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Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
USGS2016

High performance computing to support multiscale representation of hydrography for the conterminous United States

The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) for the United States furnishes a comprehensive set of vector features representing the surface-waters in the country (U.S. Geological Survey 2000). The high-resolution (HR) layer of the NHD is largely comprised of hydrographic features originally derived from 1:24,000-scale (24K) U.S. Topographic maps. However, in recent years (2009 to present) densified hydrographic feature content, from sources as large as 1:2,400, have been incorporated into some watersheds of the HR NHD within the conterminous United States to better support the needs of various local and state organizations. As such, the HR NHD is a multiresolution dataset with obvious data density variations because of scale changes. In addition, data density variations exist within the HR NHD that are particularly evident in the surface-water flow network (NHD flowlines) because of natural variations of local geographic conditions; and also because of unintentional compilation inconsistencies due to variations in data collection standards and climate conditions over the many years of 24K hydrographic data collection (US Geological Survey 1955).

Conference Paper↗
USGS2006

The HRSC DTM test

The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) has been orbiting the planet Mars since January 2004 onboard the ESA Mars Express mission and delivers imagery which is being used for topographic mapping of the planet. The HRSC team is currently conducting a systematic inter-comparison of different alternatives for the production of high resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) from the multilook HRSC push broom imagery. Based on carefully chosen test sites the test participants have produced DTMs which have been subsequently analysed in a quantitative and a qualitative manner. This paper reports on the results obtained in this test.

Conference Paper↗
USGS1978

Remote-sensing methods for monitoring surface coal mining in the northern Great Plains

Recent studies at a large surface coal mine in southern Montana confirm that remote sensing is both feasible and effective for gathering land-use and environmental data (spatial, dynamic, and seasonal) for large-scale surface mines in the northern Great Plains. The Western Energy Co.'s Rosebud mine near Colstrip, Mont., was selected as a test site because it typifies surface operations in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming and elsewhere in the northern Great Plains. Several basic interpretive and analytical remote-sensing techniques were used to identify and delineate various categories of surface-mining operations and concurrent stages of reclamation that characterize most, if not all, such mining operations. Color infrared and black-and-white aerial photographs and a black-and-white band 5 Landsat image were used to identify (1) high wall and bench areas, (2) ungraded spoils, (3) graded and recontoured areas, (4) revegetated recontoured areas, (5) natural and impounded surface water, and (6) miscellaneous areas. Over the lifespan of an extensive surface mine, cultural and natural processes and cumulative environmental effects can be monitored by capitalizing on the close correlation between enhanced satellite imagery, infrared and (or) black-and-white aerial photography, standard large-scale topographic maps (such as U.S. Geological Survey 7½-minute quadrangle maps), and results of onsite inspection of mining and reclamation by Federal or State agencies.

Montana↗
USGS2016

Using satellite vegetation and compound topographic indices to map highly erodible cropland buffers for cellulosic biofuel crop developments in eastern Nebraska, USA

Cultivating annual row crops in high topographic relief waterway buffers has negative environmental effects and can be environmentally unsustainable. Growing perennial grasses such as switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) for biomass (e.g., cellulosic biofuel feedstocks) instead of annual row crops in these high relief waterway buffers can improve local environmental conditions (e.g., reduce soil erosion and improve water quality through lower use of fertilizers and pesticides) and ecosystem services (e.g., minimize drought and flood impacts on production; improve wildlife habitat, plant vigor, and nitrogen retention due to post-senescence harvest for cellulosic biofuels; and serve as carbon sinks). The main objectives of this study are to: (1) identify cropland areas with high topographic relief (high runoff potentials) and high switchgrass productivity potential in eastern Nebraska that may be suitable for growing switchgrass, and (2) estimate the total switchgrass production gain from the potential biofuel areas. Results indicate that about 140,000 hectares of waterway buffers in eastern Nebraska are suitable for switchgrass development and the total annual estimated switchgrass biomass production for these suitable areas is approximately 1.2 million metric tons. The resulting map delineates high topographic relief croplands and provides useful information to land managers and biofuel plant investors to make optimal land use decisions regarding biofuel crop development and ecosystem service optimization in eastern Nebraska.

Nebraska↗
USGS1975

Relations between thermal, photographic, and topographic linears and mapped and measured structures in a Precambrian terrane in Colorado

Comparison of orientation of faults, foliations, and joints, observed during geologic mapping in Colorado, with thermal, photographic, and topographic linears shows that topographic linears are statistically useful indicators of mappable faults and fractures, photographic linears are less useful, and thermal linears, believed to represent zones of moisture concentration, are parallel to faults, foliations, and, a statistically minor, but more open joint set.

