Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
On June 5, 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey Flight Operations Team transmitted the last command to the Landsat 5 satellite, effectively terminating the mission 29 years, 3 months and 4 days after its launch by NASA from Vandenberg Air Force Base on March 1, 1984. The Landsat program is a joint effort between USGS and
Wednesday, June 12th, 2013
Georgia’s groundwater levels showed a general decline between 2010 and 2011 in response to low rainfall and increased pumping, according to a recent USGS publication. The greatest declines in the aquifers were in the southwestern part of the state where groundwater levels dropped as much as 18 feet in the Upper Floridan aquifer, 22 feet
Friday, June 7th, 2013
USGS scientists took high-tech sensors typically found in devices such as smart phones and embedded them into a new method to monitor riverbed movements that can help protect spawning habitat for endangered salmon. Developed in cooperation with Seattle Public Utilities for the Cedar River, the new method is published in the Journal of Hydrology.
Friday, May 31st, 2013
NASA transferred operational control Thursday of the Landsat 8 satellite to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in a ceremony in Sioux Falls, S.D. The event marks the beginning of the satellite’s mission to extend an unparalleled four-decade record of monitoring Earth’s landscape from space. Landsat 8 is the latest in the Landsat series of remote-sensing
Thursday, May 30th, 2013
Contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found at low concentrations in southeast Wisconsin streams may be harmful to aquatic life, according to a study published today by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
Top officials from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, and Senator Tim Johnson, will be at the USGS EROS Center in Sioux Falls on Thursday as the operational control of the Landsat 8 Earth observation satellite is transferred from NASA to the USGS and EROS.
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
The latest in the Landsat series of Earth observation satellites, Landsat 8, officially begins its mission on May 30 to extend an unparalleled four-decade record of Earth’s land surface as seen from space. The Landsat program is a joint effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA.
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Citizen volunteers are making significant additions to the U.S. Geological Survey’s ability to provide accurate information to the public. Using crowd sourcing techniques, the USGS project known as The National Map Corps (TNMC) encourages citizen volunteers to collect manmade structure data in an effort to provide accurate and authoritative spatial map data for the National
Monday, May 20th, 2013
A new U.S. Geological Survey study documents that the Nation’s aquifers are being drawn down at an accelerating rate. Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900-2008) comprehensively evaluates long-term cumulative depletion volumes in 40 separate aquifers (distinct underground water storage areas) in the United States, bringing together reliable information from previous references and from new
Friday, May 17th, 2013
US Topo maps now have a crisper, cleaner design – enhancing readability of maps for online and printed use. Map symbols are easier to read over the digital aerial photograph layer whether the imagery is turned on or off. Improvements to symbol definitions (color, line thickness, line symbols, area fills), layer order, and annotation fonts
