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Geological Survey: Difference between revisions
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{{Organization | |||
|OrganizationName=Geological Survey | |||
|OrganizationType=Executive Departments (Sub-organization) | |||
|Mission=The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. USGS conducts research and assessments on a wide range of geologic, hydrologic, biologic, and mapping topics. | |||
|ParentOrganization=Department of the Interior | |||
|TopOrganization=Department of the Interior | |||
|CreationLegislation=An Act to Authorize the Establishment of a Geological Survey, March 3, 1879 | |||
|Employees=8670 | |||
|Budget=$1.2 billion (FY 2024) | |||
|OrganizationExecutive=Director | |||
|Services=Earthquake monitoring; Water quality and usage assessments; Geological mapping; Hazard warnings; Biological research | |||
|HeadquartersLocation=38.94748, -77.36764 | |||
|HeadquartersAddress=12201 Sunrise Valley Dr, Reston, VA 20192 | |||
|Website=https://www.usgs.gov/ | |||
}} | |||
{{Short description|Scientific agency of the US government}} | {{Short description|Scientific agency of the US government}} | ||
{{Distinguish|U.S. National Geodetic Survey|United States Coast and Geodetic Survey}} | {{Distinguish|U.S. National Geodetic Survey|United States Coast and Geodetic Survey}} | ||
{{Infobox government agency | {{Infobox government agency | ||
|agency_name = United States Geological Survey (USGS) | |agency_name = United States Geological Survey (USGS) | ||
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=== Regions === | === Regions === | ||
The USGS regional organization<ref>{{Cite web|title=USGS.gov {{!}} Science for a changing world|url=https://www.usgs.gov/science/regions|access-date=2020-07-30|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}</ref> aligns with the U.S. Department of the Interior Unified Interior Regions:<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-02-22|title=Unified Interior Regional Boundaries|url=https://www.doi.gov/employees/reorg/unified-regional-boundaries|access-date=2020-07-30|website=doi.gov|language=en}}</ref> | The USGS regional organization<ref>{{Cite web|title=USGS.gov {{!}} Science for a changing world|url=https]]://www.usgs.gov/science/regions|access-date=2020-07-30|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}</ref> aligns with the U.S. Department of the Interior Unified Interior Regions]]:<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-02-22|title=Unified Interior Regional Boundaries|url=https]]://www.doi.gov/employees/reorg/unified-regional-boundaries|access-date=2020-07-30|website=doi.gov|language=en}}</ref> | ||
* Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian | * [[Geological Survey Region 1]]: North Atlantic-Appalachian | ||
* Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf | * [[Geological Survey Region 2]]: South Atlantic-Gulf | ||
* Region 3: Great Lakes | * [[Geological Survey Region 3]]: Great Lakes | ||
* Region 4: Mississippi Basin | * [[Geological Survey Region 4]]: Mississippi Basin | ||
* Region 5: Missouri Basin | * [[Geological Survey Region 5]]: Missouri Basin | ||
* Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf | * [[Geological Survey Region 6]]: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf | ||
* Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin | * [[Geological Survey Region 7]]: Upper Colorado Basin | ||
* Region 8: Lower Colorado Basin | * [[Geological Survey Region 8]]: Lower Colorado Basin | ||
* Region 9: Columbia-Pacific Northwest | * [[Geological Survey Region 9]]: Columbia-Pacific Northwest | ||
* Region 10: California-Great Basin | * [[Geological Survey Region 10]]: California-Great Basin | ||
* Region 11: Alaska | * [[Geological Survey Region 11]]: Alaska | ||
* Region 12: Pacific Islands | * [[Geological Survey Region 12]]: Pacific Islands | ||
=== Science programs, facilities, and other organizations === | === Science programs, facilities, and other organizations === | ||
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==== Earthquake Hazards Program ==== | ==== Earthquake Hazards Program ==== | ||
