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

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USGS Organization ChartDirectory of Key Officials

                                                                        

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