USGS Newsroom

SPOT Comes to USGS Archive of Earth Observation Imagery

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:40:55 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in partnership with Spot Image Corporation, has begun to distribute, over the Internet, SPOT (Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre) satellite data collected over parts of North America between 1986 and 1998.

“We are pleased to now offer historic SPOT satellite data acquired between 1986 and 1998 to all users in the U.S.,” said Bruce Quirk, head of the USGS Land Remote Sensing Program. “This collection is a valuable addition to the rich earth observation resources already available from the USGS.”

The USGS is distributing this data at no charge through the USGS Earth Explorer search and order tool. Access is open to any registered user within the U.S., provided he or she agrees to use the SPOT data for non-commercial purposes.

“As the only commercial imagery provider with an archive dating as far back as 1986, we are excited to provide 12 years worth of SPOT archive data to the USGS so that the data will be more widely available,” said Greg Buckman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Spot Image Corporation. “These data are especially valuable for projects involving time series data and change detection. We look forward to USGS earth imagery users taking advantage of this new resource.”

Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Va., is the U.S. subsidiary of the French satellite imagery provider, Spot Image SA. With two operational earth observation satellites in orbit and four more under development, Spot Image is a leading commercial supplier of geospatial information.

North American Raptors Susceptible to Avian Influenza

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 9:32:03 EDT

American kestrels are extremely susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza, indicating that other endangered and threatened raptors may also be at risk if the virus reaches North America.

In a new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study, all kestrels inoculated with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 died within seven days of inoculation, regardless of the virus dose.

“Our concern is that raptors like bald eagles, peregrine falcons and the endangered California condor would be at risk if highly pathogenic H5N1 reaches North America,” said Jeffrey Hall, a research virologist at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and lead author on this study.

The virus could reach North America via migratory wild birds, which are typical prey for these susceptible birds. If endangered and threatened raptors are as sensitive as kestrels, they are highly likely to die if infected with the virus.

“Surveillance for highly pathogenic H5N1 is extremely important,” said Jonathan Sleeman, director of the National Wildlife Health Center. “This groundbreaking research will contribute to more effective early warnings for risks to agriculture, public health and wildlife should this virus enter the continent.”

Sleeman emphasized that the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is not the same as the H1N1 influenza virus afflicting people around the world. Highly pathogenic H5N1 has not been detected in North America and primarily occurs in domestic and wild birds.

Scientists used captive-raised American kestrels as a representative species of North American raptors to examine survival, virus shedding, clinical signs and pathology of infected birds.

“The birds inoculated with the virus died even after receiving the lowest dose,” said Hall. “If the virus enters the U.S., wild raptors could easily be exposed to such low levels of the virus through eating infected prey, contact with other infected raptors or by contact with a contaminated environment.”

The article, “Experimental infection of a North American raptor, American kestrel (Falco sparverius), with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1),” was published in PLoS ONE, and can be found online.

USGS Seeks Proposals to Build the National Spatial Data Infrastructure

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:26:51 EDT

RESTON, VA – USGS and the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) formally announced their request for proposals to support the 2010 National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP). With over $1.3 million spread across seven categories, the 2010 NSDI CAP will award an estimated 31 innovative projects in the geospatial data community. The goals of the awarded projects will be to develop partnerships and to build new and improve existing geospatial infrastructure necessary to effectively discover, access, share, manage and use geospatial assets.

In 2009, NSDI CAP awarded a total of 25 projects, totaling close to $1.3 million. One of the 2009 categories is helping States develop strategic and business plans that will support the coordination of programs, policies, technologies, and resources related to all aspects of geospatialinformation. See the full list of the 2009 NSDI CAP projects online.

In 2009, NSDI CAP awarded a total of 25 projects, totaling close to $1.3 million. One of the 2009 categories is helping States develop strategic and business plans that will support the coordination of programs, policies, technologies, and resources related to all aspects of geospatial information. See the full list of the 2009 NSDI CAP projects online.

2010 NSDI CAP Funding Categories	Amount	In-kind Match	Approximate Number of Awards
1. Metadata Trainer and Outreach Assistance	Up to $25,000	50%	4
2. Framework Data Exchange through Automated Geo-Synchronization	Up to $50,000	100%	3
3. Fifty States Initiative : Strategic and Business Plan Development	Up to $50,000	50%	5
4. Fifty States Initiative: Business Plan Development and Implementation	Up to $30,000	50%	9
5. Return on Investment (ROI) Methodology and Business Case Development for Multi-agency NSDI Projects	Up to $50,000	50%	2
6. FGDC Standards Development and Implementation Assistance and Outreach	Up to $50,000	50%	4
7. Demonstration of Geospatial Data Partnerships across Local, State, Tribal, and Federal Government	Up to $75,000	50%	4

To date the annual NSDI CAP awards have supported metadata creation and service, outreach and coordination, standards implementation, partnership development, State strategic and business plan development, map and geospatial data services deployment, geo-enablement of data, and NSDI training. All levels of government, academia, and private sector have participated in this national effort to implement the NSDI. Since 1994 CAP awards have played a substantial role in advancing and propagating the tenets of the NSDI to thousands of practitioners.

