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USGS2021

Machine learning to identify geologic factors associated with production in geothermal fields: A case-study using 3D geologic data, Brady geothermal field, Nevada

In this paper, we present an analysis using unsupervised machine learning (ML) to identify the key geologic factors that contribute to the geothermal production in Brady geothermal field. Brady is a hydrothermal system in northwestern Nevada that supports both electricity production and direct use of hydrothermal fluids. Transmissive fluid-flow pathways are relatively rare in the subsurface, but are critical components of hydrothermal systems like Brady and many other types of fluid-flow systems in fractured rock. Here, we analyze geologic data with ML methods to unravel the local geologic controls on these pathways. The ML method, non-negative matrix factorization with k -means clustering (NMF k ), is applied to a library of 14 3D geologic characteristics hypothesized to control hydrothermal circulation in the Brady geothermal field. Our results indicate that macro-scale faults and a local step-over in the fault system preferentially occur along production wells when compared to injection wells and non-productive wells. We infer that these are the key geologic characteristics that control the through-going hydrothermal transmission pathways at Brady. Our results demonstrate: (1) the specific geologic controls on the Brady hydrothermal system and (2) the efficacy of pairing ML techniques with 3D geologic characterization to enhance the understanding of subsurface processes.

Nevada↗

USGS2026

Monitoring reservoir processes at The Geysers geothermal field: Joint time-lapse acquisition and cooperative joint inversion of passive seismic and magnetotelluric data

To monitor time-lapse changes in reservoir water and steam concentrations, as well as subsurface flow in the geysers geothermal field in California, we implemented a multi-physics geophysical imaging approach. This approach utilized continuously monitored microseismic events coupled with repeat magnetotelluric (MT) observations. Travel time data from microseismic events recorded at surface stations were collected over an area of approximately 75 km² continuously from 2018 to 2023, alongside three repeat MT surveys conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The resulting seismic and MT data were inverted both separately and jointly to generate time-lapse images of geophysical properties that correspond to temporal changes in water and steam saturation within the reservoir, as well as flow paths and barriers. By correlating the geophysical images with known water injection and steam production volumes, we were able to calibrate the data and gain confidence in the results, which can now be applied throughout the reservoir where borehole data are unavailable. The joint imaging results, combined with reservoir data derived from borehole observations, allow for the interpretation of temporal changes in the reservoir. This enables the operator to optimize reservoir management and their drilling program.

California↗

USGS2017

Implementing Nepal's national building code—A case study in patience and persistence

The April 2015 Gorkha Nepal earthquake revealed the relative effectiveness of the Nepal Standard, or national building code (NBC), and irregular compliance with it in different parts of Nepal. Much of the damage to more than half a million Nepal's residential structures may be attributed to the prevalence of owner-built or owner-supervised construction and the lack of owner and builder responsiveness to seismic risk and training in the appropriate means of complying with the NBC. To explain these circumstances, we review the protracted implementation of the NBC and the role played by one organization, the National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET), in the NBC's implementation. We also share observations on building code compliance made by individuals in Nepal participating in workshops led by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute's 2014 class of Housner Fellows.

Earthquake Spectra↗

USGS1984

Technological innovations in aquaculture

Technology in aquaculture has expanded at a phenomenal rate during the last 50 to 100 years. Based on both this past progress and the present technological advances being made in our society, it is reasonable to expect aquaculturists to profit from the rapid technological advances being made in both hardware and biological systems. These advances will result as spinoffs from medicine, from analytical chemistry, and most importantly, from the evolution of new consumer products such as auto-focus cameras, electronic watches, and microprocessor-monitored automobiles. We can expect to use economical, reliable instrumentation capable of environmental monitoring for predictive purposes and instrumentation that will contain alarm and control circuits. Genetic engineering will result in biological organisms that produce hormones, drugs, and other biological materials as well as detoxify pollutants on demand. When we as aquaculturists identify the need for a product, that product will be developed.

