USGS Thesaurus
Topics and methods of scientific study carried out by USGS, with product types, scientific disciplines, geologic time, and types of institutional structure and activities. Broad and shallow, used to help people find scientific information.
U.S. Geological Survey
Public domain
hierarchical
transitive
disciplines
methods
organizational functions
temporal
theme
distinct labels
Categories
Thematic terms for categorizing information resources. This thesaurus is intended to support finding and understanding scientific information.
institutional structures and activities
Organizational characteristics, services, activities and physical infrastructure, primarily focused on those of the USGS
employment and volunteer opportunities
facilities
Location, character, and general use of the physical offices used to carry out research, monitoring, and administration
field offices
Small branch of a science center not located at the headquarters of the science center
field stations
laboratories
nuclear reactors
libraries and archives
sample repositories
Organized and curated collections of physical materials such as drill cores, rock samples, thin sections, and biological samples.
core repositories
sample collections
national centers
Research and monitoring office with a mission of nationwide scope
organizational structure
mission directorates
Offices charged with coordinating a variety of scientific activities focused on strategic objectives that may cross traditional scientific discipline boundaries.
interdisciplinary directorates
multidisciplinary directorates
regional offices
Multidisciplinary management offices overseeing specified geographic area
science centers
Organizational units that carry out research or monitoring
geophysical observatories
volcano observatories
science discipline offices
Offices coordinating activities focused on traditional academic categories
divisions
support offices
Organizational units that carry out administrative functions rather than research or monitoring
science programs
Broadly organized scientific research and monitoring activities
citizen science programs
Observation or monitoring activities that include contributions from amateur or non-professional scientists or other citizen volunteers.
crowd sourcing (science)
public participation in scientific research
environmental justice
Scientific planning, activities, and information intended to support equitable access and use by all people who may be affected.
climate justice
cultural differences
data equity
environmental racism
equal protection
social justice
external research support
Research carried out by external organizations or individuals through contracts or grants
contract research programs
research grants
interagency programs
Ongoing organizational activities in which USGS works directly with other government agencies
interdisciplinary programs
Major research and monitoring activities focused on topics that cross or integrate multiple traditional academic categories
international programs
Organizational activities that USGS undertakes with cooperation and support of foreign governments or multinational organizations
partnerships
Formal collaborative relationships between USGS and other organizations
cooperative agreements
user services
community relations
customer support and user feedback
Web sites focusing on assistance to users of USGS information products
product support
technical support
educational services
college resources
internship programs
K-12 resources
lifelong learning resources
information services
clearinghouses
data services
data downloading
application programming interfaces
Internet services providing subsets of data in response to specific web requests. For APIs that are not accessible through the internet, use scientific software.
APIs
map interfaces
Online interfaces showing interactive maps and geospatial information
map servers
web map services
Internet services providing geospatial information that conform to formally defined specifications, for use in GIS and mapping software.
GIS services
OGC WCS
OGC WFS
OGC WMS
news services
Summaries of time-sensitive information of interest to the public, may include short audio or video presentations, may provide subscription services
publishing
Policies and procedures by which information is reviewed, approved, formatted for public distribution.
reference services
Earth Science Information Centers (ESICs)
sales and distribution services
Online services by which products may be purchased
maps on demand
search services
Automated information search systems
search engines
media relations
standards development
Creation and maintenance of formal specifications by which research and monitoring are carried out
Techniques, methods, procedures, or strategies for research, management, collection, or analysis of scientific information in USGS.
computational methods
Mathematical techniques used to analyze numerical data.
mathematical methods
acid-base accounting
An analytical procedure that provides values to help assess the acid-producing and acid-neutralizing potential of overburden rocks prior to coal mining and other large-scale excavations.
image analysis
Pattern analysis of the shapes and textures of images to identify features and derive information about them.
structure from motion
Mathematical analysis, using photogrammetric principles, of multiple images that depict the same subject from different angles to derive geometrical information and relationships in three-dimensional space that are not inherent in any single image. Often used for deriving land elevation or large scale orthoimagery from a collection of aerial photographs.
