USGS Science⌕ Search

Geology topics

Research about South Dakota

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including South Dakota.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
USGS1979

Digital image processing system For Landsat 3

The Department of Interior (DOI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have entered into a joint program to provide a digital image processing system in support of the Landsat 3 mission. NASA will provide the data reception and pre-processing facilities, while the DOI provides the production image processing system that generates film products and computer compatible tapes for users. The system procured by the DOI's U.S. Geological Survey was installed at the Earth Resources Observation System Data Center (EDC) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The EDC Digital Image Processing System (EDIPS) is capable of operating in standard or special formats. During 13 hours of operation, the system can process up to 200 five-band Multispectral Scanner (MSS) scenes and 160 Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) subscenes in the standard mode plus up to 60 scenes/subscenes in the special-order mode. The input media for the system are High Density Tapes (HDT's) generated by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). These tapes contain two types of data: those that have been radiometrically and geometrically corrected with resampling of the data to fit a known map projection, and those that have been radiometrically corrected but have not been geometrically corrected or resampled. The system can provide 185 mm (MSS) and 198 mm (RBV) black and white film products for each MSS band or RBV subscene via a high resolution laser beam recorder. The CCT's generated by the system are compatible with the HDT format, and are available either in Band Sequential (BSQ) or Band Interleaved by Line (BIL) data. This paper will present both an overview of the total NASA/DOI system and a detailed discussion of the EDC Digital Image Processing System that is installed at the USGS facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

South Dakota↗
USGS1979

Prairie dog distribution in areas inhabited by black-footed ferrets

The distribution of black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) towns was delineated in a 1490 km 2 study area in Mellette County, South Dakota, and was examined to determine the characteristics of black-looted ferret ( Mustela nigripes ) habitat. Between 1964 and 1974, black-looted ferrets were observed on 14 prairie dog towns in this area. Eighty-six prairie dog towns, located throughout the study area, were not randomly distributed; towns were paired or clumped in spatial distribution. Mean distance between a town and its nearest neighbor was 2.4 km; mean distance between a ferret-occupied town and the nearest town was similar, 2.7 km. Management recommendations are to maintain at least eight towns per township, each at least 12 ha in size. Of these eight towns, two or more should exceed 40 ha.

South Dakota↗
USGS1979

Geohydrology of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, South Dakota

Effective improvement of economic and social conditions of Indians living on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation has been hampered by lack of adequate and reliable information about the quantity and quality of water supplies available for development. Compounding the problem is the recent fillinf of Oahe Reservoir, which flooded about 105,00 acres of Indian land, and the consequent relocation of many residents. This report summarizes the results of a water-resources study made at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. It is intended to provide some of the needed information on water supplies that could be used to alleviate the problems mentioned. The cooperation and courtesy extended by many farmers, ranchers, and residents of the area contributed greatly to the success of the study. Special thanks are due to Mr. John Wall, U.S. Public Health Service, Eagle Butte, and to the personnel of the Land Operations and Conservation Unites of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eagle Butte.

South Dakota↗
USGS1979

Upper Cretaceous tectonic activity on lineaments in western South Dakota

Lineaments mapped on satellite images in western South Dakota define a geometry of basement blocks, and paleotectonic activity on these lineament-bound blocks is recorded in sedimentary rocks. Mapping on seven Landsat images in an area of about 100,000 km 2 reveals that lineaments are best developed along azimuths of N. 60° E. to N. 90° E. and N. 30° W. to N. 60° W. Although their exact structural nature and origin are not known, these features are visualized as major zones of weakness that subdivide the crystalline Precambrian basement into discrete blocks. Several of the most prominent surface lineaments can be related to basement faults. The blocks bounded by these lineaments constitute low-relief uplifts that define the southern margin of the Williston Basin. During deposition of the Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale, lineaments were the sites of tectonic activity. Members of the Pierre are relatively continuous throughout the area and are well dated by biostratigraphic zonation. The base of the Mobridge Member is the highest structural datum available for regional mapping. Northeast-trending surface lineaments near the White and Cheyenne Rivers have a clear expression on a subsurface structural map of this horizon. The Ardmore Bentonite Bed lies approximately 300 m (980 ft) below the Mobridge; subsurface structure contours on this datum show the active lineaments trending northwest. Isopach maps of two rock-stratigraphic units between the Ardmore and Mobridge reflect the shift in tectonic activity from early northwest sets of lineaments to later northeast trends.

