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USGS2012

Upper Klamath Basin Landsat Image for September 27, 2006: Path 45 Rows 30 and 31

This image is a mosaic of Landsat-5 images of the upper Klamath Basin. The original images were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS). EROS is responsible for archive management and distribution of Landsat data products. The Landsat-5 satellite is part of an ongoing mission to provide quality remote sensing data in support of research and applications activities. The launch of Landsat-5 on March 1, 1984 marks the addition of the fifth satellite to the Landsat series. The Landsat-5 satellite carries the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor. More information on the Landsat program can be found online at http://landsat.usgs.gov/.

Oregon↗

USGS2012

Upper Klamath Basin Landsat Image for October 29, 2006: Path 45 Rows 30 and 31

Oregon↗

USGS2012

Upper Klamath Basin Landsat Image for April 28, 2006: Path 45 Rows 30 and 31

This image is a mosaic of Landsat-7 images of the upper Klamath Basin. The original images were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS). EROS is responsible for archive management and distribution of Landsat data products. The Landsat-7 satellite is part of an ongoing mission to provide quality remote sensing data in support of research and applications activities. The launch of Landsat-7 on April 15, 1999 marks the addition of the latest satellite to the Landsat series. The Landsat-7 satellite carries the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor. A mechanical failure of the ETM+ Scan Line Corrector (SLC) occurred on May 31, 2003, with the result that all Landsat 7 scenes acquired from July 14, 2003 to present have been collected in 'SLC-off' mode. More information on the Landsat program can be found online at http://landsat.usgs.gov/.

Oregon↗

USGS2012

Upper Klamath Basin Landsat Image for May 30, 2006: Path 45 Rows 30 and 31

Oregon↗

USGS1995

Historical Landsat data comparisons: illustrations of the Earth's changing surface

The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) EROS Data Center (EDC) has managed the Landsat data archive for more than two decades. This archive provides a rich collection of information about the Earth's land surface. Major changes to the surface of the planet can be detected, measured, and analyzed using Landsat data. The effects of desertification, deforestation, pollution, cataclysmic volcanic activity, and other natural and anthropogenic events can be examined using data acquired from the Landsat series of Earth-observing satellites. The information obtainable from the historical and current Landsat data play a key role in studying surface changes through time. This document provides an overview of the Landsat program and illustrates the application of the data to monitor changes occurring on the surface of the Earth. To reveal changes that have taken place within the past 20 years, pairs and triplicates of images were constructed from the Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) and thematic mapper (TM) sensors. Landsat MSS data provide a historical record of the Earth's land surface from the early 1970's to the early 1990's. Landsat TM data provide land surface information from the early 1980's to the present.

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USGS1990

Historical Landsat data comparisons: illustrations of land surface change

The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) EROS Data Center (EDC) has archived two decades of Landsat data, providing a rich collection of information about the dynamics of the Earth's land surface. Major changes to the surface features of the planet can be detected, measured, and studied using Landsat data. The effects of desertification, deforestation, pollution, cataclysmic volcanic activity, and other natural and anthropogenic events can be examined by resource scientists using data acquired from the Landsat series of Earth-observing satellites. The availability of a nearly uninterrupted flow of information from the Landsats, in a consistent data format, gives researchers an important tool for studying surface changes over time. This booklet provides an overview of the Landsat program and shows the application of the data to monitor changes occurring on the surface of the Earth. To show changes that have taken place within the last 20 years or less, image pairs were constructed from the Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) and thematic mapper (TM) sensors. Landsat MSS data provide a historical global record of the land surface from the early 1970's to present. Landsat TM data provide land surface information from the early 1980's to present.

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USGS1980

A survey of image processing developments in support of remote sensing

New algorithm developments for image processing (IP) will occur throughout the 1980's, resulting from evolution in computer hardware and sensors as well as continuing research. This report will describe the areas of algorithm development that are occurring in applications, research, and operational environments. Included is an overview of image processing activities at institutions which are generally regarded as leaders in IP algorithm development and implementation. Finally, this report addresses directions in IP algorithm development that are being proposed for the EROS Data Center (EDC). The major applications of IP at EDC are developed for use in the processing, analysis, and extraction of remote sensing information from Landsat and aircraft data (platforms).