SfM
relative abundance analysis
Determination of the percentage of individuals of one group in comparison to the total of all individuals in a given area.
spatial analysis
Use of quantitative tools to study social, economic, and geographic data in relation to distributions and patterns in geographic space.
contouring
Derivation of contours, or other lines of constant value, that visually summarize the spatial variation of some characteristic over an area, for example elevation.
geospatial analysis
Detailed study of information such as measurements, counts, and computations as a function of geographical location.
statistical analysis
Branch of mathematics concerned with techniques to collect and interpret data.
geostatistics
kriging
Statistical analysis technique which uses interpolation to best predict unknown data values from data observed at known locations.
multivariate statistical analysis
Statistical study using a number of independent variables or measurements of the same attribute.
regression analysis
Statistical analysis based on the functional relationships of two or more related variables. Predicts the value of one variable when the other two are given.
correlation
time series analysis
Statistical analysis using frequency distribution in which time is an independent variable. A sequence of observations collected at regular time intervals is studied.
topological analysis
Branch of geometry concerned with the properties of objects that do not change even when deformed, twisted, stretched or otherwise changed in shape.
visualization methods
The application of two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphical techniques for the analysis and interpretation of complex numerical data.
visualization
environmental proxies
Biological, chemical, or physical features whose presence, characteristics, or behavior reflect environmental parameters of interest that cannot be readily or efficiently observed or measured directly.
environmental surrogates
field methods
Research procedures and instrumental means to measure, collect data and samples, and observe in the natural areas where the materials, phenomena, structures, or species being studied occur.
field experiments
Deliberate arrangement of objects and events in the field to observe the behavioral response of natural systems or organisms.
tracer study
Experiments in which stable, easily detected substances or radioisotopes are added to a material to follow the movement of the substance in the environment or to detect any physical or chemical changes with time.
isotopic tracer study
radioisotope tracer study
field inventory and monitoring
Repeated observation or sampling at a site, on a scheduled or event basis, for study and analysis. In general, this category excludes sampling programs in which materials are obtained in the field and brought back to a laboratory for study and analysis.
baseline characterization
field monitoring
field observation
inventory
ocean current measurement
ocean monitoring
ocean wave measurement
precipitation measurement
rainfall measurement
reconnaissance
river discharge monitoring
snowfall measurement
volcano monitoring
weather monitoring
weather observations
acoustic doppler current profiling
Field monitoring of water currents using the doppler effect with acoustic instruments.
acoustic doppler current profiler
ADCP
hydroacoustics
animal and plant census
Inventory of macroscopic animals and plants by observation in the field. Used to estimate population and distribution.
census
borehole logging
Method of recording the physical characteristics of the subsurface as a function of depth by observations during drilling of a well or borehole, studying the resulting core, or by lowering instruments into a drilled hole.
well logging
borehole temperature logging
Method of recording the measured temperature of the subsurface as a function of depth by lowering instruments into the hole.
electrical resistivity logging
Recordings made to identify the composition of subterranean materials at different depths in a borehole by measuring their ability to resist the flow of an electric current.
resistivity sounding
gamma-ray logging
Recording of the measurements of natural gamma radiation emitted from the rocks in a borehole to study the subsurface structures.
CTD measurement
Instrumental determination of conductivity, temperature, and pressure as a function of depth to determine the salinity of seawater.
ecosystem monitoring
Recording, evaluating, and actively intervening over time in the interaction of living and nonliving elements in a specific environment.
dendroecology
indicator species observation
biomarkers
Biochemical, physiological, morphological, or histopathological characteristics of organisms that signify exposure to contaminants. Also used for biogeochemical measurements of rocks to detect biological origin.
biological markers
habitat suitability indices
Numerical values calculated for a given area representing the capacity of a habitat to support a given species, as the ratio of observed habitat conditions to optimum conditions.
long-term ecological monitoring
Data collection over a period of years or decades to assess changes in selected biological communities and habitats.
