Martin A. Briggs
(he/him)Martin Briggs (he/him) is a Research Hydrologist for the Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area Observing Systems Division.
At the USGS Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch (HRSB) Marty works on a wide range of pressing hydrological issues across climates and hydrogeological terrain. As a national office, one of HRSB’s primary functions is to support regional USGS Water Science Centers through providing hydrogeophysical tools, training, and collaboration on novel water research. As central missions at the Branch are training and methods development, Marty often travels to provide workshops, participate in outreach events, and to field-test new methods that are then utilized for research applications. Although his specialty is in surface water/groundwater exchange processes, Marty works on a wide range of pressing national hydrological issues where geophysical and remotely sensed data lend insight. Marty also contributes to several Water Mission Area Programs including the Next Generation Water Observing System and co-advises graduate students at the University of Connecticut through a Cooperative Agreement, leveraging reimbursable projects. Marty asks that you please reach out if you are interested in discussing objectives, methods, and/or research related to his work.
Professional Experience
Development of new heat tracing methodology and refinement of existing methods for location and quantifying groundwater/surface water exchanges over a range of scales including the development of several software tools to improve accessibility to such methods. These tools include: VFLUX2, DTS-GUI, 1DTempPro2, GW-SW MST
Extensive characterization of groundwater preferential groundwater discharge zones and related physical processes across a range of headwater and mainstem river settings nationally
Repeat expeditions to Alaska as field team leader to characterize discontinuous permafrost dynamics using seismic, electrical, radar, thermal and mechanical methods coupled with processed-based models
Measuring and modeling dual-domain mass transfer of contaminated groundwater and natural anoxic microzones involving the novel use of combined electrical and chemical methods
Installation of sea water intrusion monitoring network on a remote Pacific atoll to monitor the effects of climate change and sea level rise on atoll fresh water and identify controlling geologic processes that were tested in a numerical modeling framework
Innovative characterization of endangered shellfish and native brook trout habitat in a variety of systems, particularly in the context of groundwater discharge to surface water
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 2012. Syracuse University, (Hydro) Geology.
M.S., 2009. Colorado School of Mines. Hydrology.
Honors and Awards
2022 American Geophysical Union Edward A. Flinn III Award (group award)
2017 Geologic Society of America Hydrogeology Division Kohout Early Career Award
Exceptional rating, USGS performance review 2013, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21
Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences Doctoral Dissertation Prize, 2012
Science and Products
Investigation of Scale-dependent Groundwater/Surface-water Exchange in Rivers by Gradient Self-Potential Logging: Numerical Model and Field Experiment Data, Quashnet River, Massachusetts, October 2017 (ver. 2.0, November 2020)
Thermal Infrared images and field data on areas of groundwater discharge in the Farmington River watershed
Hydrologic, biogeochemical, and radon data collected within and adjacent to the Little Wind River near Riverton, Wyoming
Hydrogeochemical data for the characterization of stream, groundwater, and beaver-induced floodplain exchange in the East River Science Focus Area, Crested Butte, CO
Thermal infrared, multispectral, and photogrammetric data collected by drone for hydrogeologic analysis of the East River and Coal Creek beaver-impacted corridors near Crested Butte, Colorado
Data Release for Lake Shadow Seepage Calculations from Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, MA, 2016 - 2018
Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing and near-surface geophysical data collected along the Santuit River, Mashpee, MA.
