Montana

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. The volcanic character of Yellowstone has long been known.  An indigenous map drawn on a bison pelt and …

Read moreThe first geological map of Yellowstone National Park

This project is a four-state cooperative effort involving state surveys from Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Montana and is administered by the Idaho Geological Survey. The project centers on collecting new geological and geochemical data to assess the rare earth element resource potential of the Western Phosphate Field within the framework of a marine chemocline mineral …

Read moreBipartisan Infrastructure Law funds geologic mapping in western Rockies

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Jamie Farrell, assistant research professor with the University of Utah Seismograph Stations and Chief Seismologist of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Yellowstone became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978—in fact, Yellowstone and Mesa …

Read moreYellowstone Recognized as One of the First 100 IUGS World Geological Heritage Sites

The native western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) on tufted vetch (Vicia cracca) in Saanichton, British Columbia. This species has been in decline in recent decades, but used to be widespread and locally common in the western U.S. (Photo credit: Jeremy Gatten, LGL Limited, used with permission) Using data from 1998-2020, scientists determined that increasing summer …

Read moreClimate change and pesticides imperil a once common pollinator

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Better knowledge of Yellowstone’s past volcanism and current behavior is key for understanding the potential for future hazardous …

Read moreAcknowledging Annie: How research and monitoring get done in Yellowstone

Detailed geologic mapping and geochemical sampling will be conducted around clusters of rare earth element prospects in the Montana portion of the mineral belt. The Sheep Creek-Mineral Hill mineral belt extends in a northwest direction from Idaho into Montana and hosts rare earth element-bearing carbonatite horizons and carbonate-hosted niobium-bearing rutile deposits of unknown age and …

Read moreBipartisan Infrastructure Law funds geologic mapping in Montana

What a catch! An angler holds a brown trout caught from a Montana river. (Credit: Clint Muhlfeld, USGS)                                                                         Scientists with the …

Read moreWarmer water could cool Montana’s trout fishing economy

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from David Shelly, seismologist, and Shaul Hurwitz, research hydrologist, both with the U.S. Geological Survey. Evolution of the 2017 Maple Creek earthquake swarm. Plots show earthquake locations colored by time. a) Map view. b) …

Read moreWater Released from Crystallizing Magma can Trigger Earthquakes in Yellowstone

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from R. Greg Vaughan, research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Thermal infrared satellite images are an important volcano monitoring tool that can be used to estimate surface temperature.  And, in fact, these data …

Read moreThermal Infrared Remote Sensing at Yellowstone 101

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Hayley Woodrich, Research Experiences for Undergraduates student, and Natali Kraugh, graduate student, both at Montana State University. Photograph of the west side of Mount Everts taken from Sepulcher Mountain. The linear features seen …

Read moreMapping Mayhem: How to solve a Yellowstone puzzle with unknown pieces

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Hayley Woodrich, Research Experiences for Undergraduates student, and Natali Kraugh, graduate student, both at Montana State University. Photograph of the west side of Mount Everts taken from Sepulcher Mountain. The linear features seen …

Read moreMapping Mayhem: How to solve a Yellowstone puzzle with unknown pieces

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Mike Stickney, Director of the Earthquake Studies Office at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. Major earthquakes that rupture up to the ground surface and form fault scarps are rare occurrences in …

Read moreUsing modern tools to look at past earthquakes: How lidar data help to better understand the 1959 Hebgen Lake event

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Mike Stickney, Director of the Earthquake Studies Office at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. Major earthquakes that rupture up to the ground surface and form fault scarps are rare occurrences in …

Read moreUsing modern tools to look at past earthquakes: How lidar data help to better understand the 1959 Hebgen Lake event

Summer 2023 marks 146 years since the flight of the Nez Perce, when an indigenous tribe crossed Yellowstone in an attempt to reach Canada and during a running battle with the US army. Source link

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Cole Messa, Ph.D. student and Professor Ken Sims, both in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming. Throughout its history, Yellowstone has been frequented by numerous indigenous tribes. All …

Read moreThe Flight of the Nez Perce

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory recently published a monitoring plan for better understanding and tracking earthquake, magmatic, and hydrothermal activity associated with the Yellowstone caldera system. The plan, which covers 2022–2032, will expand hazards forecasting capabilities and enable scientific advances that will help geologists better understand how Yellowstone works. Source link

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Map of seismic stations in the Yellowstone region, with numbers of channels indicated by number and sensor type …

Read moreA plan for monitoring the Yellowstone Volcanic System

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Shaul Hurwitz and Blaine McCleskey, research hydrologists with the U.S. Geological Survey, and Erin White, Park Hydrologist at …

Read moreHow might the devastating June 2022 floods in and around Yellowstone National Park influence seismic and hydrothermal activity?