2010 NSDI CAP proposals need to be submitted via Grants.gov by January 7, 2010. The awarded projects scheduled to be announced by USGS/FGDC contracts officer in February 2010 with obligated work to begin on each project by September 30, 2010. More information is available at the FGDC proposal submissions site. To apply go to grants.gov.

The FGDC, which is hosted by the USGS, sponsors the NSDI CAP to promote the technologies, standards, best practices and organizational collaboration vital to data integration, partnerships for data investment and speedy delivery of geospatial products to support government.

For more information on this program, please contact Gita Urban-Mathieux: burbanma@usgs.gov or 703-648-5175. For further information on FGDC NSDI CAP Grants: www.fgdc.gov; contact the FGDC Secretariat, c/o U.S. Geological Survey, 590 National Center, Reston, VA 20192; fax 703-648-5755.

From Ducks on Doppler to Climate Change: USGS at The Wildlife Society

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:34:39 EDT

Keeping up with plants: the challenge for Arctic geese: A large-scale redistribution of geese seems to be occurring in boreal and tundra ecosystems, perhaps because of the changing balance and distribution of the plants they eat. In Alaska, geese are breeding earlier in the year, but the advance in the breeding time of some geese species may not be keeping pace with the ever-earlier arrival of spring for plants. USGS researchers found that in exceptionally warm years in the Arctic, food plants preferred by geese are of lower nutritional quality. In addition, a changing climate may be altering the abundance of small mammals, the favored prey of the Arctic fox, and thus cause greater predation by foxes on geese. Collectively, these changes suggest that northern habitats for geese are changing in substantive ways that will reshape their fitness and future distribution. For more information, contact Joel Schmutz at jschmutz@usgs.gov or 907-786-7186.

Ducks fatten up with improved winter habitat: With few exceptions, dabbling ducks that winter in California’s Central Valley are fatter and heavier today than before the Central Valley Joint Venture habitat program effort began in 1988, according to a multi-partner study. The additional stored fat translates into increased body reserves for wintering ducks, which may ultimately increase survival and population numbers. The improvement in the condition of ducks is consistent with increased availability of seeds in most flooded habitats throughout the Central Valley, and especially in the Sacramento Valley. Contact Joe Fleskes at joe_fleskes@usgs.gov or 707-678-0682 x628.

Life and death at the marsh -- tracking survival of an endangered rail: Winter may be the most perilous season for the California clapper rail, according to a study by USGS and University of California, Davis, scientists. This rail is a federally and state-listed endangered species restricted primarily to San Francisco Bay, Suisun Bay, and wetlands near the mouth of San Francisco Bay. Scientists found that survival rates were lowest for the winter season (only about half survived), highest for post-breeding season (more than 3/4ths survived) and slightly less for the breeding season (about 3/4ths survived). The combined annual survival rate, however, was only one-third of the population. Low winter survival may be caused by many factors, including high winter tides (which reduce high-tide refuges), exposure from winter storms or changes in predator behavior and abundance. People may be contributing to the low survival by setting out feeding stations for feral cats. Contact Cory Overton (coverton@usgs.gov, 707-678-0682 x683), Mike Casazza (mike_casazza@usgs.gov, 707-678-0682 x629), or John Takekawa (john_takekawa@usgs.gov, 707-562-2000).

Black rail, a “barometer” of tidal marsh condition of San Francisco Bay? Though restoration seeks to reverse the loss of roughly 80 percent of tidal marshes in the San Francisco Bay Estuary, species dependent on tidal marshes, including the California black rail, still face other threats, such as from methymercury. USGS research found that the marsh foodweb consisted of three basic “food chain” levels and that methylmercury increased with each level. Though mercury toxicity thresholds for birds can vary by species, when the researchers compared their results from black rail feather and blood sampling to established risk categories for the common loon, their results indicated that many black rails in San Francisco Bay may be at risk of adverse effects from methylmercury, especially if they are more sensitive to it than loons. California black rails may be good indicators of tidal marsh condition, and methylmercury contamination may contribute to the cumulative effects of other threats such as sea-level rise, fragmentation, other contaminants, disease, and disturbance. Contact Isa Woo at iwoo@usgs.gov or 707-562-2001.

Ducks on Doppler – Weather radar detects waterfowl use of restored habitat: The national network of Doppler weather surveillance radars routinely detects a variety of bird movements and holds enormous potential for rapidly and remotely assessing bird distributions within broad geographic areas across the United States. University of Delaware and USGS scientists used archived radar data from two radars in California’s Central Valley to assess the change in wintering waterfowl use of lands enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wetland Reserve Program before and after restoration. At nearly two-thirds of the restored sites, they detected significant increases in bird movements, indicating daytime waterfowl density at these sites greatly increased after restoration. Contact Joe Fleskes at joe_fleskes@usgs.gov or 707-678-0682 x628.