Fisheries↗

USGS1996

Scientific objectives of human exploration of Mars

While human exploration of Mars is unlikely to be undertaken for science reasons alone, science will be the main beneficiary. A wide range of science problems can be addressed at Mars. The planet formed in a different part of the solar system from the Earth and retains clues concerning compositional and environmental conditions in that part of the solar system when the planets formed. Mars has had a long and complex history that has involved almost as wide a range of processes as occurred on Earth. Elucidation of this history will require a comprehensive program of field mapping, geophysical sounding, in situ analyses, and return of samples to Earth that are representative of the planet's diversity. The origin and evolution of the Mars' atmosphere are very different from the Earth's, Mars having experienced major secular and cyclical changes in climate. Clues as to precisely how the atmosphere has evolved are embedded in its present chemistry, possibly in surface sinks of former atmosphere-forming volatiles, and in the various products of interaction between the atmosphere and surface. The present atmosphere also provides a means of testing general circulation models applicable to all planets. Although life is unlikely to be still extant on Mars, life may have started early in the planet's history. A major goal of any future exploration will, therefore, be to search for evidence of indigenous life.

American Astronautical Society, Scientific Technol↗

USGS2012

Priorities for IOOS ® Data Management and Communications (DMAC)

Dramatic increases in the volume of online data and rapid advances in information technology have transformed many aspects of our society. In the coastal ocean, the amount of data is also growing dramatically due to new sensor and modeling technologies. Lagging behind this deluge of ocean data, however, is an effective framework of standards, protocols, tools and culture needed to transform the way we generate knowledge and value from ocean data. The Data Management and Communications (DMAC) sub-system was envisioned to provide such an information management capability for IOOS®, promoting standards and policies to be implemented by data providers across the IOOS enterprise. DMAC needs to build upon the successes and lessons learned during development of web service standards and promote a set of end-to-end standards and procedures for the entire ocean-data life cycle, including documentation through metadata, quality control and quality assurance, effective data discovery, and stewardship through archiving. Because information technology is constantly changing, a multiyear, top-down design and implementation plan is not workable. DMAC should start by promoting a set of protocols that are functional for specific use cases, creating a modular framework in which modules can be replaced as technologies change. In addition to promoting protocols, DMAC needs to support training, flexible online documentation, support, and social networking that enable users to share code, techniques and experiences. Through this bottom-up approach, trust and understanding will foster adoption by the community. Finally, a compliance and certification process should be developed that allows IOOS to ensure that they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders while complying with regulatory requirements related to the data. If this approach is followed, we will enable breakthroughs in ocean data–driven technology similar to those common elsewhere in our society, fulfilling the broader mission of IOOS.

Book↗

USGS2018

The electric storm of November 1882

In November 1882, an intense magnetic storm related to a large sunspot group caused widespread interference to telegraph and telephone systems and provided spectacular and unusual auroral displays. The (ring current) storm time disturbance index for this storm reached maximum − Dst ≈ 386 nT, comparable to Halloween storm of 29–31 October 2003, but from 17 to 20 November the aa midlatitude geomagnetic disturbance index averaged 214.25 nT, the highest 4 day level of disturbance since the beginning of aa index in 1868. This storm contributed to scientists' understanding of the reality of solar‐terrestrial interaction. Past occurrences of magnetic storms, like that of November 1882, can inform modern evaluations of the deleterious effects that a magnetic superstorm might have on technological systems of importance to society.