electromagnetic surveying
Method of determining the shape and constituency of near-surface earth structures by variations of responses of the materials to electrical and magnetic fields. Use for ground-based methods of imaging.
continuous resistivity profiling
Ship-based method of analyzing apparent resistivity of the sub-bottom (for example, spatial variation in pore-water salinity) by measuring the induced electromagnetic response to a current generated by the instruments.
continuous resistivity surveying
CRP profiling
CRP surveying
electrical resistivity imaging
Land-based resistivity survey where current is applied to the ground using an array of electrodes and apparent resistivity of the subsurface is measured, giving estimates of the spatial variability of resistivity (for example, variations in pore water salinity).
electrical resistivity tomography
ERT surveying
ground penetrating radar
Electromagnetic imaging instrument using radar to investigate shallow subsurface structure.
GPR
ground-penetrating radar
ground penetrating radar (GPR)
magnetotelluric surveying
Passive geophysical technique that uses the earth's natural electromagnetic field to investigate the spatial variation of electrical resistivity in the subsurface.
AMT surveying
audio magneto telluric surveying
audio-magneto-telluric surveying
magneto telluric surveying
magneto-telluric surveying
gravimeter measurement
Use of a specialized instrument for measuring the earth's gravity at a given location.
gravimetric methods
gravimetry
handheld field spectroscopy
Use of portable equipment to measure spectral reflectance of materials in the field.
hand-held field spectroscopy
magnetometer measurement
Use of specialized instruments designed to measure the earth's magnetic field at a given location.
magnetic surveying
magnetometry
optical methods
Measurement of light transmission or reflectance in the field to estimate, for example, the density of suspended sediment in water bodies.
optical backscatterance sensing
optical reflectance measurement
seismic methods
Procedures used to record and study earthquakes or earth vibrations including those that are artificially induced.
seismic exploration
seismic imaging
seismic profiles
seismograms
seismometry
seismic networking
Deploying, operating, and maintaining groups and arrays of instruments for detecting and describing local movements of the earth.
earthquake monitoring
seismic reflection methods
Geophysical technique to study the subsurface of the earth using sound waves induced by explosives, vibrating devices, or percussive equipment. The reflections of the sound waves from the boundaries of different rocks are measured.
seismic reflection survey maps
sub-bottom profiling
Methods of imaging the structure of sediments below the sea floor or lakebed using ship-borne or towed sensors with a variety of sound sources.
boomer profiling
chirp profiling
multi-channel seismic profiling
multichannel seismic profiling
single channel seismic profiling
sparker profiling
subbottom profiling
seismic refraction methods
Geophysical technique to study the subsurface of the earth by generating compressional waves by means of hammering or explosive methods. The variations in velocity of the waves traveling through rocks or geological layers are measured.
sonar methods
SOund Navigation And Ranging techniques to detect submerged objects and to determine depths to the bottom of a water body using reflections of sound waves.
interferometric sonar
Acoustic technique for determining depths or creating backscatter imagery in a wide swath of seafloor or lakebed centered below the instrument platform.
multibeam sonar
multibeam
multi-beam
multi-beam echosounder
multi-beam echo sounder
multibeam echosounder
multibeam echo sounder
multi-beam sonar
sidescan sonar
Acoustic technique for creating oblique backscatter imagery of the seafloor or lakebed.
geological long-range inclined asdic
sidescan
side scan sonar
side-scan sonar
sidescan sonar mosaics
single-beam echo sounder
Acoustic technique for determining seafloor or lakebed depth directly below the instrument platform.
fathometer
single beam echosounder
single beam echo sounder
single-beam echosounder
statistical surveying
Information gathering by asking questions of selected people or organizations.
canvassing
stream-gage measurement
Use of specialized instruments designed for observing, checking, and recording the water discharge that occurs in a natural channel.
gage-height monitoring
stream current monitoring
stream flow monitoring
stream-flow monitoring
streamflow monitoring
stream gage monitoring
stream-gage monitoring
telemetry
Field technique using instruments which measure heat, radiation, speed, or other property and transmit the data to a distant receiver.
