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Sylvia R. Gholson

I am a Physical Scientist at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystems Science Center

My research interests include leveraging remote sensing techniques and methodology, GIS, and spatial analysis to better understand water quality and ecological dynamics.

Professional Experience

  • 2024 - Present: USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Physical Scientist, Seattle, WA

  • 2023 - 2024: USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, Student Intern, Seattle, WA

  • 2023 - 2024: University of Washington Bothell, Research Assistant, Bothell, WA

  • 2022 - 2023: Cascadia College, Supplemental Instructor for Engineering Mechanical Physics, Bothell, WA

Education and Certifications

  • B.S. Earth Systems Science, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA (2024)

Honors and Awards

  • 2024 Academic Achievement Award in Earth System Science, University of Washington Bothell, School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Abstracts and Presentations

  • Gholson, S.R., Torgersen, C.E., Barker, M.I., Simeone, C.E., Faux, R.N., Mejia, F.H., Long, W.B., Overstreet, B.T., Briggs, M.A., and Hinds, M.O., Harnessing airborne thermal infrared survey data of stream temperature across the Willamette River basin, Oregon from 1999 to 2024, May 20 2026, Society of Freshwater Sciences 2026, Spokane, WA.

Science and Products

Submerged temperature logger mounted to cobble on riverbed.

Willamette River Basin thermalscapes: Visualizing stream temperatures in western Oregon

Water temperature is a critical control in freshwater biology and an important indicator of water quality in rivers and streams. The U.S. Geological Survey is working with tribal, federal, state, local, and non-profit partners to visualize, understand, and predict thermal changes by characterizing the “thermalscape” across space and time in the Willamette River Basin (WRB) in western Oregon...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Willamette River Basin thermalscapes: Visualizing stream temperatures in western Oregon

Willamette River Basin thermalscapes: Visualizing stream temperatures in western Oregon

Water temperature is a critical control in freshwater biology and an important indicator of water quality in rivers and streams. The U.S. Geological Survey is working with tribal, federal, state, local, and non-profit partners to visualize, understand, and predict thermal changes by characterizing the “thermalscape” across space and time in the Willamette River Basin (WRB) in western Oregon...
Learn More

If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request including the full citation, or call 541-750-1030.

Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024 Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024

This dataset includes georeferenced, high-resolution, airborne thermal infrared (TIR) and high-resolution true-color (RGB) imagery, a polyline shapefile of the channel centerline, a shapefile with TIR sample points for longitudinal stream temperature profile data, and a tabular file with longitudinal stream temperature profile data for the Santiam River basin and its tributaries, Oregon...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Tualatin River Basin, Oregon, July 1999 Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Tualatin River Basin, Oregon, July 1999

This dataset includes high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) and true-color images collected from crewed aircraft and a point shapefile and corresponding comma-delimited tabular data representing the longitudinal spatial patterns of water surface temperature in the surveyed streams in Tualatin River basin, Oregon. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) contracted Watershed...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024 Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024

This dataset includes georeferenced, high-resolution, airborne thermal infrared (TIR) and high-resolution true-color (RGB) imagery, a polyline shapefile of the channel centerline, a shapefile with TIR sample points for longitudinal stream temperature profile data, and a tabular file with longitudinal stream temperature profile data for the Santiam River basin and its tributaries, Oregon...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, McKenzie River Basin, Oregon, September 1999 Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, McKenzie River Basin, Oregon, September 1999

This dataset includes high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) and true-color images collected from crewed aircraft and a point shapefile and corresponding comma-delimited tabular data representing the longitudinal spatial patterns of water surface temperature in the surveyed streams in the McKenzie River basin, Oregon. The USDA Forest Service, McKenzie River Ranger District contracted...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, August 2000 Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, August 2000

This dataset includes high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) and true-color images collected from crewed aircraft and a point shapefile and corresponding comma-delimited tabular data representing the longitudinal spatial patterns of surface water temperature in the surveyed streams in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon. The aerial surveys were contracted through Watershed Sciences, LLC by...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Science and Products

Submerged temperature logger mounted to cobble on riverbed.

Willamette River Basin thermalscapes: Visualizing stream temperatures in western Oregon

Water temperature is a critical control in freshwater biology and an important indicator of water quality in rivers and streams. The U.S. Geological Survey is working with tribal, federal, state, local, and non-profit partners to visualize, understand, and predict thermal changes by characterizing the “thermalscape” across space and time in the Willamette River Basin (WRB) in western Oregon...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Willamette River Basin thermalscapes: Visualizing stream temperatures in western Oregon

Willamette River Basin thermalscapes: Visualizing stream temperatures in western Oregon

Water temperature is a critical control in freshwater biology and an important indicator of water quality in rivers and streams. The U.S. Geological Survey is working with tribal, federal, state, local, and non-profit partners to visualize, understand, and predict thermal changes by characterizing the “thermalscape” across space and time in the Willamette River Basin (WRB) in western Oregon...
Learn More

If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request including the full citation, or call 541-750-1030.

Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024 Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024

This dataset includes georeferenced, high-resolution, airborne thermal infrared (TIR) and high-resolution true-color (RGB) imagery, a polyline shapefile of the channel centerline, a shapefile with TIR sample points for longitudinal stream temperature profile data, and a tabular file with longitudinal stream temperature profile data for the Santiam River basin and its tributaries, Oregon...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Tualatin River Basin, Oregon, July 1999 Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Tualatin River Basin, Oregon, July 1999

This dataset includes high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) and true-color images collected from crewed aircraft and a point shapefile and corresponding comma-delimited tabular data representing the longitudinal spatial patterns of water surface temperature in the surveyed streams in Tualatin River basin, Oregon. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) contracted Watershed...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024 Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Summer 2024

This dataset includes georeferenced, high-resolution, airborne thermal infrared (TIR) and high-resolution true-color (RGB) imagery, a polyline shapefile of the channel centerline, a shapefile with TIR sample points for longitudinal stream temperature profile data, and a tabular file with longitudinal stream temperature profile data for the Santiam River basin and its tributaries, Oregon...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, McKenzie River Basin, Oregon, September 1999 Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, McKenzie River Basin, Oregon, September 1999

This dataset includes high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) and true-color images collected from crewed aircraft and a point shapefile and corresponding comma-delimited tabular data representing the longitudinal spatial patterns of water surface temperature in the surveyed streams in the McKenzie River basin, Oregon. The USDA Forest Service, McKenzie River Ranger District contracted...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, August 2000 Airborne Thermal Infrared and True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Santiam River Basin, Oregon, August 2000

This dataset includes high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) and true-color images collected from crewed aircraft and a point shapefile and corresponding comma-delimited tabular data representing the longitudinal spatial patterns of surface water temperature in the surveyed streams in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon. The aerial surveys were contracted through Watershed Sciences, LLC by...
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
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