The
United States Geological Survey
(
USGS) is a scientific agency of the
United States government.
The
scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States
, its natural
resources, and the natural
hazards that threaten it. The organization has four
major science disciplines, concerning
biology,
geography,
geology, and
hydrology. The USGS is a fact-finding research
organization with no regulatory responsibility.
A bureau
of the United States Department of the
Interior
, it is that department's sole scientific
agency. The USGS employs approximately 8,670 people
and is headquartered in Reston, Virginia
. The USGS also has major offices in Lakewood,
Colorado
(Denver Federal Center
), and Menlo Park, California
.
Mission
The USGS is the primary civilian mapping agency in the United
States, and is best known for its 1:24,000 scale, 7.5-minute
quadrangle
topographic maps. Their
recent program,
The National
Map, is an attempt to be the ultimate online mapping
service for the United States. The USGS also has a vigorous
Business Partners program through which they encourage the
reselling of their maps so that the public can have quicker, easier
access to information. Many commercial sites have capitalized on
this program to provide web mapping services in conjunction with
the USGS.
The USGS
Earthquake Hazards Program 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 U.S. under the umbrella of the
Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). The USGS
informs authorities, emergency responders, the media, and the
public, both domestic and worldwide, about significant earthquakes.
It also maintains long-term archives of earthquake data for
scientific and engineering research. It also conducts and supports
research on long-term
seismic
hazards.
The USGS
National
Geomagnetism Program monitors the
magnetic field at magnetic observatories and
distributes
magnetometer data in real
time.
The USGS operates the streamgaging network for the United States,
with over 7400
streamgages.
Real-time
streamflow data are available online.
Since
1962, the
Astrogeology Research Program
has been involved in global,
lunar and
planetary exploration and
mapping.
The USGS also operates the
National Wildlife Health
Center, whose mission is "to serve the nation and its natural
resources by providing sound science and technical support, and to
disseminate information to promote science-based decisions
affecting wildlife and ecosystem health. The NWHC provides
information, technical assistance, research, education, and
leadership on national and international wildlife health issues."
It is the agency primarily responsible for surveillance of
wild-animal
H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in the United
States.
As of
2005, the agency is working to create a
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.
In
collaboration with Stanford University
, the USGS also operates the USGS-Stanford Ion
Microprobe Laboratory, a world-class analytical facility for
U-(Th)-Pb geochronology and trace
element analyses of minerals and other earth
materials.
The motto of the USGS is "
Science for a changing
world."
The USGS
also runs 17 biological research centers in the United States,
including the Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center
.
History
Prompted
by a report from the National Academy of Sciences
the USGS was created by an act of Congress on March
3, 1879. It was charged with the
"classification of the public lands, and examination of the
geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the
national domain." This task was driven by the need to inventory the
vast lands added to the United States by the
Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Clarence King, the first director of
USGS, assembled the new organization from disparate regional survey
agencies. After a short tenure, King was succeeded in the
director's chair by
John Wesley
Powell.
List of USGS Directors
USGS Publications
USGS publishes many series of maps and reports, including:
Biological Science Report (BSR)
Record significant scientific interpretations and findings, usually
of lasting scientific interest, addressing a wide variety of topics
relevant to Biological Resources Discipline (BRD) investigations
and research. May include extensive data or theoretical analyses.
Reports published by the
U.S.
Biological Survey and later
by the U.S. Geological Survey. The report series began in 1995 and
continued through 2003.
Bulletin (B)
Significant data and interpretations of lasting scientific interest
but generally narrower in scope than professional papers. Results
of resource studies, geologic or topographic studies, and
collections of short papers on related topics.
Circular (CIR/C)
A wide variety of topics covered concisely and clearly to provide a
synthesis of understanding about processes, geographic areas,
issues, or USGS programs. The Circular should be aimed at enhancing
knowledge and understanding among general audiences, decision
makers, university students, and scientists in related
fields.
Circum-Pacific Map (CP)
Multicolor equal-area maps at scales of 1:10,000,000 for the
Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast quadrants of the Pacific
and the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and of 1:17,000,000 for the
whole Pacific Basin. The series consists of base, geographic,
geodynamic, plate-tectonic, geologic, tectonic, mineral-resources,
and energy-resources maps, as well as other miscellaneous
maps.
Coal Investigations (COAL/C-) Map
Origin, character, and resource potential of coal deposits shown by
geologic maps, structure contours, cross sections, columnar
sections, and measured coal sections, where appropriate. Text on
same sheet or in an accompanying pamphlet.
Folios of the Geologic Atlas (GF)
Quadrangles named from a city, town, or prominent natural feature
within the area covered. They include maps showing the topography,
geology, underground structure and mineral deposits of the area and
several pages of descriptive text and illustrations. May include
maps of oil and gas and artesian water. Precursor to Geologic
Quadrangles.
General Interest Publication (GIP)
A wide variety of topics covered concisely and clearly in a variety
of formats. Focus is on USGS programs, projects, and services and
general scientific information of public interest. The series
covers a broad range of topics in a variety of media, including
pamphlets, postcards, posters, videos, teacher kits, CD/DVDs,
bookmarks, and interactive and motion graphics. Previously called
"General Interest Publications".
