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At least 1,297 records · Page 72Linked to original sources
USGS2003

Earthquakes of the Central United States, 1795-2002

This report describes construction of a list of Central U.S. earthquakes to be shown on a large-format map that is targeted for a non-technical audience. The map shows the locations and sizes of historical earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or larger over the most seismically active part of the central U.S., including the New Madrid seismic zone. The map shows more than one-half million square kilometers and parts or all of ten States. No existing earthquake catalog had provided current, uniform coverage down to magnitude 3.0, so one had to be made. Consultation with State geological surveys insured compatibility with earthquake lists maintained by them, thereby allowing the surveys and the map to present consistent information to the public.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1994

1:250,000-scale Hydrologic Units of the United States

The Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System (GIRAS) was developed in the mid 70s to put into digital form a numberof data layers which were of interest to the USGS. One of these data layers was the Hydrologic Units. The map is based on the Hydrologic Unit Maps published by the U.S. Geological Survey Office of Water Data Coordination, together with the list descriptions and name of region, subregion, accounting units, and cataloging unit. The hydrologic units are encoded with an eight-digit number that indicates the hydrologic region (first two digits), hydrologic subregion (second two digits), accounting unit (third two digits), and cataloging unit (fourth two digits). The data produced by GIRAS was originally collected at a scale of 1:250K. Some areas, notably major cities in the west, were recompiled at a scale of 1:100K. In order to join the data together and use the data in a geographic information system (GIS) the data were processed in the ARC/INFO GUS software package. Within the GIS, the data were edgematched and the neatline boundaries between maps were removed to create a single data set for the conterminous United States. NOTE: A version of this data theme that is more throughly checked (though based on smaller-scale maps) is available here: http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/getspatial?huc2m

Open-File Report↗
USGS2006

Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Nampa, Idaho 2006

Approximately 18 people attended this year's mappers meeting, and many more submitted abstracts and maps in absentia. The meeting was held on the campus of Northwest Nazarene University (NNU), and was graciously hosted by NNU's School of Health and Science. Planetary mapper Dr. Jim Zimbelman is an alumnus of NNU, and he was pivotal in organizing the meeting at this location. Oral and poster presentations were given on Friday, June 30. Drs. Bill Bonnichsen and Marty Godchaux led field excursions on July 1 and 2. USGS Astrogeology Team Chief Scientist Lisa Gaddis led the meeting with a brief discussion of the status of the planetary mapping program at USGS, and a more detailed description of the Lunar Mapping Program. She indicated that there is now a functioning website (http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/PlanetaryMapping/Lunar/) which shows which lunar quadrangles are available to be mapped. Like other USGS-published maps, proposals to complete a lunar geologic map must be submitted to the regular Planetary Geology & Geophysics (PGG) program for peer review. Jim Skinner (USGS) later presented the progress of the 1:2.5M-scale map of the lunar Copernicus quadrangle, and demonstrated the wide range of data that are available to support these maps. Gaddis and Skinner encouraged the community to submit proposals for generating lunar geologic maps, and reminded us that, as for all planetary maps, the project must be science-driven. Venus mapper Jim Zimbelman of the Smithsonian Institution (SI) presented the progress for his V-15 and V-16 quadrangles; Vicki Hansen (University of Minnesota Duluth) showed her preliminary work on V-45. Zimbelman addressed an issue that has been plaguing the community: 'delinquent Venus mappers'. In short, there were a number of Venus maps funded in the early 1990s under the Venus Data Analysis Program (VDAP). Unfortunately, funding for this program was cut before many Venus maps could be completed, resulting in about 10 Venus maps that were initially assigned but have shown little or no progress in many years. Zimbelman announced that he was not going to be able to complete quadrangle V-27 that he was assigned under VDAP, and was therefore returning that quadrangle to the community; he invited people to propose to PGG to map this quadrangle. Dave Williams of Arizona State University (ASU) reported on the progress of his global Io map. His mapping team recently received the completed, controlled global mosaic (using Voyager and Galileo images) from the USGS; this will be the basemap for their geologic mapping. Furthermore, the three team members (Laszlo Keszthelyi, David Crown and Dave Williams) have calibrated their individual mapping techniques by each mapping the same region for comparison. Thomas Doggett (ASU) showed progress on the global Europa map that was awarded to Ron Greeley. There was some consternation expressed on the methodology for determining relative ages of the lineaments; it was suggested that Vicki Hansen contact Patricio Figueredo (Exxon) directly, because Figueredo is the one who has been developing the lineament mapping techniques. Mars remains the most popular planet to map. Kevin Williams (SI) and Corey Fortezzo (SI) presented progress on their 1:500K maps in the Margaritifer Terra region of Mars. Jim Zimbelman described his 1:1M Medusae Fossae map, which is nearing completion. Peter Mouginis-Mark (University of Hawai'i) reported progress on his 1:200K maps of Tooting crater and of the Olympus Mons summit caldera. Jim Skinner discussed the progress of his and Ken Herkenhoff?s (USGS) map (1:500K) on the Olympia Cavi region of Mars? north pole, and Eric Kolb (USGS) presented work that he and Ken Tanaka (USGS) are completing on the Martian south pole. David Crown of the Planetary Science Institute (PSI) reported on numerous 1:500K and 1:1M maps in the Hellas and Hesperia regions of Mars. Frank Chuang (PSI) discussed progress on mapping the Deuteronilus Mensae reg

