Integrating climate data and river modeling to reveal Chinook salmon habitat conditions in subarctic river basins
Rebecca Shaftel, Megan L. Feddern, Stephanie A. McAfee, Erik R. Schoen, Curry Cunningham, Vanessa R. von Biela, Josh Paul, Yifan Cheng, Andrew Newman, Margaret Perdue, Jon Schwenk, Al von Finster, Jeffrey A. Falke
2026, Ecosphere (17)
Climatic extremes can impact the productivity of aquatic species, affecting ecosystems and fishery-dependent communities. Advances in climate products, such as gridded datasets and downscaled projections, may be useful for quantifying freshwater habitat conditions and predicting climate change effects on fish. However, limited guidance exists for selecting climate...
Machine learning generated streamflow drought forecasts for the conterminous United States (CONUS): developing and evaluating an operational tool to enhance sub-seasonal to seasonal streamflow drought early warning for gaged locations
John C. Hammond, Phillip J. Goodling, Jeremy Alejandro Diaz, Hayley R. Corson-Dosch, Aaron Joseph Heldmyer, Scott Douglas Hamshaw, Ryan R. McShane, Jesse Cleveland Ross, Roy Sando, Caelan Simeone, Erik A. Smith, Leah Ellen Staub, David Watkins, Michael Wieczorek, Kendall C. Wnuk, Jacob Aaron Zwart
2026, Frontiers in Water (7)
Forecasts of streamflow drought, when streamflow declines below typical levels, are notably less available than for floods or meteorological drought, despite widespread impacts. We apply machine learning (ML) models to forecast streamflow drought 1–13 weeks ahead at 3,219 streamgages across the conterminous United States. We applied two...
Tectonic implications of transitional melting regimes from petrological, geochronological, and compositional characterization of the ophiolitic Seventymile terrane, Alaska, USA
Erin Todd, Jonathan Saul Caine, Michael Bizimis, Andrew R.C. Kylander-Clark, Robert Reece Hammond, Alicja Wypych
2026, Geosphere (22) 296-339
New geochemical, U-Pb geochronology, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope data provide evidence for the tectonic evolution of the Seventymile terrane in interior Alaska, USA. Ultramafic and mafic rocks of the Seventymile terrane are thought to represent components of a dismembered ophiolite and provide unique constraints on regional terrane evolution and accretion. The...
A deep dive into subduction zones and the Japan Trench
C. Nur Schuba, Patrick Fulton, Jamie D. Kirkpatrick, Shuichi Kodaira, Marianne Conin, Christine Regalla, Kohtaro Ujiie, Maya Pincus, Sharon Cooper, Callan Bentley, Natsumi Okutsu, Lena Maeda, Sean Toczko, Nobu Eguchi
2026, Frontiers for Young Minds
Deep beneath the ocean, giant slabs of rock slide beneath one another in areas called subduction zones. These powerful movements shape the planet by building mountains, creating fiery volcanoes, and even causing huge earthquakes. Scientists study subduction zones to understand why these natural events happen and where and how they...
Selenium and mercury tissue partitioning and trophodynamics in the Lake Koocanusa (USA–Canada) fish community
Noelie Moldert, James L. Dunnigan, Travis S. Schmidt, Trevor M. Selch, Brian Balmer, Molly A. Moloney, Jessica E. Brandt
2026, Environmental Pollution (392)
Mining-related contaminants such as selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) accumulate in aquatic organisms and transfer through aquatic food webs, where they can exert toxic effect undermining the ecological health of aquatic resources. Yet, how Se and Hg co-distribute within food webs and within individual organisms remains poorly understood. We compiled...
Roadway runoff induced acute mortality in juvenile coho salmon during spring storm events
Marlee L. Brown, Nathan Ivy, Melissa Gonzalez, Justin Blaine Greer, John D. Hansen, Edward Kolodziej, Jenifer K. McIntyre
2026, Environmental Science & Technology (60) 1723-1732
Extensive mortalities of adult coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), often called “Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome” (URMS), have been documented during the fall in creeks where water quality has been degraded by roadway runoff. The primary cause of mortality is 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ; N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone)–an ozone transformation product that forms on...
Distinguishing natural from mining-related metal sources by including streambank groundwater data in a stream mass loading study
Andrew H. Manning, Robert L. Runkel, Jean M. Morrison, Sara Warix, Richard B. Wanty, Katherine Walton-Day, Michael Snook
2026, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology (277)
Distinguishing stream metal loading caused by mine features from that caused by natural background sources remains challenging, yet this distinction is essential for making effective remedial decisions at many legacy mine sites. We combine a stream tracer injection and synoptic sampling study with data from shallow near-stream groundwater wells to...
