Conference Papers
Science Quality and Integrity
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
Browse almost 5,000 conference papers authored by our scientists and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.
Filter Total Items: 5326
Effects of topographic data quality on estimates of shallow slope stability using different regolith depth models
Thickness of colluvium or regolith overlying bedrock or other consolidated materials is a major factor in determining stability of unconsolidated earth materials on steep slopes. Many efforts to model spatially distributed slope stability, for example to assess susceptibility to shallow landslides, have relied on estimates of constant thickness, constant depth, or simple models of thickness (or de
Authors
Rex L. Baum
Episodic formation of the world-class Waihi epithermal Au-Ag vein system, Hauraki Goldfield, New Zealand
The world-class Waihi vein system in New Zealand has produced more than 248,400 kg Au and 1.43 million kg Ag. New high-precision 40Ar/39Ar dates of adularia from different veins show that some veins formed at different times (6.15 Ma Martha vs. 5.83 and 5.85 Ma Empire and Welcome, respectively), even though they have similar mineralogy. The Martha vein formed over a period of approximately 150,000
Authors
Erin Gasston, Jeffrey L. Mauk, Michael A. Cosca, Leah E. Morgan, Chris M. Hall
Evaluation of modeled bacteria loads along an impaired stream reach receiving discharge from a municipal separate storm sewer system in Independence, Mo.
The Little Blue River in Jackson County, Missouri, was listed as impaired in 2012 due to Escherichia coli (E. coli) from urban runoff and storm sewers. A study was initiated to characterize E. coli concentrations and loads to aid in the development of a total maximum daily load implementation plan. Longitudinal sampling along the stream revealed spatial and temporal variability in E. coli loads. R
Authors
Allison Flickinger, Eric D. Christensen
From submarine to lacustrine groundwater discharge
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and its role in marine nutrient cycling are well known since the last decade. The freshwater equivalent, lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD), is often still disregarded, although first reports of LGD are more than 50 years old. We identify nine different reasons why groundwater has long been disregarded in both freshwater and marine environments such as inv
Authors
Jörg Lewandowski, Karin Meinikmann, Franziska Pöschke, Gunnar Nützmann, Donald O. Rosenberry
Identification of the Polaris Fault using lidar and shallow geophysical methods
As part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Dam Safety Assurance Program, Martis Creek Dam near Truckee, CA, is under evaluation for earthquake and seepage hazards. The investigations to date have included LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and a wide range of geophysical surveys. The LiDAR data led to the discovery of an important and previously unknown fault tracing very near and possi
Authors
Lewis E. Hunter, Michael H. Powers, Bethany L. Burton
Imaging of earthquake faults using small UAVs as a pathfinder for air and space observations
Large earthquakes cause billions of dollars in damage and extensive loss of life and property. Geodetic and topographic imaging provide measurements of transient and long-term crustal deformation needed to monitor fault zones and understand earthquakes. Earthquake-induced strain and rupture characteristics are expressed in topographic features imprinted on the landscapes of fault zones. Small UAVs
Authors
Andrea Donnellan, Joseph Green, Adnan Ansar, Joseph Aletky, Margaret Glasscoe, Yehuda Ben-Zion, J. Ramón Arrowsmith, Stephen B. DeLong
Influence of the Eastern California Shear Zone on deposition of the Mio-Pliocene Bouse Formation: Insights from the Cibola area, Arizona
The Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ) is a wide zone of late Cenozoic strike-slip faults and related diffuse deformation that currently accommodates ~20–25% of relative Pacific–North America plate motion in the lower Colorado River region (Fig. 1A; Dokka and Travis, 1990; Miller et al., 2001; Guest et al., 2007; Mahan et al., 2009). The ECSZ is kinematically linked southward to dextral faults i
Authors
Rebecca J. Dorsey, Brennan O'Connell, Mindy B. Homan, Scott E. K. Bennett
Investigation of input reduction techniques for morphodynamic modeling of complex inlets with baroclinic forcing
The Mouth of the Columbia River (MCR) is a complex estuary inlet system characterized by a buoyant plume created
by high freshwater flows from the Columbia River into the Pacific Ocean. Data obtained during two major field
campaigns have resulted in a comprehensive dataset of hydrodynamics and sediment transport under high (2013) and
low (2005) river flow conditions. Through the analysis of this d
Authors
Guy R. Gelfenbaum, Edwin Elias, Andrew W. Stevens
Lidar-Based Rock-Fall Hazard Characterization of Cliffs
Rock falls from cliffs and other steep slopes present numerous challenges for detailed geological characterization. In steep terrain, rock-fall source areas are both dangerous and difficult to access, severely limiting the ability to make detailed structural and volumetric measurements necessary for hazard assessment. Airborne and terrestrial lidar survey methods can provide high-resolution data n
Authors
Brian D. Collins, Greg M.Stock
Linking fluvial and aeolian morphodynamics in the Grand Canyon, USA
In river valleys, fluvial and upland landscapes are intrinsically linked through sediment exchange between the active channel, near-channel fluvial deposits, and higher elevation upland deposits. During floods, sediment is transferred from channels to low-elevation nearchannel deposits [Schmidt and Rubin, 1995]. Particularly in dryland river valleys, subsequent aeolian reworking of these flood dep
Authors
Alan Kasprak, Sara G. Bangen, Daniel Buscombe, Joshua Caster, Amy E. East, Paul E. Grams, Joel B. Sankey
Micro-seismicity within the Coso Geothermal field, California, from 1996-2012
We extend our previous catalog of seismicity within the Coso Geothermal field by adding over two and a half years of additional data to prior results. In total, we locate over 16 years of seismicity spanning from April 1996 to May of 2012 using a refined velocity model, apply it to all events and utilize differential travel times in relocations to improve the accuracy of event locations. The impro
Authors
J. Ole Kaven, Stephen H. Hickman, Lisa C. Weber
Modeling waterfowl habitat selection in the Central Valley of California to better understand the spatial relationship between commercial poultry and waterfowl
Wildlife researchers frequently study resource and habitat selection of wildlife to understand their potential habitat requirements and to conserve their populations. Understanding wildlife spatial-temporal distributions related to habitat have other applications such as to model interfaces between wildlife and domestic food animals in order to mitigate disease transmission to food animals. The hi
Authors
Elliott Matchett, Michael L. Casazza, Joseph P. Fleskes, T. Kelman, M. Cadena, M. Pitesky