Challenges in making a seismic hazard map for Alaska and the Aleutians
R. L. Wesson, O.S. Boyd, C.S. Mueller, A.D. Frankel
J.T. Freymueller, editor(s)
2008, Geophysical Monograph Series: Active Tectonics and Seismic Potential of Alaska (179) 385-397
We present a summary of the data and analyses leading to the revision of the time-independent probabilistic seismic hazard maps of Alaska and the Aleutians. These maps represent a revision of existing maps based on newly obtained data, and reflect best current judgments about methodology and approach. They have been...
Estimating pore-space gas hydrate saturations from well log acoustic data
Myung W. Lee, William F. Waite
2008, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (9)
Relating pore-space gas hydrate saturation to sonic velocity data is important for remotely estimating gas hydrate concentration in sediment. In the present study, sonic velocities of gas hydrate–bearing sands are modeled using a three-phase Biot-type theory in which sand, gas hydrate, and pore fluid form three homogeneous, interwoven frameworks. This...
Mineral resource of the month: strontium
Joyce A. Ober
2008, Geotimes (2008)
Last month as Americans sat transfixed watching fireworks on July 4, they were probably unaware that strontium was responsible for the beautiful reds in the display. Strontium, a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element that turns yellow when exposed to air (and red when it burns), is prized for its...
Petroleum systems of the San Joaquin Basin Province -- geochemical characteristics of gas types: Chapter 10 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California
Paul G. Lillis, Augusta Warden, George E. Claypool, Leslie B. Magoon
2008, Professional Paper 1713-10
The San Joaquin Basin Province is a petroliferous basin filled with predominantly Late Cretaceous to Pliocene-aged sediments, with organic-rich marine rocks of Late Cretaceous, Eocene, and Miocene age providing the source of most of the oil and gas. Previous geochemical studies have focused on the origin of the oil in...
A four-dimensional petroleum systems model for the San Joaquin Basin Province, California: Chapter 12 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California
Kenneth E. Peters, Leslie B. Magoon, Carolyn Lampe, Allegra Hosford Scheirer, Paul G. Lillis, Donald L. Gautier
2008, Professional Paper 1713-12
A calibrated numerical model depicts the geometry and three-dimensional (3-D) evolution of petroleum systems through time (4-D) in a 249 x 309 km (155 x 192 mi) area covering all of the San Joaquin Basin Province of California. Model input includes 3-D structural and stratigraphic data for key horizons and...
Thiamine Deficiency Complex Workshop final report: November 6-7, 2008, Ann Arbor, MI
Dale C. Honeyfield, Donald E. Tillitt, Stephen C. Riley
2008, Report
Fry mortality which was first observed in the late 1960s in Great Lakes salmonines and in Baltic Sea salmon in 1974 has now been linked to thiamine deficiency (historically referred to as Early Mortality Syndrome, or EMS and M74, respectively). Over the past 14 years significant strides have been made...
Mineral resource of the month: antimony
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2008, Earth (53) 29-29
The article describes the characteristics and industrial uses of antimony. Antimony, which is produced as a byproduct of mining other metals such as gold, lead or silver, is used in everything from flame retardants, batteries, ceramics and glass. It is also used in glass for television picture tubes, computer monitors,...
Mineral resource of the month: arsenic
William E. Brooks
2008, Geotimes (2008)
Arsenic has a long and varied history: Although it was not isolated as an element until the 13th century, it was known to the ancient Chinese, Egyptians and Greeks in compound form in the minerals arsenopyrite, realgar and orpiment. In the 1400s, “Scheele’s Green” was first used as an arsenic...
Mineral resource of the month: cultured quartz crystal
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2008, Earth (53) 29-29
The article presents information on cultured quartz crystals, a mineral used in mobile phones, computers, clocks and other devices controlled by digital circuits. Cultured quartz, which is synthetically produced in large pressurized vessels known as autoclaves, is useful in electronic circuits for precise filtration, frequency control and timing for consumer...
Mineral resource of the month: Graphite
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2008, Earth (53) 29-29
The article presents facts about graphite ideal for industrial applications. Among the characteristics of graphite are its metallic luster, softness, perfect basal cleavage and electrical conductivity. Batteries, brake linings and powdered metals are some of the products that make use of graphite. It attributes the potential applications for graphite in...
Exploration review
D.R. Wilburn
2008, Mining Engineering (60) 45-57
This summary of international mineral exploration activities for the year 2007 draws upon available information from industry, literature and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) specialists. The summary provides data on exploration budgets by region and mineral commodity, identifies significant mineral discoveries and areas of mineral exploration, discusses government programs affecting the...
Development of hazard-compatible building fragility and vulnerability models
E. Karaca, N. Luco
2008, Conference Paper, The 14th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering: October 12-17, 2008, Beijing, China
We present a methodology for transforming the structural and non-structural fragility functions in HAZUS into a format that is compatible with conventional seismic hazard analysis information. The methodology makes use of the building capacity (or pushover) curves and related building parameters provided in HAZUS. Instead of the capacity spectrum method...
