Researchers have discovered chemical deposits from 1815 Tambora and 1883 Krakatau eruptions in a Wyoming ice core, providing a unique insight into past climatic changes. The analysis indicates that major shifts in climate can occur on a 10-year scale, raising concerns about potential future climatic changes.
A USGS study shows that larger streams and rivers in the Midwest and Ohio Valley states deliver more nitrogen to the Gulf of Mexico than smaller streams, contradicting previous assumptions. Nitrogen pollution is naturally removed from water in small streams through denitrification, a process that significantly affects its delivery to t...
The USGS has been monitoring a series of large earthquakes around the world since August 17. The seismic activity is believed to be related to stress buildup in the Earth's crust. Scientists will discuss their findings and lessons learned from recent earthquakes, including those in Turkey, Greece, Taiwan, and Mexico.
Depleted gas reservoirs can store enough carbon dioxide to limit emissions from fossil fuels for at least 20 years, according to USGS scientist Dr. Robert Burruss. However, capturing, compressing, transporting, and injecting such large amounts of CO2 requires an industry nearly twice the size of the current natural gas industry.
The study found elevated levels of DDE and mercury in bald eagle eggs on Kiska Island, but not on other islands. Seabirds are thought to be the major source of contamination due to their diet rich in fish from contaminated water.
Jim Estes, a marine biologist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, will pursue research on restoring the Bering Sea and North Pacific ecosystem. He aims to provide information on how human effects manifest in the oceans, leading to drastic ecosystem changes.
The USGS has successfully released captive-reared puaiohi birds into the wild, with four chicks having already fledged. This is a significant step towards the species' recovery, with biologists optimistic about re-establishing a self-sustaining population.
The USGS report found complex mixtures of nutrients and pesticides in streams with significant agricultural or urban development. However, concentrations of individual pesticides were often lower than current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standards.
The California sea otter population has declined by 1.14% since the 1998 spring survey, with a disconcerting decline in independent adults, indicating a need for further investigation into the cause of this trend. The USGS is working to gather more information on disease, contaminants, starvation, and entanglement as contributing factors.
The USGS report synthesizes current information to document the changing nation's biological resources, identifying key factors affecting biological resources nationwide. Land use, water use, and nonindigenous species are the primary factors having broad-scale effects.
A recent USGS study has found that urban sprawl, not fire suppression, is largely responsible for the devastating wildfires in southern and central-coastal California. The researchers suggest that strategic management of buffer zones between urban lands and wildlands could help mitigate ecological impacts.
The National Geodata Forum will focus on using geospatial data to create livable communities. The event brings together over 400 stakeholders to discuss how to make information and power flow from the bottom up.
Yucca Mountain's long-term hydrologic stability makes it a potential site for storing nuclear waste. Calcite and opal deposits indicate minimal water flow into the mountain's cavities.
A USGS study published in Atmospheric Environment reveals that air in Washington's Mount Rainier National Park contains higher concentrations of ozone than nearby urban areas. This poses a threat to park visitors and the beautiful forests, wetlands, and alpine meadows within the park.
USGS scientists will present findings on prehistoric earthquakes, seismic hazards, and the structure of the Seattle basin. The presentations will provide insights into the probabilities for future earthquakes in the Seattle area and the current seismic hazards of the Pacific Northwest.
Scientists have used seismic reflection profiling to reveal an ancient river valley one mile wide and 250 feet deep beneath Portland, Ore. The study suggests that earthquakes ruptured the surface in the past 15,000 years and that two suspected fault zones are active.
USGS scientists Mike Fisher and Art Frankel will discuss the potential effects of major quakes in Seattle using data from last year's SHIPS project. Scientists from other organizations will also describe the probabilities for a large earthquake in the Puget Sound area.
USGS scientists will present research on rare plants, including soft-leaved Indian paintbrush and island jepsonia, and the effects of invasive species like feral pigs. The symposium aims to inform conservation strategies for California Channel Islands National Park.
The USGS conducts a continent-wide bird survey using over 2,500 skilled amateur birders and professional biologists. The organization also monitors water quality at abandoned mines, assesses woodcock survival, and launches the Frogwatch USA program to engage scientists and the public in amphibian conservation.
Researchers attribute sharp declines in sea otter numbers to killer whale predation, linked to changes in oceanic and nearshore ecosystems. The study highlights the impact of ecological chain reactions on coastal food webs and species populations.
Researchers reconstruct past temperature changes using high-precision equipment, revealing a 4.5F warmer climate 5000 years ago and a 2F colder Little Ice Age. The region surrounding the North Atlantic Ocean is particularly sensitive to climatic changes due to ocean circulation patterns.
Researchers find that native animals are more common in areas with native vegetation than in areas with exotic vegetation or grazing. They also discover that DDT may still be affecting reproduction of double-crested cormorants, while tree swallows can serve as sentinels for PCB contamination in aquatic environments.
The USGS presents various studies on invasive species, including a workshop on non-native plant invasions and their impact on native ecosystems. Additionally, researchers discuss the effects of grazing on plant species diversity and find that habitat conditions play a significant role in shaping species variation.
Recent USGS research reveals little difference in ground motions on Mississippi River bluffs vs nearby floodplain. This suggests areas underlain by rock may experience less shaking than those with alluvium, such as valleys.
The U.S. Geological Survey is using GIS techniques to investigate the origin of ancient river valleys on Mars and map impact craters, faults, and volcanoes. The research reveals that geothermal activity led to valley formation on early Mars.
