Publications
Browse more than 160,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
Mission Area Publications
Mission Area Publications
We are focused on some of the most significant issues society faces, and our science is making a substantial contribution to the well-being of the Nation and the world. Learn more about the major topics our research covers and the programs focused on those topics.
Filter Total Items: 171804
Estimation of site terms in ground-motion models for California using horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios from microtremor
The horizontal‐to‐vertical spectral ratios from microtremor (mHVSR) data obtained at 196 seismic stations in California are used to evaluate three alternative microtremor‐based proxies for site amplification for use in ground‐motion models (GMMs): the site fundamental period (f0), the period‐dependent amplitude of the mHVSR(T), and the normalized amplitude of the mHVSR(T). The alternative parame
Authors
Camilo Pinilla Ramos, Norman A. Abrahamson, Robert Kayen
Rapid and gradual permafrost thaw: A tale of two sites
Warming temperatures and increasing disturbance by wildfire and extreme weather events is driving permafrost change across northern latitudes. The state of permafrost varies widely in space and time, depending on landscape, climate, hydrologic, and ecological factors. Despite its importance, few approaches commonly measure and monitor the changes in deep (>1 m) permafrost conditions with high spat
Authors
Burke J. Minsley, Neal Pastick, Stephanie R. James, Dana R.N. Brown, Bruce K. Wylie, Mason A. Kass, Vladimir E. Romanovsky
One Health in action: Flea control and interpretative education at Badlands National Park
One Health involves interdisciplinary collaboration to improve, protect, and preserve the health of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems, and advocates for unified approaches to One Health challenges (Buttke et al. 2015). Here, we focus on a One Health challenge of nearly global distribution: Yersinia pestis, the flea-borne bacterial agent of plague. The bacterium poses a significant risk to humans an
Authors
David A. Eads, Lindsey Buehler, Anne Esbenshade, Jason Fly, Evan Miller, Holly Redmond, Emily Ritter, Caitlyn Tynes, Sasha Wittmann, Paul Roghair, Eddie Childers
Postfire debris flow hazards—Tips to keep you safe
Often referred to as “mudflows,” debris flows are a type of landslide made up of a rapidly moving mixture of dirt, rocks, trees, and water (and sometimes ash) that start on a hillside and travel downvalley. They can easily overflow channels and severely damage houses, vehicles, or other structures. Areas burned by wildfires are especially susceptible to these hazards, which can be triggered by sto
Authors
Steven Sobieszczyk, Jason W. Kean
Groundwater, surface-water, and water-chemistry data, Black Mesa area, northeastern Arizona—2018–2019
The Navajo (N) aquifer is an extensive aquifer and the primary source of groundwater in the 5,400-square-mile Black Mesa area in northeastern Arizona. Water availability is an important issue in the Black Mesa area because of the arid climate, past industrial water use, and continued water requirements for municipal use by a growing population. Precipitation in the area typically ranges from less
Authors
Jon P. Mason
Embedded critical material flow: The case of niobium, the United States, and China
Niobium, often classified as critical, is typically embedded within steels essential for infrastructure and transportation. Most niobium-consuming countries are import-dependent on primary stage niobium, meaning traditional material flow analysis, which often excludes critical commodities embedded within products of large-scale industries, would miss important flows in the fabrication and manufact
Authors
Dalton Miles Mccaffrey, Nedal T. Nassar, Simon M. Jowitt, Abraham J. Padilla, Laurence R. Bird
Permafrost and climate change: Carbon cycle feedbacks from the warming Arctic
Rapid Arctic environmental change affects the entire Earth system as thawing permafrost ecosystems release greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Understanding how much permafrost carbon will be released, over what time frame, and what the relative emissions of carbon dioxide and methane will be is key for understanding the impact on global climate. In addition, the response of vegetation in a warmin
Authors
Edward A. Schuur, Benjamin Abbott, Roisin Commane, Jessica Ernakovich, Eugenie S. Euskirchen, Gustaf Hugelius, Guido Grosse, Miriam C. Jones, Charlie Koven, Victor Leyshk, David J Lawrence, Michael M Loranty, Marguerite Mauritz, David Olefeldt, Susan M Natali, Heidi Rodenhizer, Verity Salmon, Christina Schädel, Jens Strauss, Claire C. Treat, Merritt Turetsky
Ophidiomycosis is related to seasonal patterns of reproduction, ecdysis, and thermoregulatory behavior in a free-living snake species
Informed and effective management of emerging infectious diseases can be improved by a clear understanding of host–pathogen–environment interactions. Impacts of the seasonal environment on pathogen dynamics and host responses are poorly described in most reptile host–fungal pathogen systems. Here, we describe seasonal patterns of ophidiomycosis, a disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiic
Authors
C. M. Lind, J. Agugliaro, Jeffrey M. Lorch, T. M. Farrell
Comparative behavioral ecotoxicology of Inland Silverside larvae exposed to pyrethroids across a salinity gradient
Pyrethroids, a class of commonly used insecticides, are frequently detected in aquatic environments, including estuaries. The influence that salinity has on organism physiology and the partitioning of hydrophobic chemicals, such as pyrethroids, has driven interest in how toxicity changes in saltwater compared to freshwater. Early life exposures in fish to pyrethroids cause toxicity at environmenta
Authors
Sara Hutton, Samreen Siddiqui, Emily Pedersen, Christopher Markgraf, Amelie Segarra, Michelle Hladik, Richard E Connon, Susanne M. Brander
It’s time for focused in situ studies of planetary surface-atmosphere interactions
A critical gap in planetary observations has been in situ characterization of extra-terrestrial, present-day atmospheric and surface environments and activity. While some surface activity has been observed and some in situ meteorological measurements have been collected by auxiliary instruments on Mars, existing information is insufficient to conclusively characterize the natural processes via con
Authors
Serina Diniega, Nathan Barba, Louis Giersch, Brian Jackson, Alejandro Soto, Don Banfield, Mackenzie D. Day, Gary Doran, Colin M. Dundas, Michael Mischna, Scot Rafkin, Isaac B. Smith, Rob Sullivan, Christy Swann, Timothy N. Titus, Ian J. Walker, Jacob Widmer, Devon M. Burr, Lukas Mandrake, Nathalie Vriend, Kaj E. Williams
The Grand Caddis hatch of JASM 2022: Trichoptera natural history observations at the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA)
In a stroke of good luck for aquatic scientists and insect enthusiasts, the May 2022 Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting (JASM) in Grand Rapids, Michigan coincided with a spectacular hatch of hydropsychid caddisflies. To estimate density, we enumerated caddisflies on 12 polarized window panels on the western face of the DeVos Place, which faced the Grand River. We found an average of 57.8 caddisflies p
Authors
Anya Metcalfe, Angelika L. Kurthen, Jared Freedman, Alexander B. Orfinger
Drivers of Pb, Sb and As release from spent gunshot in wetlands: Enhancement by organic matter and native microorganisms
In many countries the use of lead-based ammunition is prevalent, and results in exposure and poisoning of waterfowl and other species of birds. In waterfowl hunting areas large quantities of spent shot may be deposited in wetland and terrestrial habitats. These pellets can undergo transformation, which are influenced by various abiotic and biotic factors. In addition to lead (Pb), other elements l
Authors
Anna Potysz, Łukasz J. Binkowski, Jakub Kierczak, Barnett A. Rattner