Physiological impacts of sublethal Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus infections in captive Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
C.R Beach, Auriel Fournier, Joseph D. Lancaster, Douglas C. Osborne, Rebecca A. Cole, Heath M. Hagy, Christopher N. Jacques
2026, Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Thousands of Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) die annually in the Upper Mississippi River System, USA, from intestinal infections after birds consume exotic faucet snails, Bithynia tentaculata, infected with introduced parasites, Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus. To date, the low frequency (biannual) and magnitude of mortality events from intestinal infections likely prevents trematode mortalities from...
The Sand AbrasioN Device for Aeolian Research (SANDAR): A new experimental device for investigating how wind transport affects sand on Earth and Mars
A. Baker, Devon M. Burr, Rachel Lynn Fry, Joshua P. Emery, M. Loeffler
2026, Aeolian Research (75)
On Earth and Mars, aeolian transport causes sand grains to become abraded, resulting in mineralogic and textural changes. Understanding how sands evolve, or mature, with transport via experimental studies is important for understanding the origins, geologic history, and cycling of sediments, as well as dust production. Previous experimental works have...
Is satellite-derived bathymetry vertical accuracy dependent on satellite mission and processing method?
Monica Palaseanu-Lovejoy, Jeffrey J. Danielson, Minsu Kim, Bryan Eder, Gretchen Imahori, Curt D. Storlazzi
2026, Remote Sensing (18)
This research focusses on three satellite-derived bathymetry methods and optical satellite instruments: (1) a stereo photogrammetry bathymetry module (SaTSeaD) developed for the NASA Ames stereo pipeline open-source software (version 3.6.0) using stereo WorldView data; (2) physics-based radiative transfer equations (PBSDB) using Landsat data; and (3) a modified...
Bridging ecology and geosciences in riverscapes: Implications for process-based restoration
Hiromi Uno, Hikaru Nakagawa, Nobuo Ishiyama, Masaru Sakai, Terutaka Mori, Akira Terui, Eric Arthur Scholl, Ellen Wohl, Colden V. Baxter
2026, Ecological Research (41)
There has been a growing interest in integrating geological and ecological processes for sustainable river management and restoration. Lotic systems are shaped by diverse physical processes, including geology, geomorphology, hydrology, and interactions with terrestrial processes. However, restoration practices often prioritize specific habitats or river forms without fully considering the underlying...
Assessment of the fish tumors or other deformities beneficial use impairment and associated risks at two Lake Michigan Areas of Concern
Vicki S. Blazer, Cheyenne Rose Smith, Heather L. Walsh, P.M. Mazik, M.R. Magee
2026, Ecotoxicology (35)
The U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) have been designated due to significant environmental degradation, with multiple Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) requiring remediation before delisting. The “fish tumors or other deformities” BUI remains at the Sheboygan River and the Lower Green Bay and Fox River AOCs,...
Rapid characterization of the 2025 Mw 8.8 Kamchatka, Russia earthquake
Harriet Zoe Yin, Kate E. Allstadt, William D Barnhart, Samantha Ann Clapp, Paul S. Earle, Dara Elyse Goldberg, Alex R. Grant, Matt Herman, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Sara K. McBride, Adam T. Ringler, Max Schneider, Eric M. Thompson, Nicholas van der Elst, David Wald, Dun Wang, Charles Worden, William L. Yeck
2026, The Seismic Record (6) 1-12
The 29 July 2025 Mw 8.8 Kamchatka, Russia, earthquake was the sixth largest instrumentally recorded earthquake. This event was seismically well observed at regional and teleseismic distances, but publicly available near‐source data were sparse at the time of the event, presenting unique challenges for rapid source and impact characterization. The U.S....
Helping California get ready for when the mud hits the fan
Jason W. Kean, Jaime Kostelnik
2026, California Geology (56) 24-29
With frequent wildfires, powerful rainstorms, steep terrain, and dense population, California is particularly vulnerable to postfire hazards like flooding and debris flow. Major postfire flooding and debris-flow events can be more costly than the fire itself, causing dozens of fatalities and widespread damage (Chawner, 1934; Lancaster et al., 2021). Smaller...
Population densities and trends of landbirds in the National Park of American Samoa
Noah J. Hunt, Seth Judge, Richard J. Camp
2026, Science Report NPS/SR-2026/377
The National Park of American Samoa (NPSA), which protects some of the most intact tropical rainforest in the South Pacific, is exposed to recurring, intense tropical cyclones, including Tropical Cyclone Gita in 2018. In combination with other anthropogenic pressures, cyclones represent a potential source of disturbance to landbird populations, particularly...