Open-File Report↗
USGS2011

Map of debris flows caused by rainfall during 1996 in parts of the Reedsport and Deer Head Point quadrangles, Douglas County, southern Coast Range, Oregon

This 1:12,000-scale map shows an inventory of debris flows caused by rainfall during 1996 in a 94.4 km 2 area in the southern Coast Range of Oregon. This map and associated digital data are part of a larger U.S. Geological Survey study of debris flows in the southern Coast Range. Available evidence indicates that the flows were triggered by a rain storm that occurred between November 17 and 19. The closest rain gage in the Coast Range (Goodwin Peak) recorded 245 mm during the storm. Maximum rainfall intensity during the storm was 13.2 mm/hr on November 18. Debris flows were photogrammetrically mapped from 1:12,000-scale aerial photographs flown in May, 1997. The inventory is presented on imagery derived from LiDAR data acquired in 2008. We classified mapped debris flows into four categories based on the type of debris-flow activity: (1) discrete slide source areas, (2) predominantly erosion, (3) predominantly transport or mixed erosion and deposition, and (4) predominantly deposition. Locations of woody-debris jams are also shown on the map. The area encompassed by debris flows is 2.1 percent of the 94.4 km 2 map area.

Oregon↗
USGS2011

Monitoring coastal inundation with Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite data

Maps representing the presence and absence of surface inundation in the Louisiana coastal zone were created from available satellite scenes acquired by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's Advanced Land Observing Satellite and by the European Space Agency's Envisat from late 2006 through summer 2009. Detection of aboveground surface flooding relied on the well-documented and distinct signature of decreased backscatter in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which is indicative of inundated marsh in the Gulf of Mexico. Even though decreases in backscatter were distinctive, the multiplicity of possible interactions between changing flood depths and canopy height yielded complex SAR-based representations of the marshes. Validated by comparison to inland water levels, success of inundation mapping was primarily related to the operational frequencies of the SAR used to perform the mapping. Success of mapping was based on frequency of correspondence between satellite- and ground-based data. Overall, the most successful mapping (83 percent correspondence) was derived from Phased Array type L-band SAR (PALSAR), while mapping derived from C-band Advanced SAR (ASAR) was less successful (≤61 percent correspondence). Exceptions to the low performance of ASAR-based mapping (defined as >76 percent correspondence) occurred when water levels were well below or above ground, occurring over spatially extensive portions of the ASAR scene. When mapping day-to-day coastal inundation extents, results indicate that SAR systems operating at C-band frequencies are not as effective as those operating at L-band frequencies; however, multiple factors not related to frequency also reduced the effectiveness of C-Band in detecting subcanopy inundation. C-band has performed and continues to perform exceedingly well in applications for response to dramatic events and when strategic collections are available; however, L-band seems to be more suitable for day-to-day mapping of coastal inundation.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2012

