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At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
USGS2023

Lake Erie hypoxia spatial and temporal dynamics present challenges for assessing progress toward water quality goals

Seasonal hypolimnetic hypoxia has been documented in Lake Erie’s central basin since the 1950s. Ship-based surveys to monitor hypoxia have been conducted since the 1980s, but they occur at a relatively low frequency and focus on the deeper areas of the central basin. To better document the seasonal development of stratification and the consequent occurrence of hypoxia, we deployed eight moorings, in both nearshore-shallow areas and offshore-deep areas of the central basin, equipped with temperature and oxygen sensors at multiple depths, that recorded temperature and oxygen concentrations every 10 minutes. Results from 2017-2019 reveal that hypoxia occurs as early as July in the shallower areas west of, and around the southern perimeter of the central basin, but does not occur until August or September in the deeper central basin. Hypoxia is intermittent in the shallower perimeter areas; whereas in the deeper areas, hypoxia can persist into October, often progressing to anoxia. The intra and interannual differences in the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxia indicate that an extensive monitoring program will be necessary to more accurately assess progress toward reducing the extent of hypoxia pursuant to the lake ecosystem objectives of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania↗
USGS1992

Depressions and other lake-floor morphologic features in deep water, southern Lake Michigan

The most common features are subcircular depressions, commonly compound, that are irregularly distributed across the lake floor. The depressions are most common in the southern basin of the lake where lacustrine sediments are more than a few meters thick, corresponding to water depths greater than about 90 m. We have divided the depressions into three types on the basis of their internal structure seen in seismic-reflection profiles. The depressions show varying degrees of muting, ranging from fresh to completely buried, suggesting a range in the time of their formation. The origin of the depressions is problematic, but their structure suggests collapse and(or) subsidence. -from Authors

Lake Michigan↗
USGS2012

New data on mitochondrial diversity and origin of Hemimysis anomala in the Laurentian Great Lakes

The most recent Ponto-Caspian species to invade the Laurentian Great Lakes is the crustacean Hemimysis anomala , first reported in 2006. A previous study described three haplotype groups (A, B, C) of H. anomala in native and invaded areas within Europe, but only one haplotype (A1) in a sample from Lake Michigan. Our study expands these results to additional populations in the Great Lakes basin, and evaluates relationships among North American and European populations. A 549-bp fragment of themitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was analyzed from populations of H. anomala in Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and the St. Lawrence River.Two different haplotypes, A1 and B1,were observed in the sampled populations of H. anomala and in a previous analysis from H. anomala in Oneida Lake (New York). Our results, in contrast with a previous study, detect an additional haplotype in North America.

Journal of Great Lakes Research↗
USGS2013

Mapping invasive Phragmites australis in the coastal Great Lakes with ALOS PALSAR satellite imagery for decision support

The invasive variety of Phragmites australis (common reed) forms dense stands that can cause negative impacts on coastal Great Lakes wetlands including habitat degradation and reduced biological diversity. Early treatment is key to controlling Phragmites, therefore a map of the current distribution is needed. ALOS PALSAR imagery was used to produce the first basin-wide distribution map showing the extent of large, dense invasive Phragmites-dominated habitats in wetlands and other coastal ecosystems along the U.S. shore of the Great Lakes. PALSAR is a satellite imaging radar sensor that is sensitive to differences in plant biomass and inundation patterns, allowing for the detection and delineation of these tall (up to 5 m), high density, high biomass invasive Phragmites stands. Classification was based on multi-season ALOS PALSAR L-band (23 cm wavelength) HH and HV polarization data. Seasonal (spring, summer, and fall) datasets were used to improve discrimination of Phragmites by taking advantage of phenological changes in vegetation and inundation patterns over the seasons. Extensive field collections of training and randomly selected validation data were conducted in 2010–2011 to aid in mapping and for accuracy assessments. Overall basin-wide map accuracy was 87%, with 86% producer's accuracy and 43% user's accuracy for invasive Phragmites. The invasive Phragmites maps are being used to identify major environmental drivers of this invader's distribution, to assess areas vulnerable to new invasion, and to provide information to regional stakeholders through a decision support tool.