Black-necked stilt chicks “test” Salton Sea experimental ponds: The Salton Sea has been described as a crown jewel of avian diversity in California, yet it faces an uncertain future due to impending water reductions. USGS scientists are examining the ecological risks and benefits of a novel restoration concept using a mixture of saline Salton Sea water and agricultural run-off at an experimental wetland complex on the Salton Sea. A 3-year study of radio-marked black-necked stilt chicks indicated lower survival and remaining at the site for chicks hatched at the experimental complex compared to nearby fresh-water wetland sites. Selenium exposure, however, had no discernible effect on chick survival. Contact Mark Ricca (mark_ricca@usgs.gov, 530-752-2505) or Keith Miles (keith_miles@usgs.gov, 530-752-5365).

Going, going, gone? Estuarine islands, wading birds, and climate change: In the mid-Atlantic region, small estuarine islands are already losing ground because of climate change, according to USGS researchers. The researchers demonstrate, for example, that islands at the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey and in state-owned lands in Virginia, are suffering losses of land at a more rapid rate than local sea-level rise. These islands could be inundated by 2100. In addition, researchers said that an average island loss rate of 21 percent was accompanied by population reductions of more than 50 percent of nearly all of the wading bird species they examined. Similar losses have been noted in coastal North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Management will be needed to prevent the continued decrease of nesting populations of many waterbirds. Contact Michael Erwin, merwin@usgs.gov or 434-924-3207.

Habitats suitable as home for rare giant gartersnakes: USGS scientists are uncovering habitats suitable as “homes” for the giant gartersnake, a rare, threatened species native to California’s Central Valley. Their study indicated that these snakes most prefer low-elevation sites near wetlands, canals, and rice-growing fields. In the Sacramento Valley, these sites are restricted to the central and southern portions of the valley. Based on these findings, resource managers can more accurately assess the current distribution and abundance of the snake, as well as know what habitats are important in maintaining these rare snakes. Contact Brian Halstead at bhalstead@usgs.gov or 707-678-0682 x627.

Getting to the other side of the road: predicting road risk for species in southern California’s coastal sage scrub habitats: To assess the effects of habitat fragmentation on southern California’s native species, researchers found that dirt roads generally did not hinder the movement of small mammals and reptiles. In contrast, a primary highway was an obvious barrier. Small-mammal movements over secondary paved roads differed among species. Overall, species that preferred open habitats were more likely to venture out onto roads where they were susceptible to increased mortality from cars. By understanding what species are most at risk from the presence of roads within their habitat, better management decisions can be made. Contact Cheryl Brehme at cbrehme@usgs.gov or 619-225-6427.

The Wildlife Society’s 16^th Annual Conference is the week of Sept. 21^st in Monterey, Calif. For more information go to http://joomla.wildlife.org/monterey09/

USGS Crews Measure Record Floods in Georgia

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:19 EDT

Reporters: Do you want to accompany a USGS field crew as they measure flooding? Please contact Brian McCallum – 770-903-9127.

The U. S. Geological Survey has crews measuring the historic flooding in many parts of Georgia, especially in north Georgia and the Atlanta region.

The USGS has deployed field crews to help repair more than 20 streamgages that were destroyed from the flooding. Crews are rushing to install temporary gages and make streamflow measurements to provide real-time flood information to emergency managers. In Georgia, there are about 300 USGS-operated streamgages that measure water levels, streamflow and rainfall. The information is used for numerous purposes, including public safety and flood forecasting by the National Weather Service.

More than 50 streamgage stations have measurements above flood stage.

“These are historic floods and we know that people’s lives are at risk, so we burn the candle at both ends to try to keep our real-time gages running,” said Brian McCallum, USGS Supervisory Hydrologist, who oversees the streamgage operations and the field crews. “Because many of the gages have been destroyed, we are attempting to install as many temporary gages as possible to ensure that real-time data is available to emergency managers.”

Pictures taken by USGS crews, a map of real-time streamflow monitoring sites, and graphs of flooding in Georgia from the past 7 days are available at the USGS Georgia Water Science Center Web site.

For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. The USGS collects data from more than 7,500 streamgages, many of which provide real-time data in 15-minute increments. The information is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk, and for many recreational activities.

Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country at the USGS WaterWatch Web site.

For more information on USGS flood-related activities is available at the USGS Surface Water Information Web site.

USGS Offers $500,000 in Grants to Map the Nation

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Fri, 4 Sep 2009 14:42:31 EDT

—Applications due Nov. 12, 2009—

The U.S. Geological Survey will award up to $500,000 in grants and cooperative agreements for universities to help produce geologic maps for the nation.