The [[Earthquake Hazards Program]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earthquake.usgs.gov|title=USGS Earthquake Hazards Program|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> monitors [[earthquake]] activity worldwide. The [[National Earthquake Information Center]] (NEIC) in [[Golden, Colorado]], on the campus of the [[Colorado School of Mines]] detects the location and magnitude of global earthquakes. The USGS also runs or supports several regional monitoring networks in the United States under the umbrella of the [[Advanced National Seismic System]] (ANSS).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/anss/|title=ANSS – Advanced National Seismic System|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}</ref> The USGS informs authorities, emergency responders, the media, and the public, both domestic and worldwide, about significant earthquakes. It maintains long-term archives of earthquake data for scientific and engineering research. It also conducts and supports research on long-term [[seismic hazard]]s. USGS has released the [[California earthquake forecast|UCERF California earthquake forecast.]]<ref name="Field 2015">{{cite journal |last1=Field |first1=Edward H. |last2=Biasi |first2=Glenn P. |last3=Bird |first3=Peter |last4=Dawson |first4=Timothy E. |last5=Felzer |first5=Karen R. |last6=Jackson |first6=David D. |last7=Johnson |first7=Kaj M. |last8=Jordan |first8=Thomas H. |last9=Madden |first9=Christopher |last10=Michael |first10=Andrew J. |last11=Milner |first11=Kevin R. |last12=Page |first12=Morgan T. |last13=Parsons |first13=Tom |last14=Powers |first14=Peter M. |last15=Shaw |first15=Bruce E. |last16=Thatcher |first16=Wayne R. |last17=Weldon |first17=Ray J. |last18=Zeng |first18=Yuehua |title=Long-Term Time-Dependent Probabilities for the Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) |journal=Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America |date=April 2015 |volume=105 |issue=2A |pages=511–543 |doi=10.1785/0120140093|bibcode=2015BuSSA.105..511F }}</ref> | The [[Earthquake Hazards Program]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earthquake.usgs.gov|title=USGS Earthquake Hazards Program|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> monitors [[earthquake]] activity worldwide. The [[National Earthquake Information Center]] (NEIC) in [[Golden, Colorado]], on the campus of the [[Colorado School of Mines]] detects the location and magnitude of global earthquakes. The USGS also runs or supports several regional monitoring networks in the United States under the umbrella of the [[Advanced National Seismic System]] (ANSS).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/anss/|title=ANSS – Advanced National Seismic System|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}</ref> | ||
The USGS informs authorities, emergency responders, the media, and the public, both domestic and worldwide, about significant earthquakes. It maintains long-term archives of earthquake data for scientific and engineering research. It also conducts and supports research on long-term [[seismic hazard]]s. USGS has released the [[California earthquake forecast|UCERF California earthquake forecast.]]<ref name="Field 2015">{{cite journal |last1=Field |first1=Edward H. |last2=Biasi |first2=Glenn P. |last3=Bird |first3=Peter |last4=Dawson |first4=Timothy E. |last5=Felzer |first5=Karen R. |last6=Jackson |first6=David D. |last7=Johnson |first7=Kaj M. |last8=Jordan |first8=Thomas H. |last9=Madden |first9=Christopher |last10=Michael |first10=Andrew J. |last11=Milner |first11=Kevin R. |last12=Page |first12=Morgan T. |last13=Parsons |first13=Tom |last14=Powers |first14=Peter M. |last15=Shaw |first15=Bruce E. |last16=Thatcher |first16=Wayne R. |last17=Weldon |first17=Ray J. |last18=Zeng |first18=Yuehua |title=Long-Term Time-Dependent Probabilities for the Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) |journal=Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America |date=April 2015 |volume=105 |issue=2A |pages=511–543 |doi=10.1785/0120140093|bibcode=2015BuSSA.105..511F }}</ref> | |||
==== Volcano early warning systems and observatories ==== | ==== Volcano early warning systems and observatories ==== | ||
{{as of|2005|post=,}} the agency is working to create a [[Volcano warning schemes of the United States|National Volcano Early Warning System]] by improving the instrumentation monitoring | {{as of|2005|post=,}} the agency is working to create a [[Volcano warning schemes of the United States|National Volcano Early Warning System]] by improving the instrumentation monitoring the 169 volcanoes in U.S. territory and by establishing methods for measuring the relative threats posed at each site. | ||
The USGS also operates five volcano observatories throughout the nation: | |||
* [[Alaska Volcano Observatory]] in Anchorage, Alaska (on the campus of [[Alaska Pacific University]]) | |||
* [[California Volcano Observatory]] in Menlo Park, California | |||