South Dakota↗
USGS1979

A geohydrologic overview for the Pecora Symposium field trip, June 1979

The settlement and development of South Dakota has been closely related to both its mineral and water resources In 1874 the discovery of gold in the Black Hills led to the opening and development of the area west of the Missouri River. Towns and farms both here and east of the Missouri were located near dependable water supplies which the settlers learned were not as plentiful as in the more humid areas in the east. Although there is still much dry-land farming and cattle raising throughout the State, the expansion of agriculture has depended heavily on the development of controlled water supplies. Water from flowing artesian wells was extremely important to early settlers and developers. Today, thousands of these wells still supply an important part of the water on which South Dakota's agricultural, tourist, and industrial economy thrive.

South Dakota↗
USGS1978

Hydrologic Unit Map-1978, state of South Dakota

This map and accompanying table show Hydrologic Unites that are basically hydrographic in nature. The Cataloging Unites shown supplant the Cataloging Units previously depicted n the 1974 State Hydrologic Unit Map. The boundaries as shown have been adapted from the 1974 State Hydrologic Unit Map, "The Catalog of Information on Water Data" (1972), "Water Resources Regions and Subregions for the National Assessment of Water and Related Land Resources" by the U.S. Water Resources Council (1970), "River Basin of the United States" by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (1963, 1970), "River Basin Maps Showing Hydrologic Stations" by the Inter-Agency Committee on Water Resources, Subcommittee on Hydrology (1961), and State planning maps. The Political Subdivision has been adopted from "Counties and County Equivalents of the States if the United States" presented in Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 6-2, issued by the National Bureau of Standards (1973) in which each county or county equivalent is identified by a 2-character State code and a 3-character county code. The Regions, Subregions and Accounting Units are aggregates of the Cataloging Unites. The Regions and Sub regions are currently (1978) used by the U.S> Water Resources Council for comprehensive planning, including the National Assessment, and as a standard geographical framework for more detailed water and related land-resources planning. The Accounting Units are those currently (1978) in use by the U.S. Geological Survey for managing the National Water Data Network. This map was revised to include a boundary realinement between Cataloging Units 10140103 and 10160009.

South Dakota↗
USGS1977

The EROS Data Center

The Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Program of the U.S. Department of the Interior, administered by the Geological Survey, was established in 1966 to apply remote-sensing techniques to the inventory, monitoring, and management of natural resources. To meet its primary objective, the EROS Program includes research and training in the interpretation and application of remotely sensed data and provides remotely sensed data at nominal cost to scientists, resource planners, managers, and the public.

South Dakota↗
USGS1977

Earthquake history of South Dakota

Twelve earthquakes of intensity V or greater (Modified Mercalli scale) have centered within the borders of South Dakota. All the shocks were rather localized, except that of 1911 which was felt over an area of approximately 100,000 km 2 . Some earthquakes from neighboring States were felt strongly in South Dakota.

South Dakota↗
USGS1976

Duck nesting in fields of undisturbed grass-legume cover

A study of dabbling duck ( Anatinae ) nesting was conducted during 1971-73 on nine 12- to 54-ha Cropland Adjustment Program fields in the prairie pothole region of north-central South Dakota. The tall, dense vegetation was comprised of introduced cool-season grasses and legumes, primarily smooth bromegrass ( Bromus inermis ), intermediate wheatgrass ( Agropyron intermedium ), and alfalfa. Complexes of temporary, seasonal, and semipermanent wetlands surrounded the fields at densities of 1.5-8.1 basins/km2 and areas of 9.4-17.2 ha/km2. Of the 620 nests studied, 38 percent were of blue-winged teal ( Anas discors ), 24 percent were of mallards ( A. platyrhynchos ), and 24 percent were of gadwalls ( A. strepera ). Densities of nests of all species averaged 67, 114, and 47 nests/km2 (3-yr av 77/km2). Calculated hatching rates were 69, 58, and 32 percent (av 56) for the 3 years. Hatchability of eggs in successful nests averaged 97.1 percent. Averages of 4.0, 6.2, and 1.2 ducklings were hatched per hectare in 1971, 1972, and 1973, respectively (3-yr av 3.7/ha).

South Dakota↗
USGS1976

Access routes to the U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The EROS Data Center is a part of the Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Program of the Department of the Interior, managed by the U.S. Geological Survey. It is the national center for the processing anddissemination of spacecraft and aircraft acquired photographic imagery and electronic data of the Earth's resources. The center also trains and assists users in the application of such data. The EROS Data Center provides access to Landsat data, aerial photography acquired by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and photography and other remotely sensed data acquired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from research aircraft and from Skylab, Apollo, and Gemini spacecraft.

South Dakota↗