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Shaul Hurwitz and Blaine McCleskey, research hydrologists with the U.S. Geological Survey, and Erin White, Park Hydrologist at …

Read moreHow might the devastating June 2022 floods in and around Yellowstone National Park influence seismic and hydrothermal activity?

These data are essential for partner agencies to estimate downstream flow, as well as analyze results to predict future event probabilities.  Realtime flood and historic data can be found at: USGS | National Water Dashboard  Streamflow data have been collected for around 100 years at three USGS streamgages on the Yellowstone River in southern Montana …

Read moreUSGS Media Alert: USGS crews continue to measure and assess Yellowstone River flood conditions and probabilities

BILLINGS, MT — As devastating floods on the Yellowstone River continue, the U.S. Geological Survey is measuring streamflow and monitoring equipment at streamgages, as well as making repairs caused by flood waters as necessary to ensure data online is as accurate as possible.  Source link

A low-flying helicopter will soon be visible to residents in six counties of Montana in the greater region of Helena, the Elkhorn Mountains, Bull Mountain and the Tobacco Root Mountains.  Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and Rio Tinto are partnering to image geology using airborne geophysical technology as part …

Read moreUSGS Media Alert: Flights Above Parts of Montana to Map Geology

A low-flying helicopter will soon be visible to residents in six counties of Montana in the greater region of Helena, the Elkhorn Mountains, Bull Mountain and the Tobacco Root Mountains.  Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and Rio Tinto are partnering to image geology using airborne geophysical technology as part …

Read moreUSGS Media Alert: Flights Above Parts of Montana to Map Geology

Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report, which includes a summary of earthquake, deformation, and geyser activity, as well as research investigations and other information. The report is freely available online at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/cir1494. Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is …

Read moreThe Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report—available at a website near you!

Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report, which includes a summary of earthquake, deformation, and geyser activity, as well as research investigations and other information. The report is freely available online at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/cir1494. Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is …

Read moreThe Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report—available at a website near you!

At a much deeper vantage, USGS researchers are monitoring what’s happening on the seafloor to better understand risks from tectonic activity that could impact public safety.    In earthquake-prone regions, like the west coast of the Americas, a surge of underwater movement could impact people and their environment along the coast.   Marine geohazards are sudden and …

Read moreFrom the Seafloor to Outer Space, USGS is on the Case

At a much deeper vantage, USGS researchers are monitoring what’s happening on the seafloor to better understand risks from tectonic activity that could impact public safety.    In earthquake-prone regions, like the west coast of the Americas, a surge of underwater movement could impact people and their environment along the coast.   Marine geohazards are sudden and …

Read moreFrom the Seafloor to Outer Space, USGS is on the Case

GPS collars deployed on elk in the Tex Creek herd between 2007 and 2009 revealed that the herd migrates an average of 40 miles between their summer and winter ranges within the Caribou Range of the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area in Idaho. WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced several actions the …

Read moreSecretary Haaland Announces Progress Toward Conservation and Restoration of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity

GPS collars deployed on elk in the Tex Creek herd between 2007 and 2009 revealed that the herd migrates an average of 40 miles between their summer and winter ranges within the Caribou Range of the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area in Idaho. WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced several actions the …

Read moreSecretary Haaland Announces Progress Toward Conservation and Restoration of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity

Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, Mud Volcano and Morning Glory Pool are just a few of the over 10,000 active hydrothermal features formed by the interaction of ground water with the heat remaining from the ancient volcano that formed Yellowstone. While these mesmerizing features are enjoyed by millions of visitors every year, …

Read moreNew Study Unveils the Secrets of Yellowstone’s Hydrothermal Plumbing

Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, Mud Volcano and Morning Glory Pool are just a few of the over 10,000 active hydrothermal features formed by the interaction of ground water with the heat remaining from the ancient volcano that formed Yellowstone. While these mesmerizing features are enjoyed by millions of visitors every year, …

Read moreNew Study Unveils the Secrets of Yellowstone’s Hydrothermal Plumbing

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Dr. Ben Crosby, Professor, and Kyra Bornong, graduate student, with the Department of Geosciences at Idaho State University. Top image is a view of the Silver Gate landslide complex, near Mammoth Hot Springs, …

Read moreYellowstone exposed! New elevation map reveals park’s complex geologic history

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Dr. Ben Crosby, Professor, and Kyra Bornong, graduate student, with the Department of Geosciences at Idaho State University. Top image is a view of the Silver Gate landslide complex, near Mammoth Hot Springs, …

Read moreYellowstone exposed! New elevation map reveals park’s complex geologic history

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Shaul Hurwitz, Research Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. The timing of major events in Earth’s long history are continuously being refined as the accuracy and precision of dating methods improves and as …

Read moreWhen in Earth’s history did Yellowstone’s volcanism begin? Let’s look at the calendar to find out.