Temperature data collected in the Indian River Lagoon to evaluate groundwater seepage, Brevard County, Florida
2016-2017 Geophysical data from the Kuparuk aufeis, North Slope, AK
Geophysical data collected within and adjacent to the Little Wind River near Riverton, Wyoming
Electrical geophysical data collected in the shallow sediments of Snake Pond, Cape Cod, USA
Seismic data for study of shallow mountain bedrock limits seepage-based headwater climate refugia, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Characterizing physical properties of streambed interface sediments using in situ complex electrical conductivity measurements
Heed the data gap: Guidelines for using incomplete datasets in annual stream temperature analyses
Small atoll fresh groundwater lenses respond to a combination of natural climatic cycles and human modified geology
Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters
Aufeis fields as novel groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the arctic cryosphere
Groundwater discharges as a source of phytoestrogens and other agriculturally derived contaminants to streams
Improved prediction of management-relevant groundwater discharge characteristics throughout river networks
Characterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology
Experimental shifts of hydrologic residence time in a sandy urban stream sediment-water interface alter nitrate removal and nitrous oxide fluxes
Seasonal manganese transport in the hyporheic zone of a snowmelt-dominated river (East River, Colorado)
Paired air-water annual temperature patterns reveal hydrogeological controls on stream thermal regimes at watershed to continental scales
Hillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream
Emerging groundwater contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface-water quality and groundwater-dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near-surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study we used a combinatio
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 43
Investigation of Scale-dependent Groundwater/Surface-water Exchange in Rivers by Gradient Self-Potential Logging: Numerical Model and Field Experiment Data, Quashnet River, Massachusetts, October 2017 (ver. 2.0, November 2020)
This data release contains waterborne self-potential (SP) logging data measured during 48 laboratory experiments and three field experiments that were performed to develop an efficient, accurate method for detecting (in the laboratory) and geolocating (in the field) focused vertical groundwater discharge (surface-water gains) and recharge (surface-water losses) in a river. The experimental proceduThermal Infrared images and field data on areas of groundwater discharge in the Farmington River watershed
Areas of groundwater discharge are hydrologically and ecologically important, and yet are difficult to predict at the river network scale. Thermal infrared imagery can be used to identify areas of groundwater discharge based on an observed temperature anomaly (colder during the late summer or warmer during the late winter). The thermal images, direct temperature measurements (11 cm depth) and discHydrologic, biogeochemical, and radon data collected within and adjacent to the Little Wind River near Riverton, Wyoming
The U.S. Geological Survey is studying the interaction of a contaminated groundwater plume enriched in uranium and other trace elements with water, sediment, and biota along a 3 km reach of the Little Wind River in central Wyoming. The source of the contaminants is from a reclaimed uranium mill site near Riverton, Wyoming. The study is being done in collaboration with the Department of Energy, UniHydrogeochemical data for the characterization of stream, groundwater, and beaver-induced floodplain exchange in the East River Science Focus Area, Crested Butte, CO
The U.S. Geological Survey, along with scientists from Rutgers University, collected water chemistry, electromagnetic, redox-potential, dissolved oxygen, water flow rate, and water temperature data along stream and river corridors in multiple sub-watersheds of the East River Science Focus Area (SFA) near Crested Butte, CO. The concept of 'river corridor' science recognizes that the quality of flowThermal infrared, multispectral, and photogrammetric data collected by drone for hydrogeologic analysis of the East River and Coal Creek beaver-impacted corridors near Crested Butte, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude (typically 200-350 ft als) airborne thermal infrared, multispectral, and visual imagery data via a multirotor, small unoccupied aircraft system deployed along beaver-impacted sections of the East River and Coal Creek stream corridors, near the town of Crested Butte, CO. Visual imagery was collected in jpg format, and the images were compiled automaData Release for Lake Shadow Seepage Calculations from Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, MA, 2016 - 2018