Space Weather↗

USGS2021

Enumerating white-tailed deer using unmanned aerial vehicles

The white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) is an ecologically important species in forests of North America. Effective management of forests requires accurate, precise estimates of deer population abundance to plan and justify management actions. Spotlight surveys in combination with distance sampling are a common method of estimating deer population abundance; however, spotlight surveys are known to have serious drawbacks such as high costs and sampling biases. Therefore, we tested the effectiveness of enumerating deer from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, conducted 1 and 6 March 2018, to develop population and density estimates in 2 United States National Parks: Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (HAFE) and Monocacy National Battlefield (MONO). Concurrent spotlight surveys at MONO enabled us to compare estimates obtained by the 2 methods. Deer density estimates by 4 observers of UAV‐obtained thermal imagery from HAFE were 94.5 ± 3.9 deer/km 2 . Concurrent UAV and spotlight surveys at MONO found 19.7 ± 0.5 deer/km 2 and 6.4 ± 4.9 deer/km 2 , respectively; suggesting that spotlight surveys may significantly underestimate deer densities. Despite the logistical challenges to UAV operation, our findings demonstrate that UAVs will become an invaluable tool for wildlife management as technology improves. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Maryland, West Virginia↗

USGS2008

Effects of scoria-cone eruptions upon nearby human communities

Scoria-cone eruptions are typically low in volume and explosivity compared with eruptions from stratovolcanoes, but they can affect local populations profoundly. Scoria-cone eruption effects vary dramatically due to eruption style, tephra blanket extent, climate, types of land use, the culture and complexity of the affected group, and resulting governmental action. A comparison of a historic eruption (Parícutin, México) with prehistoric eruptions (herein we primarily focus on Sunset Crater in northern Arizona, USA) elucidates the controls on and effects of these variables. Long-term effects of lava flows extend little beyond the flow edges. These flows, however, can be used for defensive purposes, providing refuges from invasion for those who know them well. In arid lands, tephra blankets serve as mulches, decreasing runoff and evaporation, increasing infiltration, and regulating soil temperature. Management and retention of these scoria mulches, which can open new areas for agriculture, become a priority for farming communities. In humid areas, though, the tephra blanket may impede plant growth and increase erosion. Cultural responses to eruptions vary, from cultural collapse, through fragmentation of society, dramatic changes, and development of new technologies, to little apparent change. Eruptions may also be viewed as retribution for poor behavior, and attempts are made to mollify angry gods.