Interested professors can apply online to the EDMAP grant program under funding opportunity No. 10HQPA0004. Applications are due Nov. 12, 2009, at 3 p.m. ET

EDMAP is sponsored by the USGS and is the nation’s sole program to fund geologic mapping. This is a congressionally mandated matching-funds program, meaning every federal dollar awarded is matched with university funds.

“Geologic maps record the distribution of rock and soil materials at Earth’s surface and help decision makers identify and protect valuable resources, avoid risks from natural hazards, and make wise land use choices,” said Randy Orndorff, Associate Program Coordinator for the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. “Through this grant opportunity, students can help map the geology of the United States while learning the trade through one-on-one mentoring from professional geologists.”

Since 1996, the USGS has funded nearly 525 projects from 140 universities, and nearly 800 students have participated in the program. Maximum funds available include $17,500 for graduate projects and $10,000 for undergraduate projects. A peer-review panel consisting of university faculty, state geologists, and USGS staff determines awards.

For an example of a past funded geologic map, visit the National Geologic Map Database, Produce Description Web site.

To find out more about the Program and EDMAP, visit the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program Web site and click “EDMAP” or listen to a podcast interview with Randy Orndorff on the EDMAP program.

USGS at the American Fisheries Society: From Silent Streams to Invasive Species to Climate Change

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:59:40 EDT

The American Fisheries Society (AFS) is holding its 139^th Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., from Aug. 30-Sept. 3. This year’s meeting theme is “Diversity – the Foundation of Fisheries and of AFS: Are We Gaining Ground?” Below are highlights from U.S. Geological Survey research presentations at the conference.

Ninety-Two Percent Increase in Imperiled Inland U.S. Fish Species: In 2008, the AFS Endangered Species Committee reviewed the conservation status of freshwater fish and fish that live in both oceans and rivers of the continental U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Seven-hundred taxa were determined to be imperiled, which represents 133 genera of 36 families and is a 92 percent increase above the number considered imperiled in 1989. Of these, 230 are listed as vulnerable, 190 threatened, and 280 endangered. An additional 61 taxa are presumed extinct or extirpated from nature. Overall, about 39 percent of the approximately 1,200 described inland fish species of North America are imperiled. Hotspots of imperiled taxa are in the southeastern U.S., mid-Pacific basin, lower Rio Grande, and inland and coastal drainages of Mexico. North American fish, like inland faunas of other continents, are most at-risk due to habitat destruction and modification, non-native species, overexploitation, and disease. Contact Stephen Walsh, swalsh@usgs.gov, 352-2265-3512.

Inland Fisheries Become More Important and Global Marine Fisheries Decline: Global marine fisheries are in a well-known crisis, with the total production of marine fishes for human and other consumption expected to further decline. One possible source of fish to fill the gap left by declines in marine fisheries is production of fish from inland ecosystems. Unfortunately, a true accounting for global inland fisheries is not yet possible. Given the reliance on inland fish as a staple protein source for many in the developing world and as a key source of recreational services for those in the developed world, the inability to assess the global status of inland fisheries may hinder sustainable management of inland water ecosystems and may result in management decisions that adversely affect inland fisheries. Estimates of inland fisheries productions are needed for informed management decisions about inland water ecosystems. Contact Doug Beard, dbeard@usgs.gov, 703-648-4215.

Silent Streams: 74 Percent Increase in Extinct Taxa of North American Freshwater Fish Since 1989: In 1989, 40 species and subspecies of North American freshwater fishes were considered extinct; by 2008, the total was 61 taxa. The net increase of extinct taxa since 1989 is 74 percent. Since 1890, the mean extinction rate is 5.5 taxa per decade. This rate greatly exceeds a widely cited published estimate of 2.4 extinct species per decade. Human activities are linked to all extinct North American freshwater fishes, predominantly through habitat loss and introduction of non-native fishes. The two largest shared attributes among extinct fishes are that they are narrowly restricted in geographic range and the lack of direct or indirect parental care. Contact Noel Burkhead, nburkhead@usgs.gov, 352-264-3499.

Invasive Species and a Changing Climate: Invasive Species and a Changing Climate: Ongoing global changes such as more frequent transcontinental and transoceanic trade and tourism, land- and water-use changes, and climate change are helping increase rates of establishment and spread of harmful, invasive plant and animal species worldwide. The growing threat of new introductions intensifies the need for land managers, researchers, and stakeholders to combine existing efforts to further the prevention, early detection, monitoring of invasive species, to determine their ecosystem effects, and to coordinate containment, control, as well as restoration of affected habitat. Examples of how the interaction of invasive species with global climate change and other drivers of ecosystem change affect natural resource management will be discussed. Contact Cindy Kolar, ckolar@usgs.gov, 703-648-4023.