acoustic telemetry
biotelemetry
microwave telemetry
radio telemetry
tiltmeter measurement
Determination of tiny changes in the slope angle or tilt of the ground in order to monitor deformation caused by moving magma. Instruments detect variations in a liquid level or in the position of a pendulum.
tiltmeter
tomography
Observation of the internal structure of an object or, as is more typical in USGS research, a cross section of the earth's crust by changing the relative orientation of a signal generator, a sensor, or both.
radar tomography
seismic tomography
video monitoring
Field study employing the use of filming or repeated photography with stationary optical or digital cameras to observe changes in a feature or organism.
remote video monitoring
vocalization methods
Series of methods used to (a) record sonograms (sound spectrogram) of animal sounds which are analyzed to identify the presence of species in an area and to determine distinct sound patterns within a species, e.g., mating calls, danger alerts; (b) attract species to an area for inventory or monitoring by playing recorded animal sounds or mimicking them.
field sampling
Collecting pieces or specimens or making measurements or observations at determined intervals or areas. Results may be used as representative of the whole research area or population.
fish inventories
animal tracking
Method of studying wildlife by following physical materials (spoor, footprints, droppings, scent) or remote monitoring of individuals or populations in an area to document the presence and movements of the animals and their interactions within the landscape.
fish tracking
tracking
capturing (animals)
Collecting individual animals in the field by various methods in order to obtain information about the species or population and its ecology. Capturing methods are adapted to the habits and habitats of the target species and include both live trapping and kill trapping methods.
trapping (animals)
dredge sampling
Collection of material from the bottom of a body of water by dragging an open container along the floor of the water body and returning the collected material to the investigators.
drilling and coring
Cutting into the subsurface, for example into underground strata, ice, or a tree trunk, to remove material for examination. Intended for broad use wherever coring is done. The combination of this term with other terms will convey the context of the activity.
core sampling
coring
ice core sampling
augering
Use of a device with rotating blades and possibly helical flanges to dig holes in unconsolidated material for subsurface sampling.
box coring
Use of a rectangular box pushed into soft sediment with a spade to facilitate lifting the sampled material, to isolate and extract relatively undisturbed underwater sediment.
gravity coring
Use of a simple tube pushed into underwater sediments by an overhanging weight, to extract relatively undisturbed material for study.
piston coring
Use of a piston mechanism and a weight with a triggering mechanism to drive a coring tube deep into underwater sediments for extraction and study.
push coring
Use of a small, hand-held tube pressed into unconsolidated material for sampling.
rotary drilling
Use of machinery to drive a rotating bit through earth materials in order to sample below the surface.
vibracoring
Application of vibration to a coring device in order to achieve greater penetration for sampling unconsolidated material.
grab sampling
Use of a mechanical device to seize a volume of unconsolidated surficial material for study. This term applies when the device used is specifically crafted for grab sampling.
plant and animal tagging
Methods of attaching a tag or marker to an organism as long-term identification for study purposes.
animal tagging
banding
bird banding
radioisotope tagging
tagging
plot sampling
Outlining small areas of land within a larger area to use as samples to study biological populations or ecosystems.
sexing (plants & animals)
Determination of the sex of an individual organism for study purposes, such as wildlife surveys.
sexing (plants and animals)
specimen collecting
Taking of samples from the environment for study.
collection of specimens
transect sampling
Systematic method of collecting field data by recording observations or collecting specimens along a vector or measured course across the environment.
trenching
Field method used by earth scientists to study the underground structure of an area. A long narrow ditch is dug to locate geologic features, such as a fault.
water sampling
Methods of collecting a representative part of a body of water for testing in controlled conditions.
geolocation measurement
Methods for establishing a geographic location on the surface of the earth.
location measurement
navigating
orienteering
altimetry measurement
The measurement of altitude, or height above mean sea level, using instruments such as aneroid barometers and radar altimeters.
satellite altimetry
bathymetry measurement
Means of determining the depth to the floor of a body of water, especially the ocean.
