Gourt > Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Organizations > Government Geological Surveys (9)
There are several uses of the word survey, relating to two primary meanings: land surveying; and statistical surveys of people or other items, such as animals, stars, or messages. Population censuses are statistical surveys which attempt to include every item in the population.
Kinds of surveys
- Surveying is the science of measuring positions and distances on Earth.
- Geophysical surveys are surveys conducted on land.
- Hydrographic surveys are surveys specifically conducted over navigable waters.
- Aerial surveys are sometimes used in surveying for various reasons.
- Archaeological field surveys are surveys conducted in order to locate archaeological sites prior to excavation.
- Cadastral surveys map ownership boundaries for purposes of land valuation and taxation.
- Soil surveys map the properties and varieties of soil over some area.
- Statistical surveys are used in many social sciences, marketing research, political polling, and official statistics.
- Sample surveys collect information on only a sample from the population, in contrast to censuses.
- Serial surveys collect the same information at various time points. These can be divided into:
- Longitudinal surveys, which collect the information from the same item at each time point; and
- Cross-sectional surveys, which collect the information from a new sample of items (at least in part) at each time point.
- Paid surveys are sent by market research companies to their panel members in order to conduct research for large companies.
- The article Timeline of astronomical maps, catalogs, and surveys lists astronomical surveys; see also Durchmusterung.
- A redshift survey is a particular kind of astronomical survey.
Land survey organizations
United States
- The Public Land Survey System divides land in the United States into sections for agricultural and civic-planning purposes.
- The United States Geological Survey, part of the United States Department of the Interior, produces maps of the United States.
- The U.S. National Geodetic Survey, part of the United States Department of Commerce, performs surveys in the United States.
Regional :: Geology
Water Surveys :: Governmental
Science Institutions & Research Organizations
USGS Newsroom
Pecora Award Recognizes Stellar Achievements in Earth Observation
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:19:23 -0400
The prestigious 2009 William T. Pecora Award for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the Earth by means of remote sensing has been presented to Dr. Forrest Hall of the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Team led from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center. The annual award, sponsored jointly by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and NASA, was presented December 17 by Dr. Marcia McNutt, Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, DOI, and by Dr. Michael Freilich, Director of the Earth Science Division in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the American Geophysical Union Fall meeting in San Francisco. The award has been presented annually since 1974 in memory of Dr. William T. Pecora, whose early vision and support helped establish the Landsat satellite program. Dr. Pecora was director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 1965-71, and later served as DOI undersecretary until his death in 1972. 2009 Recipients Forrest Hall Dr. Hall has been instrumental in the advancement of terrestrial remote sensing since the inception of the Earth Resources Technology Satellite in 1972, now known as the Landsat program. He served pivotal roles in programs such as LACIE, AgriSTARS, and ISLSCP and associated field campaigns such as FIFE and BOREAS. These projects involved some of the earliest work in comparing surface, airborne and satellite (Landsat) data and set the standard for all later intercomparison projects. Dr. Hall brings a physicist’s eye to the treatment of calibration, reflectance, and time-trajectories of “greenness.” His efforts in BOREAS have led directly to a better understanding of North America’s carbon, water and energy cycles. Dr. Hall has developed technologies for the remote sensing of vegetation, provided high quality global datasets to the community, and contributed to the science upon which remote sensing has been founded, both through his leadership of major field programs and by his own research. CERES International Team The CERES Team, led from the NASA Langley Research Center with members from other government agencies, universities and international institutions, has provided a critical dataset for climate monitoring and climate model verification. The dataset, fused from five instruments on three spacecraft, is being used to improve our understanding of the natural and anthropogenic (human-induced) changes in the climate through accurate measurements of the Earth’s radiative energy balance. Along with measurements of oceans, land, snow, ice, clouds, aerosols, and meteorological parameters, the CERES 15 data products provide a sound scientific basis for developing global environmental policies and for the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Hundreds of published research papers with thousands of CERES citations demonstrate the value of CERES data to the science and applications communities. Because of this crucial contribution to earth science, the CERES measurements will be continued in the future from both research and operational satellites.
