Geochemical data from Colombia; Part B, Data printout of analytical data
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As part of the activities of the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Interagency Consortium, an intermediate-scale land cover data set is being generated for the conterminous United States. This effort is being conducted on a region-by-region basis using U.S. Standard Federal Regions. To date, land cover data sets have been generated for Federal Regions 3 (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware) and 2 (New York and New Jersey). Classification work is currently under way in Federal Region 4 (the southeastern United States), and land cover mapping activities have been started in Federal Regions 5 (the Great Lakes region) and 1 (New England). It is anticipated that a land cover data set for the conterminous United States will be completed by the end of 1999. A standard land cover classification legend is used, which is analogous to and compatible with other classification schemes. The primary MRLC regional classification scheme contains 23 land cover classes. The primary source of data for the project is the Landsat thematic mapper (TM) sensor. For each region, TM scenes representing both leaf-on and leaf-off conditions are acquired, preprocessed, and georeferenced to MRLC specifications. Mosaicked data are clustered using unsupervised classification, and individual clusters are labeled using aerial photographs. Individual clusters that represent more than one land cover unit are split using spatial modeling with multiple ancillary spatial data layers (most notably, digital elevation model, population, land use and land cover, and wetlands information). This approach yields regional land cover information suitable for a wide array of applications, including landscape metric analyses, land management, land cover change studies, and nutrient and pesticide runoff modeling.
Whither the topographic map? Topographic mapping historically has been approached as a map factory operation through the period 1879-1990. During this time, data were field and photogrammetrically collected; cartographically verified and annotated creating a compilation manuscript; further edited, generalized, symbolized, and produced as a graphic output product using lithography, or more recently, through digital means. Adoption of geographic information systems (GIS) as the primary production process for topographic maps, including digital database preparation (1975-2000) and product generation operations (2001-present), has led to faster and more standardized production in a semi-automated process. However, the topographic product has remained the same static graphic. Global Navigation Systems (GNS) began in the post 1990s, led to publicly and commercially produced location-based information traditionally provided by surveyors for topographic maps. Advances in GIS technology, computer processing, memory, and storage devices, along with GNS spawned new location systems and led to ubiquitous, consumer-based cartography through commercial entities on the World Wide Web (Web). This global availability of cartography has provided consumer access and the ability to produce topographic types of map products previously supplied only by traditional National Mapping Agencies (NMAs). Information provided by location-based services made available through connected databases has led to completely new business models based on cartography and geospatial data. A new form of topographic map as an interactive, linked knowledge base is now being created. The appearance of the Semantic Web and Linked Open Data allows the map to become an interactive knowledge base. In this current theory and implementation of topographic mapping, the map is a graphics-based interface to a triplestore knowledge base which includes a topographic feature ontology, semantics and relations, and instance data with geometry and topology available. The topographic map graphic becomes an interactive link to the knowledge base and additional linked data through the Linked Open Data cloud.
Natural tags based on DNA fingerprints or natural features of animals are now becoming very widely used in wildlife population biology. However, classic capture-recapture models do not allow for misidentification of animals which is a potentially very serious problem with natural tags. Statistical analysis of misidentification processes is extremely difficult using traditional likelihood methods but is easily handled using Bayesian methods. We present a general framework for Bayesian analysis of categorical data arising from a latent multinomial distribution. Although our work is motivated by a specific model for misidentification in closed population capture-recapture analyses, with crucial assumptions which may not always be appropriate, the methods we develop extend naturally to a variety of other models with similar structure. Suppose that observed frequencies f are a known linear transformation f=A'x of a latent multinomial variable x with cell probability vector pi= pi(theta). Given that full conditional distributions [theta | x] can be sampled, implementation of Gibbs sampling requires only that we can sample from the full conditional distribution [x | f, theta], which is made possible by knowledge of the null space of A'. We illustrate the approach using two data sets with individual misidentification, one simulated, the other summarizing recapture data for salamanders based on natural marks.