GPS measurement
Determination of distance and location using instruments receiving signals from the Global Positioning System, a system of satellites for identifying earth locations.
DGPS
differential GPS
global positioning measurement
real-time kinematic navigation
land surveying
Determining property boundaries, land area, elevations, and locations of features on the surface of the land by calculations based on the instrumental measurements of angles and distances or by use of global positional satellites.
surveying
LORAN-C navigation
Hyperbolic radio navigation system used for near-shore waters.
real-time monitoring and reporting
Gathering information through periodic or continuous measurement in the field to provide a view of current conditions. In some instances, observations may not be subject to rigorous review before release; this will be noted in the documentation accompanying the data.
real-time data
laboratory methods
Techniques to analyze and test samples in a place equipped and designed for the work.
age estimation methods
Methods used to determine the age of earth materials, typically by laboratory analysis of properties of those materials.
dating methods
fission-track dating
Laboratory technique for determining the age of rocks and other geological materials by counts of spontaneous and induced fission tracks left by the radioactive isotope uranium-238.
age dating (fission-track)
fission-track method
luminescence dating
Dating methods that involve the analysis of the optical properties of minerals exposed to environmental radiation. Typically used to determine the age of subaerial exposure of surficial sediments.
optically-stimulated luminescence dating
thermoluminescence dating
TL/OSL dating
sclerochronology
Description of the history of individual organisms by studying the variations in thickness of accretionary layers in their skeletons.
tephrochronology
Age determination of rocks and deposits by correlation of volcanic ash layers (tephra) that bound the deposits below and above.
camera calibration
Optical calibration of cameras that are typically used in airborne remote sensing.
chemical analysis
Chemical techniques used to identify the composition of substances.
detection (chemical)
geochemical surveys
leaching (analytical method)
mineralogical analysis
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
sediment geochemistry
atomic absorption analysis
Technique used to identify chemicals based on the measurement of the spectra produced by atoms and molecules with absorption of electromagnetic radiation.
atomic emission spectroscopy
Chemical detection of element concentration by examining the intensity and wavelength of light emitted from the sample when gaseous sample is ionized and maintained in a plasma state.
ICP-AES
inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry
chromatography
Analytical techniques used to separate or partition the components of a gaseous or liquid mixture by differences in absorption rates during flow around or over surface absorbents such as columns of silica, filter papers, or gels.
gas chromatography
Chromatographic technique used to separate or partition the components of a mixture. Solid and liquid samples are vaporized and passed through a column containing a liquid that differentially absorbs the molecules.
liquid chromatography
Chromatographic technique to separate or partition the components of a mixture in which samples are liquid and passed through a column.
high-pressure liquid chromatography
HPLC
DNA sequencing
Biochemical procedure to determine the order of nucleotides in genes.
gene sequencing
genome
electrophoresis
Analytical technique to separate and identify components in a mixture using the differential migration of molecules based on their net charge through a paper or gel medium.
flow cytometry
Laboratory technique to determine the amount of DNA in cells tagged by fluorescent dye by measuring the intensity of fluorescence under a laser beam.
mass spectroscopy
Instrumental technique to separate and identify molecules. Gaseous ions are formed, with or without fragmentation. Their mass/charge ratios and relative electrical abundance are then measured or the spectra are recorded.
mass spectrometry
neutron activation analysis
Sensitive laboratory technique for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of elements in samples. Target nuclei are bombarded with neutron beams to start nuclear reactions which emit characteristic gamma ray radiations.
particle-beam spectroscopy
Analytical technique using a concentrated beam of charged subatomic particles.
electron probe microanalysis
polymerase chain reaction
Biochemical technique that uses enzymes to replicate new nucleotides of DNA from DNA triphosphates using DNA as a template.
x-ray diffraction
Study of crystals which uses short wave electromagnetic radiations (x-rays). The xrays, scattered by the crystal atoms, show a characteristic interference pattern that is dependent upon the structure of the crystal.
x-ray fluorescence
Estimation of chemical element concentration by measuring the energy level of secondary X-rays generated when the sample is bombarded with high-energy X-rays or gamma rays.