Quaternary geologic map of the Glasgow 1° x 2° quadrangle, Montana

The Glasgow quadrangle encompasses approximately 16,084 km 2 (6,210 mi 2 ). The northern boundary is the Montana/Saskatchewan (U.S./Canada) boundary. The quadrangle is in the Northern Plains physiographic province and it includes the Boundary Plateau, Peerless Plateau, and Larb Hills. The primary river is the Milk River. The map units are surficial deposits and materials, not landforms. Deposits that comprise some constructional landforms (for example, ground-moraine deposits, end-moraine deposits, and stagnation-moraine deposits, all composed of till) are distinguished for purposes of reconstruction of glacial history. Surficial deposits and materials are assigned to 23 map units on the basis of genesis, age, lithology or composition, texture or particle size, and other physical, chemical, and engineering characteristics. It is not a map of soils that are recognized in pedology or agronomy. Rather, it is a generalized map of soils recognized in engineering geology, or of substrata or parent materials in which pedologic or agronomic soils are formed. Glaciotectonic (ice-thrust) structures and deposits are mapped separately, represented by a symbol. The surficial deposits are glacial, ice-contact, glaciofluvial, alluvial, lacustrine, eolian, colluvial, and mass-movement deposits. Residuum, a surficial material, also is mapped. Till of late Wisconsin age is represented by three map units. Till of Illinoian age is also represented locally but is widespread in the subsurface. This map was prepared to serve as a database for compilation of a Quaternary geologic map of the United States and Canada (scale 1:1,000,000). Letter symbols for the map units are those used for the same units in the Quaternary Geologic Atlas of the United States map series.

Montana↗
USGS2014

Laharz_py: GIS tools for automated mapping of lahar inundation hazard zones

Laharz_py is written in the Python programming language as a suite of tools for use in ArcMap Geographic Information System (GIS). Primarily, Laharz_py is a computational model that uses statistical descriptions of areas inundated by past mass-flow events to forecast areas likely to be inundated by hypothetical future events. The forecasts use physically motivated and statistically calibrated power-law equations that each has a form A = cV 2/3 , relating mass-flow volume (V) to planimetric or cross-sectional areas (A) inundated by an average flow as it descends a given drainage. Calibration of the equations utilizes logarithmic transformation and linear regression to determine the best-fit values of c. The software uses values of V, an algorithm for idenitifying mass-flow source locations, and digital elevation models of topography to portray forecast hazard zones for lahars, debris flows, or rock avalanches on maps. Laharz_py offers two methods to construct areas of potential inundation for lahars: (1) Selection of a range of plausible V values results in a set of nested hazard zones showing areas likely to be inundated by a range of hypothetical flows; and (2) The user selects a single volume and a confidence interval for the prediction. In either case, Laharz_py calculates the mean expected A and B value from each user-selected value of V. However, for the second case, a single value of V yields two additional results representing the upper and lower values of the confidence interval of prediction. Calculation of these two bounding predictions require the statistically calibrated prediction equations, a user-specified level of confidence, and t-distribution statistics to calculate the standard error of regression, standard error of the mean, and standard error of prediction. The portrayal of results from these two methods on maps compares the range of inundation areas due to prediction uncertainties with uncertainties in selection of V values. The Open-File Report document contains an explanation of how to install and use the software. The Laharz_py software includes an example data set for Mount Rainier, Washington. The second part of the documentation describes how to use all of the Laharz_py tools in an example dataset at Mount Rainier, Washington.