New mosaic of Mercury shows previously unseen features
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:11:19 -0400
When the MESSENGER spacecraft completed its third and final fly-by of Mercury in September, cartographic experts from the U. S. Geological Survey used the imagery captured to complete a mosaic showing the 55 percent of the planet never seen by humankind. The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft was launched in 2004 and is the first mission in more than 30 years to visit the planet Mercury. The trip requires multiple “fly-bys” to alter trajectory, slow the spacecraft and eventually enter orbit, which will happen in March 2011. Until then, the new image mosaic will be used to plan image observations for when the spacecraft is orbiting Mercury. The sophisticated image mosaicking processes is critical to the scientific success of planetary missions. In the past, these efforts have created important planning tools for systematic mapping of planetary surfaces as well as the selection of landing sites. While the average person may be familiar with the process of creating mosaics by using their personal computer to merge several photos together, there are some significant differences in this case. “The process of making an image mosaic [of Mercury] may seem relatively straightforward,” said Kris Becker, a cartographer and programmer at the USGS Astrogeology Research Center in Flagstaff, Ariz. “However, consider the intricacies of doing this process with more than 800 images taken by a satellite flying by a planet at more than 2,000 miles per hour.” “Variable resolutions and lighting conditions of images acquired by MESSENGER over the course of a year and a half can quickly lead to many complications,” said Becker. Each image contains tiny errors caused by the different angles the photos are taken from, as well as other factors. These errors are multiplied when the images are merged together. Lots of images with small errors can lead to large inaccuracies in the placement of overlapping images. To fix the problem, the team uses landmarks to regain accuracy. “We select landforms [such as impact craters] that occur in adjacent, overlapping images in order to create a network of ‘control points,’” said Becker. “This mosaic contains 886 images with 5,301 control points. With more images, there are more control points, and the accuracy of the map increases.” The USGS developed its own software to create the mosaics and applies techniques and processes that have been refined through years of experience. The mosaic is not just a pretty picture. “This new mosaic is invaluable for displaying the precise locations of named features on Mercury,” noted Jen Blue, a USGS expert on assigning names to planetary surface features. “Over the past two years, the International Astronomical Union has approved 44 new names for features revealed by MESSENGER images.” Planetary names give context for scientific interpretation and facilitate consistent communication among planetary scientists. USGS Astrogeology Science Center Director Jeff Johnson is proud of his team’s contribution to planetary science. “The USGS Astrogeology program excelled at creating accurate maps of the lunar surface during the Apollo era,” said Johnson. “As modern imaging and computing technologies developed, so did our expertise in creating high-quality products using data from multiple spacecraft missions.” A poster on the new Mercury image mosaic will be presented by Kris Becker at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San Francisco at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2009. At that time, the mosaic will be posted for public viewing and download at the USGS Map-A-Planet Web site. Approved names for Mercury will also be accessible. The mission of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center is to serve the nation, the international planetary science community, and the general public’s pursuit of new knowledge of our solar system. The team’s vision is to be a national resource for the integration of planetary geosciences, cartography and remote sensing. As explorers and surveyors, with a unique heritage of proven expertise and international leadership, USGS astrogeologists enable the ongoing successful investigation of the solar system for humankind. For more information, visit http://astrogeology.usgs.gov
Earthquake Early Warning System Possible
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:51:48 -0400
An earthquake early warning system for California is feasible in coming years, according to research being presented Dec. 14-15 at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. The ongoing study demonstrates that an earthquake early warning system for California is possible and lays out how such a system could be built. Earthquake early warning systems, already successfully deployed in Mexico, Japan and Taiwan, can detect an earthquake in progress and provide notice of seconds to tens of seconds prior to actual ground shaking. Building on developments in other countries with significant earthquake risk, scientists are exploring early warning in the United States. After a three-year earthquake early warning study funded by the U.S. Geological Survey was completed in August 2009, a second USGS-funded project was launched to integrate the previously tested methods into a single prototype warning system. When completed, this pilot system, called the California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) ShakeAlert System, will provide warning to a small group of test users, including emergency response groups, utilities, and transportation agencies. While in the testing phase, the system will not provide public alerts. The CISN ShakeAlert system will detect strong shaking at an earthquake's epicenter and transmit alerts ahead of the damaging earthquake waves. The speed of an electronic warning message is faster than the speed of earthquake waves traveling through the earth. Potential applications include stopping elevators at the nearest floor, slowing or halting trains, monitoring critical systems, and alerting people to move to safer locations. In warning systems deployed abroad, alerts are distributed via TV and radio networks, the Internet, cell phones and pagers. The earthquake early warning test uses real-time data from the California Integrated Seismic Network. The CISN is part of the USGS Advanced National Seismic System, through which the USGS aims to broadly improve earthquake monitoring and reporting in the United States. Funding for the CISN is provided by the USGS and the state of California. The EEW study is a collaboration among the USGS, the California Institute of Technology, the University of California-Berkeley, the Swiss Seismological Service and the Southern California Earthquake Center. In the next two years American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding will be used to upgrade many of the older, slower seismic instruments throughout the CISN. These older instruments introduce time delays and would slow down early warning alerts. The relevant sessions at AGU are shown below. Poster presentations, Moscone South, Poster Hall Monday, Dec. 14, 1:40 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. S13A-1718. CISN ShakeAlert: Three Years of Comparative Real-Time Earthquake Early Warning Testing in California G. B. Cua; R. M. Allen; M. Boese; H. Brown; D. Given; M. Fischer; E. Hauksson; T. H. Heaton; M. Hellweg; T. H. Jordan; O. Khainovski; P. J. Maechling; D. S. Neuhauser; D. H. Oppenheimer; K. Solanki S13A-1719. CISN ShakeAlert: Specification of the Prototype Earthquake Early Warning System H. Brown; R. M. Allen; M. Boese; G. B. Cua; D. D. Given; E. Hauksson; M. Fischer; T. H. Heaton; M. Hellweg; T. H. Jordan; O. Khainovski; P. J. Maechling; D. S. Neuhauser; D. H. Oppenheimer; K. Solanki S13A-1720. CISN ShakeAlert: Using early warnings for earthquakes in California M. Vinci; M. Hellweg; L. M. Jones; O. Khainovski; K. Schwartz; D. Lehrer; R. M. Allen; D. S. Neuhauser Oral presentations, Moscone West, Room 2005 Tuesday, Dec. 15 8:00 a.m.-8:15 a.m. S21C-01. The current status of earthquake early warning around the world (Invited) R. M. Allen 8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m. S21C-03. CISN ShakeAlert - Towards a Prototype Earthquake Early Warning System for California M. Böse; R. M. Allen; H. Brown; G. B. Cua; D. Given; M. Fischer; E. Hauksson; T. H. Heaton; M. Hellweg; T. H. Jordan; O. Khainovski; P. J. Maechling; D. S. Neuhauser; D. H. Oppenheimer; K. Solanki 8:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m. 21C-04. Earthquake Early Warning: A Prospective User's Perspective (Invited) S. P. Nishenko; W. U. Savage; T. Johnson