Lake Erie;Lake Huron;Lake Michigan;Lake Ontario;La↗
USGS1975

Effects of sediment control on sediment transport in the northwest branch Anacostia River basin, Montgomery County, Maryland

Streamflow and sediment were monitored in an urbanizing drainage basin in southeastern Montgomery County, Md., from 1962 to 1972. During this period, urban construction areas averaged about 3 percent of the 21.1 mi 2 (54.6 km 2 ) basin. Urban land increased from 3.5 percent in 1959 to 20 percent in 1971. Virtually all the suspended sediment was transported during storms; three-fourths of it, during large storms. High sediment yields were observed in February, March, June, and August; and low yields, generally from September through January. The decrease in sediment discharge in the latter half of the study period is attributed to a sediment-control program. Sediment discharge decreased 35 percent between 1967 and 1972, when effective control measures were installed on about half the construction sites.

Maryland↗
USGS2014

Spatial variability and landscape controls of near-surface permafrost within the Alaskan Yukon River Basin

The distribution of permafrost is important to understand because of permafrost's influence on high-latitude ecosystem structure and functions. Moreover, near-surface (defined here as within 1 m of the Earth's surface) permafrost is particularly susceptible to a warming climate and is generally poorly mapped at regional scales. Subsequently, our objectives were to (1) develop the first-known binary and probabilistic maps of near-surface permafrost distributions at a 30 m resolution in the Alaskan Yukon River Basin by employing decision tree models, field measurements, and remotely sensed and mapped biophysical data; (2) evaluate the relative contribution of 39 biophysical variables used in the models; and (3) assess the landscape-scale factors controlling spatial variations in permafrost extent. Areas estimated to be present and absent of near-surface permafrost occupy approximately 46% and 45% of the Alaskan Yukon River Basin, respectively; masked areas (e.g., water and developed) account for the remaining 9% of the landscape. Strong predictors of near-surface permafrost include climatic indices, land cover, topography, and Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus spectral information. Our quantitative modeling approach enabled us to generate regional near-surface permafrost maps and provide essential information for resource managers and modelers to better understand near-surface permafrost distribution and how it relates to environmental factors and conditions.

Alaska↗
USGS2010

Using noble gases measured in spring discharge to trace hydrothermal processes in the Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A.

Dissolved noble gas concentrations in springs are used to investigate boiling of hydrothermal water and mixing of hydrothermal and shallow cool water in the Norris Geyser Basin area. Noble gas concentrations in water are modeled for single stage and continuous steam removal. Limitations on boiling using noble gas concentrations are then used to estimate the isotopic effect of boiling on hydrothermal water, allowing the isotopic composition of the parent hydrothermal water to be determined from that measured in spring. In neutral chloride springs of the Norris Geyser Basin, steam loss since the last addition of noble gas charged water is less than 30% of the total hydrothermal discharge, which results in an isotopic shift due to boiling of ?? 2.5% ??D. Noble gas concentrations in water rapidly and predictably change in dual phase systems, making them invaluable tracers of gas-liquid interaction in hydrothermal systems. By combining traditional tracers of hydrothermal flow such as deuterium with dissolved noble gas measurements, more complex hydrothermal processes can be interpreted. ?? 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research↗
USGS2004

