Post on 01-Jan-2016
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U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Science Program Overview
U.S. Department of the Interior Updated 12/04U.S. Geological Survey
• The USGS is a world leader in the natural sciences through our scientific excellence and responsiveness to society’s needs
• The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to:– Describe and understand the Earth– Minimize loss of life and property from natural
disasters– Manage water, biological, energy, and mineral
resources– Enhance and protect our quality of life
VISION & MISSION
• 125 Years of Experience• >9,000 Employees• 6,000 Scientists• 340 Locations• 3 Regions• 4 Disciplines • $1.3 Billion Annual Budget• 50 Active International MOU’s
USGS Numbers
SCIENCE PROGRAMS
• Provide the science needed to support the sound management and conservation of our Nation's biological resources
• Provide of objective, reliable earth-science information on geologic hazards and resources and the Nation's geologic framework
• Provide the Nation's basic geospatial data, ensuring access to and advancing the application of these data and other related earth science information for users worldwide
• Provide the hydrologic information and understanding needed by others to achieve the best use and management of the Nation's water resources
Biology
Biological Research and Monitoring
• Improve understanding of how contaminants affect organisms, populations, and ecosystems
• Determine factors affecting fish and aquatic fauna reproduction, survival, and health
• Investigate factors regulating wildlife distribution, abundance, and condition
Biological Research and Monitoring
• Improve knowledge about the complex interactions among the living and abiotic components of ecosystems
• Investigate the life requirements of endangered and at-risk species necessary for restoration of populations
• Detect, monitor, and assess non-indigenous invasive plants, animals, and organisms causing harm to native species or causing economic impacts on society
Location of Biological Science and Technology Centers
Geology
Earthquake Hazards
• Improve earthquake hazard identification and risk assessment methods and their use
• Maintain and improve comprehensive earthquake monitoring in the United States with focus on "real-time" systems in urban areas
• Improve the understanding of earthquakes occurrence and their effects and consequences
Volcano Hazards
• Assess and monitor potential volcanic hazards
• Provide warning information on volcanic activity and rapid monitoring response to events
• Improve scientific understanding of volcanic processes
Landslide Hazards
• Assess and monitor potential landslide hazards
• Provide warning information on landslide activity and rapid monitoring response to events
• Improve scientific understanding of landslide hazards
Earth Surface Dynamics
• Provides studies that concentrate on characterizing and understanding past and present natural variability of Earth's climate and environment
• Seeks to achieve a better understanding of processes at the Earth's surface that affect or are affected by climate change, with specific emphasis on the carbon cycle
Nat’l Cooperative Geologic Mapping
• Primary source of multi-purpose digital geologic maps that depict the nation’s sediment and rocks
• FEDMAP provides regional mapping and sysnthesis projects
• STATEMAP supports cooperative mapping studies by state geological surveys
• EDMAP supports the training of geologic mapping in colleges and universities
Coastal and Marine Geology
• Improve the knowledge and understanding of coastal and marine geologic systems and processes
• Address the effect that rare or large-magnitude catastrophic events have on coastal and marine geologic systems
• Analyze long-term measurements to distinguish human-induced effects from natural changes
• Provide a systematic evaluation of the status of geologic systems or processes
Mineral Resources
• Provides objective scientific tools for sustaining our Nation with adequate mineral resources
• Providing national and regional long-term data on mineral potential, production, use, and recycling
• Conducts environmental and public health studies in conjunction with partners
• Disseminates databases of geochemistry, geophysics, mineral and mine localities, and lithology
Energy Resources
• Assess global energy resources and conduct research on the origin, occurrence, and preservation of energy resources and on assessment methodologies
• Conduct research on the environmental effects of the natural occurrence and exploitation of global energy resources
• Serve as a national source of geoscience information related to energy
Geography & Geospatial Information
National Mapping Facilities
• Makes available consistent, multi-purpose map and geospatial data products on a national scale
• Production accomplished largely by private firms
• Partnerships with producers and users
• Contributes to the National Spatial Data Infrastructure
• Includes data coordination and standards
Mapping Data Collection & Integration
• Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data– Landsat 7– NASA’s TERRA Satellite– NOAA satellites– Declassified
intelligence photos– National Technical
Means assets
Mapping Data Collection & Integration
Earth Science Information Management & Delivery
• Long-term archiving and rapid delivery of maps and natural science data and imagery
• Archive includes 11 million frames of imagery, 130 terabytes of digital geospatial data, and 130,000 published product titles
• Over 1,300 business partners for retail distribution and sales
• Trends in paperless access and delivery
Geographic Research & Applications
• Geographic research to better understand the processes that influence the land surface and near surface, the response to natural and human induced forces, and applications to land stewardship
• Cartographic research to develop advanced analytical methods and spatial data tools
• Information science research to anticipate technology-induced change in the geospatial sciences and data management
Water Resources
Ground Water Resources
• Evaluates the availability and sustainability of ground water in the Nation’s major aquifer systems
• Conducts regional ground water assessments
• Planning for the development of a National Aquifer Database that contains up-to-date information on the Nation’s regional aquifer systems
National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
• Describe the status and trends in the quality of the Nation’s surface water and ground water resources
• Provide an improved understanding of the natural and human factors influencing these conditions
• Provide decision support information for other agencies
National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
• 1991-2000 Cycle I focus on the occurrence and distribution of contaminants in 49 watershed study units
• 2001-2010 Cycle II focus on conditions that influenced the distribution of contaminants in 42 watershed or aquifer study units
• National synthesis of key findings for pesticides, nutrients, volatile organics, trace elements, and aquatic ecology
Toxic Substances Hydrology
• Provides unbiased scientific information needed to:– improve
characterization and management of contaminated sites
– protect human and environmental health
– reduce potential future contamination problems
Hydrologic Research and Development
• Develops new fundamental knowledge about processes affecting water
• Develops new hydrologic methods and interpretive techniques
• Provides for the foundation for hydrologic technologies and conceptual approaches
• Approaches include small individual studies, large interdisciplinary studies, and development of tools and methods
Hydrologic Networks and Analysis
• Maintains national networks for collecting comprehensive historical and real-time water quantity and quality data
• Identifies atmospheric and oceanographic patterns responsible for variations in hydrologic conditions
• Provides real-time flood warning for safer communities
National Water Quality Laboratory
• Provides the USGS and the public with high-quality, reliable water quality data
• Methods development supported by other programs
• Data analysis supported by reimbursable fee-for-service
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• Integrated Science Centers
– Florida Integrated Science Center– Alaska Science Center
INTEGRATED SCIENCE
• Central Region Geographic Focus Areas:– Desert Southwest & US/Mexico Border
• Water, ecosystems, urbanization, mining
– Great Plains• Agriculture, ground water, habitat loss
– Gulf Coast & Lower Mississippi River• Water quality, coastal erosion, wetland loss
– Missouri River & Middle Mississippi River• Agriculture, land use, floods, habitats,
contaminants, river hydrology
– Mountain West• Land use, natural resources, mining, water, public
lands, hazards