Martin A Briggs
Biography
Although my specialty is in surface water/groundwater exchange processes, here at the Hydrogeophysics Branch we work on a wide range of pressing national hydrological issues. The Hydrogeophysics Branch supports state water science centers when hydro-geophysical tools and training are required, and we collaborate with academic institutions on pioneering water research. One of our central missions at the Branch is training and method development so we travel around the country giving workshops and field testing new methods. I also contribute directly to the USGS IWP and NGWOS Water Mission Area Programs, and co-advise several graduate students at the University of Connecticut. Please reach out if you are interested in our objectives, methods, and/or research.
Science and Products
PFAS Transport, Exposure, and Effects
The team is determining the movement and behavior of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from their sources in the environment, as they move through exposure pathways in ecosystems including watersheds and aquifers, their incorporation into food webs, and molecular to population scale effects on fish and wildlife. These studies are accomplished at a variety of spatial scales from...
Groundwater Discharge is a Pathway for Phytoestrogen and Herbicide Entry to Streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Groundwater discharge zones are important spawning areas for fish because they provide a thermally stable habitat. Research at three streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed with areas of focused groundwater discharge revealed that groundwater also is a source of phytoestrogens and herbicides that could result in fish exposure during sensitive life stages.
A hydrological framework to improve precision of Vital Signs metrics in the Appalachian highlands
Stream flow is a fundamental driver of ecological structure and function, but its influence on bioassessment measures is poorly understood. Although extreme flow conditions (e.g., floods and droughts) have long been known to play a central role in structuring stream communities, a mechanistic understanding of the linkages between flow variables, landscape and local physical characteristics,...
Handheld Thermal Imaging Cameras for Groundwater/Surface-Water Interaction Studies
USGS scientists are using high-resolution handheld thermal imaging cameras in groundwater/surface-water interaction studies and other investigations. These cameras are used to quickly locate and characterize thermal anomalies in streams, lakes, and adjacent structures. Variations in temperature can be used to track the heat carried by flowing water, such groundwater discharge into a stream....
What does groundwater have to do with ice in Alaska?
USGS scientists are working alongside university researchers in Alaska to understand how groundwater and permafrost conditions change over time due to seasonal variations and climate change. Changes in permafrost can pose a threat to built infrastructure (like roads, homes, and pipelines) and to valued ecological resources that provide important habitats for wildlife.
Geophysics for USGS Groundwater/Surface Water Interaction Studies
Understanding the interaction of groundwater and surface water is essential to water managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resource policy, protection, and management. The USGS conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange.
Hydrogeophysics — Storrs, Connecticut
About the Research
The Environmental Health Program collaborates with geophysicists and hydrologists to develop, demonstrate, and support the application of geophysical methods to environmental-health investigations. They have expertise in a diverse suite of geophysical field methods including electrical, electromagnetic, seismic, radar, gravity, and thermal; these...
Thermal infrared and photogrammetric data collected by small unoccupied aircraft system for the evaluation of wetland restoration design at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Small unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) are now often used for collecting aerial visible image data and creating 3D digital surface models (DSM) that incorporate terrain and dense vegetation. Lightweight thermal sensors provide another sensor option for generation of sub meter resolution aerial thermal infrared orthophotos that can be used to infer hydrogeological processes. UAS-based sen
Hydrogeochemical 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’ scienc
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
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 wer
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
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 wer
Temperature and Seepage Data from the Nearshore Bottom Sediments of Five Groundwater Flow-Through Glacial Kettle Lakes, Western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2015-18
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 la
Fiber-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
Geophysical 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 b
Hydrologic, biogeochemical, and radon data collected within and adjacent to the Little Wind River near Riverton, Wyoming (ver. 1.1, January 2019)
The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, University of Montana, Northern Arapaho Tribe, and Liverpool John Moores University, 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 c
Temperature and geophysical data collected along the Quashnet River, Mashpee/Falmouth MA
The temperature and surface geophysical data contained in this release have primarily been collected to support groundwater/surface water methods development, and to characterize the hydrogeological controls on native brook trout habitat. All data have been collected since 2010 along the Quashnet River corridor located on Cape Cod, MA, USA. Cape Cod is a peninsula in southeastern coastal
Temperature and Seepage Data from a Lake-Bottom Permeable Reactive Barrier, Ashumet Pond, Falmouth, MA, 2004-2015
This data release includes geospatial datasets, comma separated values (.csv) files, and associated FGDC-compliant metadata representing data collected between 2004 and 2015 as part of a study of groundwater/surface-water interaction in the area of a lake-bottom permeable reactive barrier at Ashumet Pond, Falmouth, Massachusetts. The data sets are organized by type: (1) Fiber
Temperature and geophysical data collected along the Quashnet River, Mashpee/Falmouth MA
The temperature and surface geophysical data contained in this release have primarily been collected to support groundwater/surface water methods development, and to characterize the hydrogeological controls on native brook trout habitat. All data have been collected since 2010 along the Quashnet River corridor located on Cape Cod, MA, USA. Cape Cod is a peninsula in southeastern coastal
Electrical geophysical data collected in the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve Near Moab, Utah
Quantitative evaluation of groundwater/surface water exchange dynamics is universally challenging in large river systems, because existing physical methodology often does not yield spatially-distributed data and is difficult to utilize in deeper water. Here we apply combined frequency domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) and direct contact vertical electrical sounding (VES) measure
Investigation of scale-dependent groundwater/surface-water exchange in rivers by gradient self-potential logging: Numerical modeling and field experiments
Exchanges of groundwater and surface-water are fundamental to a wide range of water-supply and water-quality management issues but challenging to map beyond the reach scale. Waterborne gradient self-potential (SP) measurements are directly sensitive to water flow through riverbed sediments and can be used to infer exchange locations, direction (...