Hydrologic data were collected in the nearshore lake-bottom sediments of five lakes on western Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Ashumet (Falmouth), Long (Centerville), Santuit (Mashpee), Shubael (Barnstable), and Snake (Sandwich) Ponds. Water budgets of flow-through glacial kettle lakes are commonly dominated by groundwater flow into and surface-water seepage out of the lake, and inputs and losses from prFiber-optic distributed temperature sensing and near-surface geophysical data collected along the Santuit River, Mashpee, MA.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has been studying brook trout populations in Cape Cod groundwater-fed river systems for decades. Recently, a notable reduction in trout population in the Santuit River sparked the concern of several groups, including the Wampanoag Tribe. Brook trout population dynamics may be tied to water quality and temperature changes, which are both impactedTemperature data collected in the Indian River Lagoon to evaluate groundwater seepage, Brevard County, Florida
The data set includes temperature data from the base of the water column and below the bottom of the Indian River Lagoon, Brevard County, Florida. Data were collected near Eau Gallie, Melbourne, Florida and Riverwalk Park, Rockledge, Florida, on the western shore of the Lagoon. These data will ultimately be used to evaluate groundwater seepage. Data collection includes, temperature profiling using2016-2017 Geophysical data from the Kuparuk aufeis, North Slope, AK
This release contains geophysical data from the Kuparuk aufeis associated with the manuscript "Seasonal thaw dynamics of an aufeis feature inferred from surface geophysical methods." Data were collected in two campaigns in September 2016 and April 2017 with the purpose of investigating freeze-thaw dynamics below the aufeis feature during maximally frozen and maximally thawed conditions. Ground penGeophysical data collected within and adjacent to the Little Wind River near Riverton, Wyoming
This data release contains geophysical data collected at the Little Wind River site near Riverton, Wyoming in 2015 and 2017. The dataset contains:[1] Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing data (FO-DTS, August-September 2015) collected in the water along the river bank, [2] Electrical Resistivity Tomography data (ERT, August 2017) collected on land near the river bank, and [3] Frequency domaiElectrical geophysical data collected in the shallow sediments of Snake Pond, Cape Cod, USA
Quantification of mobile/less-mobile porosity dynamics at the sediment/water interface is critical to predicting contaminant storage, release, and transformation processes. Zones in groundwater flow-through lakes where lake water recharges the aquifer can strongly control aquifer water quality. Less-mobile porosity has previously been characterized in aquifers using flow path scale (10's of m+) trSeismic data for study of shallow mountain bedrock limits seepage-based headwater climate refugia, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
A combination of long-term daily temperature records and depth to bedrock measurements were used to parametrize one-dimensional models of shallow aquifer vertical heat transport in Shenandoah National Park, VA, USA. Depth to bedrock can directly influence shallow aquifer flow and thermal sensitivity, but is typically ill-defined along the stream corridor in steep mountain catchments. We employed r - Multimedia
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Characterizing physical properties of streambed interface sediments using in situ complex electrical conductivity measurements
Streambed sediment physical properties such as surface area, are difficult to quantify in situ but exert a high‐level control on a wide range of biogeochemical processes and sorption of contaminants. We introduce the use of complex electrical conductivity (CC) methods (also known as spectral induced polarization (SIP)) that measure both real and imaginary conductivity to non‐invasively and efficieAuthorsCheng-Hui Wang, Martin A. Briggs, Frederick Day-Lewis, L. SlaterHeed the data gap: Guidelines for using incomplete datasets in annual stream temperature analyses
Stream temperature data are useful for deciphering watershed processes important for aquatic ecosystems. Accurately extracting signal trends from stream temperature is essential for predicting responses of environmental and ecological indicators to change. Missing data periods are common for various reasons, and pose a challenge for scientists using temperature signal analysis to support stream reAuthorsZachary C. Johnson, Brittany G. Johnson, Martin A. Briggs, Craig D. Snyder, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Warren DevineSmall atoll fresh groundwater lenses respond to a combination of natural climatic cycles and human modified geology
Freshwater lenses underlying small ocean islands exhibit spatial variability and temporal fluctuations in volume, influencing ecologic management. For example, The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge harbors one of the few surviving native stands of Pisonia grandis in the central Pacific Ocean, yet these trees face pressure from groundwater salinization, with little basic groundwater data to guAuthorsMartin A. Briggs, J Cantelon, B. Kurylyk, Justin T. Kulongoski, Audrey Mills, John W. LaneGeochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters
Releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewaters can have complex effects on stream-water quality and downstream organisms, due to sediment-water interactions and groundwater/surface water exchange. Previously, elevated concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), and lithium (Li), and trace hydrocarbons were determined to be key markers of OG wastewater releases when combineAuthorsIsabelle M. Cozzarelli, Douglas B. Kent, Martin A. Briggs, Mark A Engle, Adam Benthem, Katherine Skalak, Adam Mumford, Jeanne B. Jaeschke, Aida Farag, John W. Lane, Denise M. AkobAufeis fields as novel groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the arctic cryosphere
River aufeis (ow′ fīse) are widespread features of the arctic cryosphere. They form when river channels become locally restricted by ice, resulting in cycles of water overflow and freezing and the accumulation of ice, with some aufeis attaining areas of ~ 25 + km2 and thicknesses of 6+ m. During winter, unfrozen sediments beneath the insulating ice layer provide perennial groundwater‐habitat thatAuthorsAlexander D. Huryn, M. Gooseff, P. Hendrickson, Martin A. Briggs, K. Tape, Neil TerryGroundwater discharges as a source of phytoestrogens and other agriculturally derived contaminants to streams
Groundwater discharge zones in streams are important habitats for aquatic organisms. The use of discharge zones for thermal refuge and spawning by fish and other biota renders them susceptible to potential focused discharge of groundwater contamination. Currently, there is a paucity of information about discharge zones as a potential exposure pathway of chemicals to stream ecosystems. Using thermaAuthorsTyler J. Thompson, Martin A. Briggs, Patrick J. Phillips, Vicki S. Blazer, Kelly L. Smalling, Dana W. Kolpin, Tyler WagnerImproved prediction of management-relevant groundwater discharge characteristics throughout river networks
Groundwater discharge zones connect aquifers to surface water, generating baseflow and serving as ecosystem control points across aquatic ecosystems. The influence of groundwater discharge on surface flow connectivity, fate and transport of contaminants and nutrients, and thermal habitat depends strongly on hydrologic characteristics such as the spatial distribution, age, and depth of source grounAuthorsJanet R. Barclay, J. Jeffrey Starn, Martin A. Briggs, Ashley HeltonCharacterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology
The hydrogeology below large surface water features such as rivers and estuaries is universally under-informed at the long reach to basin scales (tens of km+). This challenge inhibits the accurate modeling of fresh/saline groundwater interfaces and groundwater/surface water exchange patterns at management-relevant spatial extents. Here we introduce a towed, floating transient electromagnetic (TEM)AuthorsJohn W. Lane, Martin A. Briggs, PK Maurya, Eric A. White, JB Pedersen, Esben Auken, Neil Terry, Burke J. Minsley, Wade Kress, Denis R. LeBlanc, Ryan F. Adams, Carole D. JohnsonExperimental shifts of hydrologic residence time in a sandy urban stream sediment-water interface alter nitrate removal and nitrous oxide fluxes
The sediment–water interfaces (SWI) of streams serve as important biogeochemical hotspots in watersheds and contribute to whole-catchment reactive nitrogen budgets and water-quality conditions. Recently, the SWI has been identified as an important source of nitrous oxide (N2O) produced in streams, with SWI residence time among the principal controls on its production. Here, we conducted a series oAuthorsT. Hampton, J. Zarnetske, Martin A. Briggs, F. M. P. Dehkordy, K. Singha, Frederick Day-Lewis, Judson Harvey, S. R. Chowdhury, John W. LaneSeasonal manganese transport in the hyporheic zone of a snowmelt-dominated river (East River, Colorado)
Manganese (Mn) plays a critical role in river-water quality because Mn-oxides serve as sorption sites for contaminant metals. The aim of this study is to understand the seasonal cycling of Mn in an alpine streambed that experiences large spring snowmelt events and the potential responses to changes in snowmelt timing and magnitude. To address this goal, annual variations in river-water/groundwaterAuthorsS. Bryant, A. Sawyer, Martin A. Briggs, C. Saup, A. R Nelson, M. J. Wilkins, J. R. Christensen, K. H. WilliamsPaired air-water annual temperature patterns reveal hydrogeological controls on stream thermal regimes at watershed to continental scales
Despite decades of research into air and stream temperature dynamics, paired air-water annual temperature signals have been underutilized to characterize watershed processes. Annual stream temperature dynamics are useful in classifying fundamental thermal regimes and can enhance process-based interpretation of stream temperature controls, including deep and shallow groundwater discharge, when pairAuthorsZachary C. Johnson, Brittany G. Johnson, Martin A. Briggs, Warren Devine, Craig D. Snyder, Nathaniel P. Hitt, D. Hare, T. MinkovaHillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream
Emerging groundwater contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface-water quality and groundwater-dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near-surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study we used a combinatio
AuthorsMartin A. Briggs, Andrea K. Tokranov, Robert B. Hull, Denis R. LeBlanc, A. Haynes, John W. Lane