Glacier-caused flooding is an annual threat in Juneau, with record-breaking floods over the past two years impacting hundreds of homes. The USGS provides real-time monitoring data to help emergency managers make informed decisions about evacuations and road closures.
According to a new USGS study, approximately 71-95 million people in the Lower 48 states may rely on groundwater containing detectable concentrations of PFAS for their drinking water supplies. The predictive model helps understand the potential for PFAS contamination and informs strategic planning for water resources.
The USGS has released a new map showing areas most prone to landslides across the US. The map highlights regions with high susceptibility to landslides, enabling scientists and policymakers to prepare for potential disasters and implement mitigation strategies.
A recent USGS study found that red-backed salamanders have higher densities and biomass than expected, playing a key role in terrestrial temperate ecosystems. The discovery suggests that salamanders are more prevalent than previously suspected, and their disappearance could have significant ecosystem-level consequences.
A new study reveals surprising findings about mercury pollution patterns in ecosystems, where it comes from and how it moves vary significantly. Dragonfly larvae are found to be a cost-effective indicator of mercury contamination in nearly every aquatic habitat, providing valuable insights for resource management decisions.
The new USGS National Seismic Hazard Model shows nearly 75% of the US is at risk for damaging earthquakes, with a color-coded map highlighting areas most prone to shaking. The model identifies over 500 additional faults that could produce damaging quakes, updating the landscape of earthquake research.
A large USGS study assesses methylmercury in adult amphibians, finding it to be a toxic compound that bioaccumulates in animals as they feed. The study's results provide new methods and baseline data for assessing mercury risk in endangered species, including those listed under the Endangered Species Act.
New research confirms the age of the White Sands footprints using multiple lines of evidence, including radiocarbon dating and pollen analysis. The study provides strong support for the 21,000 to 23,000-year age estimate, resolving a controversy sparked by earlier results.
A groundbreaking study has revealed widespread and frequent lead poisoning in North American bald and golden eagles, affecting both species' populations. Lead exposure is causing population growth rates to slow for bald eagles by 3.8 percent annually.
A new USGS-led study outlines a means to better estimate COVID-19 occurrence and trends in populations by utilizing coordinated sampling and statistical analysis. This approach will help health officials make informed decisions about vaccine effectiveness, social distancing measures and other mitigation efforts.
A new global atlas of ungulate (hooved mammal) migrations will help governments and conservationists identify threats to migratory species and advance conservation measures. The initiative, launched with UN support, aims to sustain wildlife migrations in the face of expanding human footprint.
Piping plover populations have been found to differ in their nesting habitat preferences along the Atlantic Coast, with those in New England favoring backshore habitats and Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions opting for overwash areas. These differences may be related to the availability of food, as birds in overwash areas often move tow...
A new USGS study reveals lower reproductive rates and higher movement patterns among piping plovers in the Northern Great Plains, suggesting a higher extinction risk than previously assumed. Habitat quality appears to be key, with better habitats supporting improved reproductive output.
A new study by the USGS found that the risk of COVID-19 transmission to North American bats is low, with a risk of 1 in 1,000 if no protective measures are taken. The risk falls lower with proper use of personal protective equipment or if scientists test negative for COVID-19 before beginning research.
The USGS has created precise maps of the Mars 2020 landing site in Jezero crater, which will help the Perseverance rover steer itself to a safe landing. These high-resolution maps are essential for unlocking the mysteries of the red planet's past and searching for evidence of past life.
Researchers found that native 'ohi'a seedlings can survive for at least a year in areas with active mortality from Rapid 'ohi'a Death, a fungal disease devastating to Hawaiian forests. Seedlings were six times more likely to die if weeds were allowed to grow around them.
The USGS report evaluates the global supply of and US demand for 52 mineral commodities between 2007 and 2016, identifying those posing the greatest supply risk. The top-risk minerals include rare earth elements, cobalt, niobium, and tungsten, which are crucial for mobile devices, renewable energy, aerospace, and defense applications.
A new study suggests that vaccination could reduce the impact of white-nose syndrome in bats by providing immunity against the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Bats immunized against Pd were less likely to develop WNS or die from the disease in two initial scientific trials.
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey's Mid-Atlantic Resource Imaging Experiment (MATRIX) provides new insights into gas hydrate features and structures below the seafloor. The research cruise acquires over 2,000 kilometers of marine seismic data, revealing shallow gas deposits and structural features beneath methane seeps.
A recent USGS report combines ecosystem services and adaptive decision-making to aid land managers in making informed decisions. The approach helps weigh development against water quality, balancing benefits and drawbacks of solar energy facilities and regulating migratory waterfowl hunting
Sea-level rise and wave-driven flooding will make freshwater resources non-potable, threatening human populations on low-lying atoll islands. The tipping point for unavailability of potable groundwater is projected to be reached by the middle of the 21st century.
The USGS and DOE have released a comprehensive dataset of U.S. wind turbine locations and characteristics, enabling accurate planning and research. The database contains over 57,000 turbines and allows users to search and sort the wind fleet by various criteria.
Scientists developed a first laboratory test to pick up traces of manatee's genetic material in waterways. The innovative environmental DNA test can reveal whether one or more of the elusive marine mammals has been in the area within the past month.
Scientists used 3D data to calculate voltages along power lines in the mid-Atlantic region, finding significantly different results compared to previous 1D calculations. The study suggests that 3D data should be used whenever available to determine vulnerable areas of the power grid.
