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
Main channel river water temperature collected along the East Branch, West Branch, and mainstem Delaware River down to Lordville near Handcock, NY, USA in summer 2021
Stream Temperature, Dissolved Radon, and Stable Water Isotope Data Collected along Headwater Streams in the Upper Neversink River Watershed, NY, USA (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
Waterborne Gradient Self-potential, Temperature, and Conductivity Logging of the Upper part of the Delaware River between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York, June-July 2021
Passive seismic data collected along headwater stream corridors in Shenandoah National Park in 2016 - 2020
Frequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) geophysical data collected near the Agashashok River in the Noatak National Preserve, AK
Depth to bedrock determined from passive seismic measurements, Neversink River watershed, NY (USA)
Surface geophysical data for characterizing shallow, discontinuous frozen ground near Fort Yukon, Alaska
Geophysical and direct groundwater data collected on Palmyra Atoll to study fresh/saline groundwater interfaces from 2008 to 2019
Temperature and geophysical data collected along the Quashnet River, Mashpee/Falmouth MA (ver. 2.0, March 2020)
Thermal infrared and photogrammetric data collected by drone for hydrogeologic characterization around two US Geological Survey Next Generation Water Observing Systems stream gage locations near Claryville, NY, USA
Surface Geophysical data collected along Blacktail Creek in June 2017 near Williston, North Dakota, USA
Near-surface geophysical data collected along streams near Silverton, Colorado, USA (ver. 2.0, May 2022)
Using ensemble data assimilation to estimate transient hydrologic exchange flow under highly dynamic flow conditions
GW/SW-MST: A groundwater/surface-water method selection tool
Near-surface geophysics perspectives on Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) Science
Where groundwater seeps: Evaluating modeled groundwater discharge patterns with thermal infrared surveys at the river-network scale
Where groundwater seeps: Evaluating modeled groundwater discharge patterns with thermal infrared surveys at the river-network scale
Exploring local riverbank sediment controls on the occurrence of preferential groundwater discharge points
Investigation of scale-dependent groundwater/surface-water exchange in rivers by gradient self-potential logging: Numerical modeling and field experiments
Evaluation of riverbed magnetic susceptibility for mapping biogeochemical hot spots in groundwater-impacted rivers
An ecohydrological typology for thermal refuges in streams and rivers
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, shallow or deep groundwater signatures, or lack of pron
Ground‐penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, terrain, and vegetation observations coupled with machine learning to map permafrost distribution at Twelvemile Lake, Alaska
Using heat to trace vertical water fluxes in sediment experiencing concurrent tidal pumping and groundwater discharge
Science and Products
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Main channel river water temperature collected along the East Branch, West Branch, and mainstem Delaware River down to Lordville near Handcock, NY, USA in summer 2021
The Upper Delaware River is a unique example of an aquatic system where summer river temperature is actively managed for ecological purposes. River temperature at the mainstem Delaware River at Lordville, NY gage (USGS 01427207) is targeted to remain below 25 degrees C, with warm events potentially mitigated via directed upstream reservoir releases, a process guided by predictive tools. These direStream Temperature, Dissolved Radon, and Stable Water Isotope Data Collected along Headwater Streams in the Upper Neversink River Watershed, NY, USA (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
This data release contains three data types that could potentially be used to infer spatiotemporal variability in groundwater discharge processes, along with other research and monitoring purposes: 1) Temporally continuous stream channel water temperature and adjacent streambank air temperature time series data (generally starting November 2020) as well as limited temperature data from May to OctoWaterborne Gradient Self-potential, Temperature, and Conductivity Logging of the Upper part of the Delaware River between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York, June-July 2021