The Geological Survey has been the foremost agency in the investigation of ground ‐ water resources in the United States beginning about 1910. Most of the basic principles of modern ground ‐ water hydrology were developed in the Survey ' s program of cooperative investigations . Use of ground water in the United States in 1960 was about 17½ percent of all water uses, excluding water power. The use will probably increase, though at a decreasing rate. Although amount of use may level off, the need to know about it will not. While coordinating its activities with those of the Office of Water Data Coordination and the Office of Water Resources Research , the Survey expects to step up its work in all three areas of data collection , investigations , and research . However, there will be changes of emphasis. Collection of raw data will tend to stress key observation points, and more and more observation of temperature and quality, including contaminants. Investigations will be aimed at upgrading reconnaissance coverage to general coverage for most of the Nation. The areal basis will be stream drainage basins and special hydrologic terranes, rather than political units. There will be an increase in the preparation of analog models for representative ground ‐ water systems. In research , the problem‐oriented basis will continue. Stress will be on basic principles that pertain to artificial recharge, and the natural recharge and discharge of ground ‐ water reservoirs; and also on the application of geologic principles on a regional scale. These are critical elements in the management of surface‐ water and ground ‐ water resources conjunctively in river basins.
Estimating abundance of migrating fishes is challenging. While sonars can be deployed continuously, improper assumptions about unidirectional migration and complete spatial coverage can lead to inaccurate estimates. To address these challenges, we present a framework for combining fixed-location count data from a dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) with movement data from acoustic telemetry to estimate spawning run abundance of lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ). Acoustic telemetry data were used to estimate the probability of observing a lake sturgeon on the DIDSON and to determine the probability that a lake sturgeon passing the DIDSON site had passed the site previously during the season. Combining probabilities with DIDSON counts, using a Bayesian integrated model, we estimated the following abundances: 99 (42–215 credible interval, CI) in 2017, 131 (82–248 CI) in 2018, and 92 (47–184 CI) in 2019. Adding movement data generated better inferences on count data by incorporating fish behavior (e.g., multiple migrations in a single season) and its uncertainty into abundance estimates. This framework can be applied to count and movement data to estimate abundance of spawning runs of other migratory fishes in riverine systems.
A reliable method for collection, display, and analysis of low-frequency geophysical data from isolated sites, which can be throughout North and South America and the Pacific Rim, has been developed for use with the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) system. Geophysical data primarily intended for earthquake hazard and crustal deformation monitoring are digitized with either 12-bit or 16-bit resolution and transmitted every 10 min through a satellite link to a bank of UNIX-based computers in Menlo Park, California. There the data are available for analysis and display within a few seconds of their transmit time. This system provides real-time monitoring of crustal deformation parameters such as tilt, strain, fault displacement, local magnetic field, crustal geochemistry, and water levels, as well as meteorological and other parameters, along faults in California and Alaska, and in volcanic regions in the western United States, Rabaul, and other locations in the New Britain region of the South Pacific. Various mathematical, statistical, and graphical algorithms process the incoming data to detect changes in crustal deformation and fault slip that may indicate the first stages of catastrophic fault failure. Alert trigger levels based on physical models, signal resolution, and previous history have been defined for particular instrument types. Computer-driven remote paging and mail systems are used to notify appropriate personnel when alarm status is reached. The system supports continuous historical records of low-frequency geophysical data, software for extensive analysis of these data, and programs for modeling fault rupture with and without seismic radiation, as well as providing an environment for real-time attempts at earthquake prediction.
The North Dakota aeromagnetic grid is constructed from grids that combine information collected in 13 separate aeromagnetic surveys conducted between 1978 and 2001. The data from these surveys are of varying quality. The design and specifications (terrain clearance, sampling rates, line spacing, and reduction procedures) varied from survey to survey depending on the purpose of the project and the technology of that time. Every attempt was made to acquire the data in digital form. Most of the available digital data were obtained from aeromagnetic surveys flown by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), flown on contract with the USGS, or were obtained from other federal agencies and state universities. Some of the 1980 data are available only on hand-contoured maps and had to be digitized. These maps were digitized along flight-line/contour-line intersections, which is considered to be the most accurate method of recovering the original data. Digitized data are available as USGS Open File Report 99-557. All surveys have been continued to 304.8 meters (1000 feet) above ground and then blended or merged together.
Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to below Missoula as part of a program, conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to characterize aquatic resources in the upper Clark Fork basin of western Montana. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork, five major tributaries, and three smaller tributaries. Water-quality samples were collected periodically at 17 sites during October 2003 through September 2004 (water year 2004). Bed-sediment and biological samples were collected one time in August 2004. The primary constituents analyzed were trace elements associated with tailings from historical mining and smelting activities. This report summarizes the results of water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected in water year 2004 and provides statistical summaries of data collected since 1985. Water-quality data for samples collected periodically from streams include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Daily values of suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for three sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained 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 water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data are provided for the period of record since 1985 for each site.
Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to below Missoula as part of a long-term monitoring program, conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to characterize aquatic resources in the upper Clark Fork basin of western Montana. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork, six major tributaries, and three smaller tributaries. Water-quality samples were collected periodically at 18 sites during October 2004 through September 2005 (water year 2005). Bed-sediment and biological samples were collected once in August 2005. The primary constituents analyzed were trace elements associated with tailings from historical mining and smelting activities. This report summarizes the results of water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples col-lected in water year 2005 and provides statistical summaries of data collected since 1985. Water-quality data for samples collected periodically from streams include concentrations of selected major ions, trace ele-ments, and suspended sediment. Daily values of suspended-sed-iment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for three sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-ele-ment concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Bio-logical 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 water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data are provided for the period of record since 1985 for each site.
Hydrologic data were collected from wells in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, from 1990 to 1992, to better understand the hydrologic system in the valley. Most of the data collected are from 36 monitoring wells drilled in June and July 1990 and March and May 1991 using a hollow-stem auger. These wells range from 15.0 to 129.5 feet deep and are completed in the shallow unconfined aquifer, an underlying confining layer, or both. Data from public supply wells and other existing wells completed in aquifers below the confining layers near these monitoring wells are presented in order to compare data from those wells with data from the shallow unconfined aquifer and the underlying confining layers. Field data collected from selected wells and drill holes include well-completion information, lithologic logs, and water-level and field water-quality measurements. Water samples collected from monitoring wells drilled in 1990 and 1991 and from selected existing wells were analyzed for inorganic constituents, trace metals in unfiltered water, volatile organic compounds, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and radionuclides. Core samples were collected from selected monitoring wells drilled in 1990 and 1991 and analyzed for geochemical and geotechnical properties. Cation exchange capacity, carbon concentration, and the concentration of selected elements in core material are presented. Particle size, dry density, moisture content, porosity, hydraulic conductivity, initial void ratio, specific storage, and other properties determined for material in cores from selected monitoring wells also are listed.
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. Sampling stations were located on the Clark Fork and major tributaries. Water-quality data were obtained periodically at 16 stations during October 1994 through September 1995 (water year 1995). Data for twelve bed-sediment and eleven biological stations were obtained in August 1995. 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 element, and suspended sediment in stream samples collected periodically during water year 1995. Daily values of streamflow, suspended- sediment concentrations in the fine-grained 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 water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data are provided for the period of record at each station since 1985.
This report is a user guide for the streamflow-hydrograph analysis methods provided with version 1.0 of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Groundwater Toolbox computer program. These include six hydrograph-separation methods to determine the groundwater-discharge (base-flow) and surface-runoff components of streamflow—the Base-Flow Index (BFI; Standard and Modified), HYSEP (Fixed Interval, Sliding Interval, and Local Minimum), and PART methods—and the RORA recession-curve displacement method and associated RECESS program to estimate groundwater recharge from streamflow data. The Groundwater Toolbox is a customized interface built on the nonproprietary, open source MapWindow geographic information system software. The program provides graphing, mapping, and analysis capabilities in a Microsoft Windows computing environment. In addition to the four hydrograph-analysis methods, the Groundwater Toolbox allows for the retrieval of hydrologic time-series data (streamflow, groundwater levels, and precipitation) from the USGS National Water Information System, downloading of a suite of preprocessed geographic information system coverages and meteorological data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center, and analysis of data with several preprocessing and postprocessing utilities. With its data retrieval and analysis tools, the Groundwater Toolbox provides methods to estimate many of the components of the water budget for a hydrologic basin, including precipitation; streamflow; base flow; runoff; groundwater recharge; and total, groundwater, and near-surface evapotranspiration.
The series of Landsat missions has compiled the longest record of satellite observation of the Earth’s land surface, extending for more than 38 years for most areas of the globe. Landsat data are particularly important as long term climate data records because the scale of observation is sufficient to differentiate between natural and human drivers of land cover change. The USGS has established consistent radiometric calibration across the Landsat TM and ETM+ sensors, and have extended the calibration back to the earlier MSS sensors. The USGS is developing capabilities to create fundamental climate data records (FCDRs), thematic climate data records (TCDRs), and essential climate variables (ECVs) from the Landsat data archive. Two high priority TCDRs were identified: surface reflectance and land surface temperature because they have direct application or are required as input to the generation of ECVs. We will focus development on a few of the terrestrial ECVs that have a high potential for being derived from Landsat data, that include land cover, albedo, fire disturbance, surface water, snow and ice, and leaf area index (LAI). We are collaborating with scientists who have demonstrated successful algorithm development and application of these science products to develop a framework of processing capabilities to support research projects and land management applications, along with an independent strategy for product validation. Our goal is to scale the creation and validation of these products from specific sites in the conterminous U.S. and Alaska, for extension to continental and global scales.