Geological Society of America Bulletin↗

USGS2020

Passive sampling of groundwater wells for determination of water chemistry

Introduction Passive groundwater sampling is defined as the collection of a water sample from a well without the use of purging by a pump or retrieval by a bailer (Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council [ITRC], 2006; American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM], 2014). No purging means that advection of water is not involved in collecting the water sample from the well. Passive samplers rely on diffusion as the primary process that drives their collection of chemical constituents. Diffusion is the transport of chemicals caused by the presence of a chemical gradient. Chemicals tend to move or diffuse from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration to reach an average or equilibrium concentration. Passive sampling of groundwater relies on the ambient exchange of groundwater in the formation with water in the screened or open interval of a well. In this report, the term formation is used to describe all saturated hydrogeologic units that yield water to a well. If the well opening is unclogged and free of a film of deposits from physical turbidity or chemical precipitation, then the exchange of groundwater is likely adequate, and the water in the open interval will be representative of water in the formation. In some cases, the passive sample from the well opening can be more representative of groundwater from the formation than a sample collected by pumping if pumping induces mixing of water in the open interval with stagnant casing water that has undergone chemical alteration (Harte and others, 2018). In most cases, passive sampling will better represent the ambient groundwater chemistry flowing through the open interval of a well because pumping may capture water of different chemistry from downgradient or lateral areas that would not normally pass through the well. Three basic types of passive samplers are discussed in this report. The first type of passive sampler is the equilibrium-membrane type, which includes a semi-permeable membrane through which chemicals diffuse or permeate. Permeation is simply the process of water or chemicals moving through openings in the membrane. The authors contend that permeation is dominated by diffusion for many of the passive samplers discussed in this report. Some passive equilibrium-membrane-type samplers allow most types of chemical constituents through, whereas others allow the diffusion of only selected groups of chemicals. Once the chemical constituents are inside the membrane, they are retained by the equilibration of concentrations inside the sampler with those outside the sampler. The second type of passive sampler is an equilibrium-thief type, which has no semi-permeable membrane. Chemical constituents simply move through the openings in the body of the sampler either initially through advection and dispersion or over time primarily by diffusion. Chemical constituents reach equilibrium between the water in the sampler and the water in the well and are captured in the sampler when the sampler is closed. The third type of passive sampler is an accumulation-type sampler that contains sorptive media. Selected chemical constituents are sorbed onto the media that the sampler contains for later extraction and analysis. Although passive samplers have been available for more than 15 years (from present [2020]), their use by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologists and hydrologic technicians to monitor groundwater quality largely has been limited to selected research studies. The authors believe that this may be the result of (1) a lack of exposure of most USGS personnel to passive samplers and the uses of these samplers and (2) the lack of a USGS-approved protocol for the proper use of these samplers by USGS personnel. This report is an effort to fill those two needs. The focus of this report is on hydraulic, hydrologic, and chemical considerations in the application of passive samplers and interpretation of groundwater chemistry results obtained using passive samplers in wells. This report describes the differences between purging and passive sampling methods in groundwater and explains how and why passive samplers work. The report points out the advantages and limitations of passive samplers in general and for each particular type of passive sampler. Important considerations to be taken into account prior to the use of passive samplers are discussed, such as defining the data-quality objectives, the water-quality constituents to be sampled, sample volumes required for analysis, well construction of the sampling network, and the geologic formations that will be sampled. Potential applications of passive samplers also are discussed, such as chemical-vertical profiling of wells. A general field protocol for the deployment, recovery, and sample collection using these devices is described, and some overall guidance for the practitioner with application examples is given. Comparison methods used to evaluate results from passive sampling versus purge sampling also are discussed.

Techniques and Methods↗

USGS2010

Carbon dioxide emission factors for U.S. coal by origin and destination

This paper describes a method that uses published data to calculate locally robust CO 2 emission factors for U.S. coal. The method is demonstrated by calculating CO 2 emission factors by coal origin (223 counties, in 1999) and destination (479 power plants, in 2005). Locally robust CO 2 emission factors should improve the accuracy and verification of greenhouse gas emission measurements from individual coal-fired power plants. Based largely on the county origin, average emission factors for U.S. lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, and anthracite coal produced during 1999 were 92.97,91.97,88.20, and 98.91 kg CO 2 /GJ gross , respectively. However, greater variation is observed within these rank classes than between them, which limits the reliability of CO 2 emission factors specified by coal rank. Emission factors calculated by destination (power plant) showed greater variation than those listed in the Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID), which exhibit an unlikely uniformity that is inconsistent with the natural variation of CO 2 emission factors for U.S. coal. ?? 2010 American Chemical Society.

Environmental Science & Technology↗

USGS2014

Manganese: it turns iron into steel (and does so much more)

Manganese is a common ferrous metal with atomic weight of 25 and the chemical symbol Mn. It constitutes roughly 0.1 percent of the Earth’s crust, making it the 12th most abundant element. Its early uses were limited largely to pigments and oxidants in chemical processes and experiments, but the significance of manganese to human societies exploded with the development of modern steelmaking technology in the 1860s. U.S consumption of manganese is about 500,000 metric tons each year, predominantly by the steel industry. Because manganese is essential and irreplaceable in steelmaking and its global mining industry is dominated by just a few nations, it is considered one of the most critical mineral commodities for the United States.