Ikard, Scott; Briggs, Martin; Lane, John W. Evaluation of riverbed magnetic susceptibility for mapping biogeochemical hot spots in groundwater-impacted rivers
Redox hot spots occurring as metal-rich anoxic groundwater discharges through oxic wetland and river sediments commonly result in the formation of iron (Fe) oxide precipitates. These redox-sensitive precipitates influence the release of nutrients and metals to surface water and can act as ‘contaminant sponges’ by absorbing toxic compounds. We...
Wang, Cheng-Hui; Briggs, Martin; Day-Lewis, Frederick; Slater, L. An ecohydrological typology for thermal refuges in streams and rivers
Thermal refuges are thermally distinct riverscape features used by aquatic organisms during unfavorable thermal events, facilitating resilience in marginal environments. However, the thermal refuge concept is nebulous, and the often interchangeable use of the term ‘thermal refugia’ creates additional ambiguity. We argue that lexical differences...
Sullivan, C.; Vokoun, J.; Helton, A. M.; Briggs, Martin A.; Kurylyk, B. Continental-scale analysis of shallow and deep groundwater contributions to streams
Groundwater discharge generates streamflow and influences stream thermal regimes. However, the water quality and thermal buffering capacity of groundwater depends on the aquifer source-depth. Here, we pair multi-year air and stream temperature signals to categorize 1729 sites across the continental United States as having major dam influence,...
Hare, D.; Helton, A. M.; Johnson, Zachary C.; Lane, Jr., John W.; Briggs, Martin A. Ground‐penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, terrain, and vegetation observations coupled with machine learning to map permafrost distribution at Twelvemile Lake, Alaska
We collected ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and frequency‐domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) profiles in 2011 and 2012 to identify the extent of permafrost relative to surface biomass and solar insolation around Twelvemile Lake near Fort Yukon, Alaska. We compared a Landsat‐derived biomass estimate and modeled solar insolation from a digital...
Campbell, S.; Briggs, Martin A.; Roy, S.P.; Douglas, T. A.; Saari, S. Using heat to trace vertical water fluxes in sediment experiencing concurrent tidal pumping and groundwater discharge
Heat has been widely applied to trace groundwater‐surface water exchanges in inland environments, but it is infrequently applied in coastal sediment where head oscillations induce periodicity in water flux magnitude/direction and heat advection. This complicates interpretation of temperatures to estimate water fluxes. We investigate the...
LeRoux, N; Kurylyk, B.; Briggs, Martin A.; Irvine, D.; Tamborski, J; Bense, V. F. 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...
Wang, Cheng-Hui; Briggs, Martin A.; Day-Lewis, Frederick; Slater, L. Heed 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...
Johnson, Zachary C.; Johnson, Brittany G.; Briggs, Martin A.; Snyder, Craig D.; Hitt, Nathaniel P.; Devine, Warren Small 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...
Briggs, Martin A.; Cantelon, J; Kurylyk, B.; Kulongoski, Justin T.; Mills, Audrey; Lane, Jr., John W. Geochemical 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...
Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.; Kent, Douglas B.; Briggs, Martin A.; Engle, Mark A; Benthem, Adam; Skalak, Katherine; Mumford, Adam; Jaeschke, Jeanne B.; Farag, Aida; Lane, Jr., John W.; Akob, Denise M. Aufeis 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...
Huryn, Alexander D.; Gooseff, M.; Hendrickson, P.; Briggs, Martin A.; Tape, K.; Terry, Neil Groundwater 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...
Tyler J. Thompson; Briggs, Martin; Phillips, Patrick J.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Smalling, Kelly; Kolpin, Dana W.; Wagner, Tyler