New Discoveries Could Improve Climate Projections
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:12:11 -0400
New discoveries about the deep ocean’s temperature variability and circulation system could help improve projections of future climate conditions. The deep ocean is affected more by surface warming than previously thought, and this understanding allows for more accurate predictions of factors such as sea level rise and ice volume changes. High ocean surface temperatures have also been found to result in a more vigorous deep ocean circulation system. This increase results in a faster transport of large quantities of warm water, with possible impacts including reduction of sea ice extent and overall warming of the Arctic. “The deep ocean is relatively unexplored, and we need a true understanding of its many complex processes,” said U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt. “An understanding of climate change and its impacts based on sound, objective data is a keystone to the type of long-term strategies and solutions that are being discussed now at the United Nations conference in Copenhagen.” USGS scientists created the first ever 3-D reconstruction of an ocean during a past warm period, focusing on the mid-Pliocene warm period 3.3 to 3 million years ago. “Our findings are significant because they improve our previous understanding that the deep ocean stayed at relatively constant, cold temperatures and that the deep ocean circulation system would slow down as surface temperatures increased,” said USGS scientist Harry Dowsett. “By looking at conditions in the past, we acquire real data that allow us to see the global climate system as it actually functioned.” “The average temperature of the entire ocean during the mid-Pliocene was approximately one degree warmer than current conditions, showing that warming wasn’t just at the surface but occurred at all depths” said USGS scientist Marci Robinson. “Temperatures were determined by analyzing marine plankton fossils, which are organisms that inhabited the water’s surface, as well as fossils of bottom-dwelling organisms, known as ostracodes.” Global average surface temperatures during the mid-Pliocene were about 3°C (5.5°F) greater than today and within the range projected for the 21st century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Therefore it may be one of the closest analogs in helping to understand Earth’s current and future conditions. USGS research on the mid-Pliocene is also the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period. Read the full article, published in Climate of the Past. The USGS led this research through the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping group. The primary collaborators in PRISM are Columbia University, Brown University, University of Leeds, University of Bristol, the British Geological Survey and the British Antarctic Survey. Learn more about PRISM research.
New Science Estimates Carbon Storage Potential of U.S. Lands
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:10:55 -0400
Nation’s Forests and Soils Store Equivalent of 50 Years of U.S. CO2 Emissions The first phase of a groundbreaking national assessment estimates that U.S. forests and soils could remove additional quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as a means to mitigate climate change. The lower 48 states in the U.S. hypothetically have the potential to store an additional 3-7 billion metric tons of carbon in forests, if agricultural lands were to be used for planting forests. This potential is equivalent to 2 to 4 years of America’s current CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. “Carbon pollution is putting our world—and our way of life—in peril,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in a keynote speech at the global conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark. “By restoring ecosystems and protecting certain areas from development, the U.S. can store more carbon in ways that enhance our stewardship of land and natural resources while reducing our contribution to global warming.” U.S. Geological Survey scientists also found that the conterminous U.S. presently stores 73 billion metric tons of carbon in soils and 17 billion metric tons in forests. This is equivalent to more than 50 years of America’s current CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. This shows the need to protect existing carbon stores to prevent additional warming and future harm to ecosystems. America’s forests and soils are currently insufficient in soaking up the nation’s accelerating pace of emissions. They currently absorb about 30 percent (0.5 billion metric tons of carbon) of the nation’s fossil fuel emissions per year (1.6 billion metric tons of carbon). Enhancing the carbon storage capacity of America’s and the world’s ecosystems is an important tool to reduce carbon emissions and help ecosystems adapt to changing climate conditions. “The tools the USGS is developing—and the technologies behind those tools—will be of great use to communities around the world that are making management decisions on carbon storage,” said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. “The USGS is conducting a national assessment of biologic carbon sequestration, as well as an assessment of ecosystem carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes, which will help determine how we can reduce atmospheric CO2 levels while preserving other ecological functions.” To determine how much more carbon could be stored in forests and soils, USGS scientists analyzed maps that represent historical vegetation cover before human alterations, as well as maps of vegetation that might occur if there were no natural disturbances, such as fires, pests and drought. These maps were compared to maps of current vegetation and carbon storage. The next phase of this work will assess the additional amount of carbon stored in Alaska's ecosystems, including its soils and forests. The USGS plans to collaborate with U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies to examine potential carbon storage in soils. The USGS is conducting research on a number of other fronts related to carbon sequestration. These efforts include evaluating the potential for storing carbon dioxide in geologic formations below the Earth’s surface, potential release of greenhouse gases from Arctic soils and permafrost, and mapping the distribution of rocks suitable for potential mineral sequestration efforts. For more information about this assessment, visit http://pubs.usgs.gov/ofr/2009/1283.