Fact Sheet↗

USGS2021

Alpine glacier reveals ecosystem impacts of Europe's prosperity and peril over the last millennium

Information about past ecosystem dynamics and human activities is stored in the ice of Colle Gnifetti glacier in the Swiss Alps. Adverse climatic intervals incurred crop failures and famines and triggered reestablishment of forest vegetation but also societal resilience through innovation. Historical documents and lake sediments record these changes at local—regional scales but often struggle to comprehensively document continental-scale impacts on ecosystems. Here, we provide unique multiproxy evidence of broad-scale ecosystem, land use, and climate dynamics over the past millennium from a Colle Gnifetti microfossil and oxygen isotope record. Microfossil data indicate that before 1750 CE forests and fallow land rapidly replaced crop cultivation during historically documented societal crises caused by climate shifts and epidemics. Subsequently, with technology and the introduction of more resilient crops, European societies adapted to the Little Ice Age cold period, but resource overexploitation and industrialization led to new regional to global-scale environmental challenges.

Geophysical Research Letters↗

USGS2025

Evapotranspiration terminology and definitions

Evapotranspiration (ET), the combined process of evaporation from soil and plant surfaces and transpiration from plant tissue, plays a pivotal role in the global water and energy balance. Accurately quantifying ET at various spatial scales is important for diverse applications, including irrigation and natural resource management. While efforts to standardize ET methodology have progressed over the last few decades, some confusion and disagreements in terminology persist among communities of researchers and practitioners involved in the measurement, estimation, and simulation of ET. This technical note addresses the historical evolution and standardization of ET terminology, aiming to reduce and mitigate disparities in definitions and usage by advocating for standardized definitions and emphasizing the adoption of reference ET ( ET ref ) terminology to promote consistency and accuracy and to avoid ambiguity. This document provides comprehensive definitions of key terms, including crop (i.e., vegetation cover) coefficients, consumptive use (CU), actual crop evapotranspiration ( ET a ), and ET ref variants for short (grass, ET o ) and tall (alfalfa, ET r ) reference crops. Practical discussion on several relevant topics is given: (1) single and dual crop coefficient approaches, (2) applications to nonagricultural vegetation, (3) recommended subscripts for terms, (4) practical guidelines and considerations for ET ref calculation, (5) encouragement to replace “potential ET” terminology with better terms, (6) clarification on maximum ET ( ET max ) and maximum crop coefficient ( K c max ) terms, (7) ET products derived from remote sensing, (8) a brief description of the role of ET in water rights, and (9) a figure illustrating the use of the terms defined herein. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of consistent terminology for effective communication among researchers and end-users, which will facilitate the adoption of standardized ET methods and technologies. This technical note was created by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Environmental and Water Resources Institute (ASCE-EWRI), Evapotranspiration in Irrigation and Hydrology Committee, with input and endorsement from other relevant organizations in the United States and internationally. This note serves as a comprehensive reference guide for ET practitioners and researchers.

Irrigation and Drainage Engineering↗

USGS2021

Earthcasting: Geomorphic forecasts for society

Over the last several decades, the study of Earth surface processes has progressed from a descriptive science to an increasingly quantitative one due to advances in theoretical, experimental, and computational geosciences. The importance of geomorphic forecasts has never been greater, as technological development and global climate change threaten to reshape the landscapes that support human societies and natural ecosystems. Here we explore best practices for developing socially relevant forecasts of Earth surface change, a goal we are calling “earthcasting”. We suggest that earthcasts have the following features: they focus on temporal (∼1–∼100 years) and spatial (∼1 m–∼10 km) scales relevant to planning; they are designed with direct involvement of stakeholders and public beneficiaries through the evaluation of the socioeconomic impacts of geomorphic processes; and they generate forecasts that are clearly stated, testable, and include quantitative uncertainties. Earthcasts bridge the gap between Earth surface researchers and decision-makers, stakeholders, researchers from other disciplines, and the general public. We investigate the defining features of earthcasts and evaluate some specific examples. This paper builds on previous studies of prediction in geomorphology by recommending a roadmap for (a) generating earthcasts, especially those based on modeling; (b) transforming a subset of geomorphic research into earthcasts; and (c) communicating earthcasts beyond the geomorphology research community. Earthcasting exemplifies the social benefit of geomorphology research, and it calls for renewed research efforts toward further understanding the limits of predictability of Earth surface systems and processes, and the uncertainties associated with modeling geomorphic processes and their impacts.

