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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 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
USGS2011

Integration of paleoseismic data from multiple sites to develop an objective earthquake chronology: Application to the Weber segment of the Wasatch fault zone, Utah

We present a method to evaluate and integrate paleoseismic data from multiple sites into a single, objective measure of earthquake timing and recurrence on discrete segments of active faults. We apply this method to the Weber segment (WS) of the Wasatch fault zone using data from four fault-trench studies completed between 1981 and 2009. After systematically reevaluating the stratigraphic and chronologic data from each trench site, we constructed time-stratigraphic OxCal models that yield site probability density functions (PDFs) of the times of individual earthquakes. We next qualitatively correlated the site PDFs into a segment-wide earthquake chronology, which is supported by overlapping site PDFs, large per-event displacements, and prominent segment boundaries. For each segment-wide earthquake, we computed the product of the site PDF probabilities in common time bins, which emphasizes the overlap in the site earthquake times, and gives more weight to the narrowest, best-defined PDFs. The product method yields smaller earthquake-timing uncertainties compared to taking the mean of the site PDFs, but is best suited to earthquakes constrained by broad, overlapping site PDFs. We calculated segment-wide earthquake recurrence intervals and uncertainties using a Monte Carlo model. Five surface-faulting earthquakes occurred on the WS at about 5.9, 4.5, 3.1, 1.1, and 0.6 ka. With the exception of the 1.1-ka event, we used the product method to define the earthquake times. The revised WS chronology yields a mean recurrence interval of 1.3 kyr (0.7–1.9-kyr estimated two-sigma [2δ] range based on interevent recurrence). These data help clarify the paleoearthquake history of the WS, including the important question of the timing and rupture extent of the most recent earthquake, and are essential to the improvement of earthquake-probability assessments for the Wasatch Front region.

Utah↗
USGS2015

Progress on water data integration and distribution: a summary of select U.S. Geological Survey data systems

Critical water-resources issues ranging from flood response to water scarcity make access to integrated water information, services, tools, and models essential. Since 1995 when the first water data web pages went online, the U.S. Geological Survey has been at the forefront of water data distribution and integration. Today, real-time and historical streamflow observations are available via web pages and a variety of web service interfaces. The Survey has built partnerships with Federal and State agencies to integrate hydrologic data providing continuous observations of surface and groundwater, temporally discrete water quality data, groundwater well logs, aquatic biology data, water availability and use information, and tools to help characterize the landscape for modeling. In this paper, we summarize the status and design patterns implemented for selected data systems. We describe how these systems contribute to a U.S. Federal Open Water Data Initiative and present some gaps and lessons learned that apply to global hydroinformatics data infrastructure.

Journal of Hydroinformatics↗
USGS2006

Data Delivery and Mapping Over the Web: National Water-Quality Assessment Data Warehouse

The U.S. Geological Survey began its National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program in 1991, systematically collecting chemical, biological, and physical water-quality data from study units (basins) across the Nation. In 1999, the NAWQA Program developed a data warehouse to better facilitate national and regional analysis of data from 36 study units started in 1991 and 1994. Data from 15 study units started in 1997 were added to the warehouse in 2001. The warehouse currently contains and links the following data: -- Chemical concentrations in water, sediment, and aquatic-organism tissues and related quality-control data from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), -- Biological data for stream-habitat and ecological-community data on fish, algae, and benthic invertebrates, -- Site, well, and basin information associated with thousands of descriptive variables derived from spatial analysis, like land use, soil, and population density, and -- Daily streamflow and temperature information from NWIS for selected sampling sites.

Fact Sheet↗
USGS2013

Tools for beach health data management, data processing, and predictive model implementation

This fact sheet describes utilities created for management of recreational waters to provide efficient data management, data aggregation, and predictive modeling as well as a prototype geographic information system (GIS)-based tool for data visualization and summary. All of these utilities were developed to assist beach managers in making decisions to protect public health. The Environmental Data Discovery and Transformation (EnDDaT) Web service identifies, compiles, and sorts environmental data from a variety of sources that help to define climatic, hydrologic, and hydrodynamic characteristics including multiple data sources within the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Great Lakes Beach Health Database (GLBH-DB) and Web application was designed to provide a flexible input, export, and storage platform for beach water quality and sanitary survey monitoring data to compliment beach monitoring programs within the Great Lakes. A real-time predictive modeling strategy was implemented by combining the capabilities of EnDDaT and the GLBH-DB for timely, automated prediction of beach water quality. The GIS-based tool was developed to map beaches based on their physical and biological characteristics, which was shared with multiple partners to provide concepts and information for future Web-accessible beach data outlets.