Climate Projections Underestimate CO2 Impact
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:50:12 -0400
The climate may be 30–50 percent more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide in the long term than previously thought, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience yesterday. Projections over the next hundreds of years of climate conditions, including global temperatures, may need to be adjusted to reflect this higher sensitivity. “Climate change is affecting water supplies for cities and farms; leading to more severe droughts, hurricanes, and floods; contributing to more intense forest fires; and putting coastal communities at risk,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who is on his way to the global climate change conference convening this week in Copenhagen. “This study and the ongoing work of our USGS scientists will help us continue to build more precise long-term projections and to prepare for the impacts of climate change on our world.” A team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol and including the U.S. Geological Survey, studied global temperatures 3.3 to 3 million years ago, finding that the averages were significantly higher than expected from the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at the time. These underestimates occurred because the long-term sensitivity of the Earth system was not accurately taken into account. In these earlier periods, Earth had more time to adjust to some of the slower impacts of climate change. For example, as the climate warms and ice sheets melt, Earth will absorb more sunlight and continue to warm in the future since less ice is present to reflect the sun. The U.S. Geological Survey provided the reconstruction of environmental conditions during this timeframe, known as the mid-Pliocene warm period. These data allowed the authors to test the Earth system’s sensitivity to atmospheric carbon dioxide. “Earth is a dynamic system and climate models need to incorporate its multiple feedbacks as well as changes on both fast and long timescales,” said Dr. Dan Lunt, who is with the University of Bristol and was the lead author of this article. “This comprehensive outlook allows us to see how sensitive the climate really is to atmospheric carbon dioxide, resulting in more accurate long-term projections.” “This research also emphasizes the importance of examining the past and acquiring real data to understand Earth’s climate system,” said USGS scientist Harry Dowsett. “Our research on the mid-Pliocene is the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period, and scientists did so by examining fossils to determine sea surface and deepwater ocean temperatures, vegetation, sea ice extent, and other environmental characteristics during that timeframe.” Global average temperatures during the mid-Pliocene were about 3°C (5.5°F) greater than today and within the range projected for the 21st century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Therefore it may be one of the closest analogs in helping to understand Earth’s current and future conditions. To view the article, visit http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo706.html. The USGS component of this research was through the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping group. The primary collaborators in PRISM are Columbia University, Brown University, the University of Leeds, University of Bristol, British Geological Survey and the British Antarctic Survey. For more information about PRISM research, visit http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/prism/index.html.
State agencies and universities to receive $7 million in stimulus funding to improve volcano monitoring
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:57:01 -0400
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), an agency of the Department of the Interior, has allocated $7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to 15 universities and state agencies nationwide. Recovery Act funds will be used to modernize the equipment in volcano monitoring networks, to produce high-resolution maps of high-threat volcanoes for modeling volcanic hazards for at-risk populations, and to analyze data from recent eruptions. “As population and development expand near hazardous volcanoes, and air traffic over volcanic regions grows, risks from volcanic activity are increasing.” said John Eichelberger, USGS volcano hazard program coordinator. “The modernization of our volcano monitoring networks will deliver more reliable, robust information — supplying emergency responders with critical information they can use to save lives and reduce damage, while creating or preserving jobs in equipment manufacturing, geophysical services, aviation services, academia including student researchers, and state agencies.” Universities receiving funding include the University of Utah, University of Washington, University of South Florida, University of Wisconsin, University of Alabama, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Alaska at Fairbanks, California State University at Fullerton, Boise State University, Northern Arizona University, and Southern Methodist University. State agencies receiving funding include the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Wyoming State Geological Survey, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. Of that amount, $140 million in funding goes to the USGS. The Recovery Act funds are part of a stimulus package that is an important component of the President's plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the Recovery Act, Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage — while helping American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service. “With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “These investments in volcano monitoring will provide jobs while contributing to training the next generation of volcano scientists in partnership with USGS.” Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior’s Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility and transparency set by President Obama.