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USGS1970

Environmental conditions and resources of southwestern Mississippi

The impending phase-out of Saturn V testing by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the Mississippi Test Facility (MTF) necessitates consideration of possible alternative uses for the Facility and surrounding region. To make a rapid and up-to-date study of pertinent environmental factors in that region, remote sensing techniques and data were used by discipline specialists in the U. S. Geological Survey, scientists in other Bureaus of the Department of the Interior and other agencies, and the Project Coordinator. Full cooperation was received from officials, planners, and business executives in Mississippi, as well as timely assistance from NASA Headquarters, the Manned Spacecraft Center/Houston, and the MTF staff. Results from a multi-sensor equipped RB-57F high altitude overflight on February 17, 1970, and a simultaneous helicopter overflight were compared with existing photographs, maps, reports, and locally collected field data to complete this report rapidly as a Geographic Applications Project of the EROS Program, U. S. Department of the Interior. Pertinent background materials, including a comprehensive, annotated bibliography of existing studies of the area, are attached. This report considers 19 potential uses of the MTF equipment, staff, and property in relation to 16 environmental factors.

Mississippi↗

USGS1987

Processing and analysis of commercial satellite image data of the nuclear accident near Chernobyl, U.S.S.R.

Advanced digital processing techniques were applied to Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data and SPOT highresolution visible (HRV) panchromatic data to maximize the utility of images of a nuclear powerplant emergency at Chernobyl in the Soviet Ukraine. The images demonstrate the unique interpretive capabilities provided by the numerous spectral bands of the Thematic Mapper and the high spatial resolution of the SPOT HRV sensor.

Bulletin↗

USGS2022

The Volcano Hazards Program — Strategic science plan for 2022–2026

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program (VHP) Strategic Science Plan, developed through discussion with scientists-in-charge of the USGS volcano observatories and the director of the USGS Volcano Science Center, specifies six major strategic goals to be pursued over the next 5 years. The purpose of these goals is to help fulfill the USGS VHP mission to enhance public safety and to minimize social and economic disruption caused by volcanic eruptions in the United States and its territories, through delivery of effective forecasts, warnings, and information on volcano hazards based on scientific understanding of volcanic processes. These six major strategic goals are to (1) continue—and when possible, accelerate—implementation of the National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS); (2) improve community preparedness for volcanic hazards by updating and standardizing essential components of volcano hazard assessments and providing training to land managers, emergency responders, and State and local communities; (3) develop the next generation of volcano hazard assessments using geographic information systems and other digital tools; (4) make observations with new instrumentation and take advantage of advances in real-time gas sensors; (5) rebuild the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and its monitoring capabilities; and (6) form new partnerships and strengthen existing partnerships with other government agencies and with academia and industry, to advance volcano monitoring, increase understanding of volcanic processes, and disseminate USGS information. In its effort to advance volcano science and monitoring techniques, the VHP has identified six scientific targets to pursue over the next 5 years, including: (1) increased understanding of volcano seismicity; (2) improved probabilistic forecasting; (3) deepened grasp of volcano eruption histories and geochronology; (4) newly developed and refined physical models of magmatic systems, leading to better situational awareness and accuracy of eruption forecasts; (5) improved warnings and forecasts of volcanic ash and gas clouds and characterization of volcanic smog sources; and (6) refined lava-flow modeling and forecasting of lava-flow paths.

Circular↗

USGS2023

Colorado River Basin Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology (ASIST) pilot project progress toward an information management and technology plan

Executive Summary The U.S. Geological Survey carries out a wide variety of multidisciplinary science projects through the Bureau’s regions, mission areas, programs, and science centers. However, this structure can limit interactions among individual scientists, segregate data holdings, and make it difficult to apply holistic, interdisciplinary science. In addition, technological advances in sensors, data storage and analysis, computing power, and networking have resulted in an exponential growth in the volume, variety, and complexity of data. To address some of these challenges, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated the Colorado River Basin Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology (ASIST) pilot project to facilitate interdisciplinary science in the drought-stricken basin and apply information management and technology (IMT) resources that can be used to deliver actionable science efficiently and effectively. In fiscal year 2021, the Data Management and Advanced Technology subgroup of the ASIST pilot project worked toward developing an IMT plan that includes several advanced IMT solutions that are being implemented Bureau-wide by the Office of the Associate Chief Information Officer. This plan identifies applications, opportunities, and steps to leverage new and existing technologies, data, models, and knowledge to support integrated science projects across the Colorado River Basin. The subgroup also created an inventory of available IMT resources and their locations. The Colorado River Basin ASIST pilot project also developed a multiyear approach to build capacity for supporting integrated science projects in the Colorado River Basin, which provides an advanced IMT framework for expediting the production of interdisciplinary science related to the basin.