Giant Trevally (ulua aukea) Caranx ignobilis is one of the most highly prized and frequently targeted nearshore species. However, there is very little information on its current status in Hawaiian waters. This study uses mark-recapture data collected as part of recreational angler tagging program conducted by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources during 2000-2012. Mark-recapture data were used to estimate von Bertalanffy growth curve parameters and survivorship. Growth curves generated from the markrecapture data suggested that Giant Trevally from the main Hawaiian Islands may be growing faster and reach a smaller maximum size than individuals in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, but there are a number of issues rendering this conclusion uncertain. The survivorship of Giant Trevally was positively associated with age, in part due to ontogenetic habitat shifts that result in older fish moving to offshore habitats where they are less vulnerable to anglers. When compared to stock assessments performed using commercial landings data and fisheries-independent visual surveys, the mark-recapture data produced similar estimates for the average length of exploited fish, a metric highly negatively correlated to fishing mortality. These results emphasize the need for additional information on the biology of Giant Trevally in Hawaiian waters and suggest that the data collected from this recreational angler tagging program may be useful to generate reliable estimates of mortality for stock assessment purposes.
Groundwater-quality data were collected from 559 wells as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Project of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Program from January through December 2014. The data were collected from four types of well networks: principal aquifer study networks, which are used to assess the quality of groundwater used for public water supply; land-use study networks, which are used to assess land-use effects on shallow groundwater quality; major aquifer study networks, which are used to assess the quality of groundwater used for domestic supply; and enhanced trends networks, which are used to evaluate the time scales during which groundwater quality changes. Groundwater samples were analyzed for a large number of water-quality indicators and constituents, including major ions, nutrients, trace elements, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, radionuclides, and some constituents of special interest (arsenic speciation, chromium [VI] and perchlorate). These groundwater-quality data, along with data from quality-control samples, are tabulated in this report and in an associated data release.
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Columbia, Missouri, and the Missouri Department of Conservation, collected ground-water quality data from June 1999 through August 2005, surface-water quality data from August 1999 through August 2003, and water-level data from February 2004 through August 2005 in McBaine Bottoms, southwest of Columbia. McBaine Bottoms, adjacent to the Missouri River, is the location of the municipal-supply well field for the city of Columbia, the city of Columbia wastewater-treatment wetlands, and the Missouri Department of Conservation Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. This report presents water-quality data, which include water-quality analyses of samples collected from 36 water-quality sampling sites (31 were wells and 5 were surface-water sites), and ground-water level data, which include water-level measurements from more than 80 wells. Water samples were analyzed for physical properties, inorganic chemical constituents, nutrients, and dissolved iron. Selected samples were analyzed for trace elements, wastewater organic compounds, and pesticides. In samples from monitoring wells, chloride concentrations ranged from 2.41 to 259 mg/L (milligrams per liter), sodium concentrations ranged from 1.08 to 175 mg/L, and sulfate concentrations ranged from less than 0.2 to 271 mg/L (all concentrations were dissolved). Dissolved nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 to 0.46 mg/L. Total phosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.04 to 1.68 mg/L, dissolved phosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.04 to 1.50 mg/L, and dissolved orthophosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 1.83 mg/L. Dissolved iron concentrations ranged from less than 6 to 42,900 g/L (micrograms per liter). Dissolved arsenic concentrations in samples from two monitoring wells ranged from 11 to 37 g/L. In samples from surface-water sampling sites, chloride concentrations ranged from 8.67 to 289 mg/L, sodium concentrations ranged from 6.18 to 219 mg/L, and sulfate concentrations ranged from 33.4 to 119 mg/L. All of the minimum concentrations were detected in samples from Perche Creek. Dissolved nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 to 1.53 mg/L. Total phosphorous concentrations ranged from 0.07 to 3.06 mg/L, dissolved phosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 to 2.88 mg/L, and dissolved orthophosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 2.86 mg/L. Most of the maximum concentrations were detected in samples from the city outflow. More than 35 wastewater organic compounds and pesticides were detected in samples from the city outflow. However, most concentrations were estimated or their presence verified, but not quantified. Water levels in monitoring wells ranged from 548.54 to 576.55 ft (feet) above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29). The difference in water levels from February 2004 to August 2005 ranged from 0.13 ft to 10.97 ft.