A New Generation of USGS Maps
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:56:28 -0400
Washington, D.C.- “US Topo” is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey. Digital US Topo maps are designed to look, feel, and perform like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
Native American Saltworks -- Oldest Business in North America
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:06:40 -0400
Native Americans of the Miwok tribe in the northern Sierra Nevada, Calif., were one of the first groups to move from a hunter-gatherer activity to manufacturing, producing salt for trade. New U. S. Geological Survey research indicates that more than 350 basins three to four feet in diameter are carved in granite in an area the size of a football field, and that they were intentionally created by this tribe for the purpose of refining salt from a nearby salt spring. “The water was carried to the individual basins, probably in water-tight baskets, where it dried in the summer heat, leaving a salt residue on the basin floor,” said Jim Moore, USGS geologist and co-author of the report. “Such a large enterprise produced far more salt than was needed by the local tribe for cooking, preserving food, and attracting animals for hunting, and they had a large surplus of the valuable item left over for trade with other tribes.” Analysis of the salt content and flow of the water reveal that the spring supplies about three tons of salt each summer. The tribe created just enough basins to exploit virtually all of this salt - about two and a half tons - as determined by the size of the basins and the evaporation rate of the water in the basins. Additionally, the relatively uniform size, lack of overlap, and smooth hemispherical shape indicate that the basins are not of natural origin, as reported in previous work. Making these basins was challenging and required concerted effort by this group of Native Americans, though the exact techniques used to excavate so many basins in this glaciated bedrock are not known. “Fire was probably used to heat the rock reducing its strength and making it easier to grind,” said Mike Diggles, USGS geologist and co-author of the report. “To deepen the basins just one centimeter, they had to build and maintain a hot fire on the rock, let it burn out, and then pound the bedrock with stone tools.” The Miwok had to repeat this process about 100 times to carve a basin three feet deep into the stone. It would have taken several workers nearly a year to make just one basin. The full report, titled Hand-hewn granite basins at Native American saltworks, Sierra Nevada, California, was published in the beginning of November. The site is on land administered by the U.S. Forest Service, which authorized this study. Because of the archeologically sensitive nature of the site, location details are not public, in accordance with U.S. statute: Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470). The full report focuses on the geologic, not the archeological, perspective. [Access images for this release at: <a href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2009_12_02" mce_href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2009_12_02">http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2009_12_02</a>]
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Pecora Award Recognizes Stellar Achievements in Earth Observation
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:19:23 -0400
The prestigious 2009 William T. Pecora Award for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the Earth by means of remote sensing has been presented to Dr. Forrest Hall of the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Team led from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center. The annual award, sponsored jointly by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and NASA, was presented December 17 by Dr. Marcia McNutt, Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, DOI, and by Dr. Michael Freilich, Director of the Earth Science Division in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the American Geophysical Union Fall meeting in San Francisco. The award has been presented annually since 1974 in memory of Dr. William T. Pecora, whose early vision and support helped establish the Landsat satellite program. Dr. Pecora was director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 1965-71, and later served as DOI undersecretary until his death in 1972. 2009 Recipients Forrest Hall Dr. Hall has been instrumental in the advancement of terrestrial remote sensing since the inception of the Earth Resources Technology Satellite in 1972, now known as the Landsat program. He served pivotal roles in programs such as LACIE, AgriSTARS, and ISLSCP and associated field campaigns such as FIFE and BOREAS. These projects involved some of the earliest work in comparing surface, airborne and satellite (Landsat) data and set the standard for all later intercomparison projects. Dr. Hall brings a physicist’s eye to the treatment of calibration, reflectance, and time-trajectories of “greenness.” His efforts in BOREAS have led directly to a better understanding of North America’s carbon, water and energy cycles. Dr. Hall has developed technologies for the remote sensing of vegetation, provided high quality global datasets to the community, and contributed to the science upon which remote sensing has been founded, both through his leadership of major field programs and by his own research. CERES International Team The CERES Team, led from the NASA Langley Research Center with members from other government agencies, universities and international institutions, has provided a critical dataset for climate monitoring and climate model verification. The dataset, fused from five instruments on three spacecraft, is being used to improve our understanding of the natural and anthropogenic (human-induced) changes in the climate through accurate measurements of the Earth’s radiative energy balance. Along with measurements of oceans, land, snow, ice, clouds, aerosols, and meteorological parameters, the CERES 15 data products provide a sound scientific basis for developing global environmental policies and for the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Hundreds of published research papers with thousands of CERES citations demonstrate the value of CERES data to the science and applications communities. Because of this crucial contribution to earth science, the CERES measurements will be continued in the future from both research and operational satellites.
New mosaic of Mercury shows previously unseen features
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:11:19 -0400
