When volcanoes fall down—Catastrophic collapse and debris avalanches
Lee Siebert, Mark E. Reid, James W. Vallance, Thomas C. Pierson
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3023
Despite their seeming permanence, volcanoes are prone to catastrophic collapse that can affect vast areas in a matter of minutes. Large collapses begin as gigantic landslides that quickly transform to debris avalanches—chaotically tumbling masses of rock debris that can sweep downslope at extremely high velocities, inundating areas far beyond the...
Remote sensing of river flow in Alaska—New technology to improve safety and expand coverage of USGS streamgaging
Jeff Conaway, John R. Eggleston, Carl J. Legleiter, John Jones, Paul J. Kinzel, John W. Fulton
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3024
The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level (water surface elevation relative to an arbitrary datum) and measures streamflow in Alaska rivers to compute and compile river flow records for use by water resource planners, engineers, and land managers to design infrastructure, manage floodplains, and protect life, property, and aquatic resources....
The use of national datasets to produce an average annual water budget for the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, 2000–13
Meredith Reitz, Wade Kress
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3001
OverviewWater is a critically important resource for the Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) region, supporting a multibillion-dollar agricultural industry. There are concerns that continued withdrawals of groundwater for irrigation may decrease future water supplies. The U.S. Geological Survey has a history of conducting research in the MAP region and recently began...
Landsat 9
U.S. Geological Survey
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3008
Landsat 9 is a partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey that will continue the Landsat program’s critical role of repeat global observations for monitoring, understanding, and managing Earth’s natural resources. Since 1972, Landsat data have provided a unique resource for those who work...
Drought forecasting for streams and groundwaters in northeastern United States
Samuel H. Austin, Robert W. Dudley
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3015
BackgroundWhen rainfall is lower than normal over an extended period, streamflows decline, groundwater levels fall, and hydrological drought can occur. Droughts can reduce the water available for societal needs, such as public and private drinking-water supplies, farming, and industry, and for ecological health, such as maintenance of water quality and...
Assessment of Mesozoic tight-oil and tight-gas resources in the Sichuan Basin of China, 2018
Christopher J. Potter, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Thomas M. Finn, Cheryl A. Woodall, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Phuong A. Le, Ronald M. Drake II, Michael E. Brownfield, Janet K. Pitman
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3010
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 1.2 billion barrels of tight oil and 29.1 trillion cubic feet of tight gas in Mesozoic formations in the Sichuan Basin of China....
Invasive species research—Science for detection, containment, and control
Earl Campbell, Cindy Kolar Tam, Suzanna C. Soileau
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3080
Invasive species research within the U.S. Geological Survey’s Ecosystems Mission Area focuses on invasive organisms throughout the United States. U.S. Geological Survey scientists work with partners in the Department of the Interior, other Federal, State and Territorial agencies, Tribes, industry, and agriculture to provide the information needed to help solve...
Living with volcano hazards
Wendy K. Stovall, Carolyn L. Driedger, Elizabeth G. Westby, Lisa M. Faust
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3075
Volcanic eruptions are among Earth’s most dramatic and powerful agents of change. Ash, mudflows, and lava flows can devastate communities near volcanoes and cause havoc in areas far downwind, downstream, and downslope. Even when a volcano is quiet, steep volcanic slopes can collapse to become landslides, and large rocks can...
Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment (LIDE)
Joel P. Stokdyk, Jennifer L. Bruce, Tucker R. Burch, Susan K. Spencer, Aaron D. Firnstahl, Mark A. Borchardt
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3079
The Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment (LIDE) studies the occurrence, fate and transport, and health effects of human and agricultural zoonotic pathogens in the environment. The LIDE is an interagency collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service that conducts research...
The Missouri groundwater-level observation network
David C. Smith
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3009
The Missouri groundwater-level observation well network is a series of wells across the State of Missouri in which groundwater levels are monitored in real time and periodically. The wells monitor the water levels in multiple key aquifers, such as the Ozark aquifer in the Salem and Springfield Plateaus and the...
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Tindouf Basin Province, North Africa, 2018
Michael E. Brownfield, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Thomas M. Finn, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Janet K. Pitman, Kristen R. Marra, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Ronald M. Drake II
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3006
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 2.6 billion barrels of oil and 123.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Tindouf Basin Province of North Africa....
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI): Mapping the Nation’s critical mineral resources
Warren C. Day
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3007
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI; formerly known as 3DEEP) is planned as a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Association of American State Geologists (AASG), and other Federal, State, and private-sector organizations. The goal of the effort is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework...
