.0, March 2024)
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM), magnetic, and radiometric data were acquired in late February to early March 2018 along 2,364 line-kilometers in the Shellmound, Mississippi study area. Data were acquired by CGG Canada Services, Ltd. with three different helicopter-borne sensors: the CGG Canada Services, Ltd. RESOLVE frequency-domain AEM instrument that is used to map subsurface geologic...
Estimating streambed hydraulic conductivity for selected streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain using continuous resistivity profiling methods—Delta region Estimating streambed hydraulic conductivity for selected streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain using continuous resistivity profiling methods—Delta region
Introduction The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is one of the most important agricultural regions in the United States, and crop productivity relies on groundwater irrigation from an aquifer system whose full capacity is unknown. Groundwater withdrawals from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer have resulted in substantial groundwater-level declines and reductions in base flow in...
High-resolution airborne geophysical survey of the Shellmound, Mississippi area High-resolution airborne geophysical survey of the Shellmound, Mississippi area
In late February to early March 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey acquired 2,364 line-kilometers (km) of airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric data in the Shellmound, Mississippi study area. The purpose of this survey is to contribute high-resolution information about subsurface geologic structure to inform groundwater models, water resource infrastructure studies, and local...
Majestic Heights: A Day with Nature
In this stunning image, James R Rigby stands confidently in front of a breathtaking mountainous backdrop. The peaks rise majestically against a clear blue sky, their rugged contours sharply defined by the brilliant sunlight. Fluffy white clouds drift lazily above, casting gentle shadows across the landscape.
Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) Regional Water Availability Study Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) Regional Water Availability Study
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) has become one of the most important agricultural regions in the US, and it relies heavily on a groundwater system that is poorly understood and shows signs of substantial change.
Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model 2.0 Software Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model 2.0 Software
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the US and extracts more than 11 km3/year for irrigation activities. The heavy drivers of groundwater use are aquaculture and crops, which include rice, cotton, corn, and soybeans (Wilson, 2021). Consequently, groundwater-level declines in the MAP region (Clark and others, 2011) pose a substantial...
Science and Products
Improving crop-specific groundwater use estimation in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain: Implications for integrated remote sensing and machine learning approaches in data-scarce regions Improving crop-specific groundwater use estimation in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain: Implications for integrated remote sensing and machine learning approaches in data-scarce regions
Study regionThe Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) in the United States (US).Study focusUnderstanding local-scale groundwater use, a critical component of the water budget, is necessary for implementing sustainable water management practices. The MAP is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the US and extracts more than 11 km3/year for irrigation activities. Consequently...
Authors
Sayantan Majumdar, Ryan Smith, Md Fahim Hasan, Jordan Wilson, Vincent E. White, Emilia L. Bristow, James R. Rigby, Wade Kress, Jaime A. Painter
Simulating groundwater flow in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain with a focus on the Mississippi Delta Simulating groundwater flow in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain with a focus on the Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain has become one of the most important agricultural regions in the United States but relies heavily on groundwater for irrigation. On average, more than 12 billion gallons are withdrawn daily from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer. Declining groundwater levels, especially in the Delta region of northwest Mississippi and the Cache and Grand Prairie...
Authors
Andrew T. Leaf, Leslie L. Duncan, Connor J. Haugh, Randall J. Hunt, James R. Rigby
A model of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity from electrical resistivity distribution derived from airborne electromagnetic surveys of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer, Midwest USA A model of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity from electrical resistivity distribution derived from airborne electromagnetic surveys of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer, Midwest USA
Groundwater-flow models require the spatial distribution of the hydraulic conductivity parameter. One approach to defining this spatial distribution in groundwater-flow model grids is to map the electrical resistivity distribution by airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey and establish a petrophysical relation between mean resistivity calculated as a nonlinear function of the resistivity...
Authors
Scott Ikard, Burke J. Minsley, James R. Rigby, Wade Kress
Mapped predictions of manganese and arsenic in an alluvial aquifer using boosted regression trees Mapped predictions of manganese and arsenic in an alluvial aquifer using boosted regression trees
Manganese (Mn) concentrations and the probability of arsenic (As) exceeding the drinking-water standard of 10 μg/L were predicted in the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer (MRVA) using boosted regression trees (BRT). BRT, a type of ensemble-tree machine-learning model, were created using predictor variables that affect Mn and As distribution in groundwater. These variables...
Authors
Katherine J. Knierim, James A. Kingsbury, Kenneth Belitz, Paul Stackelberg, Burke J. Minsley, James R. Rigby
Airborne geophysical surveys of the lower Mississippi Valley demonstrate system-scale mapping of subsurface architecture Airborne geophysical surveys of the lower Mississippi Valley demonstrate system-scale mapping of subsurface architecture
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain hosts one of the most prolific shallow aquifer systems in the United States but is experiencing chronic groundwater decline. The Reelfoot rift and New Madrid seismic zone underlie the region and represent an important and poorly understood seismic hazard. Despite its societal and economic importance, the shallow subsurface architecture has not been mapped...
Authors
Burke J. Minsley, James R. Rigby, Stephanie R. James, Bethany L. Burton, Katherine J. Knierim, Michael Pace, Paul A. Bedrosian, Wade Kress
Hydrogeophysics at societally relevant scales: Airborne electromagnetic applications and model structural uncertainty quantification Hydrogeophysics at societally relevant scales: Airborne electromagnetic applications and model structural uncertainty quantification
There is a critical and growing need for information about subsurface geological properties and processes over sufficiently large areas that can inform key scientific and societal studies. Airborne geophysical methods fill a unique role in Earth observation because of their ability to detect deep subsurface properties at regional scales and with high spatial resolution that cannot be...
