In front of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) national headquarters building in Reston, Va., two genetically identical lilac bushes are rooted in the earth. To casual observers, they are fragrant adornments to the landscaped property. But to ecologist Jake Weltzin and geographer John Jones—USGS scientists who study plant and animal life-cycle events—they are “Li” and “Lac,” two small but important pieces of a developing climate change indicator system.
Posted
May 22, 2012Water Resources, Indicators, Extreme Events
The low streamflows seen throughout much of New England this April do not foreshadow a summer drought , as researchers have determined summer rainfall plays a bigger role than snowmelt runoff in determining streamflows in the summer.
Posted
Feb 3, 2012Observations, Carbon Cycle, Arctic, Cities & Infrastructure, Indicators
Last week, the Interior Department's US Geological Survey (USGS) released details about a landmark airborne survey of permafrost in the Yukon Flats of Alaska that yielded some of the most detailed, data-rich maps of permafrost ever generated.