Wildland-urban interface maps vary with purpose and context
S. I. Stewart, B. Wilmer, R. B. Hammer, G. H. Aplet, T. J. Hawbaker, C. Miller, V. C. Radeloff
2009, Journal of Forestry (107) 78-83
Maps of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are both policy tools and powerful visual images. Although the growing number of WUI maps serve similar purposes, this article indicates that WUI maps derived from the same data sets can differ in important ways related to their original intended application. We discuss the...
Web services in the U.S. geological survey streamstats web application
J. D. Guthrie, C. Dartiguenave, Kernell G. Ries III
2009, Conference Paper, Proceedings of the International Conference on Advanced Geographic Information Systems and Web Services, GEOWS 2009
StreamStats is a U.S. Geological Survey Web-based GIS application developed as a tool for waterresources planning and management, engineering design, and other applications. StreamStats' primary functionality allows users to obtain drainage-basin boundaries, basin characteristics, and streamflow statistics for gaged and ungaged sites. Recently, Web services have been developed that provide...
Recent technologies usher in new era of coastal geomorphology research
J. R. Gray, J.M. Bernard, G. E. Schwarz, D. W. Stewart, K.T. Ray
2009, Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union (90) 198-199
[No abstract available]...
New fusulinids from Lower Permian turbidites at Conglomerate Mesa, southeastern inyo Mountains, east-central California
C.H. Stevens, P. Stone
2009, Journal of Paleontology (83) 399-404
Seven previously unrecognized fusulinid species from Lower Permian (Wolfcampian and Leonardian) turbidites near Conglomerate Mesa in east-central California, four of which are named as new species, are here described and figured. The four new species are Schwagerina merriami, S. wildei, Parafusulina mackevetti, and Skinnerella rossi. These fusulinid species have close...
Projected climate-induced faunal change in the Western Hemisphere
J.J. Lawler, S.L. Shafer, D. White, P. Kareiva, E.P. Maurer, A.R. Blaustein, P. J. Bartlein
2009, Ecology (90) 588-597
Climate change is predicted to be one of the greatest drivers of ecological change in the coming century. Increases in temperature over the last century have clearly been linked to shifts in species distributions. Given the magnitude of projected future climatic changes, we can expect even larger range shifts in...
Assessing the sources and magnitude of diurnal nitrate variability in the San Joaquin River (California) with an in situ optical nitrate sensor and dual nitrate isotopes
Brian A. Pellerin, Bryan D. Downing, Carol Kendall, Randy A. Dahlgren, Tamara E.C. Kraus, John Franco Saraceno, Robert G. M. Spencer, Brian A. Bergamaschi
2009, Freshwater Biology (54) 376-387
1. We investigated diurnal nitrate (NO3−) concentration variability in the San Joaquin River using an in situ optical NO3− sensor and discrete sampling during a 5‐day summer period characterized by high algal productivity. Dual NO3− isotopes (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) and dissolved oxygen isotopes (δ18ODO) were measured over 2 days to assess NO3− sources and biogeochemical controls over diurnal...
Iron solubility driven by speciation in dust sources to the ocean
A.W. Schroth, John Crusius, E.R. Sholkovitz, B.C. Bostick
2009, Nature Geoscience (2) 337-340
Although abundant in the Earths crust, iron is present at trace concentrations in sea water and is a limiting nutrient for phytoplankton in approximately 40% of the ocean. Current literature suggests that aerosols are the primary external source of iron to offshore waters, yet controls on iron aerosol solubility remain...
Numerical models of caldera deformation: Effects of multiphase and multicomponent hydrothermal fluid flow
M. Hutnak, S. Hurwitz, S. E. Ingebritsen, P. A. Hsieh
2009, Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth (114)
Ground surface displacement (GSD) in large calderas is often interpreted as resulting from magma intrusion at depth. Recent advances in geodetic measurements of GSD, notably interferometric synthetic aperture radar, reveal complex and multifaceted deformation patterns that often require complex source models to explain the observed GSD. Although hydrothermal fluids have...
Rapid measurement of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity for areal characterization
J. R. Nimmo, K. M. Schmidt, K. S. Perkins, J. D. Stock
2009, Vadose Zone Journal (8) 142-149
To provide an improved methodology for characterizing the field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) over broad areas with extreme spatial variability and ordinary limitations of time and resources, we developed and tested a simplified apparatus and procedure, correcting mathematically for the major deficiencies of the simplified implementation. The methodology includes use of...