This data release contains waterborne gradient self-potential (SP), surface-water temperature, surface-water conductivity and specific conductance, and surface-water nitrate concentration data measured continuously in the upper part of the Delaware River along approximately 123 kilometers (km) between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York. All of the data were measured from a kayak between June 27 andPassive seismic data collected along headwater stream corridors in Shenandoah National Park in 2016 - 2020
In July 2016, July 2019, and March 2020, 318 seismic recordings were acquired at locations within Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, using MOHO Tromino Model TEP-3C three-component seismometers to assess depth to bedrock using the HVSR method. This method requires a measurement of estimate of shear wave velocity, which depends on the regolith sediment composition and density, for the conversion oFrequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) geophysical data collected near the Agashashok River in the Noatak National Preserve, AK
Frequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) data were collected in September 2016 near the Agashashok River and its tributaries, within the Noatak National Preserve near Kotzebue, AK to aid in local permafrost mapping. Data were collected with a GEM-2 instrument (1.6 m coil separation, Geophex, Ltd.); a broadband sensor that measures the bulk conductivity and magnetic susceptibility of the sDepth to bedrock determined from passive seismic measurements, Neversink River watershed, NY (USA)
This data release documents streambed sediment thickness in the Neversink watershed (NY) as determined by field observations and HVSR passive seismic measurements, and were collected as an extension of a previous data set collected in the same watershed (see Associated Items). These measurements were made between May 17, 2021 and May 21, 2021 using MOHO Tromino three-component seismometers (MOHO,Surface geophysical data for characterizing shallow, discontinuous frozen ground near Fort Yukon, Alaska
The distribution of permafrost in cold regions is subject to temporal and spatial changes influenced by climate, landscape disturbance, and ecosystem succession. Remote sensing from airborne and satellite platforms is increasing our understanding of landscape-scale permafrost distribution, but typically lacks the resolution to characterize finer-scale processes and phenomena, which are often betteGeophysical and direct groundwater data collected on Palmyra Atoll to study fresh/saline groundwater interfaces from 2008 to 2019
The surface ecology of small ocean islands is directly linked to subsurface fresh water resources, which exist in the form of soil water and fresh groundwater lenses. The management of threaten plant species such as the tree Pisonia grandis needs to consider the spatial and temporal dynamics of groundwater lenses, particularly in a time of climate change. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife RefugeTemperature and geophysical data collected along the Quashnet River, Mashpee/Falmouth MA (ver. 2.0, March 2020)
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 MassachusThermal infrared and photogrammetric data collected by drone for hydrogeologic characterization around two US Geological Survey Next Generation Water Observing Systems stream gage locations near Claryville, NY, USA
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected low-altitude (typically 200-350 ft above land surface) airborne thermal infrared, and visual imagery data via a multirotor, small unoccupied aircraft system (UAS or 'drone') deployed along the river corridor encompassing two U.S. Geological Survey Next Generation Water Observing Systems (NGWOS) stream gage locations near Claryville, NY, USA. One site isSurface Geophysical data collected along Blacktail Creek in June 2017 near Williston, North Dakota, USA
The extraction of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources often produces highly saline waste waters, which can be released to the river corridor environment during spills and pipe leakage. In North Dakota, USA more than 8,000 spills were recorded from 2008-2015, and more than half of those spills were related to pipelines. Data collected for this study were related to UOG wastewater leakage froNear-surface geophysical data collected along streams near Silverton, Colorado, USA (ver. 2.0, May 2022)
Near-surface geophysical data from within the Bonita Peak Mining District in Silverton, Colorado, USA are presented. The data include fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) and frequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) data collected in and around roughly 1 km reaches of Cement Creek and California Gulch. Additional data, including ground penetrating radar (GPR) and self pote - Multimedia