Colorado River basin↗

USGS1993

International strategic minerals inventory summary report; rare-earth oxides

Bastnaesite, monazite, and xenotime are currently the most important rare-earth minerals. Bastnaesite occurs as a primary mineral in carbonatites. Monazite and xenotime also can be found in primary deposits but are recovered principally from heavy-mineral placers that are mined for titanium or tin. Each of these minerals has a different composition of the 15 rare-earth elements. World resources of economically exploitable rare-earth oxides (REO) are estimated at 93.4 million metric tons in place, composed of 93 percent in primary deposits and 7 percent in placers. The average mineral composition is 83 percent bastnaesite, 13 percent monazite, and 4 percent of 10 other minerals. Annual global production is about 67,000 metric tons of which 41 percent is from placers and 59 percent is from primary deposits; mining methods consist of open pits (94 percent) and dredging (6 percent). This output could be doubled if the operations that do not currently recover rare earths would do so. Resources are more than sufficient to meet the demand for the predictable future. About 52 percent of the world's REO resources are located in China. Ranking of other countries is as follows: Namibia (22 percent), the United States (15 percent), Australia (6 percent), and India (3 percent); the remainder is in several other countries. Conversely, 38 percent of the production is in China, 33 percent in the United States, 12 percent in Australia, and 5 percent each in Malaysia and India. Several other countries, including Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, make up the remainder. Markets for rare earths are mainly in the metallurgical, magnet, ceramic, electronic, chemical, and optical industries. Rare earths improve the physical and rolling properties of iron and steel and add corrosion resistance and strength to structural members at high temperatures. Samarium and neodymium are used in lightweight, powerful magnets for electric motors. Cerium and yttrium increase the density and heat resistance of sintered ceramics. Yttrium and gadolinium contribute to the efficiency of electronic switches and sensors. Cerium improves the effectiveness of catalysts in the petroleum and automotive industries. Cerium oxides speed glass melting and are used to polish glass by chemical, rather than mechanical, means. Cerium, europium, terbium, and yttrium, as phosphoric compounds, promote the vivid colors of television screens. Consumption of rare earths is expected to grow by about 2.6 percent per year.

Circular↗

USGS2023

Calibrating optical turbidity measurements with suspended-sediment concentrations from the Herring River in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, from November 2018 to November 2019

The sediment budget in the tidally restricted Herring River in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, must be quantified so restoration options for the river can be evaluated. Platforms equipped with optical turbidity sensors were deployed seaward and landward of the Herring River restriction to measure a time series of turbidity, from which a time series of suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) can be estimated. Water samples were collected periodically from the Herring River from November 2018 to November 2019 and analyzed for SSC to derive a relationship to turbidity measurements given in nephelometric turbidity units. This report presents the data-collection methods used and the linear calibration model generated by repeated median regression to convert turbidity measurements to SSC.

Massachusetts↗

USGS2017

USGS Spectral Library Version 7

We have assembled a library of spectra measured with laboratory, field, and airborne spectrometers. The instruments used cover wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the far infrared (0.2 to 200 microns [μm]). Laboratory samples of specific minerals, plants, chemical compounds, and manmade materials were measured. In many cases, samples were purified, so that unique spectral features of a material can be related to its chemical structure. These spectro-chemical links are important for interpreting remotely sensed data collected in the field or from an aircraft or spacecraft. This library also contains physically constructed as well as mathematically computed mixtures. Four different spectrometer types were used to measure spectra in the library: (1) Beckman™ 5270 covering the spectral range 0.2 to 3 µm, (2) standard, high resolution (hi-res), and high-resolution Next Generation (hi-resNG) models of Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) field portable spectrometers covering the range from 0.35 to 2.5 µm, (3) Nicolet™ Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) interferometer spectrometers covering the range from about 1.12 to 216 µm, and (4) the NASA Airborne Visible/Infra-Red Imaging Spectrometer AVIRIS, covering the range 0.37 to 2.5 µm. Measurements of rocks, soils, and natural mixtures of minerals were made in laboratory and field settings. Spectra of plant components and vegetation plots, comprising many plant types and species with varying backgrounds, are also in this library. Measurements by airborne spectrometers are included for forested vegetation plots, in which the trees are too tall for measurement by a field spectrometer. This report describes the instruments used, the organization of materials into chapters, metadata descriptions of spectra and samples, and possible artifacts in the spectral measurements. To facilitate greater application of the spectra, the library has also been convolved to selected spectrometer and imaging spectrometers sampling and bandpasses, and resampled to selected broadband multispectral sensors. The native file format of the library is the SPECtrum Processing Routines (SPECPR) data format. This report describes how to access freely available software to read the SPECPR format. To facilitate broader access to the library, we produced generic formats of the spectra and metadata in text files. The library is provided on digital media and online at https://speclab.cr.usgs.gov/spectral-lib.html . A long-term archive of these data are stored on the USGS ScienceBase data server ( https://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7RR1WDJ ).