Floodplain geomorphic processes and environmental impacts of human alteration along coastal plain rivers, USA
C.R. Hupp, Aaron R. Pierce, G.B. Noe
2009, Wetlands (29) 413-429
Human alterations along stream channels and within catchments have affected fluvial geomorphic processes worldwide. Typically these alterations reduce the ecosystem services that functioning floodplains provide; in this paper we are concerned with the sediment and associated material trapping service. Similarly, these alterations may negatively impact the natural ecology of floodplains...
Obliquity-paced Pliocene West Antarctic ice sheet oscillations
T. Naish, R. Powell, R. Levy, G. Wilson, R. Scherer, F. Talarico, L. Krissek, F. Niessen, M. Pompilio, T. Wilson, L. Carter, R. DeConto, P. Huybers, R. McKay, D. Pollard, J. Ross, D. Winter, P. Barrett, G. Browne, R. Cody, E. Cowan, J. Crampton, G. Dunbar, N. Dunbar, F. Florindo, C. Gebhardt, I. Graham, M. Hannah, D. Hansaraj, D. Harwood, D. Helling, S. Henrys, L. Hinnov, G. Kuhn, P. Kyle, A. Laufer, P. Maffioli, D. Magens, K. Mandernack, W. McIntosh, C. Millan, R. Morin, C. Ohneiser, T. Paulsen, D. Persico, I. Raine, J. Reed, C. Riesselman, L. Sagnotti, D. Schmitt, C. Sjunneskog, P. Strong, M. Taviani, S. Vogel, T. Wilch, T. Williams
2009, Nature (458) 322-328
Thirty years after oxygen isotope records from microfossils deposited in ocean sediments confirmed the hypothesis that variations in the Earth's orbital geometry control the ice ages1, fundamental questions remain over the response of the Antarctic ice sheets to orbital cycles2. Furthermore, an understanding of the behaviour...
Integrated treatment process using a natural Wyoming clinoptilolite for remediating produced waters from coalbed natural gas operations
H. Zhao, G.F. Vance, M.A. Urynowicz, R.W. Gregory
2009, Applied Clay Science (42) 379-385
Coalbed natural gas (CBNG) development in western U.S. states has resulted in an increase in an essential energy resource, but has also resulted in environmental impacts and additional regulatory needs. A concern associated with CBNG development relates to the production of the copious quantities of potentially saline-sodic groundwater required to...
Ecological effects of lead mining on Ozark streams: In-situ toxicity to woodland crayfish (Orconectes hylas)
A.L. Allert, J.F. Fairchild, R.J. DiStefano, C. J. Schmitt, W. G. Brumbaugh, J.M. Besser
2009, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (72) 1207-1219
The Viburnum Trend mining district in southeast Missouri, USA is one of the largest producers of lead-zinc ore in the world. Previous stream surveys found evidence of increased metal exposure and reduced population densities of crayfish immediately downstream of mining sites. We conducted an in-situ 28-d exposure to assess toxicity...
Changes in fish communities following recolonization of the Cedar river, Wa, USA by Pacific salmon after 103 years of local extirpation
P.M. Kiffney, G.R. Pess, J.H. Anderson, P. Faulds, Kenneth Burton, S.C. Riley
2009, River Research and Applications (25) 438-452
Migration barriers are a major reason for species loss and population decline of freshwater organisms. Significant efforts have been made to remove or provide passage around these barriers; however, our understanding of the ecological effects of these efforts is minimal. Installation of a fish passage facility at the Landsburg Dam,...
Site fidelity, mate fidelity, and breeding dispersal in American kestrels
K. Steenhof, B.E. Peterson
2009, Wilson Journal of Ornithology (121) 12-21
We assessed mate fidelity, nest-box fidelity, and breeding dispersal distances of American Kestrels (falco sparverius) nesting in boxes in southwestern Idaho from 1990 through 2006. Seventy-seven percent of boxes had different males and 87% had different females where nest-box occupants were identified in consecutive years. High turnover rates were partly...
A comparison of seed banks across a sand dune successional gradient at Lake Michigan dunes (Indiana, USA)
S. A. Leicht-Young, N.B. Pavlovic, R. Grundel, K.J. Frohnapple
2009, Plant Ecology (202) 299-308
In habitats where disturbance is frequent, seed banks are important for the regeneration of vegetation. Sand dune systems are dynamic habitats in which sand movement provides intermittent disturbance. As succession proceeds from bare sand to forest, the disturbance decreases. At Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, we examined the seed banks of...