Water-resources data for the United States: water year 2008
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2008, Water Data Report 2008
Water resources data are published annually for use by engineers, scientists, managers, educators, and the general public. These archival products supplement direct access to current and historical water data provided by NWISWeb. Beginning with Water Year 2006, annual water data reports are available as individual electronic Site Data Sheets for...
Bjørn Bølviken - 2008 IAGC Vernadsky medalist
David B. Smith
2008, Newsletter of the International Association of GeoChemistry (49) 6-6
Prof. Bjørn Bølviken, 80, formerly with the Geological Survey of Norway, was the 2nd recipient of the IAGC's Vernadsky Medal. The IAGC Vernadsky Medal is awarded biennially to a single person for a distinguished record of scientific accomplishment in geochemistry over the course of a career. Dr. David Smith of...
Finite-fault analysis of the 2004 Parkfield, California, earthquake using Pnl waveforms
C. Mendoza, S. Hartzell
2008, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (98) 2746-2755
We apply a kinematic finite-fault inversion scheme to Pnl displacement waveforms recorded at 14 regional stations (Δ<2°) to recover the distribution of coseismic slip for the 2004 Parkfield earthquake using both synthetic Green’s functions (SGFs) calculated for one-dimensional (1D) crustal-velocity models and empirical Green’s functions (EGFs) based on the recordings...
Metals fate and transport modelling in streams and watersheds: state of the science and USEPA workshop review
B.S. Caruso, T.J. Cox, Robert L. Runkel, M.L. Velleux, Kenneth E. Bencala, D. Kirk Nordstrom, P.Y. Julien, B. A. Butler, Charles N. Alpers, A. Marion, Kathleen S. Smith
2008, Hydrological Processes (22) 4011-4021
Metals pollution in surface waters from point and non-point sources (NPS) is a widespread problem in the United States and worldwide (Lofts et al., 2007; USEPA, 2007). In the western United States, metals associated with acid mine drainage (AMD) from hardrock mines in mountainous areas impact aquatic ecosystems and human...
Top 10 principles for designing healthy coastal ecosystems like the Salish Sea
Joseph K. Gaydos, Leslie Dierauf, Grant Kirby, Deborah Brosnan, Kirsten Gilardi, Gary E. Davis
2008, EcoHealth (5) 460-471
Like other coastal zones around the world, the inland sea ecosystem of Washington (USA) and British Columbia (Canada), an area known as the Salish Sea, is changing under pressure from a growing human population, conversion of native forest and shoreline habitat to urban development, toxic contamination of sediments and species,...
Density currents in the Chicago River: Characterization, effects on water quality, and potential sources
P. Ryan Jackson, Carlos M. Garcia, Kevin A. Oberg, Kevin K. Johnson, Marcelo H. Garcia
2008, Science of the Total Environment (401) 130-143
Bidirectional flows in a river system can occur under stratified flow conditions and in addition to creating significant errors in discharge estimates, the upstream propagating currents are capable of transporting contaminants and affecting water quality. Detailed field observations of bidirectional flows were made in the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois...
Discrimination of lichen genera and species using element concentrations
James P. Bennett
2008, Lichenologist (40) 135-151
The importance of organic chemistry in the classification of lichens is well established, but inorganic chemistry has been largely overlooked. Six lichen species were studied over a period of 23 years that were growing in 11 protected areas of the northern Great Lakes ecoregion, which were not greatly influenced by...
Streamflow of 2007--Water year summary
Jian Xiaodong, David M. Wolock, Harry F. Lins
2008, Fact Sheet 2008-3042
The maps and graphs appearing in this summary describe streamflow conditions for water-year 2007 (October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007) in the context of the 78-year period 1930-2007, unless otherwise noted. The illustrations are based on observed data from the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Streamflow Information Program. The...
Long-term dynamics of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and its biocontrol agent, flea beetles in the genus Aphthona
Diane L. Larson, James B. Grace, Jennifer L. Larson
2008, Biological Control (47) 250-256
Three flea beetle species (Aphthona spp.), first introduced into North America in 1988, have come to be regarded as effective biological control organisms for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). The black flea beetles (Aphthona lacertosa and A. czwalinae) in particular have been shown to cause reductions in leafy spurge stem counts...
Topographic mapping
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2008, Report
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) produced its first topographic map in 1879, the same year it was established. Today, more than 100 years and millions of map copies later, topographic mapping is still a central activity for the USGS. The topographic map remains an indispensable tool for government, science, industry,...
Challenges to hydrological observations
H.F. Lins
2008, WMO Bulletin (57) 55-58
Slow journey home
Marsha Sovada
2008, North Dakota Outdoors (70) 8-11
Eliminated from North Dakota's prairies by the mid-1900s, the return of the swift fox to its native habitat has been anything but speedy. Biologists are finally seeing the first signs of this diminutive animal's homecoming....
The Colorado Plateau III: integrating research and resources management for effective conservation
Mark K. Sogge
Charles van Riper III, editor(s)
2008, Book
Roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States, the Colorado Plateau covers an area of 130,000 square miles. The relatively high semi-arid province boasts nine national parks, sixteen national monuments, many state parks, and dozens of wilderness areas. With the highest concentration of parklands in North...
