A simple rubric for Stratigraphic Fidelity (β) of paleoenvironmental time series
Harry J. Dowsett, Marci M. Robinson, Kevin M. Foley
2016, Stratigraphy (13) 303-305
The Pliocene, specifically the late Pliocene, has been a focus of paleoclimate research formore than 25 years. Synoptic regional and global reconstructions along with high-resolution time-series have produced nuanced conceptual models of paleoenvironmental conditions and enhanced our understanding of climate variability and climate sensitivity from the Late Pliocene, the most recent interval of...
Teaching animal habitat selection using wildlife tracking equipment
Jessica Laskowski, Caitlyn R. Gillespie, Lucia Corral, Amy Oden, Kent A. Fricke, Joseph J. Fontaine
2016, Science Activities (53) 147-154
We present a hands-on outdoor activity coupled with classroom discussion to teach students about wildlife habitat selection, the process by which animals choose where to live. By selecting locations or habitats with many benefits (e.g., food, shelter, mates) and few costs (e.g., predators), animals improve their ability to survive and...
High-latitude dust in the Earth system
Joanna E Bullard, Matthew Baddock, Tom Bradwell, John Crusius, Eleanor Darlington, Diego Gaiero, Santiago Gasso, Gudrun Gisladottir, Richard Hodgkins, Robert McCulloch, Cheryl NcKenna Neuman, Tom Mockford, Helena Stewart, Throstur Thorsteinsson
2016, Reviews of Geophysics (54) 447-485
Natural dust is often associated with hot, subtropical deserts, but significant dust events have been reported from cold, high latitudes. This review synthesizes current understanding of high-latitude (≥50°N and ≥40°S) dust source geography and dynamics and provides a prospectus for future research on the topic. Although the fundamental processes controlling...
Use of lidar point cloud data to support estimation of residual trace metals stored in mine chat piles in the Old Lead Belt of southeastern, Missouri
Emitt C. Witt III
2016, AIMS Environmental Science (3) 509-524
Historic lead and zinc (Pb-Zn) mining in southeast Missouri’s ―Old Lead Belt‖ has left large chat piles dominating the landscape where prior to 1972 mining was the major industry of the region. As a result of variable beneficiation methods over the history of mining activity, these piles remain with large...
A special issue devoted to proterozoic iron oxide-apatite (±REE) and iron oxide copper-gold and affiliated deposits of Southeast Missouri, USA, and the Great Bear Magmatic Zone, Northwest Territories, Canada: Preface
John F. Slack, L. Corriveau, M.W. Hitzman
2016, Economic Geology (111) 1803-1814
No abstract available....
Life history and status of Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum LeSueur, 1818)
Boyd Kynard, Stephania Bolden, Micah Kieffer, Mark Collins, Hal Brundage, Eric Hilton, Mark Litvak, Michael T. Kinnison, Tim L. King, Douglas C. Peterson
2016, Journal of Applied Ichthyology (32) 208-248
Shortnose Sturgeon = SNS (Acipenser brevirostrum) is a small diadromous species with most populations living in large Atlantic coast rivers and estuaries of North America from New Brunswick, Canada, to GA, USA. There are no naturally landlocked populations, so all populations require access to fresh water and salt water to...
Improving our understanding of hydraulic-electrical relations: A case study of the surficial aquifer in Emirate Abu Dhabi
Scott Ikard, Wade H. Kress
2016, Conference Paper, Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2016
Transmissivity is a bulk hydraulic property that can be correlated with bulk electrical properties of an aquifer. In aquifers that are electrically-resistive relative to adjacent layers in a horizontally stratified sequence, transmissivity has been shown to correlate with bulk transverse resistance. Conversely, in aquifers that are electrically-conductive relative to adjacent...
Regional geologic and petrologic framework for iron oxide ± apatite ± rare earth element and iron oxide copper-gold deposits of the Mesoproterozoic St. Francois Mountains terrane, southeast Missouri, USA
Warren C. Day, John F. Slack, Robert A. Ayuso, Cheryl M. Seeger
2016, Economic Geology (111) 1825-1858
This paper provides an overview on the genesis of Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks and associated iron oxide ± apatite (IOA) ± rare earth element, iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG), and iron-rich sedimentary deposits in the St. Francois Mountains terrane of southeast Missouri, USA. The St. Francois Mountains terrane lies along the southeastern margin...