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USGS2019

Catalog of earthquake parameters and description of seismograph and infrasound stations at Alaskan volcanoes—January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2017

Between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) located a total of 28,172 earthquakes at volcanoes in Alaska. The annual totals are 3,840, 5,819, 5,297, 6,151, and 7,065 earthquakes for the years 2013 through 2017, respectively. This represents an average of 5,634 earthquakes per year, which is comparable to the yearly number of earthquakes AVO located in the previous decade when AVO monitored a similar number of volcanoes. During the reporting period, there was significant seismic activity at 20 of the 34 volcanoes monitored by a seismograph network (Akutan Peak, Aniakchak Crater, Augustine, Mount Cerberus, Mount Cleveland, Fourpeaked Mountain, Mount Gareloi, Great Sitkin, Ilimana, Kanaga, Korovin, Makushin, Mount Martin, Okmok Caldera, Pavlof, Shishaldin, Mount Spurr, Tanaga, Ugashik-Peulik, and Mount Veniaminof) and two volcanoes without a monitoring network (Mount Recheshnoi and Bogoslof Island). Instrumentation highlights for this period include the establishment of a new subnetwork on Mount Cleveland, an accelerated transition from analog to digital telemetry at most subnetworks, and an increased number of broadband and infrasound sensors throughout the AVO network. The operational highlight was the return of seismic monitoring at Korovin and Ugashik-Peulik Volcanoes following network repairs. This catalog includes hypocenters, magnitudes, and statistics of the earthquakes located in 2013–17, along with the associated station parameters, and velocity models.

Alaska↗

USGS2005

Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2005: quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards

Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas and water-temperature data at eight sites on the lower Columbia River in 2005. Significant findings from the data include: Variances to the Oregon and Washington water-quality standards for total dissolved gas were exceeded at five of the monitoring sites: Camas (11 days), John Day tailwater (3 days), The Dalles forebay (3 days), Bonneville forebay (3 days), and John Day navigation lock (1 day). From mid-July to early September, water temperatures were above 20°C (degrees Celsius) at each of the eight lower Columbia River sites. According to the Oregon temperature standard, the 7-day average maximum temperature of the lower Columbia River should not exceed 20°C; Washington regulations state that the 1-day maximum should not exceed 20°C due to human activities. Most field checks of total-dissolved-gas sensors with a secondary standard were within ± (plus or minus) 1% saturation. Most of the field checks of barometric pressure were within ±1 millimeter of mercury of a secondary standard, and water temperature field checks were all within ±0.2°C. For the eight monitoring sites in water year 2005, an average of 98.2% of the total-dissolved-gas data were received in real time by the USGS satellite downlink and were within 1% saturation of the expected value, based on calibration data, replicate quality-control measurements in the river, and comparison to ambient river conditions at adjacent sites.

Oregon, Washington↗

USGS2006

Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2006: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards

Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have ad-verse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas concentration and water-temperature data at eight stations on the lower Columbia River in 2006. Significant findings from the data include: Variances to the Oregon and Washington water-quality standards for total dissolved gas were exceeded at all of the monitoring stations: Cascade Island (67 days), Camas (60 days), Bonneville forebay (51 days), The Dalles forebay (36 days), John Day tailwater (35 days), John Day navigation lock (20 days), The Dalles tailwater (8 days), and Warrendale (4 days). From early July to the end of August 2006, water temperatures were above 20°C (degrees Celsius) at each of the eight lower Columbia River stations. According to the Oregon temperature standard, the 7-day average maximum temperature of the lower Columbia River should not exceed 20°C; Washington regulations state that the 1-day maximum should not exceed 20°C due to human activities. Most field checks of total-dissolved-gas sensors with a secondary standard were within ± (plus or minus) 1% saturation. All of the field checks of barometric pressure were within ±1 millimeter of mercury of a secondary standard, and water temperature field checks were all within ±0.2°C. For the eight monitoring stations in water year 2006, an average of 99.1% of the total-dissolved-gas data were received in real time by the USGS satellite downlink and were within 1% saturation of the expected value on the basis of calibration data, replicate quality-control measurements in the river, and comparison to ambient river conditions at adjacent stations.

Oregon, Washington↗

USGS1995

Monthly average polar sea-ice concentration

The data contained in this CD-ROM depict monthly averages of sea-ice concentration in the modern polar oceans. These averages were derived from the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) instruments aboard satellites of the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program from 1978 through 1992. The data are provided as 8-bit images using the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) developed by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.

Data Series↗