XRF
core analysis
Study of the composition and layers of cylindrical samples of rocks, trees, ice, and other materials extracted by drilling into a mass. Intended for broad use for the analysis of all types of core samples. The combination of this term with other terms will convey the context of the activity.
culturing (specimens)
Growing microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium for diagnostic or scientific use.
faunal and floral census (microscopic)
Records of counts of the different microscopic species in a core, soil, sediment, rock or water sample to determine geologic age or other characteristic of the sample. Use for microscopic examinations.
pollen analysis
grain-size analysis
Method of studying soils, sediments, sands, or rock by determining the size, distribution, and proportion of selected particles.
grainsize analysis
granulometry
particle-size analysis
sieve-size analysis
Analytic technique determining the distribution of the different sizes of particles in soil, sediment, or rock samples by measuring the percentage that will pass through mesh holes of known size.
isotopic analysis
Experimental determination of the proportion of a given isotope (or isotopes) in a sample.
light stable isotope analysis
Analytical technique using mass spectrometry to measure the different isotopic forms of low mass (light) elements such as oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur that occur in samples.
light stable-isotope analysis
stable isotope analysis
beryllium isotope analysis
Method of age determination based on measurement of the activity of beryllium-10, used in dating deep-sea sediments, and in determining sedimentation rates.
carbon isotope analysis
Experimental determination of the proportion of a given stable carbon isotope (C12 or C13) in a sample.
oxygen isotope analysis
Experimental determination of the proportion of a given stable oxygen isotope in a sample.
tritium analysis
Mass spectrometric measurement of the decay of the radioactive isotope of hydrogen in water samples as a means of dating and investigating changes in water.
tritium-helium dating
radiometric dating
Methods for age determination of rocks and fossils by measuring the proportions of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes to their decay products.
age dating (radiometric)
argon-argon dating
lead-210 dating
radiometric age determination
carbon-14 analysis
Method to determine the age of organic geologic and archaeological specimens, aged approximately 3,000 to 50,000 years, by determining the decay of the radioactive isotope carbon-14.
carbon dating
radiocarbon dating
potassium-argon analysis
Radiometric age determination by comparison of the concentrations of radioactive potassium and argon daughter products.
K-Ar dating
rubidium-strontium analysis
Technique for dating ancient rocks based on measuring the ratio of the isotopes strontium-87 to ribidium-87 in samples. Uses the known half-life of radioactive isotopes of rubidium-87 that decay to isotopes of strontium-87 to determine rock ages.
Rb-Sr age analysis
uranium-lead analysis
Radiometric dating technique to determine the age of earth materials from the ratio of the radioactive isotopes of uranium-235 or uranium-238 to the lead isotope decay products in the sample. The ratio is compared to the known half-life of the uranium isotopes.
uranium-thorium analysis
Radiometric dating technique used to determine the age of earth materials based on determining the ratio of uranium-238 to the decay product thorium-230. The ratio is compared to the known half-life of the uranium isotope.
laboratory experiments
Procedures carried out in a laboratory under controlled conditions to test specific scientific hypotheses.
meristics
Branch of zoology concerned with classifying animals by counting and measuring body parts.
morphometrics
microscopy
Laboratory methods using instruments that employ optical lenses or radiation to study objects too small to be seen by the naked eye.
microscope methods
electron microscopy
Study of small particles of matter with a microscope that produces a magnified image by using a beam of electrons focused by magnetic lenses.
scanning electron microscopy
Microscope in which a finely focused beam of electrons is scanned across a specimen. The electronic intensity variations observed are used to construct an image of the specimen.
optical microscopy
Scientific techniques using a microscope with one or more lenses illuminated with visible light to view small objects.
microtomy
Laboratory methods using special instruments, or microtomes, to cut very thin slices of specimens for microscopic studies.
paleomagnetic analysis
Determination of the intensity and direction of residual magnetism in rocks to study changes in the earth's magnetic field during past geologic time.