Frequency and initiation of debris flows in Grand Canyon, Arizona

Debris flows from 740 tributaries transport sediment into the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, creating rapids that control its longitudinal profile. Debris flows mostly occur when runoff triggers failures in colluvium by a process termed “the fire hose effect.” Debris flows originate from a limited number of geologic strata, almost exclusively shales or other clay‐rich, fine‐grained formations. Observations from 1984 through 2003 provide a 20 year record of all debris flows that reached the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, and repeat photography provides a 100 year record of debris flows from 147 tributaries. Observed frequencies are 5.1 events/year from 1984 to 2003, and historic frequencies are 5.0 events/year from 1890 to 1983. Logistic regression is used to model historic frequencies based on drainage basin parameters observed to control debris flow initiation and transport. From 5 to 7 of the 16 parameters evaluated are statistically significant, including drainage area, basin relief, and the height of and gradient below debris flow source areas, variables which reflect transport distance and potential energy. The aspect of the river channel, which at least partially reflects storm movement within the canyon, is also significant. Model results are used to calculate the probability of debris flow occurrence at the river over a century for all 740 tributaries. Owing to the variability of underlying geomorphic controls, the distribution of this probability is not uniform among tributaries of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon.

Arizona↗
USGS2023

Characterization of fish assemblages in eleven multi-use reservoirs from North Carolina, USA

Managing impounded river systems is a recurring challenge for aquatic resource professionals because reservoirs serve multiple functions with different ecological and socioeconomic outcomes. However, research on fishes in reservoirs has disproportionally focused on recreationally and economically important species, with less attention directed toward fish assemblages despite the potential for management at the assemblage level. As such, evaluation of relationships between reservoir fish assemblages and biotic and abiotic factors and testing whether assemblage structure is affected by changing environmental conditions may deepen ecological understanding and provide insights for reservoir fisheries management. Our overall objective was to assess these relationships in 11 reservoirs from North Carolina, USA. We sampled fish assemblages in the reservoirs, which spanned five river basins representing a range of habitat conditions, using experimental gillnets and pulsed DC nighttime electrofishing. Multivariate statistical analyses indicated that taxonomic differences in fish assemblage composition among river basins followed a gradient of productivity. The top contributing species to reservoir dissimilarity were bluegill ( Lepomis macrochirus ), gizzard shad ( Dorosoma cepedianum ), black crappie ( Pomoxis nigromaculatus ), and white perch ( Morone americana ). These four species were positively associated with factors that reflect increasing eutrophic conditions in the 11 reservoirs and could, therefore, serve as indicators of reservoir productivity, anthropogenic influence, and fish assemblage structure, in addition to their key role in reservoir fisheries management. Whereas ­fisheries research has historically focused on assessing fish ­populations, our results illustrate the ecological and management insights derived from simultaneously collecting assemblage- and population-level data. Research on reservoir fish assemblages in relation to biotic and abiotic conditions may help advance fish ecology and management alike.

North Carolina↗
USGS2024

First documentation of grass carp spawning in Lake Erie’s Central Basin

Grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella ) are non-indigenous to North America having been translocated to the United States in the 1960s as a potential non-chemical solution for nuisance aquatic vegetation. Reproductively viable grass carp now exist in many watersheds in the United States. In the Great Lakes basin, grass carp were first discovered in the 1980s with direct confirmation of successful reproduction in 2015 via collection of fertilized grass carp eggs in the Sandusky River. Early life stage monitoring also confirmed reproduction in the Maumee River in 2017. During 2018–2021, no new spawning tributaries were discovered (18 total sampling events in five Great Lakes tributaries). In 2022, fourteen eggs with characteristics similar to grass carp were identified from the Huron River which is a tributary to Lake Erie’s Central Basin. Eggs were identified to species via DNA sequencing and were determined to be grass carp eggs. The confirmation of spawning in the Huron River represents a third spawning tributary in the Lake Erie basin and expands eastward the geographic extent of known grass carp spawning locations. Presently, the ability of the Huron River to support hatching and survival of larval grass carp is unknown. Discovery of the Huron River as a grass carp spawning tributary identifies the value of continued surveillance in Great Lakes tributaries for early life stages and conducting scientific inquiries evaluating the consistency of tributary use and survival of early life stages.