* [[Cascades Volcano Observatory]] (covering volcanoes in [[Idaho]], [[Oregon]], and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]) in Vancouver, Washington | |||
* [[Hawaiian Volcano Observatory]] in Hilo, Hawaii | |||
* [[Yellowstone Volcano Observatory]] (covering volcanoes in [[Arizona]], [[Colorado]], [[Montana]], [[New Mexico]], [[Utah]], and [[Wyoming]]) in [[Yellowstone National Park]], Wyoming.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USGS operates five U.S. Volcano Observatories {{!}} U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/usgs-operates-five-us-volcano-observatories |access-date=2024-06-03 |publisher=United States Geological Survey}}</ref> | |||
==== Coastal and Marine Science Center ==== | ==== Coastal and Marine Science Center ==== | ||
The USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center (formerly the USGS Center for Coastal Geology) has three sites | The USGS [[Coastal and Marine Science Center]] (formerly the USGS Center for Coastal Geology) has three sites | ||
* one for the [[Atlantic Ocean]] (located in [[Woods Hole, Massachusetts]]) | |||
* one for the [[Pacific Ocean]] (located in [[Santa Cruz, California]]) and | |||
* one for the [[Gulf of Mexico]] (located on the [[University of South Florida St. Petersburg|University of South Florida's St. Petersburg]] campus). | |||
The goal of this department is to conduct research in geology, mapping, hydrology, biology, and related sciences; evaluate hazards associated with floods, droughts, hurricanes, subsidence, human activity, and climate change; map the onshore and offshore geologic framework; assess mineral resources and develop techniques for their discovery; assess water resources and develop an understanding of the impact of human activities and natural phenomena on hydrologic systems; assess links between biodiversity, habitat condition, ecosystem processes and health; and develop new technologies for collection and interpretation of earth science data.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What We Do|url=https://www.usgs.gov/centers/spcmsc/about/what-we-do-5|access-date=2020-11-28|publisher=United States Geological Survey|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414221904/https://www.usgs.gov/centers/spcmsc/about/what-we-do-5|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
==== National Geomagnetism Program ==== | ==== National Geomagnetism Program ==== | ||
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==== Water Resources Research Institute ==== | ==== Water Resources Research Institute ==== | ||
As part of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, the State Water Resources Research Act Program created a Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) in each state, along with Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php|title=The United States Geological Survey Water Resources Research Act Program|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref> Together, these institutes make up the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR). The institutes focus on water-related issues through research, training and collaboration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/2014-NIWR-USGS-Fact-Sheet.pdf|title=NIWR & USGS: A Model Partnership|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref> | As part of the [[Water Resources Research Act of 1984]], the [[State Water Resources Research Act Program]] created a [[Water Resources Research Institute]] (WRRI) in each state, along with Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php|title=The United States Geological Survey Water Resources Research Act Program|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref> Together, these institutes make up the [[National Institutes for Water Resources]] (NIWR). The institutes focus on water-related issues through research, training and collaboration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/2014-NIWR-USGS-Fact-Sheet.pdf|title=NIWR & USGS: A Model Partnership|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref> | ||
==== Climate Adaptation Science Centers ==== | ==== Climate Adaptation Science Centers ==== | ||
