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
Applied aspects of locomotion and biomechanics
Locomotion is the act and process of moving from place to place, which is fundamental to the life history of all mobile organisms. While the field of biomechanics encompasses the study of the physical constraints of what animals are capable of, ecological contexts require an integrated view that includes ecology and behavior. This chapter provides an overview of some of the areas where locomotion
Authors
Theodore R. Castro-Santos, Elsa Goerig, Pingguo He, George Lauder
Toward next-generation lava flow forecasting: Development of a fast, physics-based lava propagation model
During effusive volcanic crises, the eruption and propagation of lava flows pose a significant hazard to nearby populations, homes, and infrastructure. Consequently, timely lava flow forecasts are a critical need for volcano observatory and emergency management operations. Previous lava flow modeling tools are typically either too slow to produce timely forecasts, or are fast, but lack critical as
Authors
David M.R. Hyman, Hannah R. Dietterich, Matthew R. Patrick
Modeling protected species distributions and habitats to inform siting and management of pioneering ocean industries: A case study for Gulf of Mexico aquaculture
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) provides a process that uses spatial data and models to evaluate environmental, social, economic, cultural, and management trade-offs when siting (i.e., strategically locating) ocean industries. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector in the world. The United States (U.S.) has substantial opportunity for offshore aquaculture development given the size of its ex
Authors
Nicholas A Farmer, Jessica R Powell, James A Jr Morris, Melissa S Soldevilla, Lisa C. Wickliffe, Jonathan A Jossart, Jonathan K MacKay, Alyssa L Randall, Gretchen E Bath, Penny Ruvelas, Laura Gray, Jennifer Lee, Wendy Piniak, Lance Garrison, Robert Hardy, Kristen Hart, Christopher Sasso, Lesley Stokes, Kenneth L Riley
Very high Middle Miocene surface productivity on the U.S. mid-Atlantic shelf amid glacioeustatic sea level variability
The Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) provides important insights into how the climate system operates under elevated temperatures and atmospheric CO2 levels. Few western North Atlantic paleotemperature or paleoecological records exist from the MCO, despite their importance for understanding both regional and global climate dynamics. Here we present quantitative MCO paleoecological data from the west
Authors
Marci M. Robinson, Harry J. Dowsett, Timothy D. Herbert
Assessing human resources development in volcano observatories using the knowledge, attitude, and practice survey
The purpose of this study was to assess the role played by the International Training Course, given by the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes (CSAV) at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, in the development of human resources for volcano observatory staff around the world. The study design included a literature review, interviews with representatives from 10 national volcano observatories, an
Authors
Juan Pablo Sarmiento, Catalina Sarmiento, David W. Ramsey, Darcy Bevens
Diversity in spawning habitat use among Great Lakes Cisco populations
Cisco (Coregonus artedi) once dominated fish communities in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Restoring the abundance and distribution of this species has emerged as a management priority, yet our understanding of Cisco spawning habitat use is insufficient to characterise habitat needs for these populations and assess whether availability of suitable spawning habitat could be a constraint to recovery. W
Authors
Matthew R. Paufve, Suresh Sethi, Brian C. Weidel, Brian F. Lantry, Daniel Yule, Lars G. Rudstam, Jory L. Jonas, Eric K. Berglund, Michael J. Connerton, Dimitry Gorsky, Matthew Herbert, Jason Smith
HydroBench: Jupyter supported reproducible hydrological model benchmarking and diagnostic tool
Evaluating whether hydrological models are right for the right reasons demands reproducible model benchmarking and diagnostics that evaluate not just statistical predictive model performance but also internal processes. Such model benchmarking and diagnostic efforts will benefit from standardized methods and ready-to-use toolkits. Using the Jupyter platform, this work presents HydroBench, a model-
Authors
Edom Moges, Benjamin Ruddell, Liang Zhang, Jessica M. Driscoll, Parker A. Norton, Fernando Perez, Laurel Larsen
Modflow-setup: Robust automation of groundwater model construction
In an age of both big data and increasing strain on water resources, sound management decisions often rely on numerical models. Numerical models provide a physics-based framework for assimilating and making sense of information that by itself only provides a limited description of the hydrologic system. Often, numerical models are the best option for quantifying even intuitively obvious connection
Authors
Andrew T. Leaf, Michael N. Fienen
Hydrologic data for water-management plans—A resource for Tribal Governments in Oklahoma
IntroductionThe major streams in Oklahoma, and the alluvial aquifers associated with those major streams, are important resources for the 39 federally recognized Tribes in Oklahoma. Many Tribal Governments are interested in developing water-management plans (hereinafter referred to as “water plans”) to preserve water resources for the future. This report provides a general overview of the types of
Authors
MaryKate Higginbotham, Shana L. Mashburn
Simulation of regional groundwater flow and groundwater/lake interactions in the Central Sands, Wisconsin
A multiscale, multiprocess modeling approach was applied to the Wisconsin Central Sands region in central Wisconsin to quantify the connections between the groundwater system, land use, and lake levels in three seepage lakes in Waushara County, Wisconsin: Long and Plainfield (The Plainfield Tunnel Channel Lakes), and Pleasant Lakes. A regional groundwater-flow model, the Newton Raphson formulation
Authors
Michael N. Fienen, Megan J. Haserodt, Andrew T. Leaf, Stephen M. Westenbroek
Guide for interpreting and reporting luminescence dating results
The development and application of luminescence dating and dosimetry techniques have grown exponentially in the last several decades. Luminescence methods provide age control for a broad range of geological and archaeological contexts and can characterize mineral and glass properties linked to geologic origin, Earth-surface processes, and past exposure to light, heat, and ionizing radiation. The a
Authors
Shannon A. Mahan, Tammy M. Rittenour, Michelle S. Nelson, Nina Ataee, Nathan D. Brown, Regina DeWitt, Julie Durcan, Mary Evans, James K. Feathers, Marine Frouin, Guillaume Guérin, Maryam Heydari, Sebastien Huot, Mayank Jain, Amanda Keen-Zebert, Bo Li, Gloria I. López, Christina Neudorf, Naomi Porat, Kathleen Rodrigues, Andre O. Sawakuchi, Joel Q. G Spencer, Kristina Thomsen