What were the major events have shaped the Earth and its environment, and when did these events takes place? When did the major volcanic events in Yellowstone take place within the sequence of Earth’s major events? Geologic research has made significant progress to answer these questions, and future discoveries will further refine the fascinating story. …

Read moreWhen in Earth’s history did Yellowstone’s volcanism begin? Let’s look at the calendar to find out.

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Yellowstone is a very active place in terms of seismicity.  Typically the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, which …

Read moreYellowstone—the year 2021 in review

It was business as usual in 2021 at Yellowstone—earthquakes, ground deformation, geyser eruptions, and lots of field work! As is tradition, this first Caldera Chronicles of the new year takes a look back at what happened in Yellowstone during the previous 12 months. Source link

The USGS has completed an oil and gas estimate for the Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the Williston Basin of Montana and North Dakota.  The estimate includes 4.3 billion barrels of unconventional oil and 4.9 trillion cubic feet of unconventional natural gas in the two formations. This assessment updates the 2013 USGS assessment of …

Read moreUSGS Releases Oil and Gas Assessment for the Bakken and Three Forks Formations of Montana and North Dakota

The USGS has completed an oil and gas estimate for the Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the Williston Basin of Montana and North Dakota.  The estimate includes 4.3 billion barrels of unconventional oil and 4.9 trillion cubic feet of unconventional natural gas in the two formations. This assessment updates the 2013 USGS assessment of …

Read moreUSGS Releases Oil and Gas Assessment for the Bakken and Three Forks Formations of Montana and North Dakota

The USGS will fly airborne geophysical surveys in areas of interest with support from Rio Tinto during 2022 as part of its Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI). This is the first time the USGS has partnered with a resources company for the Earth MRI program, allowing it to double the area being surveyed in …

Read moreUSGS and Rio Tinto Partner to Survey for Critical Minerals in Southwest Montana

The USGS will fly airborne geophysical surveys in areas of interest with support from Rio Tinto during 2022 as part of its Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI). This is the first time the USGS has partnered with a resources company for the Earth MRI program, allowing it to double the area being surveyed in …

Read moreUSGS and Rio Tinto Partner to Survey for Critical Minerals in Southwest Montana

Gross Findings: Gross findings were similar in all examined birds. On external examination, abundant light green fecal material was present in the feathers around the vent. On internal examination, there was no subcutaneous, visceral, or epicardial fat. Pectoral muscle was atrophied in some birds. There were multiple variably sized thick tan plaques or seed-like plaques …

Read morePathology Case of the Month – Red Crossbills and American Goldfinches

Gross Findings: Gross findings were similar in all examined birds. On external examination, abundant light green fecal material was present in the feathers around the vent. On internal examination, there was no subcutaneous, visceral, or epicardial fat. Pectoral muscle was atrophied in some birds. There were multiple variably sized thick tan plaques or seed-like plaques …

Read morePathology Case of the Month – Red Crossbills and American Goldfinches

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Mike Stickney, Director of the Earthquake Studies Office at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. Hebgen Lake fault scarp in 1959. USGS photo by J. R. Stacy. The greater Yellowstone region has …

Read moreRelics of past earthquakes: How the 1959 Hebgen Lake M7.3 earthquake may continue to influence Yellowstone seismicity today

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Pat Shanks, research geologist emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey. Map of Yellowstone National Park showing locations of thermal basins that host hot springs, geysers, and mudpots.  Dark green areas host alkaline-chloride fluids.  Yellowstone Caldera …

Read moreAn outlier of Yellowstone’s thermal areas: the travertine of Mammoth Hot Springs

This image shows a research raft on Spider Lake, Wind River Indian Reservation, Wind River Range, Wyoming. (Credit: Bryan Schuman, University of Wyoming) Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, Montana State University and the University of Wyoming studied climate change in the Greater Yellowstone Area, or GYA, from 1950-2018. They evaluated how these changes could …

Read moreGreater Yellowstone Area expected to become warmer, drier

WHAT:   Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, Montana State University, the University of Wyoming, Greater Yellowstone Coalition and partners studied past climate change in the Greater Yellowstone Area and evaluated how those changes could progress by 2100. Coauthors of the forthcoming report and voices from the Greater Yellowstone Area will discuss the significance of the findings and answer media questions. This event is open to members of the …

Read moreNew Insight into Climate Change Impacts on Yellowstone

WHAT:   Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, Montana State University, the University of Wyoming, Greater Yellowstone Coalition and partners studied past climate change in the Greater Yellowstone Area and evaluated how those changes could progress by 2100. Coauthors of the forthcoming report and voices from the Greater Yellowstone Area will discuss the significance of the findings and answer media questions. This event is open to members of the …

Read moreMedia Event: New Insight into Climate Change Impacts on Yellowstone

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Lauren Harrison, a postdoctoral researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey. Travertine is a form of limestone composed of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are both made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). In contrast to limestones …