Inventory of bat activity at Pearl Harbor National Memorial to inform historic preservation and compliance
Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Karen Courtot
2026, Science Report NPS/SR—2026/372
We examined ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, or Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), acoustic activity and surveyed potential roost trees at the Ford Island Chief Petty Officer’s (CPO) Bungalows Neighborhood of Pearl Harbor National Memorial (PERL) on the island of O‘ahu. We established four acoustic monitoring stations (PERL1–PERL4) that operated nightly to...
Methodology to estimate South Arm dissolved salt mass and volume-weighted salinity values
Christine Rumsey, Scott Hynek
2026, Report
No abstract available....
Characterization and modeling approach for planning restoration strategies in a complex basin affected by acid mine drainage
Jonatan Romero-Matos, Laura Sánchez-López, Rafael León, Robert L. Runkel, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Carlos R. Cánovas, Francisco Macías, José Miguel Nieto
2026, Journal of Environmental Management (397)
The management of acid mine drainage (AMD) impacted catchments, such as the Odiel River basin, in southwestern Spain, prioritizes reclamation to meet water resources needs. Assessing water composition across its watercourses is needed to identify major AMD contributors and potentially guide remediation efforts. An equilibrium-based mixing model...
Capturing the uncertainty of seismicity observations in earthquake rate estimates: Implications for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model
Andrew J. Michael, Andrea L. Llenos
2026, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (116) 786-809
The rate of earthquakes in a region is a fundamental input to Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis. We present a Monte Carlo method for computing that rate from seismicity catalogs while including a range of data and analysis uncertainties. This method is applied to regions for which the b value is assumed to...
Natural source zone depletion of crude oil in the subsurface: Processes controlling mass losses of individual compounds
Barbara Bekins, William Herkelrath
2026, Water Resources Research (62)
At many petroleum hydrocarbon spill sites, residual spilled product forms a long-term source of groundwater contamination. The phrase source zone natural depletion is used to refer to the mass loss rates. Overall mass lost under environmental conditions was analyzed using conservative biomarker concentrations for a 1979 oil spill in northern...
Effect of passive integrated transponder tag size on survival, tag loss, and growth of Santa Ana Sucker
Jordan Mae-Jean Buxton, Marissa L. Wulff, Brock Huntsman, Kai Palenscar, Brett Mills, Kerwin Russell, Alicia Ruan, Tevin Bui
2026, North American Journal of Fisheries Management (46) 369-375
ObjectiveThe Santa Ana Sucker Pantosteus santaanae is endemic to southern California and is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Seasonal limitations on conventional sampling and inconsistencies in survey methodologies have led to an incomplete understanding of population dynamics. Alternative sampling methods have the potential to...
Landowners' cognitions and motivations coupled with practice durability influence persistence in grazing agricultural conservation practices in southwest Virginia
Joshua B. Mouser, Ashley A. Dayer, Serena Ciparis, Sara Bottenfield, Paul L. Angermeier
2026, Conservation Science and Practice (8)
Agricultural conservation practices are often used to protect stream health while continuing food production. However, recovery of stream health is often not as rapid or extensive as planned. The efficacy of practices may be improved by promoting their continued use by landowners (i.e., persistence) after cost-share contracts...
Toward an efficient framework for remote sensing of river bathymetry: Comparing sensors and algorithms on an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska
Carl J. Legleiter, Christina M. Leonard, Paul A. Burger, Addison G. Pletcher, Paul J. Kinzel
2026, Geomorphology (495)
Remote sensing can provide reliable information on river depths and this approach might be particularly valuable in areas that are difficult to survey via conventional field methods. In this study, we assessed the potential to map the bathymetry of an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska from both aerial orthophotos and...
Ecovoltaic solar energy development effects to microclimate, temperature, and soil moisture in panel array interspaces in a warm desert
Juan Pinos, Seth M. Munson, Claire C Karban, Matthew D. Petrie
2026, Journal of Environmental Management (398)
Solar energy development is increasing in warm deserts of the southwestern United States, and ecovoltaics has emerged as an approach to maintain ecosystem function within solar facilities while meeting increasing regional energy demands. The Solar Gemini Project, located in the northeastern Mojave Desert, USA, is one of largest photovoltaic facilities...
Using a BACI design to assess stream ecology and chemistry response after wildfire
Marissa L. Wulff, Jason T. May, Brock Huntsman, Ian R. Waite, Larry M. Brown
2026, Freshwater Science (45) 1-17
Wildfires can have complex effects on aquatic communities, which can be either beneficial or adverse depending on the setting. In California, USA, the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires has greatly increased over the last few decades. Understanding the effects of fire on aquatic ecosystem health and human land use...