Conference Papers
Science Quality and Integrity
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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.
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A methodology for post-mainshock probabilistic assessment of building collapse risk
This paper presents a methodology for post-earthquake probabilistic risk (of damage) assessment that we propose in order to develop a computational tool for automatic or semi-automatic assessment. The methodology utilizes the same so-called risk integral which can be used for pre-earthquake probabilistic assessment. The risk integral couples (i) ground motion hazard information for the location of
Authors
N. Luco, M.C. Gerstenberger, S.R. Uma, H. Ryu, A.B. Liel, M. Raghunandan
A nearshore processes field experiment at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, U.S.A.
A month-long field experiment focused on the nearshore hydrodynamics of Diamond Shoals adjacent to Cape Hatteras Point, North Carolina, was conducted in February 2010. The objectives of this multi-institutional experiment were to test hypotheses related to Diamond Shoals as a sink in the regional sediment budget and to provide data for evaluating numerical models. The experiment included in-situ i
Authors
Jeffrey H. List, John C. Warner, E. Robert Thieler, Kevin Haas, George Voulgaris, Jesse E. McNinch, Katherine L. Brodie
A probabilistic seismic risk assessment procedure for nuclear power plants: (II) Application
This paper presents the procedures and results of intensity- and time-based seismic risk assessments of a sample nuclear power plant (NPP) to demonstrate the risk-assessment methodology proposed in its companion paper. The intensity-based assessments include three sets of sensitivity studies to identify the impact of the following factors on the seismic vulnerability of the sample NPP, namely: (1)
Authors
Y.-N. Huang, A.S. Whittaker, N. Luco
A working environment for digital planetary data processing and mapping using ISIS and GRASS GIS
Since the beginning of planetary exploration, mapping has been fundamental to summarize observations returned by scientific missions. Sensor-based mapping has been used to highlight specific features from the planetary surfaces by means of processing. Interpretative mapping makes use of instrumental observations to produce thematic maps that summarize observations of actual data into a specific th
Authors
A. Frigeri, T. Hare, M. Neteler, A. Coradini, C. Federico, R. Orosei
Agricultural sources of contaminants of emerging concern and adverse health effects on freshwater fish
Agricultural contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are generally thought of as certain classes of chemicals associated with animal feeding and production facilities. Veterinary pharmaceuticals used in animal food production systems represent one of the largest groups of CECs. In our review, we discuss the extensive increase in use of antibiotics in animal feeding operations (AFOs) around the wor
Authors
Donald E. Tillitt, Herbert T. Buxton
An enhanced TIMESAT algorithm for estimating vegetation phenology metrics from MODIS data
An enhanced TIMESAT algorithm was developed for retrieving vegetation phenology metrics from 250 m and 500 m spatial resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indexes (VI) over North America. MODIS VI data were pre-processed using snow-cover and land surface temperature data, and temporally smoothed with the enhanced TIMESAT algorithm. An objective third derivativ
Authors
B. Tan, J.T. Morisette, R.E. Wolfe, F. Gao, G.A. Ederer, J. Nightingale, J.A. Pedelty
An open-water electrical geophysical tool for mapping sub-seafloor heavy placer minerals in 3D and migrating hydrocarbon plumes in 4D
A towed-streamer technology has been developed for mapping placer heavy minerals and dispersed hydrocarbon plumes in the open ocean. The approach uses induced polarization (IP), an electrical measurement that encompasses several different surface-reactive capacitive and electrochemical phenomena, and thus is ideally suited for mapping dispersed or disseminated targets. The application is operated
Authors
J. Wynn, M. Williamson, S. Urquhart, J. Fleming
An overview of estrogen-associated endocrine disruption in fishes: Evidence of effects on reproductive and immune physiology
Simply and perhaps intuitively defined, endocrine disruption is the abnormal modulation of normal hormonal physiology by exogenous chemicals. In fish, endocrine disruption of the reproductive system has been observed worldwide in numerous species and is known to affect both males and females. Observations of biologically relevant endocrine disruption most commonly occurs near waste water treatment
Authors
Luke R. Iwanowicz, Vicki S. Blazer
Analysis of trends in climate, streamflow, and stream temperature in north coastal California
As part of a broader project analyzing trends in climate, streamflow, vegetation, salmon, and ocean conditions in northern California national park units, we compiled average monthly air temperature and precipitation data from 73 climate stations, streamflow data from 21 river gaging stations, and limited stream temperature data from salmon-bearing rivers in north coastal California. Many climate
Authors
Mary Ann Madej
Approach for environmental baseline water sampling
Samples collected during the exploration phase of mining represent baseline conditions at the site. As such, they can be very important in forecasting potential environmental impacts should mining proceed, and can become measurements against which future changes are compared. Constituents in stream water draining mined and mineralized areas tend to be geochemically, spatially, and temporally varia
Authors
K. S. Smith
Assessing field-scale biogeophysical signatures of bioremediation over a mature crude oil spill
We conducted electrical geophysical measurements at the National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Natural Attenuation Research Site (Bemidji, MN). Borehole and surface self-potential measurements do not show evidence for the existence of a biogeobattery mechanism in response to the redox gradient resulting from biodegradation of oil. The relatively small self potentials recorded are instead consistent wit
Authors
Lee Slater, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Estella Atekwana, Farag Mewafy, Andre Revil, Magnus Skold, Yuri Gorby, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, John W. Lane, Jared J. Trost, Dale D. Werkema, Geoffrey N. Delin, William N. Herkelrath
Barriers on the brink? The complex intertwined roles of geologic framework, sediment availability and sea-level rise in island evolution
Sensitivity experiments in the North Carolina Outer Banks (OBX) have previously revealed that substrate sand proportion, followed by substrate slope, sea-level rise rate and sediment-loss rate are the most important factors in determining how barrier islands respond to sea-level rise. High sediment-loss rates and low substrate sand proportions cause barriers to be smaller and more deeply incised.
Authors
Laura Moore, Jeffrey H. List, S. Jeffress Williams, Kiki Patsch