The USGS has released a new seismic hazard map for the Western Hemisphere, providing a comprehensive tool for assessing potential earthquake damage. The map is the result of nearly a decade of cooperative work by scientists from around the world and will be available online and in various publications late this year.
A recent USGS study found that a subalpine wetland in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park was a net source of carbon to the atmosphere during a two-year period, despite being a net carbon sink for thousands of years. The study suggests that climate change may be affecting the carbon balance of these wetlands.
A USGS scientist is presenting new evidence that historical tsunamis in the Caribbean were caused by submarine slope failures and landslides on the nearby sea floor. The research suggests that these events triggered long-period waves that approached shallow water near shorelines, resulting in devastating damage.
The USGS is developing simulation models to evaluate the effects of proposed remedial actions on stream chemistry in abandoned mine lands. These models are applied to St. Kevin Gulch, a small stream near Leadville, Colorado, providing estimates of water quality that reflect the impact of proposed actions.
Recent research by the USGS aims to characterize and mitigate earthquake hazards in the region. The study highlights that nearly every state east of the Mississippi River has experienced damaging earthquakes, with some causing widespread damage.
Studies show a significant increase in PAHs in reservoirs and river sediments in suburban areas of major cities, contradicting efforts to reduce pollution. Urbanization is linked to the accumulation of these carcinogenic compounds, which are typically not detectable in water samples.
The U.S. Geological Survey presents a forum on reducing losses from natural disasters, featuring California's experience in earthquake risk management and mitigation. The event aims to share lessons learned from the Northridge earthquake of 1994 and explore potential models for nationwide disaster reduction plans.
Dr. Ray Herrmann, a USGS scientist, has been named an AAAS Fellow for his distinguished efforts in advancing science through his watershed research. He is being recognized for his leadership in communicating the importance of watershed investigations to various stakeholders.
The USGS has taken the lead in establishing the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) to increase access to biological diversity data and information. The initiative aims to democratize environmental science by providing a broad array of knowledge on the diversity of nature's living creatures.
The ITIS system provides a unified way of naming nature's living organisms, enabling easy access to credible databases and information on species origin and distribution. This standardized terminology facilitates accurate documentation, data sharing, and research among scientists, resource managers, and the general public.
Taxonomic names are in flux, reflecting current knowledge about species. The USGS-developed ITIS database provides a tool to link and integrate name changes over time.
At the AAAS meeting in February 1998, USGS scientists presented research on predicting the fate of contaminants in the New York Bight and developing a regional map of sea floor characteristics. The study aims to provide information for guiding habitat and resource management and monitoring long-term environmental change.
USGS geochemist Keith Kvenvolden's study suggests that most oil residues in Monterey Bay are likely from natural seeps, rather than ruptured tankers. The study found unusually heavy carbon isotopic compositions characteristic of crude oils from the Miocene Monterey Formation of California.
Red pepper spray may attract brown bears if used improperly, according to a USGS study. The irritant oleoresin capsicum in the spray can elicit unusual behavior in bears, including sniffing, pawing, and rolling on treated sites.
A unique deep-water coral reef with 80% coral cover was discovered in the Gulf of Mexico, challenging conventional thinking that coral reefs are restricted to shallow areas. The reef's unusual flat plate-like form and complex structure provide an ideal habitat for fish.
The USGS is providing crucial information for restoring the South Florida ecosystem through multidisciplinary research activities. The latest data on pre-development environmental conditions, contaminant transport, and physical conditions in Florida Bay are being shared to inform land and water resource managers.
The USGS National Wetlands Research Center presented research on the effects of global climate change on coastal wetlands. Dr. Virginia Burkett discussed the relationship between global climate change and coastal wetland loss, highlighting the vulnerability of low-lying habitats to sea-level rise and storm surges.
Researchers from USGS, UC Berkeley, LLNL, and PG&E are studying the northern segment of the Hayward fault by excavating 10-foot-deep trenches. They will analyze soil layers, pollen, and carbon-14 to establish past earthquake dates and recurrence intervals. The project aims to inform the updated Bay Area Earthquake Probability Report.
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center has detected Newcastle disease in Salton Sea cormorants, which has killed over 1,600 birds. The laboratory is conducting further analysis to determine the specific strain of the virus, with implications for domestic poultry and bird migration patterns.
A gravity survey conducted in a Portland rail tunnel has helped identify previously unknown faults in the area. The survey revealed irregularities that suggest seismic activity, with data set to inform detailed maps of the subsurface.
The USGS, in partnership with state agencies, will continue to monitor the Red River's flow and water quality over the next four weeks. This effort aims to assess the impact of the unprecedented flood and gather data for flood forecasting, design, and environmental regulations.
The USGS is tracking the northward movement of the Red River floodwaters, taking measurements to improve forecasts for evacuations upstream. Crucial to understanding the impact on upstream communities will be how much water is contributed by the Pembina River.
The current floods in North Dakota have broken multiple records, including a 100-year-old record of 85,000 cubic feet per second. The Red River's predicted crest is expected to reach 54 feet, posing significant threats to emergency managers and evacuation orders.
The USGS report provides a detailed overview of the nation's wetland resources, including their types, distribution, and conservation efforts. The 103 million acres of remaining wetlands in the United States support critical habitat for waterfowl and reduce flood severity while improving water quality.
The USGS has reported that at least 1,025 people have been killed in earthquakes this year, exceeding the total for 1996. The country-specific data highlights significant risks to public safety, particularly in Iran where a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck and killed over 965 people.