Algal Toxins a Possible Reason for Poor Survival of Juvenile Endangered Suckers in Upper Klamath Lake: The largest remaining habitat for endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers is Upper Klamath Lake, a lake in southern Oregon that suffers from massive annual blue-green algae blooms. In addition to producing extreme dissolved oxygen and pH levels, these blooms can produce toxins potentially harmful to fish. Preliminary findings of USGS-led research indicate microcystin – a liver toxin – is present in the fish. Additionally, some juvenile suckers in Upper Klamath Lake exhibit tissue damage consistent with toxin exposure. These findings are of particular concern as poor juvenile survival may be a key factor in an ongoing lack of recruitment into adult populations. USGS is conducting research to determine which toxins are present and at what concentrations, as well as what effects these compounds may have on the health and condition of juvenile suckers. Contact Scott VanderKooi, svanderkooi@usgs.gov, 541-273-8689

Drifting Larval Pallid Sturgeon and Fragmented River Reaches Contribute to Lack of Fish: In the upper Missouri River basin, where main-stem dams have fragmented endangered pallid sturgeon habitat, there has been little to no evidence of young sturgeon during the last several decades despite the fact that spawning is known to occur. To thoroughly examine the drift dynamics of larval pallid sturgeon in a natural environment, USGS researchers released about 430,000 larvae in the main-stem Missouri River and recaptured the drifting larvae over several days throughout a 110-mile reach of the river. Preliminary evidence indicates that larval pallid sturgeon exhibit long-distance drift as the larvae develop, and may drift in excess of 200 miles. Consequently, researchers suspect that the limited length of free-flowing riverine habitat between Missouri River dams and reservoirs disrupt the natural larval drift cycle, and provide a likely bottleneck for this federally endangered species. Contact Patrick Braaten, pbraaten@usgs.gov, 406-526-3253.

The Gulf Sturgeon: Some Populations Up, Some Down, and Some Unknown: Populations of endangered Gulf sturgeon were substantially depleted by over-harvest at the turn of the 20th Century, and later were further reduced by impoundments on coastal rivers in the Gulf of Mexico. Studies in the 1970s-1990s indicated that individual river populations numbered only in the few hundreds to few thousands of fish. For the Suwannee River, only 3,000 fish were estimated to inhabit the river in the early 1990s, with adults representing less than 10 percent of the population. In 2007, this population numbered 14,000 fish, with adults comprising 40 percent of the fish. Because of harvest prohibition, no impoundment or bycatch impacts, and high-quality habitat, the Suwannee population has increased to about 10 percent of its probable pre-1880s numbers. Also benefiting from limited habitat impacts, Gulf sturgeon populations in the Yellow-Escambia rivers appear healthy. Recruitment in the Apalachicola population has been erratic, with no demonstrable population recovery, probably due to the combined effects of impoundment and habitat modifications (channelization, dredging). The remaining Gulf sturgeon river populations have been less-well studied. Contact Ken Sulak, ksulak@usgs.gov, 352-264-3500.

Adaptive Management for Climate Change: Climate change poses major challenges to many ecological systems, fish and wildlife, and natural resources. Land and resource managers must find ways to deal with resulting changes to hydrologic systems, fish and wildlife populations, wetlands, and agricultural lands. One effective tool that can be used is adaptive management, a decision process that promotes flexible decision making and can be adjusted in the face of uncertainties, as outcomes from management actions and other events become better understood. Adaptive management uses an iterative process of monitoring and learning through results, and adjusting the management strategy or adaptation, according to what is learned. Contact Kevin Whalen, kwhalen@usgs.gov, 703-648-4062.

USGS Adds NASA's EO-1 Satellite Imagery to Web-enabled Archive

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:35:45 EDT

USGS continues to expand its free web-enabled archive of earth observation data by including over 83,000 additional satellite images from NASA’s Earth Observing -1 (EO-1) satellite.

The tremendous response to the USGS announcement in October 2008 to provide free, web-enabled access of its extensive Landsat imagery archive and the recent USGS release of more than 1200 imagery products derived from classified materials have paved the way for the addition of EO-1 imagery to the archive. Both the existing and all future EO-1 imagery will supplement the USGS archive of free, land remote sensing imagery resources. Climate change scientists, agriculture and public land managers, and a wide variety of other specialists use the data to observe changes taking place on the Earth’s surface.

Launched by NASA in November 2000 as a one-year technology research mission, the EO-1 satellite, which is still in operation today, carries two sensors of interest to Landsat data users: the Advanced Land Imager (ALI), incorporating solid-state “push-broom” imaging technology and Hyperion, an experimental hyperspectral instrument that captures data in 220 spectral channels.

EO-1 sensor data can be previewed and downloaded at no charge via the Earth Observing 1 (EO-1) Web site. Individual sensor characteristics and other technical information can also be found at this site.

While EO-1 images can be visually spectacular and quite useful, it must be noted that this satellite was not designed to capture full Landsat-size scenes. Thus, the images captured daily by this demonstration satellite amount to only a fraction of those collected by Landsat satellites.

USGS Releases Online Interactive Tool to Predict Atrazine in Streams Across U.S.