Read moreTravertine: Yellowstone’s Hydrothermal Timekeeper | U.S. Geological Survey

Two banded piping plover adults stand near a nest with a video camera pointed at it on a sandbar in the the Missouri River. Video cameras were used to identify adults attending nests.  Piping plovers are small-bodied, short-distance migratory shorebirds. The Northern Great Plains population has been listed as a threatened species under the U.S. …

Read morePiping Plovers Breed Less and Move More in the Northern Great Plains

A team of 94 scientists and specialists from 34 federal and state agencies, universities and non-governmental organizations contributed to the comprehensive assessment of the sagebrush ecosystem, which covers 14 western states and two Canadian provinces. The effort was coordinated by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) with support from the U.S. Fish …

Read moreNew Report Highlights Declining Sagebrush Ecosystem, Provides Foundation for Next Generation of Conservation and Management

The green color depicts vegetation in this 2016 Sentinel-2 normalized difference vegetation index image of land along the Milk River in Alberta. A tool for managing the complexity of a river system’s waters can come, surprisingly, from hundreds of miles above the Earth. Satellite technology and research conducted by the US Geological Survey’s Earth Resources …

Read moreLandsat will help U.S. and Canada Share River’s Water

Our surface water, groundwater, and aquatic ecosystems are priceless resources, used by people across the Nation for drinking, irrigation, industry, and recreation. The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project is a leading source of scientific data and knowledge for development of science-based policies and management strategies to improve and protect our water resources. Source link

SPARROW mappers are interactive tools that allow users to evaluate streamflow and nutrient and sediment conditions as well as the importance of different sources of contaminants in a selected river basin. Data can be visualized at different scales using maps and interactive graphs and tables. SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes) models estimate the amount …

Read moreSurface-water nutrient and sediment mappers are now available

This challenge is now complete!!  Thank you to everyone who contributed! (Public domain.) Here is a time lapse of our volunteer contributions for this challenge: (Public domain.) Overall, 8 volunteers participated and edited 405 unique points throughout the challenge.    Here is a summary of the edits by user role:   Standard Editor: 96  Peer Reviewer: 8  Advanced Editor: 470    Many thanks to our volunteers who contributed!    Ava …

Read moreTNMCorps Mapping Challenge Summary Results for City / Town Hall Structures in MT, ND, & SD

This challenge is now FINISHED!!  Thank you to everyone who contributed! We’re putting together summary results and will post them on this page shortly.  We’re also working on a new challenge that will soon be posted on this page.  In the mean time, our challenges for Arkansas schools and Arkansas city / town halls are …

Read moreFINISHED!! TNMCorps Mapping Challenge for City / Town Hall Structures in MT, ND, & SD

This challeng is SO CLOSE to being finished!  Approximately 80 edits came in since last week, leaving less than 20 existing points to be reviewed.  Don’t forget to check for missing city/town halls, too.   Source link

This challenge continues to move along nicely with another 100 edits in the last week!  Source link

Today, President Trump proposed a $971.2 million Fiscal Year 2021 budget for the U.S. Geological Survey that prioritizes scientific inquiry for effective stewardship of America’s natural resources and natural hazard monitoring and assessments. “President Trump’s 2021 budget request for the Department is about investing in our people and public lands and waters,” said Secretary of the …

Read morePresident Proposes $971.2 Million FY 2021 Budget for USGS

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck western Montana near northwest Helena, on July 6, 2017 at 12:30 a.m. local time. Visit the USGS event page for more information. For estimates of casualties and damage, visit the USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) website. If you felt this earthquake, report your experience on the “USGS Did …

Read moreMagnitude 5.8 Earthquake in Montana

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Read moreThe request could not be satisfied

A newly published, three-volume “Remote Sensing Handbook” is a comprehensive coverage of all remote sensing topics written by over 300 leading global experts. With 82 chapters, and more than 2000 pages, the handbook is a reference for every remote sensing student, professor, scientist, professional practitioner and expert. The technical handbook includes up-to-date examples of successful projects …

Read moreNew Remote Sensing Handbook Published

Many grassland bird species in the Bakken shale region, including some seriously declining populations, are displaced from their habitats as a result of oil and gas development, according to new U.S. Geological Survey research. During 2012-2014, USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists studied Bakken grassland sites in northern North Dakota containing oil well pads, which …

Read moreOil Development Can Affect Critical Habitat

The drainage of small wetlands can decrease wildlife habitat and may contribute to flooding in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.    USGS scientists analyzed data on 141 large PPR wetlands in North Dakota from the 1930s through 2010, and found that they have increased significantly in size. Most …

Read moreDrainage of Prairie Pothole Wetlands Can Increase Flooding and Degrade Ecosystems