When the MESSENGER spacecraft completed its third and final fly-by of Mercury in September, cartographic experts from the U. S. Geological Survey used the imagery captured to complete a mosaic showing the 55 percent of the planet never seen by humankind. The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft was launched in 2004 and is the first mission in more than 30 years to visit the planet Mercury. The trip requires multiple “fly-bys” to alter trajectory, slow the spacecraft and eventually enter orbit, which will happen in March 2011. Until then, the new image mosaic will be used to plan image observations for when the spacecraft is orbiting Mercury. The sophisticated image mosaicking processes is critical to the scientific success of planetary missions. In the past, these efforts have created important planning tools for systematic mapping of planetary surfaces as well as the selection of landing sites. While the average person may be familiar with the process of creating mosaics by using their personal computer to merge several photos together, there are some significant differences in this case. “The process of making an image mosaic [of Mercury] may seem relatively straightforward,” said Kris Becker, a cartographer and programmer at the USGS Astrogeology Research Center in Flagstaff, Ariz. “However, consider the intricacies of doing this process with more than 800 images taken by a satellite flying by a planet at more than 2,000 miles per hour.” “Variable resolutions and lighting conditions of images acquired by MESSENGER over the course of a year and a half can quickly lead to many complications,” said Becker. Each image contains tiny errors caused by the different angles the photos are taken from, as well as other factors. These errors are multiplied when the images are merged together. Lots of images with small errors can lead to large inaccuracies in the placement of overlapping images. To fix the problem, the team uses landmarks to regain accuracy. “We select landforms [such as impact craters] that occur in adjacent, overlapping images in order to create a network of ‘control points,’” said Becker. “This mosaic contains 886 images with 5,301 control points. With more images, there are more control points, and the accuracy of the map increases.” The USGS developed its own software to create the mosaics and applies techniques and processes that have been refined through years of experience. The mosaic is not just a pretty picture. “This new mosaic is invaluable for displaying the precise locations of named features on Mercury,” noted Jen Blue, a USGS expert on assigning names to planetary surface features. “Over the past two years, the International Astronomical Union has approved 44 new names for features revealed by MESSENGER images.” Planetary names give context for scientific interpretation and facilitate consistent communication among planetary scientists. USGS Astrogeology Science Center Director Jeff Johnson is proud of his team’s contribution to planetary science. “The USGS Astrogeology program excelled at creating accurate maps of the lunar surface during the Apollo era,” said Johnson. “As modern imaging and computing technologies developed, so did our expertise in creating high-quality products using data from multiple spacecraft missions.” A poster on the new Mercury image mosaic will be presented by Kris Becker at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San Francisco at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2009. At that time, the mosaic will be posted for public viewing and download at the USGS Map-A-Planet Web site. Approved names for Mercury will also be accessible. The mission of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center is to serve the nation, the international planetary science community, and the general public’s pursuit of new knowledge of our solar system. The team’s vision is to be a national resource for the integration of planetary geosciences, cartography and remote sensing. As explorers and surveyors, with a unique heritage of proven expertise and international leadership, USGS astrogeologists enable the ongoing successful investigation of the solar system for humankind. For more information, visit http://astrogeology.usgs.gov
Earthquake Early Warning System Possible
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:51:48 -0400
An earthquake early warning system for California is feasible in coming years, according to research being presented Dec. 14-15 at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. The ongoing study demonstrates that an earthquake early warning system for California is possible and lays out how such a system could be built. Earthquake early warning systems, already successfully deployed in Mexico, Japan and Taiwan, can detect an earthquake in progress and provide notice of seconds to tens of seconds prior to actual ground shaking. Building on developments in other countries with significant earthquake risk, scientists are exploring early warning in the United States. After a three-year earthquake early warning study funded by the U.S. Geological Survey was completed in August 2009, a second USGS-funded project was launched to integrate the previously tested methods into a single prototype warning system. When completed, this pilot system, called the California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) ShakeAlert System, will provide warning to a small group of test users, including emergency response groups, utilities, and transportation agencies. While in the testing phase, the system will not provide public alerts. The CISN ShakeAlert system will detect strong shaking at an earthquake's epicenter and transmit alerts ahead of the damaging earthquake waves. The speed of an electronic warning message is faster than the speed of earthquake waves traveling through the earth. Potential applications include stopping elevators at the nearest floor, slowing or halting trains, monitoring critical systems, and alerting people to move to safer locations. In warning systems deployed abroad, alerts are distributed via TV and radio networks, the Internet, cell phones and pagers. The earthquake early warning test uses real-time data from the California Integrated Seismic Network. The CISN is part of the USGS Advanced National Seismic System, through which the USGS aims to broadly improve earthquake monitoring and reporting in the United States. Funding for the CISN is provided by the USGS and the state of California. The EEW study is a collaboration among the USGS, the California Institute of Technology, the University of California-Berkeley, the Swiss Seismological Service and the Southern California Earthquake Center. In the next two years American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding will be used to upgrade many of the older, slower seismic instruments throughout the CISN. These older instruments introduce time delays and would slow down early warning alerts. The relevant sessions at AGU are shown below. Poster presentations, Moscone South, Poster Hall Monday, Dec. 14, 1:40 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. S13A-1718. CISN ShakeAlert: Three Years of Comparative Real-Time Earthquake Early Warning Testing in California G. B. Cua; R. M. Allen; M. Boese; H. Brown; D. Given; M. Fischer; E. Hauksson; T. H. Heaton; M. Hellweg; T. H. Jordan; O. Khainovski; P. J. Maechling; D. S. Neuhauser; D. H. Oppenheimer; K. Solanki S13A-1719. CISN ShakeAlert: Specification of the Prototype Earthquake Early Warning System H. Brown; R. M. Allen; M. Boese; G. B. Cua; D. D. Given; E. Hauksson; M. Fischer; T. H. Heaton; M. Hellweg; T. H. Jordan; O. Khainovski; P. J. Maechling; D. S. Neuhauser; D. H. Oppenheimer; K. Solanki S13A-1720. CISN ShakeAlert: Using early warnings for earthquakes in California M. Vinci; M. Hellweg; L. M. Jones; O. Khainovski; K. Schwartz; D. Lehrer; R. M. Allen; D. S. Neuhauser Oral presentations, Moscone West, Room 2005 Tuesday, Dec. 15 8:00 a.m.-8:15 a.m. S21C-01. The current status of earthquake early warning around the world (Invited) R. M. Allen 8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m. S21C-03. CISN ShakeAlert - Towards a Prototype Earthquake Early Warning System for California M. Böse; R. M. Allen; H. Brown; G. B. Cua; D. Given; M. Fischer; E. Hauksson; T. H. Heaton; M. Hellweg; T. H. Jordan; O. Khainovski; P. J. Maechling; D. S. Neuhauser; D. H. Oppenheimer; K. Solanki 8:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m. 21C-04. Earthquake Early Warning: A Prospective User's Perspective (Invited) S. P. Nishenko; W. U. Savage; T. Johnson