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EDT

Online predictions for stream concentrations of atrazine, one of the most heavily used herbicides in the United States, are now available as interactive maps and graphs for streams across the country, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study highlighted today at the summer meeting of the American Chemistry Society in Washington, D.C.

The predictions are based on a USGS statistical model – referred to as Watershed Regression for Pesticides (or “WARP”). This model also provides key statistics for each selected stream, including the probability that atrazine may exceed a water-quality benchmark of potential concern, and a level of confidence and uncertainty associated with each estimate.

“Assessment and management of pesticides require far more information on concentrations in streams and rivers than we can afford to directly measure for all the places and times of interest,” said lead scientist, Robert Gilliom. “For these situations, statistical models, such as WARP, can be used to predict water-quality conditions at unmonitored locations under a range of possible circumstances.”

Predictions and interactive mapping of atrazine for any stream in the U.S. are available online.

This release is the first in a series of statistical models for atrazine and other pesticides. The models are based on monitoring in 112 streams from 1992-2001, as well as watershed characteristics that affect the occurrence of pesticides in streams, The driving characteristics include agricultural pesticide use, and natural features, such as soil characteristics, hydrology, and climate. Current models make predictions from estimated atrazine use during 2007.

The mapping and modeling tool can assist water managers, policy makers, and scientists in several ways, including:

Understanding where and why atrazine occurs in streams
Assessing geographic patterns in stream concentrations of atrazine at many scales, ranging from regional and national
Designing efficient and cost-effective monitoring programs and studies
Identifying streams with the greatest likelihood to have concentrations that exceed a water-quality benchmark of potential concern

Forget the Garlic Necklace! Learn More about Bats and Rabies

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 9:18:24 EDT

A new book demystifies bats and eliminates many myths surrounding rabies and other related infections. Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections, combines current science about bat rabies with rich illustrations and personal stories from the field. The author, Denny G. Constantine, is widely considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on rabies.

Bat Rabies is intended for scientists and the general public. Dr. Constantine presents the material in a simple, straightforward manner that serves both audiences. The book, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, was published with the goal of increasing public understanding of rabies and the often misunderstood bat, and providing a balanced perspective on the risk of bat rabies to people.

Bat Rabies describes the worldwide occurrence of rabies in bats, its origins, how it spreads, and the degree of threat it poses to people, pets, farm animals, and wildlife. The book offers readers an overview of the virus variants that cause bat rabies and geographical patterns of occurrence.

“This publication on the relationship between bat ecology and disease, particularly that caused by rabies virus variants, is accessible to scientific and non-technical audiences,” said David Blehert, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) microbiologist and editor of the publication. “Dr. Constantine has included many striking photos of bats in flight that he has taken during his many years of studying bats.”

“The book comes at a time when public interest in bats is increasing because of the threat to bats from white-nose syndrome. Readers can learn more about the role diseases play in the ecology of these diverse and fascinating mammals,” said Blehert, who is investigating the emergence and causes of bat white-nose syndrome at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center.

Milt Friend, first director of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, wrote the foreword. The book’s sections include:

Species Susceptibility describes infection rates and trends in humans, bats, and other animals.
Disease Ecology considers the dynamics of the disease in various species of bats.
Points to Ponder discusses the narrowing interface of bat colonies and human society and how people and domestic animals play a role in transmission of bat rabies.
Disease Prevention and Control outlines ways to limit exposure to rabid bats and other animals.
Appendices include tables of reported infections in people and in bat species. A glossary of technical terms is included.

Dr. Constantine helped define rabies infection in insect-eating bats and has investigated bat rabies ecology for more than half a century. He is a public health officer emeritus and veterinary epidemiologist for the California Department of Health Services Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory. He has authored more than 90 papers during his career.

Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections, (USGS Circular 1329) is available online. Printed copies are available from the USGS Store (Product #213560).

USGS Offers $250,000 in Mineral Research Grants

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:29:12 EDT

-Proposal submissions due Aug. 17 - Sept. 29, 2009-

The U.S. Geological Survey will award up to $250,000 in grants for mineral resource research in 2010 through its Mineral Resources External Research Program.

Interested researchers can apply through Grants.gov using program announcement No. 1-HQPA0005. Applications will be accepted from Aug. 17 - Sept. 29, 2009.

“This grants research program will help support the USGS's ongoing effort to prepare for a new national mineral resource assessment of the United States, scheduled to begin in 2012,” said Jeff Doebrich, USGS Mineral Resources Program Associate Coordinator. “This is an opportunity for collaboration between USGS scientists and the greater scientific community to reduce the uncertainty in mineral resource and mineral environmental assessments.”

The USGS is soliciting research proposals that will (1) improve the assessment of concealed mineral resources, (2) help define limits of layered and sediment-hosted stratiform deposits for the purpose of constructing global grade and tonnage models for these types of deposits, (3) develop advanced models and methods that can be used to reduce uncertainties and risks in probabilistic resource assessments or (4) contribute to accurate and comprehensive mineral deposit or mineral environmental models for deposit types of iron, lithium, manganese, phosphate, platinum-group metals, potash, rare earths, titanium and TiO₂, or uranium.

