Publications
This list of Water Resources Mission Area publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists. A searchable database of all USGS publications can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 19116
Catchments by major river basins in the conterminous United States: 30-Year average daily minimum temperature, 1971-2000 Catchments by major river basins in the conterminous United States: 30-Year average daily minimum temperature, 1971-2000
This tabular data set represents thecatchment-average for the 30-year (1971-2000) average daily minimum temperature in Celsius multiplied by 100 compiled for every MRB_E2RF1 catchment of selected Major River Basins (MRBs, Crawford and others, 2006). The source data were the United States Average Monthly or Annual Minimum Temperature, 1971 - 2000 raster data set produced by the PRISM...
Authors
Michael Wieczorek, Andrew E. LaMotte
Novel silver tubing method for quantitative introduction of water into high temperature conversion systems for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic measurements Novel silver tubing method for quantitative introduction of water into high temperature conversion systems for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic measurements
A new method to seal water in silver tubes for use in a TC/EA reduction unit using a semi-automated sealing apparatus can yield reproducibilities (1 standard deviation) of δ2H and &delta18O measurements of 1.0 ‰ and 0.06 ‰, respectively. These silver tubes containing reference waters may be preferred for calibration of H- and O-bearing materials analyzed with a TC/EA reduction unit. The...
Authors
Haiping Qi, Manfred Groning, Tyler B. Coplen, Bryan Buck, Stanley J. Mroczkowski, Willi A. Brand, Heike Geilmann, Matthias Gehre
Isotope reference materials Isotope reference materials
Measurement of the same isotopically homogeneous sample by any laboratory worldwide should yield the same isotopic composition within analytical uncertainty. International distribution of light element isotopic reference materials by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology enable laboratories to achieve this goal.
Authors
Tyler B. Coplen
The tidally averaged momentum balance in a partially and periodically stratified estuary The tidally averaged momentum balance in a partially and periodically stratified estuary
Observations of turbulent stresses and mean velocities over an entire spring–neap cycle are used to evaluate the dynamics of tidally averaged flows in a partially stratified estuarine channel. In a depth-averaged sense, the net flow in this channel is up estuary due to interaction of tidal forcing with the geometry of the larger basin. The depth-variable tidally averaged flow has the...
Authors
M.T. Stacey, Matthew L. Brennan, Jon R. Burau, Stephen G. Monismith
Gene movement and genetic association with regional climate gradients in California valley oak (Quercus lobata Née) in the face of climate change Gene movement and genetic association with regional climate gradients in California valley oak (Quercus lobata Née) in the face of climate change
Rapid climate change jeopardizes tree populations by shifting current climate zones. To avoid extinction, tree populations must tolerate, adapt, or migrate. Here we investigate geographic patterns of genetic variation in valley oak, Quercus lobata Née, to assess how underlying genetic structure of populations might influence this species’ ability to survive climate change. First, to...
Authors
Victoria L. Sork, Frank W. Davis, Robert Westfall, Alan L. Flint, Makihiko Ikegami, Hongfang Wang, Delphine Grivet
Carbon and hydrogen isotopic evidence for the origin of combustible gases in water-supply wells in north-central Pennsylvania Carbon and hydrogen isotopic evidence for the origin of combustible gases in water-supply wells in north-central Pennsylvania
The origin of the combustible gases in groundwater from glacial-outwash and fractured-bedrock aquifers was investigated in northern Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Thermogenic methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6) and microbial CH4 were found. Microbial CH4 is from natural in situ processes in the shale bedrock and occurs chiefly in the bedrock aquifer. The δ13C values of CH4 and C2H6 for the...
Authors
K. M. Revesz, K. J. Breen, A.J. Baldassare, R.C. Burruss
Determining sources of dissolved organic carbon and disinfection byproduct precursors to the McKenzie River, Oregon Determining sources of dissolved organic carbon and disinfection byproduct precursors to the McKenzie River, Oregon
This study was conducted to determine the main sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors to the McKenzie River, Oregon (USA). Water samples collected from the mainstem, tributaries, and reservoir outflows were analyzed for DOC concentration and DBP formation potentials (trihalomethanes [THMFPs] and haloacetic acids [HAAFPs]). In addition...
Authors
Tamara E.C. Kraus, Chauncey W. Anderson, Karl Morgenstern, Bryan D. Downing, Brian A. Pellerin, Brian A. Bergamaschi
Simulation and analysis of conjunctive use with MODFLOW's farm process Simulation and analysis of conjunctive use with MODFLOW's farm process
The extension of MODFLOW onto the landscape with the Farm Process (MF-FMP) facilitates fully coupled simulation of the use and movement of water from precipitation, streamflow and runoff, groundwater flow, and consumption by natural and agricultural vegetation throughout the hydrologic system at all times. This allows for more complete analysis of conjunctive use water-resource systems...
Authors
R. T. Hanson, W. Schmid, C.C. Faunt, B. Lockwood
Comparison of watershed disturbance predictive models for stream benthic macroinvertebrates for three distinct ecoregions in western US Comparison of watershed disturbance predictive models for stream benthic macroinvertebrates for three distinct ecoregions in western US
The successful use of macroinvertebrates as indicators of stream condition in bioassessments has led to heightened interest throughout the scientific community in the prediction of stream condition. For example, predictive models are increasingly being developed that use measures of watershed disturbance, including urban and agricultural land-use, as explanatory variables to predict...
Authors
Ian R. Waite, Larry R. Brown, Jonathan G. Kennen, Jason T. May, Thomas F. Cuffney, James L. Orlando, Kimberly A. Jones
Analysis of the Arctic system for freshwater cycle intensification: Observations and expectations Analysis of the Arctic system for freshwater cycle intensification: Observations and expectations
Hydrologic cycle intensification is an expected manifestation of a warming climate. Although positive trends in several global average quantities have been reported, no previous studies have documented broad intensification across elements of the Arctic freshwater cycle (FWC). In this study, the authors examine the character and quantitative significance of changes in annual...
Authors
M.A. Rawlins, M. Steele, M.M. Holland, J.C. Adam, J.E. Cherry, J.A. Francis, P.Y. Groisman, L. D. Hinzman, T.G. Huntington, D.L. Kane, J.S. Kimball, R. Kwok, R.B. Lammers, C.M. Lee, D.P. Lettenmaier, K.C. McDonald, E. Podest, J.W. Pundsack, B. Rudels, Mark C. Serreze, A. Shiklomanov, O. Skagseth, T.J. Troy, C. J. Vorosmarty, M. Wensnahan, E.F. Wood, R. Woodgate, D. Yang, K. Zhang, T. Zhang
Quantifying data worth toward reducing predictive uncertainty Quantifying data worth toward reducing predictive uncertainty
The present study demonstrates a methodology for optimization of environmental data acquisition. Based on the premise that the worth of data increases in proportion to its ability to reduce the uncertainty of key model predictions, the methodology can be used to compare the worth of different data types, gathered at different locations within study areas of arbitrary complexity. The...
Authors
A.M. Dausman, J. Doherty, C.D. Langevin, M.C. Sukop
Grid-size dependence of Cauchy boundary conditions used to simulate stream-aquifer interactions Grid-size dependence of Cauchy boundary conditions used to simulate stream-aquifer interactions
This work examines the simulation of stream–aquifer interactions as grids are refined vertically and horizontally and suggests that traditional methods for calculating conductance can produce inappropriate values when the grid size is changed. Instead, different grid resolutions require different estimated values. Grid refinement strategies considered include global refinement of the...
Authors
S. Mehl, M. C. Hill