Ohio↗
USGS2021

Crustal seismic attenuation of the central United States and Intermountain West

Seismic attenuation is generally greater in the western United States (WUS) than the central and eastern United States (CEUS), but the nature of this transition or location of this boundary is poorly constrained. We conduct crustal seismic (Lg) attenuation tomography across a region that stretches from the CEUS across the Rocky Mountains to the Basin and Range using a total of 115,870 amplitude measurements from 106 earthquakes recorded on 544 stations across five frequency bands spanning 0.5–16 Hz. Similar to previous studies, we find higher attenuation in the WUS ( Q 0 ∼ 190) than the nominally CEUS ( Q 0 ∼ 250) and comparatively high attenuation on the Gulf Coast ( Q 0 ∼ 175). Our models defy simple east versus west regionalization, however. Heterogeneity within the Rocky Mountain region—low attenuation in the Colorado Plateau interior and Wyoming Craton ( Q 0 ∼ 230) compared to high attenuation in the southern Rockies ( Q 0 ∼ 110)—exceeds the gross differences between the CEUS and western United States. These province-scale patterns are readily interpreted in terms of intrinsic attenuation. The boundary between the Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range hosts the highest attenuation imaged in the study area ( Q 0 ∼ 90), consistent with localized scattering across contrasting crustal structure. Focused high attenuation in the southern Rockies may represent the effects of represent in situ partial crustal melt. Within the CEUS, second-order bands of comparatively high attenuation align with the Proterozoic Yavapai-Mazatzal suture zone and Midcontinent Rift. This complex attenuation structure defies broad regionalization and suggests a need for path-specific models near these boundaries and for critical infrastructure.

Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth↗
USGS1997

An integrated model for the tectonic development of the frontal Brooks Range and Colville Basin 250 km west of the Trans-Alaska Crustal Transect

We present a kinematic model for the sequence of deformation and sedimentation in the frontal Brooks Range and adjacent Colville Basin in the Etivluk River region, 250 km west of the Trans-Alaska Crustal Transect (TACT). The model is based on a tectonic subsidence analysis of the foreland basin, combined with structural, stratigraphic, and thermal studies of the northern edge of the Brooks Range thrust belt. We interpret six discrete tectonic events that led to the present-day configuration of the thrust belt in this area: (1) emplacement of ophiolitic allochthons over the distal continental margin rocks in Valanginian time, hundreds of kilometers south of this study, (2) Hauterivian uplift of the Barrow Arch rift margin, affecting the northern part of the Colville Basin, (3) Barremian contraction involving emplacement of distal continental margin and ophiolitic allochthons onto the Endicott Mountains allochthon and creation of a southward dipping flexural basin on the North Slope autochthon, (4) mid-Cretaceous exhumation of imbricated rocks in the Brooks Range during northward propagation of the thrust front into the foreland, (5) minor thrusting in Late Cretaceous-Paleocene in the northern foreland to the northern limit of contractional structures, and (6) regional exhumation of the orogen and the foreland in Paleocene-Eocene time. This sequence of deformation agrees well with a simple model of a forward propagating thrust system.

Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth↗
USGS2012

Geothermal gradients in the conterminous United States

Geothermal gradients from published temperature/depth measurements in drill holes generally deeper than 600 m are used to construct a temperature gradient map of the conterminous United States. The broadly contoured map displays 284 temperature gradients that are applicable to a depth of 2 km. In terms of the number of contoured areas and the fraction of data points having a value not within a contour interval (outliers), the temperature gradient data and associated deep heat flow data have similar measures of contourability. Areally, most of the United States is contoured from 15° to 35°C/km. The eastern United States is generally cooler (average 25°C/km) than the western United States (average 34°C/km), in accordance with broad heat flow trends. Differences between the temperature gradient and heat flow maps are caused by areal differences in rock thermal conductivities. The effect of conductivity on gradients is particularly apparent in the eastern United States where heat flow is relatively constant over large areas. Gradients are elevated where thick, low-conductivity, sedimentary deposits occur such as in the Atlantic Coastal Plain province and in basins in the Allegheny Plateau and the Great Plains provinces. No clear gradient pattern emerges where both heat flow and conductivity vary widely, such as in the northern Basin and Range and Rocky Mountain provinces. Using the temperature gradients determined in this study and associated heat flow values, derived thermal conductivities are calculated for the depth range of a few hundred meters to 2 km; the average conductivity is 2.5±0.8 W/m °C. Some areas show little variation in derived thermal conductivity, while others show a wide range. The Atlantic Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateaus, Superior Upland, Gulf Coastal Plain, Columbia Plateaus and Cascade Mountains, and Sierra Nevada provinces have restricted ranges of conductivities, which supports the concept of regional conductivities.

Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth↗
USGS1976

A geochemical study of oil in metalliferous veins, Idarado Mine, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

A tarry, benzene-soluble material is present in metal-rich veins in the Idarado mine, Ouray County, Colo., in an area not known to have petroleum resources. The material was compared chemically, spectometrically, and chromatographically with oils from four fields in the nearby Paradox basin. Each of these oil fields contains reservoir rocks equivalent to rock units known to extend beneath volcanic rocks near the mine. Carbon and sulfur isotope data and gas chromatographic data indicate a similarity between the oil from the nearby Sierra field and the oil from the mine. Thus, it seems both geologically and chemically possible that oil in the mine originated in Cretaceous sediments. Variations in the composition of oil from the mine and differences between the mine oil and Sierra oil, notably in the distributions of hydrocarbons, are attributed to bacterial degradation.

Colorado↗
USGS2015

Enhanced microbial coalbed methane generation: A review of research, commercial activity, and remaining challenges

Coalbed methane (CBM) makes up a significant portion of the world’s natural gas resources. The discovery that approximately 20% of natural gas is microbial in origin has led to interest in microbially enhanced CBM (MECoM), which involves stimulating microorganisms to produce additional CBM from existing production wells. This paper reviews current laboratory and field research on understanding processes and reservoir conditions which are essential for microbial CBM generation, the progress of efforts to stimulate microbial methane generation in coal beds, and key remaining knowledge gaps. Research has been primarily focused on identifying microbial communities present in areas of CBM generation and attempting to determine their function, in-situ reservoir conditions that are most favorable for microbial CBM generation, and geochemical indicators of metabolic pathways of methanogenesis (i.e., acetoclastic or hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis). Meanwhile, researchers at universities, government agencies, and companies have focused on four primary MECoM strategies: 1) microbial stimulation (i.e., addition of nutrients to stimulate native microbes); 2) microbial augmentation (i.e., addition of microbes not native to or abundant in the reservoir of interest); 3) physically increasing microbial access to coal and distribution of amendments; and 4) chemically increasing the bioavailability of coal organics. Most companies interested in MECoM have pursued microbial stimulation: Luca Technologies, Inc., successfully completed a pilot scale field test of their stimulation strategy, while two others, Ciris Energy and Next Fuel, Inc., have undertaken smaller scale field tests. Several key knowledge gaps remain that need to be addressed before MECoM strategies can be implemented commercially. Little is known about the bacterial community responsible for coal biodegradation and how these microorganisms may be stimulated to enhance microbial methanogenesis. In addition, research is needed to understand what fraction of coal is available for biodegradation, and methods need to be developed to determine the extent of in-situ coal biodegradation by MECoM processes for monitoring changes to coal quality. Questions also remain about how well field-scale pilot tests will scale to commercial production, how often amendments will need to be added to maintain new methane generation, and how well MECoM strategies transfer between coal basins with different formation water geochemistries and coal ranks. Addressing these knowledge gaps will be key in determining the feasibility and commercial viability of MECoM technology.