The National and regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers|title=Climate Adaptation Science Centers|website=usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers|access-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref> is a partnership-driven program that teams scientific researchers with natural and cultural resource managers to help fish, wildlife, waters, and lands across the country [[Climate change adaptation|adapt to climate change]]. The National CASC (NCASC), based at USGS headquarters in Reston, Virginia, serves as the national office for the CASC network, while [https://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers/learn-about-regional-cascs?qt-science_support_page_related_con=0#qt-science_support_page_related_con eight regional CASCs] made up of federal-university consortiums located across the U.S., U.S. Pacific Islands, and U.S. Caribbean deliver science that addresses resource management priorities of the states within their footprints. | The National and regional [[Climate Adaptation Science Centers]] (CASCs)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers|title=Climate Adaptation Science Centers|website=usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers|access-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref> is a partnership-driven program that teams scientific researchers with natural and cultural resource managers to help fish, wildlife, waters, and lands across the country [[Climate change adaptation|adapt to climate change]]. The National CASC (NCASC), based at USGS headquarters in Reston, Virginia, serves as the national office for the CASC network, while [https://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers/learn-about-regional-cascs?qt-science_support_page_related_con=0#qt-science_support_page_related_con eight regional CASCs] made up of federal-university consortiums located across the U.S., U.S. Pacific Islands, and U.S. Caribbean deliver science that addresses resource management priorities of the states within their footprints. | ||
==== Astrogeology ==== | ==== Astrogeology ==== | ||
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===Topographic mapping=== | ===Topographic mapping=== | ||
[[File:Mount Marcy New York USGS topo map 1892.jpg|thumb|An 1892 15-minute map of [[Mount Marcy]] in the [[Adirondacks]] in [[New York (state)|New York state]] from the late 19th century]] | [[File:Mount Marcy New York USGS topo map 1892.jpg|thumb|An 1892 15-minute map of [[Mount Marcy]] in the [[Adirondacks]] in [[New York (state)|New York state]] from the late 19th century]] | ||
The USGS produces several national series of [[topographic maps]] which vary in [[scale (map)|scale]] and extent, with some wide gaps in coverage, notably the complete absence of 1:50,000 scale topographic maps or their equivalent. The largest (both in terms of scale and quantity) and best-known topographic series is the 7.5-minute, 1:24,000 scale, [[Quadrangle (geography)|quadrangle]], a non-metric scale virtually unique to the United States. Each of these maps covers an area bounded by two lines of | The USGS produces several national series of [[topographic maps]] which vary in [[scale (map)|scale]] and extent, with some wide gaps in coverage, notably the complete absence of 1:50,000 scale topographic maps or their equivalent. The largest (both in terms of scale and quantity) and best-known topographic series is the 7.5-minute, 1:24,000 scale, [[Quadrangle (geography)|quadrangle]], a non-metric scale virtually unique to the United States. Each of these maps covers an area bounded by two lines of latitude and two lines of longitude spaced 7.5 [[minute of arc|minutes]] apart. Nearly 57,000 individual maps in this series cover the [[Continental United States|48 contiguous states]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States Territories|U.S. territories]], and areas of [[Alaska]] near [[Anchorage]], [[Fairbanks]], and [[Prudhoe Bay]]. The area covered by each map varies with the latitude of its represented location due to convergence of the meridians. At lower latitudes, near 30° north, a 7.5-minute quadrangle contains an area of about {{convert|64|sqmi|km2|0}}. At 49° north latitude, {{convert|49|sqmi|km2|0}} are contained within a quadrangle of that size. As a unique non-metric map scale, the 1:24,000 scale naturally requires a separate and specialized [[romer]] scale for plotting map positions.<ref name="USGS">{{cite web|url=http://topomaps.usgs.gov/|title=USGS – Topographic Maps|first=USGS Rolla|last=Missouri|website=Topomaps.usgs.gov|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412214110/http://topomaps.usgs.gov/|archive-date=April 12, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/usgsmaps/usgsmaps.html|title=USGS Maps Booklet|website=erg.usgs.gov|access-date=2017-04-30|archive-date=June 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602185425/http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/usgsmaps/usgsmaps.