Fact Sheet↗
USGS2003

A compendium of P- and S-wave velocities from surface-to-borehole logging; summary and reanalysis of previously published data and analysis of unpublished data

For over 28 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been acquiring seismic velocity and geologic data at a number of locations in California, many of which were chosen because strong ground motions from earthquakes were recorded at the sites. The method for all measurements involves picking first arrivals of P- and S-waves from a surface source recorded at various depths in a borehole (as opposed to noninvasive methods, such as the SASW method [e.g., Brown et al., 2002]). The results from most of the sites are contained in a series of U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports (see References). Until now, none of the results have been available as computer files, and before 1992 the interpretation of the arrival times was in terms of piecemeal interval velocities, with no attempt to derive a layered model that would fit the travel times in an overall sense (the one exception is Porcella, 1984). In this report I reanalyze all of the arrival times in terms of layered models for P- and for S-wave velocities at each site, and I provide the results as computer files. In addition to the measurements reported in the open-file reports, I also include some borehole results from other reports, as well as some results never before published. I include data for 277 boreholes (at the time of this writing; more will be added to the web site as they are obtained), all in California (I have data from boreholes in Washington and Utah, but these will be published separately). I am also in the process of interpreting travel time data obtained using a seismic cone penetrometer at hundreds of sites; these data can be interpreted in the same way of those obtained from surface-to-borehole logging. When available, the data will be added to the web site (see below for information on obtaining data from the World Wide Web (WWW)). In addition to the basic borehole data and results, I provide information concerning strong-motion stations that I judge to be close enough to the boreholes that the borehole velocity models can be used as the velocity models beneath the stations.

California↗
USGS1980

Instructions for the preparation of data for the master water data index

The Master Water Data Index (MWDI) of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX) is a computerized data base which contains information about water data collected at specific sites. The data base identifies the organization collecting the data, the site location, the major types of data collected, the period of collection, and the frequency of measurement of major parameters for each type of data. This manual contains instructions for the encoding and keypunching of information for entry into the MWDI.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1983

Surface water and climatologic data, Salt Lake County, Utah, water year 1981, with selected data for water years 1980 and 1982

This report contains precipitation, atmospheric-deposition, water- discharge and water-quality data collected in Salt Lake County as part of two investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey. The purpose of this report is to release data collected mainly during the 1981 water year. Selected data collected during the 1980 water year not previously published or revised and the 1982 water year also are included in this report. The first investigation, which was carried out from September 1979 to August 1982, was an urban-runoff study done in cooperation with the Salt Lake County Division of Flood Control and Water Quality. The objectives of the urban-runoff study were to identify the impact of urban runoff on the quantity and quality of the water in the canals east of the Jordan River and on the major tributaries to the river. The second investigation, which was carried out from December 1979 to September 1983, is a study of water-quality problems in the Jordan River. The study was done primarily to provide information about toxic substances, dissolved-oxygen depletion, sanitary quality, and turbidity and suspended sediment in the Jordan River. It also was funded in part by the Salt Lake County Division of Flood Control and Water Quality. Several Salt Lake County employees assisted in the collection of water- quality samples from storm runoff. Of those employees, Lee R. Armstrong, Gilbert H. Heal, Steven J. Mitckes, and Ben Santistevan worked on a daily basis with the authors and made a significant contribution in the collection of the data contained in this report. Organizations that furnished data are acknowledged in the station descriptions in tables 1 and 4. Information for previously published water-discharge, water-quality, atmospheric-deposition, and precipitation data for Salt Lake County are reported by Pyper and others (1981); Dustin (1977); Hely and others (1971) and references that they cited; and Feth and others (1964). Additional water- discharge and water-quality data, published annually by the U.S. Geological Survey, and climatologic data, published monthly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are available for Salt Lake County. (See for example, U.S. Geological Survey, 1982 and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1982.)

Utah↗
USGS1994

Physical, chemical, and biological data for detailed study of the Sun River Irrigation Project, Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, and Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, west-central Montana, 1990-92, with selected data for 1987-89

Physical chemical, and biological data were collected in the lower Sun River area of west-central Montana during 1990-92 as part of a U.S. Department of the Interior detailed study of the extent, magnitude, sources, and potential biological impacts of contaminants associated with irrigation drainage. Physical and chemical data were collected from areas within and near the Sun River Irrigation Project and from wetland areas receiving irrigation drainage. Biological data were collected from areas in and near Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area and Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Additional biological data were collected previously during 1987-89 as part of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program. This report presents data for selenium and other potentially toxic constituents in solid-phase, water, and biological media. Data consist of concentrations of major and trace elements in soil and drill cores; concen- trations of major ions, nutrients, and trace elements in ground water and surface water; and trace-element concentrations in bottom sediment and biological tissue. Hydrogeologic data for domestic and test wells and daily streamflow data for selected sites also are included.