Washington↗
USGS2023

Preliminary geologic map of the Southern Santa Rosa Mountains and Borrego Badlands, San Diego County, Southern California

This investigation delineates the geologic framework of an area of 75 square kilometers (km 2 ) located west of the Salton Sea in southern California (fig. 1, on sheet 1). The study area encompasses the south flank of the Santa Rosa Mountains and the eastern part of the Borrego Badlands (sheet 1). In this study area, regionally important stratigraphic and structural elements collectively inform the late Cenozoic geologic evolution of the Anza-Borrego sector of the Salton Trough province. Critical stratigraphic and structural elements in the map area include the following: The well exposed sequence of late Cenozoic, nonmarine sedimentary rocks that filled the Anza-Borrego subbasin (fig. 1) of the Salton Trough; A tectonic boundary that—in the southern Santa Rosa Mountains—separates the sedimentary strata from underlying crystalline rocks of Peninsular Ranges type. This tectonic boundary, named the West Salton Detachment Fault System by Axen and Fletcher (1998), is projected to underlie all late Cenozoic sedimentary strata in the Anza-Borrego subbasin of the Salton Trough; A variety of transpressional, transtensional, and strike-slip structures that have deformed the late Cenozoic sedimentary strata and collectively guided syntectonic and posttectonic depositional events within the Anza-Borrego subbasin of the Salton Trough; and The southeasternmost surface expression of the Clark Fault, a major strand of the dextral San Jacinto Fault Zone. Geologic mapping and analysis for this investigation focused on clarifying geologic relations among these four stratigraphic and structural aspects in the map area.

California↗
USGS1963

Chemical character of streams in the Delaware River basin

The water chemistry of streams in the Delaware River basin falls into eight general groups, when mapped according to the prevalent dissolved-solids content and the predominant ions normally found in the water. The approximate regions representing each of these iso-chemical quality groups are shown on the accompanying base map of the drainage basin.

Delaware↗
USGS1974

Geological Survey published reports on Alaska, 1940-1959, indexed by quadrangle

Geological Survey reports published as Professional Papers, Bulletins, Water Supply Papers, and Circulars are listed by the quadrangles (scale 1:250,000) into which Alaska has been divided for topographic mapping (p. 2). This index does not include reports that deal only with administrative matters or that were placed in open files but not formally published. Reports that deal with Alaska as a whole, with areas that cannot be identified with any specific quadrangle, or with offshore areas that are not within quadrangle boundaries, or that consist mainly of statistical data on the quality or quantity of water are listed under ALASKA - GENERAL, as are bibliographies, indexes, and similar publications. The ALASKA - GENERAL list appears before the alphabetically arranged quadrangle listings.

Alaska↗
USGS1974

Geological Survey published reports on Alaska, 1915-1939, indexed by quadrangle

Geological Survey reports published as Professional Papers, Bulletins, Water Supply Papers, and Circulars are listed by the quadrangles (scale 1:250,000) into which Alaska has been divided for topographic mapping (p. 3). This index does not include reports that deal only with administrative matters or that were placed in open files but not formally published. Reports that deal with Alaska as a whole, with areas that can not be identified with any specific quadrangle, or with offshore areas that are not within quadrangle boundaries, or that consist mainly of statistical data on the quality or quantity of water are listed under ALASKAGENERAL, as are bibliographies, indexes, and similar publications. The ALASKA - GENERAL list appears before the alphabetically arranged quadrangle listings.

Alaska↗
USGS1979

Geometric considerations for an automated mapping satellite system (Mapsat)

The geometry of the frame photograph whether taken from an aircraft or a satellite is well known and documented. Transforming photographs into maps is a relatively slow and expensive process which for many critical steps defies automation. A satellite offers the unique advantages of greater stability and uniform velocity over an aircraft. A sensing system in space can now provide imagery of mapping quality even though a continuous electro-optical imaging system is used instead of a mapping camera with its inherent high geometric fidelity.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1981

January 1981 water levels, and data related to water-level changes, western and south-central Kansas