Geologic Quadrangle (GQ) Map
Detailed geologic maps depicting areas of special importance to the
solution of geologic problems. May portray bedrock or surficial
units, or both. May include brief texts, structure sections, and
columnar sections. 71/2- or 15-minute quadrangles printed in
multicolor on topographic bases that meet National Map Accuracy
standards.
Geophysical Investigations (GP) Map
Chiefly the results of aeromagnetic and (or) gravity surveys shown
by contours. Area depicted may range in size from a few square
miles to an entire country. Single or multiple sheets.
Hydrologic Investigations Atlas (HA)
A wide range of hydrologic and hydrogeologic data of regional and
national interest, such as streamflow, ground water, water quality,
and extent of flooding. Various scales. Single or multiple
sheets.
Land Use and Land Cover (L) Map
Various categories of land use and cover, both artificial and
natural, for use by geographers, land-use planners, and others.
Planimetric maps at scales of 1:250,000 or 1:100,000 on a single
sheet.
Mineral Investigations Resource (MR) Map
Information on mineral occurrences, mineral resources, mines and
prospects, commodities, and target areas of possible resources
other than coal, petroleum, or natural gas. Small
scale (1:250,000 or smaller).
Miscellaneous Field Studies (MF) Map
Rapidly prepared, low-budget maps in a broad range of presentations
in terms of portrayal, completeness, interpretations,
draftsmanship, scale, and area coverage. Single or multiple
sheets.
Miscellaneous Investigations/ Geologic Investigations (I)
Series
High-quality maps and charts of varied subject matter such as
bathymetry, geology, hydrogeology, landforms, land-use
classification, vegetation, and others including maps of planets,
the Moon, and other satellites. Various scales. Topographic or
planimetric bases; regular or irregular areas. May include a text
printed as an accompanying pamphlet.
Oil and Gas Investigations (OC) Chart
Information about known or possible petroleum resources, presented
as logs, correlation diagrams, graphs, and tables, but ordinarily
not as maps. Single or multiple sheets. Text printed on same sheet
or in an accompanying pamphlet.
Oil and Gas Investigations (OM) Map
Apply particularly to areas of known or possible petroleum
resources. Typically include cross sections, columnar sections,
structure contours, correlation diagrams, and information on wells
drilled for oil and gas. Single or multiple sheets. Text usually on
map sheet but sometimes printed as an accompanying pamphlet.
Open-File Report (OFR/OF)
Interpretive information that needs to be released immediately;
maps and reports (and their supporting data) that need to be
released as supporting documentation because they are referenced,
discussed, or interpreted in another information product;
preliminary findings (pending a final map or report); interim
computer programs and user guides; bibliographies.
Professional Paper (PP)
Premier series of the USGS. Comprehensive reports
of wide and lasting interest and scientific importance,
characterized by thoroughness of study and breadth of scientific or
geographic coverage. The series may include collections of related
papers addressing different aspects of a single scientific topic,
either issued together under one cover or separately as
chapters.
Water-Resources Investigations Report (WRIR/WRI)
Hydrologic information, mainly of local interest, intended for
quick release. Book or map format. Varied scales.
Water-Supply Paper (WSP)
Reports on all aspects of hydrology, including quality,
recoverability, and use of water resources; statistical reports on
streamflow, floods, groundwater levels, and water quality; and
collections of short papers on related topics.
A complete listing of descriptions of USGS Series is available
at
[824628] (accessed 11/25/08)
Locating USGS Publications
USGS publication are available for purchase at
USGS Publications Warehouse.
Many USGS publications are now available online:
Many older USGS publications have been scanned and digitized by
such services as
Google Books. An
online search will quickly reveal if a digital version is
available. All USGS publications are
public domain.
Publishing review, scientific integrity, and questions of
censorship
In December 2006, it was announced that the rules for the
publication of USGS research were being revised. Employees were
informed that USGS leadership and communications staff should be
notified "of findings or data that may be especially newsworthy,
have an impact on government policy, or contradict previous public
understanding to ensure that proper officials are notified and that
communication strategies are developed."
The revision was claimed not to change existing rules, but rather
to emphasize the importance of maintaining the scientific integrity
of the agency's work by requiring scientists to accept comments
from the public and follow administrative policies. However,
scientists have questioned whether this revision is likely to
facilitate censorship of their work, as has been alleged by critics
to have occurred in some Federal agencies under the administration
of United States President
George W. Bush.
According to the authors of this policy, USGS information is given
to the public after it has been through a peer review and approval
process. USGS leadership and communications staff are kept informed
of relevant scientific findings so they can manage the flow of
information to decision-makers, who use this information to make
resource-management choices. Policy makers have said these
principles and practices will bolster the USGS’s scientific
objectivity and reputation.
See also
Notes
- Lubick, February 7, 2007
- Eilperin, December 14, 2006
- Eilperin, December 14, 2006. Eilperin uses information without
attribution, quoting the one person mentioned in Heilprin's earlier
article: James Estes.
- Erickson, December 14, 2006
- Heilprin, December 13, 2006
References
External links
- USGS sites
- Non-USGS related sites
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