Lithobates sylvaticus (wood frog)
Pam Fuller
2016, Collinsorum (5) 17-17
A single specimen found southwest of Hattiesburg in Timberton (31.270391oN, 89.327675oW; WGS 84). 23 July 2015. Gary, Kat, and Ron Lukens. Verifi ed by Kenneth Krysko, Florida Museum of Natural History (UF-Herpetology 176455). This species has never been recorded from the state of Mississippi before (Dodd 2013. Frogs of the United...
Hydrogeologic framework and characterization of the Truxton Aquifer on the Hualapai Reservation, Mohave County, Arizona
Donald J. Bills, Jamie P. Macy
2016, Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5171
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, developed this study to determine an estimate of groundwater in storage in the Truxton aquifer on the Hualapai Reservation in northwestern Arizona. For this study, the Truxton aquifer is defined as the unconfined, saturated groundwater in the unconsolidated to...
Thermal mapping of a pahoehoe lava flow, Kilauea Volcano
Matthew R. Patrick, Tim R. Orr, Gary B. Fisher, Frank A. Trusdell, James P. Kauahikaua
2016, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (332) 71-87
Pāhoehoe lava flows are a major component of Hawaiian eruptive activity, and an important part of basaltic volcanism worldwide. In recent years, pāhoehoe lava has destroyed homes and threatened parts of Hawai‘i with inundation and disruption. In this study, we use oblique helicopter-borne thermal images to create high...
Generalizing ecological site concepts of the Colorado Plateau for landscape-level applications
Michael C. Duniway, Travis W. Nauman, Jamin K. Johanson, Shane Green, Mark E. Miller, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer
2016, Rangelands (38) 342-349
Numerous ecological site descriptions in the southern Utah portion of the Colorado Plateau can be difficult to navigate, so we held a workshop aimed at adding value and functionality to the current ecological site system.We created new groups of ecological sites and drafted state-and-transition models for these new groups.We...
Improving the effectiveness of ecological site descriptions: General state-and-transition models and the Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool (EDIT)
Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Jeb C. Williamson, Curtis J. Talbot, Greg W. Cates, Michael C. Duniway, Joel R. Brown
2016, Rangelands (38) 329-335
State-and-transition models (STMs) are useful tools for management, but they can be difficult to use and have limited content.STMs created for groups of related ecological sites could simplify and improve their utility. The amount of information linked to models can be increased using tables that communicate management interpretations and important...
Hydrologic connectivity: Quantitative assessments of hydrologic-enforced drainage structures in an elevation model
Sandra K. Poppenga, Bruce B. Worstell
2016, Journal of Coastal Research (Special Issue 76) 90-106
Elevation data derived from light detection and ranging present challenges for hydrologic modeling as the elevation surface includes bridge decks and elevated road features overlaying culvert drainage structures. In reality, water is carried through these structures; however, in the elevation surface these features impede modeled overland surface flow. Thus, a...
Applying downscaled Global Climate Model data to a groundwater model of the Suwannee River Basin, Florida, USA
Eric D. Swain, J. Hal Davis
2016, American Journal of Climate Change (5) 526-557
The application of Global Climate Model (GCM) output to a hydrologic model allows for comparisons between simulated recent and future conditions and provides insight into the dynamics of hydrology as it may be affected by climate change. A previously developed numerical model of the Suwannee River Basin, Florida, USA, was...
Topobathymetric elevation model development using a new methodology: Coastal National Elevation Database
Jeffrey J. Danielson, Sandra K. Poppenga, John Brock, Gayla A. Evans, Dean J. Tyler, Dean B. Gesch, Cindy A. Thatcher, John Barras
2016, Journal of Coastal Research (Special Issue 76) 75-89
During the coming decades, coastlines will respond to widely predicted sea-level rise, storm surge, and coastalinundation flooding from disastrous events. Because physical processes in coastal environments are controlled by the geomorphology of over-the-land topography and underwater bathymetry, many applications of geospatial data in coastal environments require detailed knowledge of the...
Effects of dams and geomorphic context on riparian forests of the Elwha River, Washington
Patrick B. Shafroth, Laura G Perry, Chanoane A Rose, Jeffrey H Braatne
2016, Ecosphere (7)
Understanding how dams affect the shifting habitat mosaic of river bottomlands is key for protecting the many ecological functions and related goods and services that riparian forests provide and for informing approaches to riparian ecosystem restoration. We examined the downstream effects of two large dams on patterns of forest composition,...
Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles?