This report provides hydrologic data related to water-level measurements in observation wells in western and south-central Kansas during January 1981. Annual water-level measurements are made by personnel from the Division of Water Resources, Kansas State Board of Agriculture, and from the U.S. Geological Survey . State-agency support for this cooperative program is provided by the Kansas Geological Survey. Water-level measurements are made in mid-winter of each year, mostly in January, to minimize the effect of seasonal pumping. However, a few water-level measurements that are made in mid-winter of some years may reflect either the effects of recent pumping by the observation well or by nearby wells, or the effects of barometric-pressure changes. Thus, a significant change in water-levels for a particular well during a 1-year period may represent only a temporary condition, and any indication of a developing trend should be based on a comparison of changes that occur over a period of several years. Hydrologic data in this report relate water-level changes from: (1) A "base-reference year" ( predevelopment year), (2) a year of abnormally high rainfall and minimum pumpage (1966 or 1974) , and (3) each of seven consecutive years of measurement (1975-81). The "base-reference year" is designated as 1940 for the southwestern area, 1944 for the south-central area, and 1950 for the northwestern and west-central areas (fig. 1). Water levels for the "base-reference year" are established by measurements made during that year and by interpretation of maps showing water-level altitudes. Depth to bedrock, used in computing saturated thickness of water-bearing deposits, are based on driller' s logs, reported depths of wells, and interpretation of maps showing the altitude of the bedrock surface.

Kansas↗
USGS1985

Records of wells, test borings, and some measured geologic sections near the Western New York Nuclear Service Center, Cattaraugus County, New York

The Western New York Nuclear Service Center (WNYNSC) is a 3 ,336-acre tract of land in northern Cattaraugus County, NY, about 30 mi south of Buffalo. In 1963, 247 acres within the WNYNSC was developed for a nuclear-fuel reprocessing plant and ancillary facilities, including (1) a receiving and storage facility to store fuel prior to reprocessing, (2) underground storage tanks for liquid high-level radioactive wastes from fuel reprocessing, (3) a low-level wastewater treatment plant, and (4) two burial grounds for shallow burial of solid radioactive waste. A series of geologic and hydrologic investigations was done as part of the initial development and construction of the facilities by numerous agencies during 1960-62; these produced a large quantity of well data, some of which are difficult to locate or obtain. This report is a compilation of well and boring data collected during this period. The data include records of 236 wells, geologic logs of 145 wells and 167 test borings, and descriptions of 20 measured geologic sections. Two oversized maps show locations of the reported data. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1994

Records of water levels in monitoring wells in the Gallatin Valley, southwestern Montana, 1947-93

Water-level data were collected in the Gallatin Valley to provide a basis for evaluation of the configuration of the ground-water surface and water-level change. Water-level records collected during a 2-year study of the area and historical water-level data for 121 wells in the Gallatin Valley are summarized in the report. Well-depth and primary-aquifer data are included. The locations of the wells are shown on a map at a scale of 1:275,500.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1980

Survey of helium in natural water wells and springs in southwest Montana and vicinity; Part II

This report is a continuation of the work on a helium survey presented in Open-File Report 80-181, which covered the period Sept., 1977 - June 30, 1979. Water samples were analyzed for helium collected from twelve springs and wells, of which four are new locations. A brief description of these stations is given in Table 1 and their location is shown on the map of Figure 1. Two springs (303 and 304) previously reported on do not appear in this report. Station 306 was discontinued after August 11.

Montana↗
USGS1984

Reconnaissance geochemical map of the Mount Henry Roadless Area, Lincoln County, Montana

A geochemical survey was conducted in the Mount Henry Roadless Area, Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Mont. by the U.S. Geological Survey during the summer of 1981. The sampling and analytical programs were designed to locate mineralized zones in outcrops or in rocks buried at shallow depth. The geochemical results should be evaluated in context with geological and geophysical results. Possible types of mineralization, as judged from occurrences in nearby areas where the rocks are similar to those in the study area, include strata-bound copper-silver occurrences in rocks of the Ravalli Group, specifically the Burke and Revett Formations; the less probable lead-zinc massive sulfide deposits of the Sullivan-type in the pre-Ravalli (middle Prichard Formation); potential metal-enriched, sulfide vein systems; and gold-bearing veins or placer occurrences. All samples collected for this study are plotted on the map. Element symbols shown at sample sites indicate an anomalous concentration for that element at the site. Tables 1–3 list the values of selected elements determined to be critical for a mineral evaluation of this particular geologic setting. All analytical results, including those selected for this report, are given in a U.S. Geological Survey Open-File report (Siems and others, 1983).

Montana↗