Publications
USGS research activities relevant to Alaska have yielded more than 9400 historical publications. This page features some of the most recent newsworthy research findings.
Filter Total Items: 2891
Black brant from Alaska staging and wintering in Japan
Black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) nest in colonies in arctic Canada, Alaska, and Russia (Derksen and Ward 1993, Sedinger et al. 1993). Virtually the entire population stages in fall at Izembek Lagoon near the tip of the Alaska Peninsula (Bellrose 1976) before southward migration (Dau 1992) to winter habitats in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja California (Subcommitt
Authors
Dirk V. Derksen, K.S. Bollinger, David H. Ward, J.S. Sedinger, Y. Miyabayashi
Occurrence of selected contaminants in water, fish tissue, and streambed sediments in central Nebraska, 1992-95
Surface and ground water in Nebraska may contain contaminants resulting from human activities. For purposes of this publication, a contaminant is any element or compound whose presence may affect the water's suitability for certain uses. For example, herbicide concentrations may exceeed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Health Advisory Levels (HAL) for drinking water or trace-elem
Authors
Steven A. Frenzel
Balancing the three R's (regulation, research, and restoration) on the Kenai River, Alaska
The Kenai River is Alaska’s most popular salmon sport fishery. By attracting fishermen, the river contributes about $40 million annually to the local economy. Much of the fishing effort is in pursuit of the river’s chinook salmon, which are among the largest in the world. Many people benefit from the river through its numerous recreational opportunities or by making a living providing fishery supp
Authors
Joseph M. Dorava, Gary S. Liepitz
Volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory 1995
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) responded to eruptive activity or suspected volcanic activity (SVA) at 6 volcanic centers in 1995: Mount Martin (Katmai Group), Mount Veniaminof, Shishaldin, Makushin, Kliuchef/Korovin, and Kanaga. In addition to responding to eruptive activity at Alaska volcanoes, AVO also disseminated information for the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) on t
Authors
Robert G. McGimsey, Christina A. Neal
Alaska resource data file: Holy Cross quadrangle
No abstract available.
Authors
W. J. Keith, Marti L. Miller
Volcanic activity in Alaska: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory 1994
During 1994, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) responded to eruptions, possible eruptions, or false alarms at nine volcanic centers-- Mount Sanford, Iliamna, the Katmai group, Kupreanof, Mount Veniaminof, Shishaldin, Makushin, Mount Cleveland and Kanaga (table 1). Of these volcanoes, AVO has a real time, continuously recording seismic network only at Iliamna, which is located in the Cook Inlet
Authors
Christina A. Neal, Michael P. Doukas, Robert G. McGimsey
Arctic nesting geese: Alaskan populations
North American populations of most goose species have remained stable or have increased in recent decades (USFWS and Canadian Wildlife Service 1986). Some populations, however, have declined or historically have had small numbers of individuals, and thus are of special concern. Individual populations of geese should be maintained to ensure that they provide aesthetic, recreational, and ecological
Authors
Jerry W. Hupp, Robert A. Stehn, Craig R. Ely, Dirk V. Derksen
Sea otters in the northern Pacific Ocean
About 250 years ago sea otters (Enhydra lutris) were distributed continuously from central Baja California, north and west along the Pacific Rim to Machatka Peninsula in Russia, and south along the Kuril Island to northern Japan (Kenyon 1969; Fig. 1a). Several hundred thousand sea otters may have occurred in the north Pacific region when commercial hunting began in the 18th century (Riedman and Es
Authors
James L. Bodkin, Ronald J. Jameson, James A. Estes
ENSO events in the northern Gulf of Alaska, and effects on selected marine fisheries
The 1991-93 El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event first appeared in the northern Gulf of Alaska in autumn 1991 with warm sea-surface temperatures. In winter 1992, there were pulses of increased sea level and anomalous circulation. El Nino conditions persisted at least through summer 1993. The effects of this ENSO event on major groundfish species and Pacific herring in the northern Gulf of Ala
Authors
K.M. Bailey, S.A. Macklin, R.K. Reed, R.D. Brodeur, W.J. Ingraham, John F. Piatt, M. Shima, R.C. Francis, P.J. Anderson, T.C. Royer, A. Hollowed, D.A. Somerton, W.S. Wooster
Survival estimation and the effects of dependency among animals
Survival models assume that fates of individuals are independent, yet the robustness of this assumption has been poorly quantified. We examine how empirically derived estimates of the variance of survival rates are affected by dependency in survival probability among individuals. We used Monte Carlo simulations to generate known amounts of dependency among pairs of individuals and analyzed these d
Authors
Joel A. Schmutz, David H. Ward, James S. Sedinger, Eric A. Rexstad
Earthquakes in Alaska
Earthquake risk is high in much of the southern half of Alaska, but it is not the same everywhere. This map shows the overall geologic setting in Alaska that produces earthquakes. The Pacific plate (darker blue) is sliding northwestward past southeastern Alaska and then dives beneath the North American plate (light blue, green, and brown) in southern Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, George Plafker
Pack structure and genetic relatedness among wolf packs in a naturally-regulated population
Observations of wolf pack dynamics over a six-year period in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, found high rates of intraspecific strife, wolf pack dissolution and new pack formation, and the acceptance of new wolves into established packs. These observations corroborate genetic studies that found more genetic links between packs, and more genetic diversity within packs, than would be expe
Authors
Thomas J. Meier, John W. Burch, L. David Mech, Layne G. Adams