Colorado↗
USGS1909

The topographic and geologic atlas of the United States

The Geological Survey is making a topographic and geologic map of the United States. The topographic map is being published in separate sheets and the geologic map in parts called folios. Each folio includes a topographic map and geologic maps of a small area, together with explanatory and descriptive text. Beginning with No. 164 the geologic folios are issued in two forms, the octavo or field edition and the folio or library edition.

Report↗
USGS1979

Water resources of the St. Louis River watershed, northeastern Minnesota

The St. Louis River is the largest tributary to Lake Superior in Minnesota. It drains a predominantly forested area of about 3,650 mi 2 (Minnesota Department of Conservation, 1959) and discharges into the lake at Duluth. The Mesabi Iron Range, noted for rich deposits of iron ore, parallels much of the northern watershed boundary. Large areas of land were altered by mining activities, as seen on the Landsat-1 MSS 7 images for September 26, 19744 (No. 1795-16203). The northeastward-trending string of water bodies along the northern boundary are flooded mine pits and tailings basins. The northeastern part of the watershed is largely State and National forest, whereas much of the southwestern and central parts are peat-covered wetlands. Generalized topographic features are shown on the map above. The topographic high along the northern boundary includes the Iron Range and is dissected by post-glacial drainage. The most notable drainage gap is that occupied by the Embarrass River. The series of southwestward-trending elongate hills in the eastern part of the watershed, visible on both the Landsat image and the topographic map, is the Toimi Drumlin Field (Wright, 1972). Topographically low, relatively flat land in the southwestern and central parts is a glacial lake plain. St. Louis River gradients are highly variable, being 9 ft/mi from its headwaters to the mouth of Partridge River, slightly more than 1 ft/mi from Partridge River to Cloquet, and 35 to 40 ft/mi in a 15-mi reach below Cloquest. The watershed is sparsely settled except for its northern and south-eastern parts. About 80 percent of the urban population lives on the Iron Range. Most of the suburban and rural residents alro live on or near the range or in the southeastern part of the watershed. Total population (1970), exclusive of those in the city of Duluth, which is included in the Lake Superior watershed (Olcott and others, 1976), was about 117,000.

Minnesota↗
USGS2009

USGS standard quadrangle maps for emergency response

The 1:24,000-scale topographic quadrangle was the primary product of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Mapping Program from 1947-1992. This map series includes about 54,000 map sheets for the conterminous United States, and is the only uniform map series ever produced that covers this area at such a large scale. This map series partially was revised under several programs, starting as early as 1968, but these programs were not adequate to keep the series current. Through the 1990s the emphasis of the USGS mapping program shifted away from topographic maps and toward more specialized digital data products. Topographic map revision dropped off rapidly after 1999, and stopped completely by 2004. Since 2001, emergency-response and homeland security requirement have revived the question of whether a standard national topographic series is needed. Emergencies such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and California wildfires in 2007-08 demonstrated that familiar maps are important to first responders. Maps that have a standard scale, extent, and grids help reduce confusion and save time in emergencies. Traditional maps are designed to allow the human brain to quickly process large amounts of information, and depend on artistic layout and design that cannot be fully automated. In spite of technical advances, creating a traditional, general-purpose topographic map is still expensive. Although the content and layout of traditional topographic maps probably is still desirable, the preferred packaging and delivery of maps has changed. Digital image files are now desired by most users, but to be useful to the emergency-response community, these files must be easy to view and easy to print without specialized geographic information system expertise or software.

Book↗
USGS1903

Hartville folio, Wyoming

The Geological Survey is making a geologic map of the United States, which necessitates the preparation of a topographic bas map. The two are being issue together in the form of an atlas, the parts of which are called folios. Each folio consists of a topographic base map and geologic maps of a small area of country, together with explanatory and descriptive texts.

Wyoming↗
USGS2020

Improving the positional and vertical accuracy of named summits above 13,000 ft in the United States

The National Map (TNM) portal provides public access to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) high-resolution topographic datasets, and maps from the Historical Topographic Map Collection (HTMC). Elevation values shown on HTMC maps were obtained from ground spot elevation measurements, as compared to today’s elevation measurements derived from more efficient methods, such as lidar, radar, or sonar. These spot elevations were collected either by levelling in the field or by photogrammetrists in the office, and are called mass points with post-spacings of two-arc seconds (arcsec), approximately 60 meters depending on latitude, in steep terrain and one-half arcsec, approximately 15 meters, in flat terrain (Federal Geographic Data Committee 1997). The vertical accuracy of spot elevations is ± 10 feet. Most spot elevations were used only in contour derivation to create a more spatially continuous representations of terrain, but some were also labelled on the maps to supply accurate elevations of culturally important features such as mountain peaks, gaps, and road junctions.

Conference Paper↗