U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

USGS is excited to announce the release of the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD), a key resource for understanding land cover change across the United States. With six new products and data spanning from 1985 to 2023, this annual update leverages advancements in remote sensing to provide timely, consistent land cover information. These improvements are critical for applications such as environmental modeling, conservation, urban planning, and more. The Annual NLCD represents decades of collaboration with the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium, ensuring accurate and actionable data for scientists, resource managers, and policymakers. Learn more about how this resource supports better decision-making: https://ow.ly/1UAh50TSIAj #Landcover #NLCD #AnnualNLCD #Landsat #Geography #remotesensing #Earthobservation #geospatial Video Description: An animated GIF depicting changes in the landscape around Salt Lake City from 1985 to 2023. The image transitions over time, highlighting variations in land cover and urban development. Changes are shown through shifting colors, representing the growth of urban areas, potential loss of natural landscapes, and alterations in vegetation.

You only have one week left to apply for the Mendenhall Fellowships! All applications are due by November 1. As a Mendenhall Fellow, Dr. Hope Ianiri has spent months at sea collecting samples from deep-sea mineral systems and studying these systems with interdisciplinary teams: “As a Mendenhall Fellow, I have the freedom to pursue research questions I find compelling and significant yet also contribute to federal science priorities. I am also constantly learning and always feel intellectually challenged. I am well supported in this work and am grateful for a fantastic team of mentors, collaborators, and colleagues. I learn so much from them, and we have a lot of fun!” Apply today! https://ow.ly/ui2850TRLI0 📸: Two Mendenhall Fellows describing marine sediments in a lab at sea. Dr. Hope Ianiri (left) works on understanding carbon sequestration in marine mineral host sediments, and Dr. Maria Figueroa (right) studies the relationship between hydrothermal vents and marine minerals. #USGS #Science #Mendenhalls #Fellowships #Postdoc #Postdoctoral

🐍 Are reptiles on the move?🦎 A new study found that many lizard and snake species could expand their range north later in the century as western North America heats up. Cooler regions like Washington and Idaho may welcome new species, including the Gila monster! 🦎 Species arriving in unexpected places could mean new challenges for wildlife management and conservation. Learn more in our new story: https://ow.ly/h56K50TQ2vJ 📷USGS GIF of predicted range changes and BLM photo by John Kellam of a gila monster

What if we told you there’s enough lithium beneath Arkansas to meet the global demand for car batteries NINE times over by 2030? 🚗🔋 In a groundbreaking study, USGS scientists used a combination of water testing and AI to estimate that there is between 5 and 19 million tons of lithium reserves hiding beneath the Smackover Formation in southwestern Arkansas. This finding could be huge for the energy transition, as lithium is the most important critical mineral for powering electric vehicles and more. The lithium is located in brines and extracting it during oil and gas operations would turn what was once waste into a valuable resource. Lead study author and USGS Hydrologist Katherine Knierim says the lithium estimated in this area could "replace U.S. imports of lithium and more." Fun fact: The Smackover Formation dates back to the Jurassic period, making it home to some of the richest deposits of oil, bromine, and now… lithium! Ready to dive deeper into the science behind this incredible discovery? Explore the full study: https://ow.ly/8FPf50TQVj3 #UnleashTheScience #UnleashingTheScience #Lithium #RenewableEnergy #EV #CriticalMinerals

Join us on October 24 at 1 PM CST for a free webinar introducing the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) product, the latest advancement in land cover mapping from the USGS. Unlike previous NLCD releases, which occurred every few years, Annual NLCD offers yearly insights into land cover change from 1985-2023, providing researchers, policymakers, and land managers with up-to-date information for more precise decision-making in environmental conservation, urban planning, and resource management. The webinar will cover the history of NLCD, introduce the new Annual NLCD product line, and showcase the significant impact NLCD has had on science, land management, and policy over the past 30 years. Register for the webinar at https://lnkd.in/g6g4C_2R 📸 A map illustrating various land cover types using a color-coded system. Each type of land cover is represented by a distinct color: green for forests, yellow for croplands, brown for grasslands, red for urban areas, and other colors for additional classifications like water and wetlands.