International Journal of Coal Geology↗
USGS1995

Lake trout rehabilitation in Lake Erie: a case history

Native lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) once thrived in the deep waters of eastern Lake Erie. The impact of nearly 70 years of unregulated exploitation and over 100 years of progressively severe cultural eutrophication resulted in the elimination of lake trout stocks by 1950. Early attempts to restore lake trout by stocking were unsuccessful in establishing a self-sustaining population. In the early 1980s, New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entered into a cooperative program to rehabilitate lake trout in the eastern basin of Lake Erie. After 11 years of stocking selected strains of lake trout in U.S. waters, followed by effective sea lamprey control, lake trout appear to be successfully recolonizing their native habitat. Adult stocks have built up significantly and are expanding their range in the lake. Preliminary investigations suggest that lake trout reproductive habitat is still adequate for natural reproduction, but natural recruitment has not been documented. Future assessments will be directed toward evaluation of spawning success and tracking age-class cohorts as they move through the fishery.

Journal of Great Lakes Research↗
USGS1978

Determination of runoff coefficients of storm-water-basin drainage areas on Long Island, New York, by using maximum-stage gages

A method for determining runoff coefficients indirectly without direct measurement of volume of runoff was developed for drainage areas of selected storm-water basins on Long Island, N.Y., to expedite evaluation of basin performance. The method requires a maximum-stage gage to record the maximum water level attained in the basin during the storm, and a precipitation gage to record storm intensity at regular intervals. The maximum volume of runoff impounded in the basin during a storm is calculated from precipitation data, an arbitrarily estimated runoff coefficient, and the basin's dimensions and infiltration rate. The calculated result is then compared with the recorded maximum water level, and the process is repeated with increased or decreased coefficients on a trial basis until two of the resulting water-storage maxima closely bracket the recorded maximum. The runoff coefficient in effect during that storm is then interpolated or derived graphically from the calculated water-storage maxima. Results of data analyses suggest that a close approximation of a basin's infiltration rate may be used instead of a measured infiltration rate to calculate the runoff coefficient. Differences between measured and calculated runoff coefficients averaged less than 20 percent when based on average infiltration rates adjusted for water temperature and less than 10 percent when based on measured infiltration rates. Accuracy of the calculated runoff coefficient tends to decline as the interval between precipitation measurements increases. Precipitation data collected at 5- and 15-minute intervals gave accurate runoff coefficients regardless of storm duration, but data collected at 30- or 60-minute intervals gave widely varying results.

New York↗
USGS2025

Relative abundance, seasonal occurrence, and distribution of marine birds in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Marine birds in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico have long been poorly studied. Given statutory obligations to protect migratory birds and endangered species, three broad-scale vessel and aerial programs initiated since 2010 have now surveyed the entire northern Gulf. Vessel coverage alone exceeds 700 d and 74,000 km of observer effort using 300-m strip transects. We supplemented these survey data with earlier, smaller-scale studies, eBird checklists, literature reviews, and other less accessible sources to create snapshot summaries of relative abundance, seasonal occurrence, and regional distribution for 117 taxa of marine and water birds reported from the northern Gulf (113 of which were substantiated with physical evidence). Using taxonomic and functional criteria, we identified 56 taxa characteristic of open shelf, slope, and pelagic waters (federal jurisdiction), 41 taxa with primarily coastal affinities (state and federal jurisdiction), and 20 taxa of sea and diving ducks. High species richness of marine birds in the northern Gulf is attributed to (1) a temperate-to-tropical gradient facilitating diverse marine environments year-round; (2) varied geographic origins of marine bird species using the Gulf; and (3) a mostly enclosed sea basin acting as a vagrant trap for wide-ranging species. Our taxonomic list and status updates seek to bridge information gaps for marine birds now subject to accelerated commercial uses of this region's continental shelf, including newly proposed offshore wind energy development. Other applications include guiding risk and vulnerability assessments of Gulf marine birds, providing core content for seabird observer training, and prioritizing environmental impact reviews and monitoring programs in offshore energy construction and operations plans.

Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research an↗