For a complete list of past and present funded projects and reports, and for a more complete description of the 2010 grant program, visit the Mineral Resource External Research Program Web site.

USGS Releases New Geospatial One-Stop Search Widget

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:13:29 EDT

The USGS National Geospatial Program, announces the release of the Geospatial One-Stop (GOS) Search Widget, a small utility that can be easily embedded in any Web page. The Search Widget will enable users to search, identify, view, download and mash-up Web map services currently published in the intergovernmental Geodata.gov geospatial data catalog.

With Search Widget, users can view search results of live map services, find downloadable data, discover data acquisition plans and contact the owners of the records. Users also have the option to view search results as an RSS Feed or save the results as a KML file.

Information and step-by-step directions on how to add the Geospatial One-Stop Search Widget to individual Web sites can be found by clicking the ‘Help Center’ tab on the www.geodata.gov homepage and then by accessing the GOS Search Widget link in the left hand column. The GOS Search Widget can be customized to search for specific areas and subjects of interest.

While Search Widget is not intended to replace all of the user functions currently available at the Geospatial One Stop Web site, this new utility enables organizations, Web site developers, and geospatial program managers the opportunity to offer a powerful geospatial search tool directly from their own Web sites. This is the first version of the utility; its capabilities will continue to expand over the next several months.

Examples of how the Geospatial One-Stop Search Widget has been integrated into existing geospatial programs can be viewed at the State of Delaware Spatial Data Catalog and the Westchester County (NY) Data Warehouse.

CONTACT: Robert Dollison, Project Manager, U.S. Geological Survey, Geospatial One Stop Project Office, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA (703) 648-5724, rdollison@usgs.gov.

New USGS Map Unfolds Ecosystems Nationwide

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:49:01 EDT

A new map of standardized, terrestrial ecosystems of the conterminous United States will help researchers and land resource managers better understand the types and locations of ecosystems on the landscape. The map, along with the methodology and process for producing it, are described in the recently published USGS Professional Paper 1768, A New Map of Standardized Terrestrial Ecosystems of the Conterminous United States.

Featuring higher resolution, this new map shows the distribution of 419 meso-scale (tens to thousands of hectares) ecosystems, each one with multiple "patch" occurrences. Previous ecosystem maps for the nation depicted 40-60 macro-scale (thousands to tens of thousands of hectares) ecological regions.

The ecosystem data used to create the map included separate data layers for vegetation regions, climate regions, landforms, geology, and surface moisture. These data input layers, representing the major structural elements of ecosystems, were then geospatially combined to produce the standardized ecosystems dataset and map.

USGS scientists have refined the input layers and developed the final ecosystem map as a new set of data resources that more accurately depict the physical environment. The improved data will be useful for addressing climate change impacts on ecosystems and for emerging assessments of the economic value of ecosystem goods and services. Land managers with a mandate to implement ecosystem-based management, such as the Bureau of Land Management, will likely find the new data useful for identifying the number, types, and locations of ecosystems under their oversight.

USGS geographer Roger Sayre, leader of this U.S. ecosystem mapping effort, is also the Task Lead for a global ecosystems mapping effort under the auspices of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). Having mapped the ecosystems of South America and currently completing a new ecosystems map for the African continent, Sayre is now "going global" with the mapping methodolo

Visit the online, interactive version of the map at the Terrestrial Ecosystems in the Conterminous United States Web site.

The published professional paper is available online.

A description of the GEOSS Global Ecosystem Mapping project is available online.

Nutrient Concentrations Stable in Many US Streams

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:09:53 EDT

Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations remained relatively stable from 1993 to 2003 in about half of the streams assessed nationwide by USGS.

The pattern did vary in some regions, including increases in phosphorus in more than half of the streams assessed in the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin.

Point and non-point sources, such as wastewater and industrial discharges, fertilizer applications, and animal manure, can affect nutrient concentrations in streams.

Although nutrients are essential for plant growth, nutrient contributions from urban and farm lands and the atmosphere can result in the growth of large amounts of algae and other nuisance plants in streams, lakes, and estuaries, which can cause aesthetic impairment, interfere with recreational swimming and boating, and cause zones of low dissolved oxygen (hypoxia) and stresses on aquatic life.

“Linking trends in stream nutrient levels to changes in nutrient sources will enhance our understanding of the effectiveness of land management actions,” said Mike Woodside, a senior manager of the USGS assessments.

The national- and regional-scale USGS assessments in the Missouri River Basin, Lower Mississippi, Arkansas-White-Red and Texas Gulf River Basin, Columbia River and Puget Sound Basins, and the Upper Mississippi, Ohio, Red, and Great Lakes River Basin examined changes from about 1993 to 2003. The assessments looked at nutrient concentrations and loads at about 150 streams across the Nation that vary in watershed area from 2 to over 1,000,000 square miles. The regional-scale USGS assessments also examined changes in suspended-sediment concentrations and loads.