📣Attention, geology enthusiasts! In celebration of #GeologicMapDay, explore our Unified Geologic Map of the Moon! 🌒 Created by the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, in collaboration with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Lunar and Planetary Institute, this first-ever comprehensive map reveals the moon’s entire surface geology, combining Apollo-era data with recent satellite missions. Not only does it show the 4.5-billion-year history of our lunar neighbor, but it’s also a key tool for future human missions and an invaluable resource for scientists, educators, and space enthusiasts. Download the entire map and legend here: https://ow.ly/YMUw50TOTY1 #EarthScienceWeek #NASA #MoonMap #GeologicMap #Apollo #LunarScience #SpaceExploration #Geology 📹: This animation shows a rotating globe of the new Unified Geologic Map of the Moon with shaded topography from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA). Credit: NASA/GSFC/USGS.

To reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, the U.S. must capture, transport, and permanently store hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year. But what does it truly take to store such vast amounts of carbon dioxide underground in geological formations that might span entire regions? Recently, the USGS and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hosted a collaborative workshop, bringing together multiple federal and state agencies, industry experts, academia, and research organizations to explore how science can address this critical challenge. Some of the takeaways? Science on subsurface fluid pressure, basin-scale carbon storage resources and monitoring of carbon storage will advance our ability to manage carbon dioxide. Read more about the Basin Scale Issues for Carbon Storage Workshop here 👉https://ow.ly/lsAH50TNQyJ Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management | U.S. Department of Energy #CarbonStorage #CarbonDioxide #NetZero Image: An experimental CO~2~ injection well in Cranfield, Mississippi.

📣 CALL FOR PROPOSALS 📣 For those working with or impacted by landslides, we are currently accepting grant proposals to fund new risk reduction science. These USGS Landslide Hazard Program grants are part of a new effort to improve our nation’s resilience to landslide activity. Proposals should focus on supporting communication, planning, coordination, mapping, assessments, or data collection of landslide hazards. ☑️ Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time, January 15, 2025. ☑️ The ONLY eligible applicants for this solicitation are state, territorial, local, and Tribal governments. Visit our technical announcement for more information: https://lnkd.in/gw7mxFdR #ScienceForAChangingWorld

USGS is proud to highlight the inspiring journey of Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, a dedicated Physical Scientist in the USGS’s Water Resources Mission Area. Diana's story begins in Colombia’s Zona Cafetera (coffee-growing region), where her curiosity about nature was ignited during childhood explorations with her grandfather. Her research includes understanding the socio-economic factors affecting water availability at the national level, showcasing her commitment to making a difference. Diana is also passionate about the human dimensions of science and actively participates in various working groups for diversity and inclusion, empowering future generations of scientists from underrepresented communities. Diana’s advocacy for diversity and her celebration of Hispanic heritage serve as a powerful reminder of the impact that diverse voices can have in shaping our scientific community. Join us in honoring her contributions and the significance of representation in STEM! 🌍 Diana’s Feature Story—available in Spanish too! https://ow.ly/YbPj50TJW64 📸 IMG 1: Diana during her Masters project field work collecting water samples in a stream near the city of Manizales, Colombia. 📸 IMG 2: Diana performing the Colombian Cumbia at the Festival of Cultures in Lawrence, Kansas. Photo credits: Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, USGS. #HispanicHeritageMonth #DiversityInScience

Did you know October 10 is Electronic Records Day? We’re celebrating with a #ThrowbackThursday to this past July, when our Bird Banding Laboratory finished scanning 1.3 million bird banding sheets containing tens of million records collected from the 1960s-2000s. The paper records were loaded into the 365 file boxes seen in the video below and transported to the National Archives. The effort to digitize paper records from the Bird Banding Lab began in 2015, and was completed with the help of the Secondary Transition to Employment Program-USGS Partnership or STEP-UP program. STEP-UP provides 18 to 22-year-old students with differing abilities the skills needed to transition from an academic to a business setting. The students have become an integral part of the data archiving process. Learn more: https://ow.ly/XIlt50TJf2n