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Using ensemble data assimilation to estimate transient hydrologic exchange flow under highly dynamic flow conditions
Quantifying dynamic hydrologic exchange flows (HEFs) within river corridors that experience high-frequency flow variations caused by dam regulations is important for understanding the biogeochemical processes at the river water and groundwater interfaces. Heat has been widely used as a tracer to infer steady-state flow velocities through analytical solutions of heat transport defined by the diurnaAuthorsK. C. Chen, Xingyuan Chen, X. Song, Martin Briggs, P. Jiang, P. Shuai, G. Hammond, H. Zhang, J. ZacharaGW/SW-MST: A groundwater/surface-water method selection tool
Groundwater/surface-water (GW/SW) exchange and hyporheic processes are topics receiving increasing attention from the hydrologic community. Hydraulic, chemical, temperature, geophysical, and remote sensing methods are used to achieve various goals (e.g., inference of GW/SW exchange, mapping of bed materials, etc.), but the application of these methods is constrained by site conditions such as wateAuthorsSteven Hammett, Frederick Day-Lewis, Brett Russell Trottier, Paul M. Barlow, Martin A. Briggs, Geoffrey N. Delin, Judson Harvey, Carole D. Johnson, John W. Lane, D. O. Rosenberry, Dale D. WerkemaNear-surface geophysics perspectives on Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) Science
Pointing to the Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (ICON-FAIR) principles, we have determined several opportunities for implementation within the realm of near-surface geophysics (NSG), representing a broad range of data acquisition and processing technologies. Our work explores the multifaceted community-driven nature of NSG and,AuthorsM. Salman, L. Slater, Martin A. Briggs, L. LiWhere groundwater seeps: Evaluating modeled groundwater discharge patterns with thermal infrared surveys at the river-network scale
Predicting baseflow dynamics, protecting aquatic habitat, and managing legacy contaminants requires explicit characterization and prediction of groundwater discharge patterns throughout river networks. Using handheld thermal infrared (TIR) cameras, we surveyed 47 km of stream length across the Farmington River watershed (1,570 km2; CT and MA, USA), mapping locations of bank and waterline groundwatAuthorsJanet R. Barclay, Martin A. Briggs, Eric Moore, J. Jeffrey Starn, Ann E.H. Hanson, Ashley HeltonWhere groundwater seeps: Evaluating modeled groundwater discharge patterns with thermal infrared surveys at the river-network scale
Predicting baseflow dynamics, protecting aquatic habitat, and managing legacy contaminants requires explicit characterization and prediction of groundwater discharge patterns throughout river networks. Using handheld thermal infrared (TIR) cameras, we surveyed 47 km of stream length across the Farmington River watershed (1,570 km2; CT and MA, USA), mapping locations of bank and waterline groundwatAuthorsJanet R. Barclay, Martin A. Briggs, Eric Moore, J. Jeffrey Starn, Ann E.H. Hanson, Ashley HeltonExploring local riverbank sediment controls on the occurrence of preferential groundwater discharge points
Groundwater discharge to rivers takes many forms, including preferential groundwater discharge points (PDPs) along riverbanks that are exposed at low flows, with multi-scale impacts on aquatic habitat and water quality. The physical controls on the spatial distribution of PDPs along riverbanks are not well-defined, rendering their prediction and representation in models challenging. To investigateAuthorsMartin A. Briggs, Kaetlyn Jackson, F. Liu, Eric Moore, Alaina Bisson, A. M. HeltonInvestigation 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 (gain versus loss), scale, and relative changes, but tAuthorsScott Ikard, Martin A. Briggs, John W. LaneEvaluation 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 explore the feasibility of a non-invasive, high-resolutAuthorsCheng-Hui Wang, Martin A. Briggs, Frederick Day-Lewis, L. SlaterAn 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 resulting from divergent scholarly trainings hinder hAuthorsC. Sullivan, J. Vokoun, A. M. Helton, Martin A. Briggs, B. KurylykContinental-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, shallow or deep groundwater signatures, or lack of pron
AuthorsD. Hare, A. M. Helton, Zachary C. Johnson, John W. Lane, Martin A. BriggsGround‐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 elevation model to the geophysical measurements. WeAuthorsS. Campbell, Martin A. Briggs, S.P. Roy, T. A. Douglas, S. SaariUsing 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 convolution of thermal and hydraulic signals to assess the viAuthorsN LeRoux, B. Kurylyk, Martin A. Briggs, D. Irvine, J Tamborski, V. F. Bense