Montana↗
USGS1994

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1992 through September 1993) and statistical summaries of water-quality data (March 1985 through September 1993) for streams in the upper Clark Fork basin, Montana

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to below Missoula as part of a program to characterize aquatic resources in the upper Clark Fork basin of western Montana. Water-quality data were obtained periodically at 16 stations during October 1992 through September 1993 (water year 1993); daily suspended-sediment data were obtained at six of these stations. Bed-sediment and biological data were obtained at 11 stations in August 1993. Sampling stations were located on the Clark Fork and major tributaries. The primary constituents analyzed were trace elements associated with mine tailings from historic mining and smelting activities. Water-quality data include concentra- tions of major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment in samples collected periodically during water year 1993. A statistical summary of water- quality data is provided for the period of record at each station since 1985. Daily values of streamflow, suspended-sediment concentration, and suspended-sediment discharge are given for six stations. Bed-sediment data include trace- element concentrations in the fine and bulk fractions. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Quality-assurance data are reported for analytical results of water, bed sediment, and biota.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1995

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1993 through September 1994) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the Upper Clark Fork basin, Montana

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to below Missoula as part of a program to characterize aquatic resources in the upper Clark Fork basin of western Montana. Water- quality data were obtained periodically at 16 stations during October 1993 through September 1994 (water year 1994); daily suspended-sediment data were obtained at six of these stations. Bed-sediment and biological data were obtained at 11 stations in August 1994. Sampling stations were located on the Clark Fork and major tributaries. The primary constituents analyzed were trace elements associated with mine tailings from historical mining and smelting activities. Water-quality data include concentrations of major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment in samples collected periodically during water year 1994. Daily values of streamflow, suspended-sediment concentration, and suspended- sediment discharge are given for six stations. Bed- sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine and bulk fractions. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Quality-assurance data are reported for analytical results of water, bed sediment, and biota. Statistical summaries of bed sediment, and biological data are provided for the period of record at each station since 1985.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2004

Water-quality data from 2002 to 2003 and analysis of data gaps for development of total maximum daily loads in the Lower Klamath River Basin, California

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected water-quality data during 2002 and 2003 in the Lower Klamath River Basin, in northern California, to support studies of river conditions as they pertain to the viability of Chinook and Coho salmon and endangered suckers. To address the data needs of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and pH were continuously monitored at sites on the Klamath, Trinity, Shasta, and Lost Rivers. Water-quality samples were collected and analyzed for selected nutrients, organic carbon, chlorophyll-a, pheophytin-a, and trace elements. Sediment oxygen demand was measured on the Shasta River. Results of analysis of the data collected were used to identify locations in the Lower Klamath River Basin and periods of time during 2002 and 2003 when river conditions were more likely to be detrimental to salmonid or sucker health because of occasional high water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen, and conditions that supported abundant populations of algae and aquatic plants. The results were also used to assess gaps in data by furthering the development of the conceptual model of water flow and quality in the Lower Klamath River Basin using available data and the current understanding of processes that affect water quality and by assessing needs for the develoment of mathematical models of the system. The most notable gap in information for the study area is in sufficient knowledge about the occurrence and productivity of algal communities. Other gaps in data include vertical water-quality profiles for the reservoirs in the study area, and in an adequate understanding of the chemical oxygen demands and the sediment oxygen demands in the rivers and of the influence of riparian shading on the rivers. Several mathematical models are discussed in this report for use in characterizing the river systems in the study area; also discussed are the specific data needed for the models, and the spatial and temporal data available as boundary conditions. The models will be useful for the future development of TMDLs for temperature, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen and for assessing the role of natural and anthropogenic sources of heat, oxygen-producing and -consuming substances, and nutrients in the Klamath, Shasta, and Lost Rivers.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS1993

Twenty years of Landsat data accessible through the national satellite land remote sensing data archive

The EROS Data Center has managed to National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive's (NSLRSDA) Landsat data since 1972. The NSLRSDA includes Landsat MSS data from 1972 through 1991 and T M data from 1982 through 1993. In response to many requests from multi-disciplined users for an enhanced insight into the availability and volume of Landsat data over specific worldwide land areas, numerous world plots and corresponding statical overviews have been prepared. These presentations include information related to image quality, cloud cover, various types of data overage (i.e. regions, countries, path, rows), acquisition station coverage areas, various archive media formats (i.e. wide band video tapes, computer compatible tapes, high density tapes, etc.) and acquisition time periods (i.e. years, seasons). Plans are to publish this information in a paper sample booklet at the Pecora 12 Symposium, in a USGS circular and on a Landsat CD-ROM; the data will be also be incorporated into GLIS.