A.F. Rees, J. Alfaro-Shigueto, P.C.R. Barata, K.A. Bjorndal, A.B. Bolten, J. Bourjea, A.C. Broderick, L.M. Campbell, L. Cardona, C. Carreras, P. Casale, S.A. Ceriani, P.H. Dutton, T. Eguchi, A. Formia, M.M.P.B. Fuentes, W.J. Fuller, M. Girondot, M.H. Godfrey, M. Hamann, Kristen M. Hart, G.C. Hays, S. Hochscheid, Y. Kaska, M.P. Jensen, J.C. Mangel, J.A. Mortimer, E. Naro-Maciel, C.K.Y. Ng, W.J. Nichols, A.D. Phillott, R.D. Reina, O. Revuelta, G. Schofield, J.A. Seminoff, K. Shanker, J. Tomas, van de Merwe, K.S. Van Houtan, H.B. Vander Zanden, B.P. Wallace, K.R. Wedemeyer-Strombel, Thierry M. Work, B.J. Godley
2016, Endangered Species Research (31) 337-382
In 2010, an international group of 35 sea turtle researchers refined an initial list of more than 200 research questions into 20 metaquestions that were considered key for management and conservation of sea turtles. These were classified under 5 categories: reproductive biology, biogeography, population ecology, threats and conservation strategies. To...
Ciscoes (Coregonus, subgenus Leucichthys) of the Laurentian Great Lakes and Lake Nipigon
Randy L. Eshenroder, Paul Vecsei, Owen T. Gorman, Daniel L. Yule, Thomas C. Pratt, Nicholas E. Mandrak, David B. Bunnell, Andrew M. Muir
2016, Report, Miscellaneous Publication 2016-01
This study of the ciscoes (Coregonus, subgenus Leucichthys) of the Great Lakes and Lake Nipigon represents a furtherance through 2015 of field research initiated by Walter Koelz in 1917 and continued by Stanford Smith in the mid-1900s—a period spanning nearly a century. Like Koelz’s study, this work contains information on...
Status of groundwater levels and storage volume in the Equus Beds aquifer near Wichita, Kansas, January 2016
Brian J. Klager
2016, Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5165
The Equus Beds aquifer in south-central Kansas, which is part of the High Plains aquifer, serves as a source of water for municipal and agricultural users in the area. The city of Wichita has used the Equus Beds aquifer as one of its primary water sources since the 1940s. The...
Debris flow runup on vertical barriers and adverse slopes
Richard M. Iverson, David L. George, Matthew Logan
2016, Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface (121) 2333-2357
Runup of debris flows against obstacles in their paths is a complex process that involves profound flow deceleration and redirection. We investigate the dynamics and predictability of runup by comparing results from large-scale laboratory experiments, four simple analytical models, and a depth-integrated numerical model (D-Claw). The experiments and numerical simulations...
Discussion of “The relation between dilatancy, effective stress and dispersive pressure in granular avalanches” by P. Bartelt and O. Buser (DOI: 10.1007/s11440-016-0463-7)
Richard M. Iverson, David L. George
2016, Acta Geotechnica (11) 1465-1468
A paper recently published by Bartelt and Buser (hereafter identified as “the authors”) aims to clarify relationships between granular dilatancy and dispersive pressure and to question the effective stress principle and its application to shallow granular avalanches (Bartelt and Buser in Act Geotech 11:549–557, 2)....
Comment on “The reduction of friction in long-runout landslides as an emergent phenomenon” by Brandon C. Johnson et al.
Richard M. Iverson
2016, Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface (121) 2238-2242
Results from a highly idealized, 2-D computational model indicate that dynamic normal-stress rarefactions might cause friction reduction in long-runout landslides, but the physical relevance of the idealized dynamics has not been confirmed by experimental tests. More importantly, the model results provide no evidence that refutes alternative hypotheses about friction reduction...
Modelling landslide liquefaction, mobility bifurcation and the dynamics of the 2014 Oso disaster
Richard M. Iverson, David L. George
2016, Geotechnique (66) 175-187
Some landslides move slowly or intermittently downslope, but others liquefy during the early stages of motion, leading to runaway acceleration and high-speed runout across low-relief terrain. Mechanisms responsible for this disparate behaviour are represented in a two-phase, depth-integrated, landslide dynamics model that melds principles from soil mechanics, granular mechanics and...
2016 Eastern Section SSA Annual Meeting Report
Thomas L. Pratt, Christine A. Goulet, Oliver S. Boyd
2016, Seismological Research Letters (88) 224-262
Report on the Eastern Section Seismological Society of America Meeting....