Scientists have discovered a cryptic ecosystem in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where methane and bacteria form the basis of a food web dominated by crustaceans. The study provides a model for coastal groundwater ecology and establishes a baseline for evaluating the impact of stressors on these ecosystems.
New research identifies Recurring Slope Lineae on Mars as granular flows, not liquid water, indicating present-day Mars may lack significant liquid water. The study supports the hypothesis that Mars is dry and limits Earth-like life near its surface.
A new study reveals that severe Perkinsea infections (SPI) is the third most common infectious disease of frogs in North America. Mass mortalities caused by SPI resulted in up to 95% tadpole population deaths, further jeopardizing frog populations.
A recent study found that Lake Michigan's altered ecosystem could better support lake trout and steelhead due to reduced Chinook salmon stocking. The lake's open-water food web dynamics have changed significantly since the 1970s, becoming less productive as a result of decreased nutrients.
The USGS has awarded $4.9 million to six universities and a non-profit organization to support the transition of the ShakeAlert system into a production system. The partnership aims to improve the sensor and telemetry infrastructure across the western United States.
A recent study by the USGS found that the deadly fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans can be transported by bats and people visiting contaminated sites in summer. Guano accounted for 93% of bat-associated detections, while equipment and sediment samples also tested positive for fungal DNA.
A study by Massey University and the USGS found that Indiana bats that warm up together from hibernation have better survival rates against white-nose syndrome. Thermal surveillance cameras revealed that these bats rouse together every night, suggesting group arousals may be associated with disease survival.
A new study suggests that converting marginal cropland to monarch-friendly habitat is the most effective way to add milkweed and restore the eastern migratory monarch population. Planting milkweeds in protected areas, urban, and suburban locations may also be necessary to achieve a full population recovery.
Researchers reconstructed green turtle skin in a lab to study tumor diseases and grow a virus called ChHV5. This breakthrough helps understand fibropapillomatosis, a deadly tumor disease affecting endangered turtles worldwide.
A new study estimates that global inland fishery harvests may be as high as 12 million tons per year, far exceeding previous estimates. This could significantly contribute to global food security and economic stability, as well as provide valuable resources for recreation and tourism.
A USGS and Michigan State University study discovered that slower sea lamprey growth rates during the larval phase increase the odds of becoming male. In productive environments, only 56% of sea lampreys were male after three years, whereas in unproductive lakes, 78% became male.
Research found that higher levels of grazing early in the growing season decline sage-grouse population trends, while similar levels of grazing later in the season correspond with increases. Grazing management actions can positively affect sage-grouse populations by increasing food resources and nesting cover.
A USGS study reveals that changes in temperature and precipitation patterns may cause desert surfaces to become lighter, altering energy exchange between the planet and its atmosphere. This could lead to increased albedo, slowing the earth's warming rate, but also resulting in soil erosion and decreased fertility.
A new set of maps shows that spring is arriving ahead of schedule across the US, with areas such as California, Kansas, and Ohio seeing early blooms. The study highlights the challenges posed by earlier springs for planning and managing issues affecting the economy and society.
Researchers conclude that warming climate causes gas hydrate breakdown, but emissions are small and mostly remain in undersea sediments. The study challenges the popular perception of catastrophic methane releases from hydrates.
A new USGS study finds that most abandoned oil and gas pads on the Colorado Plateau are characterized by reduced vegetation cover, even after 9 years. The DART approach used in the study suggests that land stewardship and environmental gradients can impact pad recovery.
A new technique uses remote sensing to assess coastal salt marshes' potential to survive environmental challenges. The UVVR ratio is a good surrogate for labor-intensive field studies, tracking the main destructive processes in marshes.
A USGS-led study found that high temperatures and lower humidity kill off ticks that transmit Lyme disease, making it less common in the South. The researchers discovered that southern black-legged ticks tend to stay hidden under leaves to retain moisture, increasing their survival rates.
The study found significant changes in calcium, magnesium, and sulfate levels in the Yukon River over three decades, likely due to increased weathering and groundwater enrichment. These changes have cascading effects on Arctic Ocean currents and weather patterns worldwide.
Researchers found that older Whooping cranes are leading the way in changing migration patterns due to climate and land use change. The birds' long-term memory and ability to learn from experience enable them to innovate new behaviors, such as shortstopping, which involves shifting wintering grounds closer to breeding grounds.
Several southeastern US ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change, including Caribbean coastal mangrove, Edwards Plateau limestone shrubland, and southern Appalachian balds. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and rising sea levels pose significant threats to these ecosystems.
A new USGS study identifies specific steps to manage climate refugia for plants, animals, and fishes. These 'refugia' are areas that will remain relatively stable due to climate change, providing temporary sanctuaries for species of conservation concern.
A USGS study reveals that video surveillance is the most effective method for detecting animals flying around solar power towers. Most observations involve insects, with only a handful of birds and bats seen near the towers.
A USGS study finds that groundwater discharge in the Upper Colorado River Basin varies significantly with drought, particularly in shallow aquifers containing relatively young water. This variability is due to climate stresses and increased water demand, which can impact streamflow and resource availability.
Climate change is altering inland fish reproduction, growth, and habitats, with both positive and negative impacts on recreational fishing. Studies reveal changes in species ranges, migration timing, and predator-prey dynamics, highlighting the need for conservation and research strategies to sustain resilient fish communities.
A USGS study found historic nitrate levels in Midwest streams in 2013, with Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois experiencing the highest concentrations. The research suggests that fertilizer application and manure are primary sources of nitrate, posing health risks to water users.