Pecora 12 Symposium↗
USGS1993

A practical implementation for a data dictionary in an environment of diverse data sets

The need for a data dictionary database at the U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center (EDC) was reinforced with the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) requirement for consistent field definitions of data sets residing at more than one archive center. The EDC requirement addresses the existence of multiple sets with identical field definitions using various naming conventions. The EDC is developing a data dictionary database to accomplish the following foals: to standardize field names for ease in software development; to facilitate querying and updating of the date; and to generate ad hoc reports. The structure of the EDC electronic data dictionary database supports different metadata systems as well as many different data sets. A series of reports is used to keep consistency among data sets and various metadata systems.

Pecora 12 Symposium↗
USGS1998

The Inter-American Geospatial Data Network— developing a Western Hemisphere geospatial data clearinghouse

The US Geological Survey and US Agency for International Development are enhancing the geographic information infrastructure of the Western Hemisphere by establishing the Inter-American Geospatial Data Network (IGDN). In its efforts to strengthen the Western Hemisphere's information infrastructure, the IGDN is consistent with the goals of the Plan of Action that emerged from the 1994 Summit of the Americas. The IGDN is an on-line cooperative, or clearinghouse, of geospatial data. Internet technology is used to facilitate the discovery and access of Western Hemisphere geospatial data. It was established by using the standards and guidelines of the Federal Geographic Data Committee to provide a consistent data discovery mechanism that will help minimize geospatial data duplication, promote data availability, and coordinate data collection and research activities.

Report↗
USGS2007

Summary of water-surface-elevation data for 116 U.S. Geological Survey lake and reservoir stations in Texas and comparison to data for water year 2006

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with numerous Federal, State, municipal, and local agencies, currently (2007) collects data for more than 120 lakes and reservoirs in Texas through a realtime, data-collection network. The National Water Information System that processes and archives water-resources data for the Nation provides a central source for retrieval of real-time as well as historical data. This report provides a brief description of the real-time, data-collection network and graphically summarizes the period-of-record daily mean water-surface elevations for 116 active and discontinued USGS lake and reservoir stations in Texas. The report also graphically depicts selected statistics (minimum, maximum, and mean) of daily mean water-surface-elevation data. The data for water year 2006 are compared to the selected statistics.

Data Series↗
USGS2012

Data collection and compilation for a geodatabase of groundwater, surface-water, water-quality, geophysical, and geologic data, Pecos County Region, Texas, 1930-2011

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District, Pecos County, City of Fort Stockton, Brewster County, and Pecos County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, compiled groundwater, surface-water, water-quality, geophysical, and geologic data for site locations in the Pecos County region, Texas, and developed a geodatabase to facilitate use of this information. Data were compiled for an approximately 4,700 square mile area of the Pecos County region, Texas. The geodatabase contains data from 8,242 sampling locations; it was designed to organize and store field-collected geochemical and geophysical data, as well as digital database resources from the U.S. Geological Survey, Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District, Texas Water Development Board, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality,and numerous other State and local databases. The geodatabase combines these disparate database resources into a simple data model. Site locations are geospatially enabled and stored in a geodatabase feature class for cartographic visualization and spatial analysis within a Geographic Information System. The sampling locations are related to hydrogeologic information through the use of geodatabase relationship classes. The geodatabase relationship classes provide the ability to perform complex spatial and data-driven queries to explore data stored in the geodatabase.

Texas↗
USGS1997

Water resources data Maryland and Delaware, water year 1996, Volume 1. Surface-water data

Water resources data for the 1996 water year for Maryland and Delaware consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs. This volume (Volume1. Surface-Water Data) contains records for water discharge at 90 gaging stations; stage and contents 1 reservoir; and water quality at 22 gaging stations. Also included are data for 4 crest-stages and 6 tidal crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State, local, and Federal agencies in Maryland and Delaware

Delaware, Maryland↗
USGS1992

Water Resources Data, New Jersey, Water Year 1991, Volume 1. Surface-Water Data

Water resources data for the 1991 water year for New Jersey consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This volume of the report contains discharge records for 95 gaging stations; tide summaries for 4 stations; stage and contents for 33 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 101 surface-water sites. Also included are data for 67 crest-stage partial-record stations, 13 tidal crest-stage gages, and 91 low-flow partial-record stations. Locations of these sites are shown on Figures 11 and 12. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program. Miscellaneous data were collected at 57 measuring sites and 13 water-quality sampling sites. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New Jersey.

New Jersey↗