Late Pleistocene to Holocene sedimentation and hydrocarbon seeps on the continental shelf of a steep, tectonically active margin, southern California, USA
Amy E. Draut, Patrick E. Hart, T.D. Lorenson, Holly F. Ryan, Florence L. Wong, Ray W. Sliter, James E. Conrad
2009, Marine Geophysical Research (30) 193-206
Small, steep, uplifting coastal watersheds are prolific sediment producers that contribute significantly to the global marine sediment budget. This study illustrates how sedimentation evolves in one such system where the continental shelf is largely sediment-starved, with most terrestrial sediment bypassing the shelf in favor of deposition in deeper basins. The...
Simulating hydrologic and hydraulic processes throughout the Amazon River Basin
R.E. Beighley, K.G. Eggert, T. Dunne, Y. He, V. Gummadi, K.L. Verdin
2009, Hydrological Processes (23) 1221-1235
Presented here is a model framework based on a land surface topography that can be represented with various degrees of resolution and capable of providing representative channel/floodplain hydraulic characteristics on a daily to hourly scale. The framework integrates two models: (1) a water balance model (WBM) for the vertical fluxes...
Natural resource assessment: an approach to science based planning in national parks
C.G. Mahan, J.P. Vanderhorst, J.A. Young
2009, Environmental Management (43) 1301-1312
We conducted a natural resource assessment at two national parks, New River Gorge National River and Shenandoah National Park, to help meet the goals of the Natural Resource Challenge-a program to help strengthen natural resource management at national parks. We met this challenge by synthesizing and interpreting natural resource information...
How does landscape structure influence catchment transit time across different geomorphic provinces?
D. Tetzlaff, J. Seibert, K.J. McGuire, H. Laudon, Douglas A. Burns, S.M. Dunn, C. Soulsby
2009, Hydrological Processes (23) 945-953
Despite an increasing number of empirical investigations of catchment transit times (TTs), virtually all are based on individual catchments and there are few attempts to synthesize understanding across different geographical regions. Uniquely, this paper examines data from 55 catchments in five geomorphic provinces in northern temperate regions (Scotland, United States...
'Natural background' soil water repellency in conifer forests of the north-western USA: Its prediction and relationship to wildfire occurrence
S.H. Doerr, S.W. Woods, D.A. Martin, M. Casimiro
2009, Journal of Hydrology (371) 12-21
Soils under a wide range of vegetation types exhibit water repellency following the passage of a fire. This is viewed by many as one of the main causes for accelerated post-fire runoff and soil erosion and it has often been assumed that strong soil water repellency present after wildfire is...
Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment plant discharge
L. R. Iwanowicz, V. S. Blazer, C.P. Guy, A.E. Pinkney, J.E. Mullcan, D.A. Alvarezw
2009, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (28) 1072-1083
Intersex (specifically, testicular oocytes) has been observed in male smallmouth bass (SMB; Micropterus dolomieu) and other centrarchids in the South Branch of the Potomac River, USA, and forks of the Shenandoah River, USA, during the past five years. This condition often is associated with exposure to estrogenic endocrine‐disrupting chemicals in some...
Seamount characteristics and mine-site model applied to exploration- and mining-lease-block selection for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts
James R. Hein, Tracey A. Conrad, Rachel E. Dunham
2009, Marine Georesources and Geotechnology (27) 160-176
Regulations are being developed through the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) for the exploration and mining of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. This paper lays out geologic and geomorphologic criteria that can be used to determine the size and number of exploration and mine-site blocks that will be the focus of much discussion...
Halogen degassing during ascent and eruption of water-poor basaltic magma
M. Edmonds, T.M. Gerlach, Richard A. Herd
2009, Chemical Geology (263) 122-130
A study of volcanic gas composition and matrix glass volatile concentrations has allowed a model for halogen degassing to be formulated for K??lauea Volcano, Hawai'i. Volcanic gases emitted during 2004-2005 were characterised by a molar SO2/HCl of 10-64, with a mean of 33; and a molar HF/HCl of 0-5, with...
Broadening our approaches to studying dispersal in raptors
J. L. Morrison, P.B. Wood
2009, Journal of Raptor Research (43) 81-89
Dispersal is a behavioral process having consequences for individual fitness and population dynamics. Recent advances in technology have spawned new theoretical examinations and empirical studies of the dispersal process in birds, providing opportunities for examining how this information may be applied to studies of the dispersal process in raptors. Many...