Earth's Future↗

USGS2024

Perspectives on the future of ecology, evolution, and biodiversity from the Council on Microbial Sciences of the American Society for Microbiology

The field of microbial ecology, evolution, and biodiversity (EEB) is at the leading edge of understanding how microbes shape our biosphere and influence the well-being of humankind. To that end, EEB is developing new tools to analyze the massive, complex, transdisciplinary datasets that result from such studies. The American Society for Microbiology’s Council on Microbial Sciences hosted a virtual retreat in 2023 to identify the trajectory of EEB both within the Society and microbiology at large. Retreat presentations and discussions collectively emphasized the interconnectedness of microbes and their outsized global influence on environmental and host health. The retreat repeatedly emphasized that the future of science is through transdisciplinary collaborations that promote integration of diverse datasets and advanced technologies, while also genuinely fostering inclusivity, global collaborations, and public engagement. The American Society for Microbiology and EEB stand poised to lead a paradigm shift that will result in a new era of collaboration, innovation, and societal relevance for microbiology.

mSphere↗

USGS2002

Reductive dehalogenation of hexachloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, and bromoform by anthrahydroquinone disulfonate and humic acid

The reductive dehalogenation of hexachloroethane (C2Cl6), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and bromoform (CHBr3) was examined at 50??C in aqueous solutions containing either (1) 500 ??M of 2,6-anthrahydroquinone disulfonate (AHQDS), (2) 250 ??M Fe2+, or (3) 250 ??M HS-. The pH ranged from 4.5 to 11.5 for AHQDS solutions and was 7.2 in the Fe2+ solutions and 7.8 in the HS- solutions. The observed disappearance of C2Cl6 in the presence of AHQDS was pseudo-first-order and fit k??ccl4 = k0[A(OH)2] + k1[A(OH)O-] + k2[A(O)22-] where A(OH)2, A(OH)O-, and A(O)22- represent the concentrations of the three forms of the AHQDS in solution. The values of k0, k1, and k2 were ???0,0.031, and 0.24 M-1 s-1, respectively. The addition of 25 mg of C/L of humic acid or organic matter extracted from Borden aquifer solids to aqueous solutions containing 250 ??M HS- or Fe2+ increased the reduction rate by factors of up to 10. The logarithms of the rate constants for the disappearance of C2Cl6 and CCl4 in seven different experimental systems were significantly correlated; log k???ccl4 = 0-64 log k??? c2cl6 - 0.83 with r2 = 0.80. The observed trend in reaction rates of C2Cl6 > CCl4 > CHBr3 is consistent with a decreasing trend in one-electron reduction potentials. ?? 1994 American Chemical Society.

Environmental Science & Technology↗

USGS2002

Comparison of automated segmented-flow and discrete analyzers for the determination of nutrients in water

Water samples with specific conductances ranging from 66 to 6950 ??mho/cm at 25 ??C were analyzed for ammonia-N (NH3-N), nitrate plus nitrite-N (NO3 + NO2-N), nitrite-N (NO2-N), and phosphate-P (PO4-P) by using both a "segmented-flow" analyzer and a "discrete" analyzer. Plots of the discrete vs. the segmented-flow results showed linear correlation coefficients of 0.9980 for NH3-N, 0.9997 for NO3 + NO2-N, 0.9998 for NO2-N, and 0.9950 for PO4-P. The significances of the slope and the y intercept of each plot are discussed in terms of possible biases which may exist between the two systems. Data concerning precision and accuracy for both analyzers are presented. For the four analytes, the rate of sample analysis was 60 samples per hour on the discrete analyzer and 40 samples per hour on the segmented-flow analyzer. ?? 1981 American Chemical Society.

Environmental Science & Technology↗