New Discoveries Could Improve Climate Projections
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:12:11 -0400
New discoveries about the deep ocean’s temperature variability and circulation system could help improve projections of future climate conditions. The deep ocean is affected more by surface warming than previously thought, and this understanding allows for more accurate predictions of factors such as sea level rise and ice volume changes. High ocean surface temperatures have also been found to result in a more vigorous deep ocean circulation system. This increase results in a faster transport of large quantities of warm water, with possible impacts including reduction of sea ice extent and overall warming of the Arctic. “The deep ocean is relatively unexplored, and we need a true understanding of its many complex processes,” said U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt. “An understanding of climate change and its impacts based on sound, objective data is a keystone to the type of long-term strategies and solutions that are being discussed now at the United Nations conference in Copenhagen.” USGS scientists created the first ever 3-D reconstruction of an ocean during a past warm period, focusing on the mid-Pliocene warm period 3.3 to 3 million years ago. “Our findings are significant because they improve our previous understanding that the deep ocean stayed at relatively constant, cold temperatures and that the deep ocean circulation system would slow down as surface temperatures increased,” said USGS scientist Harry Dowsett. “By looking at conditions in the past, we acquire real data that allow us to see the global climate system as it actually functioned.” “The average temperature of the entire ocean during the mid-Pliocene was approximately one degree warmer than current conditions, showing that warming wasn’t just at the surface but occurred at all depths” said USGS scientist Marci Robinson. “Temperatures were determined by analyzing marine plankton fossils, which are organisms that inhabited the water’s surface, as well as fossils of bottom-dwelling organisms, known as ostracodes.” Global average surface temperatures during the mid-Pliocene were about 3°C (5.5°F) greater than today and within the range projected for the 21st century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Therefore it may be one of the closest analogs in helping to understand Earth’s current and future conditions. USGS research on the mid-Pliocene is also the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period. Read the full article, published in Climate of the Past. The USGS led this research through the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping group. The primary collaborators in PRISM are Columbia University, Brown University, University of Leeds, University of Bristol, the British Geological Survey and the British Antarctic Survey. Learn more about PRISM research.
New Science Estimates Carbon Storage Potential of U.S. Lands
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:10:55 -0400
Nation’s Forests and Soils Store Equivalent of 50 Years of U.S. CO2 Emissions The first phase of a groundbreaking national assessment estimates that U.S. forests and soils could remove additional quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as a means to mitigate climate change. The lower 48 states in the U.S. hypothetically have the potential to store an additional 3-7 billion metric tons of carbon in forests, if agricultural lands were to be used for planting forests. This potential is equivalent to 2 to 4 years of America’s current CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. “Carbon pollution is putting our world—and our way of life—in peril,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in a keynote speech at the global conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark. “By restoring ecosystems and protecting certain areas from development, the U.S. can store more carbon in ways that enhance our stewardship of land and natural resources while reducing our contribution to global warming.” U.S. Geological Survey scientists also found that the conterminous U.S. presently stores 73 billion metric tons of carbon in soils and 17 billion metric tons in forests. This is equivalent to more than 50 years of America’s current CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. This shows the need to protect existing carbon stores to prevent additional warming and future harm to ecosystems. America’s forests and soils are currently insufficient in soaking up the nation’s accelerating pace of emissions. They currently absorb about 30 percent (0.5 billion metric tons of carbon) of the nation’s fossil fuel emissions per year (1.6 billion metric tons of carbon). Enhancing the carbon storage capacity of America’s and the world’s ecosystems is an important tool to reduce carbon emissions and help ecosystems adapt to changing climate conditions. “The tools the USGS is developing—and the technologies behind those tools—will be of great use to communities around the world that are making management decisions on carbon storage,” said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. “The USGS is conducting a national assessment of biologic carbon sequestration, as well as an assessment of ecosystem carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes, which will help determine how we can reduce atmospheric CO2 levels while preserving other ecological functions.” To determine how much more carbon could be stored in forests and soils, USGS scientists analyzed maps that represent historical vegetation cover before human alterations, as well as maps of vegetation that might occur if there were no natural disturbances, such as fires, pests and drought. These maps were compared to maps of current vegetation and carbon storage. The next phase of this work will assess the additional amount of carbon stored in Alaska's ecosystems, including its soils and forests. The USGS plans to collaborate with U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies to examine potential carbon storage in soils. The USGS is conducting research on a number of other fronts related to carbon sequestration. These efforts include evaluating the potential for storing carbon dioxide in geologic formations below the Earth’s surface, potential release of greenhouse gases from Arctic soils and permafrost, and mapping the distribution of rocks suitable for potential mineral sequestration efforts. For more information about this assessment, visit http://pubs.usgs.gov/ofr/2009/1283.