Authors
Burke J. Minsley, Nathan Leon Foks, Wade Kress, James R. Rigby
Delta-Flux: An eddy covariance network for a climate-smart Lower Mississippi Basin Delta-Flux: An eddy covariance network for a climate-smart Lower Mississippi Basin
Networks of remotely monitored research sites are increasingly the tool used to study regional agricultural impacts on carbon and water fluxes. However, key national networks such as the National Ecological Observatory Network and AmeriFlux lack contributions from the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB), a highly productive agricultural area with opportunities for soil carbon...
Authors
Benjamin R. K. Runkle, James R. Rigby, Michele L. Reba, Saseendran S. Anapalli, Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Ken W. Krauss, Lu Liang, Martin A. Locke, Kimberly A. Novick, Ruixiu Sui, Kosana Suvocarev, Paul M. White
Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric surveys of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and Chicot Aquifer System, March 2018 and May - August 2021 Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric surveys of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and Chicot Aquifer System, March 2018 and May - August 2021
Airborne geophysical surveys were acquired in March 2018 and May 25 through August 7, 2021 using a helicopter-based platform. These surveys were collected along 10,706 line-kilometers (line-km) within selected areas of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) and the Chicot Aquifer System in the southeastern United States. The airborne geophysical surveys include electromagnetic, magnetic...
Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model (AIWUM) 2.0 input and output datasets Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model (AIWUM) 2.0 input and output datasets
Datasets are inputs and outputs of Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model (AIWUM) 2.0. AIWUM 2.0 employs remote sensing data sets and machine learning utilizing Distributed Random Forests, an ensemble machine learning algorithm to estimate annual and monthly groundwater use for irrigation and aquaculture (2014–20) throughout this region at 1 km resolution, using annual pumping data...
Floating and Towed Transient Electromagnetic Surveys used to Characterize Hydrogeology underlying Rivers and Estuaries: March - December 2018 Floating and Towed Transient Electromagnetic Surveys used to Characterize Hydrogeology underlying Rivers and Estuaries: March - December 2018
Surface and water-borne geophysical methods can provide information for the characterization of the subsurface structure of the earth for aquifer investigations. Floating and towed transient electromagnetic (FloaTEM and tTEM) surveys provide resistivity soundings of the subsurface, which can be related to lithology and hydrogeology. In the TEM method, a primary electrical current is...
Historical (1940–2006) and recent (2019–20) aquifer slug test datasets used to model transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer from recent (2018–20) airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey d Historical (1940–2006) and recent (2019–20) aquifer slug test datasets used to model transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer from recent (2018–20) airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey d
The Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer (“alluvial aquifer”) is one of the most extensively developed aquifers in the United States. The alluvial aquifer is present at the land surface in parts of southeastern Missouri, northeastern Louisiana, western Mississippi, western Tennessee and Kentucky near the Mississippi River, and throughout eastern Arkansas. Historical (1940–2006) and...
Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric survey, Shellmound, Mississippi, March 2018 (ver. 2.0, March 2024) Airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric survey, Shellmound, Mississippi, March 2018 (ver. 2.0, March 2024)
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM), magnetic, and radiometric data were acquired in late February to early March 2018 along 2,364 line-kilometers in the Shellmound, Mississippi study area. Data were acquired by CGG Canada Services, Ltd. with three different helicopter-borne sensors: the CGG Canada Services, Ltd. RESOLVE frequency-domain AEM instrument that is used to map subsurface geologic...
Estimating streambed hydraulic conductivity for selected streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain using continuous resistivity profiling methods—Delta region Estimating streambed hydraulic conductivity for selected streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain using continuous resistivity profiling methods—Delta region
Introduction The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is one of the most important agricultural regions in the United States, and crop productivity relies on groundwater irrigation from an aquifer system whose full capacity is unknown. Groundwater withdrawals from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer have resulted in substantial groundwater-level declines and reductions in base flow in...
High-resolution airborne geophysical survey of the Shellmound, Mississippi area High-resolution airborne geophysical survey of the Shellmound, Mississippi area
In late February to early March 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey acquired 2,364 line-kilometers (km) of airborne electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric data in the Shellmound, Mississippi study area. The purpose of this survey is to contribute high-resolution information about subsurface geologic structure to inform groundwater models, water resource infrastructure studies, and local...
Majestic Heights: A Day with Nature
In this stunning image, James R Rigby stands confidently in front of a breathtaking mountainous backdrop. The peaks rise majestically against a clear blue sky, their rugged contours sharply defined by the brilliant sunlight. Fluffy white clouds drift lazily above, casting gentle shadows across the landscape.
In this stunning image, James R Rigby stands confidently in front of a breathtaking mountainous backdrop. The peaks rise majestically against a clear blue sky, their rugged contours sharply defined by the brilliant sunlight. Fluffy white clouds drift lazily above, casting gentle shadows across the landscape.
Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) Regional Water Availability Study Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) Regional Water Availability Study
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) has become one of the most important agricultural regions in the US, and it relies heavily on a groundwater system that is poorly understood and shows signs of substantial change.
Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model 2.0 Software Aquaculture and Irrigation Water Use Model 2.0 Software
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the US and extracts more than 11 km3/year for irrigation activities. The heavy drivers of groundwater use are aquaculture and crops, which include rice, cotton, corn, and soybeans (Wilson, 2021). Consequently, groundwater-level declines in the MAP region (Clark and others, 2011) pose a substantial...