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In recent years, budget constraints have forced the USGS to rely on donations of time by civilian volunteers in an attempt to update its 7.5-minute topographic map series, and USGS stated outright in 2000 that the program was to be phased out in favor of ''[[The National Map]]''<ref>{{cite web |url= http://thor-f5.er.usgs.gov/topomaps/revision_overview.pdf |title= The U.S. Geological Survey's Revision Program for 7.5-Minute Topographic Maps |first= Larry |last= Moore |publisher= United States Geological Survey |date= December 2000 |access-date= June 17, 2010 |archive-date= February 13, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130213213923/http://thor-f5.er.usgs.gov/topomaps/revision_overview.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> (not to be confused with the [[National Atlas of the United States]] produced by the [[United States Department of the Interior|Department of the Interior]], one of whose bureaus is USGS). | ||
An older series of maps, the 15-minute series, was once used to map the contiguous 48 states at a scale of 1:62,500 for maps covering the continental United States, but was discontinued during the last quarter of the twentieth century. Each map was bounded by two [[Circle of latitude|parallels]] and two [[Meridian (geography)|meridians]] spaced 15 minutes apart—the same area covered by four maps in the 7.5-minute series. The 15-minute series, at a scale of 1:63,360 (one inch representing one mile), remains the primary topographic quadrangle for the state of Alaska (and only for that particular state). Nearly 3,000 maps cover 97% of the state.<ref name="USGS" /> The United States remains virtually the only developed country in the world without a standardized civilian topographic map series in the standard 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 metric scales, making coordination difficult in border regions (the U.S. military does issue 1:50,000 scale topo maps of the continental United States, though only for use by members of its defense forces). | An older series of maps, the 15-minute series, was once used to map the contiguous 48 states at a scale of 1:62,500 for maps covering the continental United States, but was discontinued during the last quarter of the twentieth century. Each map was bounded by two [[Circle of latitude|parallels]] and two [[Meridian (geography)|meridians]] spaced 15 minutes apart—the same area covered by four maps in the 7.5-minute series. The 15-minute series, at a scale of 1:63,360 (one inch representing one mile), remains the primary topographic quadrangle for the state of Alaska (and only for that particular state). Nearly 3,000 maps cover 97% of the state.<ref name="USGS" /> The United States remains virtually the only developed country in the world without a standardized civilian topographic map series in the standard 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 metric scales, making coordination difficult in border regions (the U.S. military does issue 1:50,000 scale topo maps of the continental United States, though only for use by members of its defense forces). | ||
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*Historic technical reports from USGS (and other Federal agencies) are available in the [https://trailguides.crl.edu/series/GS Technical Report Archive and Image Library (TRAIL)] | *Historic technical reports from USGS (and other Federal agencies) are available in the [https://trailguides.crl.edu/series/GS Technical Report Archive and Image Library (TRAIL)] | ||
*[[Historic American Buildings Survey]] (HABS) documentation, filed under 2255 North Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, Coconino County, AZ: | *[[Historic American Buildings Survey]] (HABS) documentation, filed under 2255 North Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, Coconino County, AZ: | ||
{{HABS |survey=AZ-215-A |id=az0479 |title=U.S. Geological Survey Center of Astrogeology, Building No. 1 |photos=3 |data=13 |cap=1 |link=no}} | |||
{{HABS |survey=AZ-224 |id=az0593 |title=U.S. Geological Survey Center of Astrogeology, Photolab |dwgs=1 |data=73 |link=no}} | |||
*{{HAER |survey=CA-173 |id=ca2171 |title=U.S. Geological Survey, Rock Magnetics Laboratory, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, San Mateo County, CA |photos=36 |dwgs=2 |data=25 |cap=4}} | *{{HAER |survey=CA-173 |id=ca2171 |title=U.S. Geological Survey, Rock Magnetics Laboratory, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, San Mateo County, CA |photos=36 |dwgs=2 |data=25 |cap=4}} | ||