U.S. Department of the Interior
The potential for large changes in the amount and distribution of surface water in arctic landscapes is high given climate-induced changes in permafrost. Because changes in surface water have broadscale implications in the structure and function of ecosystems, understanding and tracking surface water change is a high priority for some Alaskan refuges.
The emergent proliferation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging systems, related advancements in image processing and exploitation capabilities, and the increasing availability of analysis-ready SAR data products have enhanced the BLM’s ability to use remote sensing-derived information to support resource management.
The 2020 fire season in western North American was among the most extreme on record.
During late summer and autumn, Pacific walruses are resting on shore north of the Bering Strait more often and in larger numbers in both the United States and Russia. Historically, walruses rested primarily on floating sea ice over their offshore foraging grounds in this region, but climate warming has reduced availability of sea ice. With greater numbers of walruses gathering on shore, USGS scientists and collabor
In cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development, instructional media was created for the transfer of remote sensing mapping and GIS technologies used to create and implement the USGS developed live fractional cover (LFC) mapping of Northern Rangeland Trust Conservancies in Kenya.
The USGS National Geospatial Program, National Land Imaging Program, and other elements of USGS, have a compelling national interest in operationalizing technologies that increase the accuracy and efficiency of mapping the Nation.
Phragmites australis is a tall, perennial reed that forms dense stands in wetland habitats. Although it is an introduced species, it is a critical erosion control mechanism in many southeastern coastal marshes. Recently documented dieback in P.
Accelerating glacier change in the early 21st century is impacting sea level, water resources, and ecosystems across North America and globally. Yet, direct field measurements of glacier change are laborious and logistically challenging to obtain, and less than 0.001% of glaciers on Earth have detailed long-term (more than 30 years) records.
In Prince William Sound in southern Alaska, climate change–driven glacial retreat is exposing steep, unstable slopes that could generate tsunamis if they failed rapidly and entered the fjords. One such area is the Barry Arm fjord, where the rapid retreat and thinning of the Barry Glacier is associated with several slope instabilities that threaten nearby communities, infrastructure, and marine interests.
Although extensive work has been devoted to understanding the role of fire in maintaining ecosystem functions in upland systems, little research has focused on understanding the impact of fire on coastal wetlands or the response of birds to fire in high marsh wetlands.