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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.

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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.

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Filter Total Items: 171176

Geologic sources and well integrity impact methane emissions from orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells

The 160-year history of oil and gas drilling in the United States has left a legacy of unplugged orphaned and abandoned wells, some of which are leaking methane and other hazardous chemicals into the environment. The locations of around 120,000 documented orphaned wells are currently known with the number of undocumented orphaned wells possibly ranging towards a million. The bulk of methane emissi
Authors
Nicholas J. Gianoutsos, Karl B. Haase, Justin E. Birdwell
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Introduction to karst aquifers

No abstract available.
Authors
Eve L. Kuniansky, Charles J. Taylor, John H. Williams, Frederick Paillet

Conservation plan for golden eagles in eastern North America

No abstract available.
Authors
Todd E. Katzner, Tricia A. Miller, Andrew J. Dennhardt, Maxwell Field, Thomas Wittig, Elizabeth Mojica, Michael J. Lanzone, Mark S. Martell, Richard M. Bailey, Andrew Berry, Renee Dillard, David Brandes, David F. Brinker, Bracken Brown, Erynn M. Call, Jeffrey Cooper, Adam E. Duerr, Christopher J Farmer, Shilo K. Felton, Julie Garvin, Rolf Gubler, Sergio R. Harding, Michael Jones, Christine A. Kelly, Hardy Kern, Netawn Kiogima, Craig A. Koppie, Jerome Lemaitre, Mercedes Maddox, Scott Mehus, Joel Merriman, Amy Mitchell, Bill Parsons, Evan Patrick, Nora P. Pennarola, Margaret Rheude, Casey Rucker, Scott Rush, Ryan Schmitz, Hank Seltzer, Vincent A. Slabe, Eric C. Soehren, Johnny Wills
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

The haunting raptor: Yellowstone’s golden eagles

For many who live in North America, when picturing an eagle, the image of a large magnificent bird with a distinct white head and tail comes to mind. Rightfully, the bald eagle has garnered much attention as a national symbol of the United States (US), nearly brought to extinction from widespread organochlorine pesticide use (e.g., DDT, dichloro- diphenyl- trichloroethane; Anderson 1972, Baril et
Authors
David B. Haines, Douglas W. Smith, Todd E. Katzner, Victoria J. Dreitz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Evaluation of stream capture related to groundwater pumping, Lower Humboldt River Basin, Nevada

The Humboldt River Basin is the only river basin that is contained entirely within the State of Nevada. The effect of groundwater pumping on the Humboldt River is not well understood. Tools are needed to determine stream capture and manage groundwater pumping in the Humboldt River Basin. The objective of this study is to estimate capture and storage change caused by groundwater withdrawals in the
Authors
Cara A. Nadler, Susan C. Rybarski, Hai Pham
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

Conventional rare earth element mineral deposits: The global landscape

Four conventional mineral deposit types—carbonatite, alkaline igneous, heavy mineral sand, and regolith-hosted ion-adsorption clay deposits—currently supply global markets with the rare earth elements (REEs) and rare earth oxides (REOs) necessary to meet the technological needs of global communities. The unique properties of REEs make them useful in a wide variety of applications, such as alloys,
Authors
Nora K. Foley, Robert A. Ayuso
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Energy-related rare earth element sources

Energy-related materials such as coal, coal-bearing wastes, and coal combustion products are traditionally thought of as sources or by-products of electric power generation. Increasingly, these materials are considered resources for their content of rare earth elements (REEs) and other useful constituents. In this chapter, we examine the distribution, modes of occurrence, and relative extractabili
Authors
Allan Kolker, Liliana Lefticariu, Steven T. Anderson
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Groundwater discharge by evapotranspiration from the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River and contributing areas, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, California

The Amargosa Wild and Scenic River, located in the southwestern Mojave Desert in Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, California, is a Federally protected waterway that supports the biodiversity of the region. Water in the river primarily comes from interbasin groundwater flow that originates as precipitation in the Spring Mountains. The precipitation enters the regional groundwater system and flows
Authors
Michael T. Pavelko, Nancy A. Damar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

Atmospheric correction intercomparison of hyperspectral and multispectral imagery over agricultural study sites

In this research effort we assess the performance of atmospheric correction-based surface reflectance (SR) retrievals from two satellite image sources, one with very high spatial resolution (VHR) (
Authors
Brian T Lamb, W. Dean Hively, Jyoti Jennewein, Alison Thieme, Alex M. Soroka
By
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Connecting flood-related fluvial erosion and deposition with vulnerable downstream road-stream crossings

Fluvial erosion is increasingly responsible for infrastructure and building damages associated with floods as the intensity of extreme rainfalls hit rural and urban rivers in a variety of climate settings across the United States. Extreme floods in 2016 and 2018 caused widespread culvert blockages and road failures, including extensive damage along steep tributaries and ravines in the Marengo Rive
Authors
Faith Fitzpatrick, Kyle H. Magyera, Jason Laumann, Clement Larson, Stephanie Rockwood, Eric D. Dantoin, Tom Hollenhorst, Brandon Krumwiede, Brandon Ray Nelson, Julia G. Prokopec, Keegan Eland Johnson
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Preparing for future changes: Louisiana's Coast

Cooperator publication summarizing USGS publications in collaboration with Water Institute that are being used to inform Louisiana coastal policy.
Authors
Timothy Carruthers, Camille Stagg, Melissa Millman Baustian
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Bedform distributions and dynamics in a large, channelized river: Implications for benthic ecological processes

Sand bedforms are fundamental habitat elements for benthic fish in large, sand-bedded rivers and are hypothesized to provide flow refugia, food transport, and ecological disturbance. We explored bedform distributions and dynamics in the Lower Missouri River, Missouri, with the objective of understanding the implications of these features for benthic fish habitat, particularly for the endangered pa
Authors
Caroline M. Elliott, R. B. Jacobson, Bruce Call, Maura O Roberts
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center