Curie temperature analysis
Analysis of rock specimens using the Curie temperature point above which ferromagnetic materials lose permanent magnetism.
temperature analysis (Curie)
laboratory-induced magnetization analysis
Laboratory method to study rocks using magnetometers to measure remanent magnetic fields induced in the samples.
magnetic hysteresis analysis
Nondestructive evaluation of ferromagnetic materials. The evaluation is based on measurement of the variation of intensity of magnetization within an applied magnetic field due to changes in the magnetic domain structure of the materials under study.
hysteresis
magnetic susceptibility analysis
Nondestructive evaluation and location of magnetic materials in rock based on measuring the intensity of attraction of the materials to an induced magnetic field. Applications include geological and soil surveys, paleomagnetic studies, sedimentology, archaeological prospecting and core logging.
natural remanent magnetization analysis
Method which measures the intensity and direction of residual magnetism in rocks to determine their age and history.
natural remnant magnetization analysis
petrography
Use of optical microscopy for the description and classification of rocks.
thin section analysis
plant and animal testing
Use of live or dead organisms for scientific study.
animal testing
subsampling
Preparation of study materials by dividing or slicing cores, samples, or other collected materials.
thin sectioning
therapeutic methods
Methods of restoring health with remedial agents or treatments.
tree ring analysis
Study of the variations in width and number of tree rings to date historical events and to study periods of climatic and hydrologic changes.
age dating (tree ring)
management methods
Techniques of judiciously controlling or directing resources for a predetermined goal.
adaptive management
A decision-making process aiming to reduce uncertainty through system monitoring and feedback, used for environmental or resource management.
adaptive environmental assessment and management
adaptive resource management
decision support methods
Mathematical, analytical, and social procedures used to aid groups and individuals in the process of making decisions. Includes protocols for discussion and mechanisms for facilitating communication among disparate groups as well as mechanical and technological aids to analysis and understanding.
conflict resolution methods
ecosystem services valuation
Assessment of the value of ecosystem functions in supporting, sustaining, or enriching life.
environmental assessment
The evaluation of the status of a specific ecosystem or geographic area and how a proposed change in management or a proposed project will affect that status.
environmental analysis
environmental impact assessment
TMDL
A calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water-quality standards.
total maximum daily load
hazard preparedness
Awareness of the consequences of hazards and actions to be taken before, during, or after hazards occur or are encountered.
early warning systems
emergency response planning
fire preparedness
flood preparedness
landslide preparedness
tsunami preparedness
aviation safety
Effects on air transportation of natural hazards such as volcanic activity (ash plumes and volcanic clouds).
earthquake preparedness
Awareness of the consequences of earthquake events and actions to be taken before, during, or after events.
information technology methods
Information-related concerns on which people focus their work in support of scientific investigations and research.
informatics activities
data communication
Design, development, and deployment of methods to convey scientific information to potential users.
markup and query language development
Design of the structure and format of digital queries and responses concerning scientific data resources. Refers to exchanges in which the structure and content of the queries is interpreted by software both when generated and when received.
social network development
Design and use of software and interfaces that facilitate interchange of information among people or organizations that produce scientific data and the potential users of those data. Primarily refers to interactive web interfaces and services that enable discussion, collaboration, and comment on the data.
web interface development
Design of user interfaces for scientific information that are accessed using web browser software.
data packaging
Design of the structure, format, and arrangement of scientific data in digital files in order to facilitate their transfer and effective use by people and organizations other than the originators.
web service development
Design and deployment of data services accessed using the hypertext transfer protocol.
data integration
Strategies which, when implemented, enable disparate data to be combined in a single analysis. Includes combination of similar data from small components into larger, coherent assemblages as well as recognizing and exploiting relationships linking or connecting data that are maintained separately. May include efforts to make scientific information more easily found and obtained.