Selected findings of the USGS assessments of nutrient trends:

Despite reported increases in nationwide crop yields and relatively stable fertilizer applications, significant decreases in total phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, adjusted for streamflow, were not detected during the eleven-year period in 51 and 63 percent of the streams, respectively.

Increases in total phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were observed in 33 and 21 percent of the streams assessed, respectively, and decreases in each of the nutrients were observed in 16 percent of the streams. Nitrate-nitrite concentrations were also stable with no significant increases or decreases detected in 63 percent of the streams. Significant decreases were noted at 25 percent of the sites and increases at 12 percent of the streams.

Increases in total phosphorus concentrations were larger in magnitude compared to increases in concentrations of total nitrogen. Total phosphorus concentrations increased by more than 50 percent in 26 percent of the streams assessed and decreased by more than 50 percent in only 5 percent of the streams assessed. Total nitrogen concentrations increased by more than 50 percent in 7 percent of the streams assessed and decreased by more than 50 percent in only 1 percent of the streams assessed.

The national- and regional-scale USGS assessments describe changes in nutrient sources, such as fertilizer application, animal manure, population, and atmospheric deposition. Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations were also adjusted for streamflow to remove the variability in concentration caused by natural changes in streamflow so that general changes in nutrient concentrations could be assessed in relation to changes in nutrient sources.

The lack of spatial information on nutrient sources and landscape activities prevents a more rigorous analysis of factors causing changes in nutrients over time. In general, natural factors and human activities affecting stream concentrations can vary at a small scale—watershed by watershed—because of watershed characteristics that control transport, such as soils and topography; proximity of the nutrient inputs to streams; and location, type, and length of time land-management and conservation practices are implemented on the landscape.

For more than 125 years, the USGS has served as the Nation’s water monitoring agency, including flow and (or) quality in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. Access real-time water-quality data from more than 1,300 stations, many of which provide real-time data in 15 minute increments, at USGS WaterQualityWatch.

For an even larger variety of USGS data, such as for ground water and water quality, access the National Water Information System Web Interface, which contains over 1.5 million sites, and averages over 25 million hits per month.

Atmospheric Deposition is a Significant Source of Total Nitrogen Delivered Annually to Nutrient Sensitive Estuaries along the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:49:24 EDT

Atmospheric deposition is the largest source of nitrogen delivered annually to many estuaries and bays along the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast.

A regional model by the USGS shows that sources of nitrogen delivered to estuaries and bays, such as Albemarle Sound and Mobile and Apalachicola Bays, include atmospheric deposition (47%), fertilizer applied to agricultural land (21%), manure from livestock operations (12%), municipal wastewater (11%), and urban land (9%).

This model also suggests that the wide range in nitrogen levels observed in 8,028 stream reaches across the southeastern U.S. is related to a combination of watershed inputs of nitrogen and watershed and instream processes that immobilize or remove nitrogen. The fraction of nitrogen in fertilizers and manure that is transported to streams is smaller for watersheds in the southeast region than in other areas of the Nation, possibly due to higher rates of plant uptake and/or microbial activity in southeast region watersheds. Instream processes appear to remove about 25 percent of that nitrogen mass (on average for South Atlantic and Gulf Coast drainages) as it is transported downstream to estuaries.

These are among the new findings in a USGS report, Spatial analysis of instream nitrogen loads and factors controlling nitrogen delivery to streams in the southeastern United States using spatially referenced regression on watershed attributes (SPARROW) and regional classification framework, published in the journal Hydrological Processes.

Results from the southeast regional model can be used to assess:

transport of nitrogen to streams from watersheds,
removal of nitrogen by processes within streams,
contributions of nitrogen from different sources in watersheds,
transport and delivery of nitrogen to receiving water bodies, including the 30 major estuaries along the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts,
conditions and transport in unmonitored streams,
priorities for future monitoring and assessment, and
response of nitrogen levels to proposed management actions.

The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program is assessing stream water quality in eight major river basins that cover the conterminous U.S. http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studies/mrb/ These studies integrate monitoring data with USGS watershed modeling techniques, such as SPARROW (Spatially Referenced Regression On Watershed Attributes). Regional SPARROW models are presently being developed for six of these major river basins. The southeast regional SPARROW model integrates Federal, State, and local agency monitoring data at 321 stations with geospatial data describing 2002 nitrogen sources (fertilizer, animal waste, and urban inputs, atmospheric deposition, and wastewater discharges) and watershed properties (soil characteristics, precipitation, and land cover). The combination of more calibration sites and refined geospatial data provides significant improvement over previous SPARROW models in prediction accuracy and the identification of regional nutrient sources and transport factors.