Climate Projections Underestimate CO2 Impact
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:50:12 -0400
The climate may be 30–50 percent more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide in the long term than previously thought, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience yesterday. Projections over the next hundreds of years of climate conditions, including global temperatures, may need to be adjusted to reflect this higher sensitivity. “Climate change is affecting water supplies for cities and farms; leading to more severe droughts, hurricanes, and floods; contributing to more intense forest fires; and putting coastal communities at risk,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who is on his way to the global climate change conference convening this week in Copenhagen. “This study and the ongoing work of our USGS scientists will help us continue to build more precise long-term projections and to prepare for the impacts of climate change on our world.” A team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol and including the U.S. Geological Survey, studied global temperatures 3.3 to 3 million years ago, finding that the averages were significantly higher than expected from the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at the time. These underestimates occurred because the long-term sensitivity of the Earth system was not accurately taken into account. In these earlier periods, Earth had more time to adjust to some of the slower impacts of climate change. For example, as the climate warms and ice sheets melt, Earth will absorb more sunlight and continue to warm in the future since less ice is present to reflect the sun. The U.S. Geological Survey provided the reconstruction of environmental conditions during this timeframe, known as the mid-Pliocene warm period. These data allowed the authors to test the Earth system’s sensitivity to atmospheric carbon dioxide. “Earth is a dynamic system and climate models need to incorporate its multiple feedbacks as well as changes on both fast and long timescales,” said Dr. Dan Lunt, who is with the University of Bristol and was the lead author of this article. “This comprehensive outlook allows us to see how sensitive the climate really is to atmospheric carbon dioxide, resulting in more accurate long-term projections.” “This research also emphasizes the importance of examining the past and acquiring real data to understand Earth’s climate system,” said USGS scientist Harry Dowsett. “Our research on the mid-Pliocene is the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period, and scientists did so by examining fossils to determine sea surface and deepwater ocean temperatures, vegetation, sea ice extent, and other environmental characteristics during that timeframe.” Global average temperatures during the mid-Pliocene were about 3°C (5.5°F) greater than today and within the range projected for the 21st century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Therefore it may be one of the closest analogs in helping to understand Earth’s current and future conditions. To view the article, visit http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo706.html. The USGS component of this research was through the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping group. The primary collaborators in PRISM are Columbia University, Brown University, the University of Leeds, University of Bristol, British Geological Survey and the British Antarctic Survey. For more information about PRISM research, visit http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/prism/index.html.
State agencies and universities to receive $7 million in stimulus funding to improve volcano monitoring
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:57:01 -0400
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), an agency of the Department of the Interior, has allocated $7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to 15 universities and state agencies nationwide. Recovery Act funds will be used to modernize the equipment in volcano monitoring networks, to produce high-resolution maps of high-threat volcanoes for modeling volcanic hazards for at-risk populations, and to analyze data from recent eruptions. “As population and development expand near hazardous volcanoes, and air traffic over volcanic regions grows, risks from volcanic activity are increasing.” said John Eichelberger, USGS volcano hazard program coordinator. “The modernization of our volcano monitoring networks will deliver more reliable, robust information — supplying emergency responders with critical information they can use to save lives and reduce damage, while creating or preserving jobs in equipment manufacturing, geophysical services, aviation services, academia including student researchers, and state agencies.” Universities receiving funding include the University of Utah, University of Washington, University of South Florida, University of Wisconsin, University of Alabama, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Alaska at Fairbanks, California State University at Fullerton, Boise State University, Northern Arizona University, and Southern Methodist University. State agencies receiving funding include the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Wyoming State Geological Survey, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. Of that amount, $140 million in funding goes to the USGS. The Recovery Act funds are part of a stimulus package that is an important component of the President's plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the Recovery Act, Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage — while helping American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service. “With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “These investments in volcano monitoring will provide jobs while contributing to training the next generation of volcano scientists in partnership with USGS.” Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior’s Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility and transparency set by President Obama.
A New Generation of USGS Maps
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:56:28 -0400
Washington, D.C.- “US Topo” is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey. Digital US Topo maps are designed to look, feel, and perform like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
Native American Saltworks -- Oldest Business in North America
OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications Web Group) Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:06:40 -0400
Native Americans of the Miwok tribe in the northern Sierra Nevada, Calif., were one of the first groups to move from a hunter-gatherer activity to manufacturing, producing salt for trade. New U. S. Geological Survey research indicates that more than 350 basins three to four feet in diameter are carved in granite in an area the size of a football field, and that they were intentionally created by this tribe for the purpose of refining salt from a nearby salt spring. “The water was carried to the individual basins, probably in water-tight baskets, where it dried in the summer heat, leaving a salt residue on the basin floor,” said Jim Moore, USGS geologist and co-author of the report. “Such a large enterprise produced far more salt than was needed by the local tribe for cooking, preserving food, and attracting animals for hunting, and they had a large surplus of the valuable item left over for trade with other tribes.” Analysis of the salt content and flow of the water reveal that the spring supplies about three tons of salt each summer. The tribe created just enough basins to exploit virtually all of this salt - about two and a half tons - as determined by the size of the basins and the evaporation rate of the water in the basins. Additionally, the relatively uniform size, lack of overlap, and smooth hemispherical shape indicate that the basins are not of natural origin, as reported in previous work. Making these basins was challenging and required concerted effort by this group of Native Americans, though the exact techniques used to excavate so many basins in this glaciated bedrock are not known. “Fire was probably used to heat the rock reducing its strength and making it easier to grind,” said Mike Diggles, USGS geologist and co-author of the report. “To deepen the basins just one centimeter, they had to build and maintain a hot fire on the rock, let it burn out, and then pound the bedrock with stone tools.” The Miwok had to repeat this process about 100 times to carve a basin three feet deep into the stone. It would have taken several workers nearly a year to make just one basin. The full report, titled Hand-hewn granite basins at Native American saltworks, Sierra Nevada, California, was published in the beginning of November. The site is on land administered by the U.S. Forest Service, which authorized this study. Because of the archeologically sensitive nature of the site, location details are not public, in accordance with U.S. statute: Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470). The full report focuses on the geologic, not the archeological, perspective. [Access images for this release at: <a href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2009_12_02" mce_href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2009_12_02">http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2009_12_02</a>]
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