Assessing the impact of the Conservation Reserve Program on honey bee health
Clint Otto
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3082
Insect pollinators are critically important for maintaining U.S. food production and ecosystem health. The upper Midwest is home to more than 40 percent of all U.S. honey bee colonies and is considered by many beekeepers to be America’s last beekeeping refuge. Beekeepers come to this region because their honey bees...
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain aquifers—An engine for economic activity
Mustapha Alhassan, Collin B. Lawrence, Steven Richardson, Emily Pindilli
2019, Fact Sheet 2019-3003
U.S. Geological Survey science supports groundwater resource management in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain region. The USGS Science and Decisions Center is working with the Water Availability and Use Science Program to integrate economics into a sophisticated model of groundwater in the region. The model will quantify the status of the...
Monitoring the pulse of our Nation's rivers and streams—The U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging network
Sandra M. Eberts, Michael D. Woodside, Mark N. Landers, Chad R. Wagner
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3081
In the late 1800s, John Wesley Powell, second Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), proposed gaging the flow of rivers and streams in the Western United States to evaluate the potential for irrigation. Around the same time, several cities in the Eastern United States established primitive streamgages to help...
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the South Florida basin, 2016
Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Paul C. Hackley, Celeste D. Lohr, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Katherine J. Whidden, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. Finn
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3074
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 49 million barrels of oil and 18 billion cubic feet of gas in the onshore and State waters part of the South Florida basin....
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Duvernay Formation, Alberta Basin Province, Canada, 2018
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Phuong A. Le, Michael E. Brownfield, Kristen R. Marra, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Ronald M. Drake II
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3065
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 1.3 billion barrels of oil and 22.2 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Duvernay Formation of the Alberta Basin Province, Canada....
Assessment of continuous gas resources in the Montney and Doig Formations, Alberta Basin Province, Canada, 2018
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Thomas M. Finn, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Michael E. Brownfield, Kristen R. Marra, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
2019, Fact Sheet 2018-3071
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 47.6 trillion cubic feet of gas and 2.2 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in the Montney and Doig Formations of the Alberta Basin Province in Canada....
Species occurrence data for the nation
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2019, Fact Sheet 2015-3068
USGS Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) is a unique, web-based Federal mapping resource for species occurrence data in the United States and its Territories.BISON’s size is unprecedented, including records for most living species found in the United States and encompassing the efforts of more than a million professional and...
The geology and paleontology of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Nevada
Kathleen B. Springer, Jeffrey S. Pigati, Eric Scott
2018, Fact Sheet 2018-3038
On December 19, 2014, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, located in the Las Vegas Valley of southern Nevada, was established by Congress as the 405th unit of the National Park Service to “conserve, protect, interpret, and enhance for the benefit of present and future generations the unique and nationally...
Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program Long Term Resource Monitoring element—Spatial data query tool
Jason J. Rohweder
2018, Fact Sheet 2018-3077
The Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) Program Long Term Resource Monitoring (LTRM) element has been monitoring fish, water quality, and vegetation in six study pools in the Upper Mississippi River system for approximately 30 years. Geographic locations were recorded for all sampling points. All of this information has been made...
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Niobrara interval of the Cody Shale, Wind River Basin Province, Wyoming, 2018
Thomas M. Finn, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Phuong A. Le, Michael E. Brownfield, Kristen R. Marra, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Ronald M. Drake II, Cheryl A. Woodall, Scott A. Kinney
2018, Fact Sheet 2018-3076
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 389 million barrels of oil and 1.8 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Niobrara interval of the Cody Shale in the Wind River Basin Province, Wyoming....
Comparing groundwater quality in public-supply and shallow aquifers in the Monterey Bay and Salinas Valley Basins, California
Carmen A. Burton
2018, Fact Sheet 2018-3078
Groundwater provides more than 40 percent of California’s drinking water. To protect this vital resource, the State of California created the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program. The Priority Basin Project of the GAMA Program (GAMA-PBP) provides a comprehensive assessment of the State’s groundwater quality and increases public access...
Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, New Mexico and Texas, 2018
Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Katherine L. French, Janet K. Pitman, Kristen R. Marra, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Christopher J. Schenk, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Thomas M. Finn, Phuong A. Le
2018, Fact Sheet 2018-3073
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous mean resources of 46.3 billion barrels of oil and 281 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Wolfcamp shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin in the Permian Basin Province, southeast New Mexico...
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water-use websites
Kimberly Shaffer, Kathleen M. Rowland, B. Pierre Sargent
2018, Fact Sheet 2018-3044
Explore U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water-use websites to learn how and where the Nation's water use has changed over time! Learn how to find and access USGS water-use data shown in maps, graphs, visualizations, and information products. Gain a better understanding of water-use terms and USGS educational resources. Learn how to find and...