information architecture
Design of conceptual, logical, and physical information system components (both data and software) to support effective maintenance, integration, or use of the data.
knowledge organization system development
Design and development of information systems that represent and relate concepts needed to identify, specify, organize, categorize, or characterize scientific information effectively. Includes development of controlled vocabularies as well as hierarchical and networked concept schemes such as thesauri and ontologies.
ontology development
data management
Activities focused on the creation, documentation, and preservation of scientific data with the intent that the data continue to be usable in the future.
collection management
data curation
digital curation
information management
knowledge management
data preservation
Design, development, and implementation of methods for ensuring that scientific information remain accessible and usable despite changes in technology and strategic directions in the originating organzation.
data archiving
data rescue
Reduction of the risk that scientific information will be lost or become unusable in the future. Includes copying data from unstable to stable media, conversion of data files from unusable to usable formats, and creation of metadata allowing further changes to the data and other characteristics to be documented.
digitization
Compilation in digital form of data previously presented in analog forms such as contours on paper maps, plots, or other graphical materials, so that the digital data produced approximates the scientific measurements used to create the original printed materials.
digitizing
improvement of scientific data usability
Retrospective modification of the structure, format, packaging, or documentation of an existing scientific data resource to improve the likelihood of effective use of the data by individuals or organizations who did not create the data.
redatafication
metadata management
Curation and maintenance of the documentation for scientific information resources. Includes editing the metadata to improve consistency, completeness, and correctness, and modification of the structure of the documentation to improve its effectiveness in actual use.
information system administration
Design, deployment, and maintenance of computing systems that support creation, maintenance, and use of scientific information.
database administration
Design and implementation of strategies for arranging information within database management systems (including but not restricted to relational database management systems) so that the integrity and consistency of the information supports its intended uses.
information system security
Methods for ensuring that information systems are used for their intended purpose by those entitled to use them and that the information they contain retains its integrity and, where appropriate, confidentiality.
network administration
Methods for ensuring that computers communicate effectively with one another and follow established standards and guidelines for ensuring integrity in exchanging information and efficiency in operation.
software development
Design and development of procedures and instructions by which information is modified or presented.
application development
computer programming
programming
mitigation of coastal hazards
Actions taken to reduce risk of physical disruption in coastal environments.
coastal infrastructure relocation
Landward relocation of infrastructure to reduce the risk from coastal hazards.
hard shoreline stabilization
Use of engineered structures to armor or otherwise protect the shoreline against erosional agents such as waves and currents. Includes breakwaters, bulkheads, seawalls, groins, jetties, and revetments.
soft shoreline stabilization
Mitigating coastal erosion by managing the sediment budget (for example, beach nourishment or sand bypassing) or restoring dunes and wetlands (for example, by planting erosion-resistant vegetation).
natural resource management
Using a combination of techniques to control or direct the use of resources and limit population size to reach a predetermined goal, such as sustainability.
conservation
environmental management
environmental planning
resource conservation
resource restoration
beach nourishment
Transfer of sand from offshore areas to resupply beach areas that have been eroded.
beach replenishment
biological population management
Judicious means of controlling or directing numbers and life conditions of organisms living in a specific locality to achieve a selected goal.
conservation genetics
fishery management
Controlling or directing numbers and life conditions of fish living in a specific locality to achieve a selected goal.
pest control
Intentional reduction in the abundance of specific harmful organisms in a given area.
reintroduction (organisms)
Return of a species to an area through the intervention of man.
recolonization (organisms)
re-establishment (organisms)
wildlife population management
Monitoring and control of wildlife as a sustainable natural asset.
game management
Scientific monitoring and control of hunted wildlife.
controlled flooding
The deliberate inundation of land or wetland, or an increase in river flow below dams for restoration or research purposes. Do not confuse with flood control.
flooding (controlled)
managed flooding
ecosystem management
Means of controlling or directing human practices, species populations, and physical environment within an ecosystem to achieve a selected state of sustainability.
ecosystem preservation
fire control
Human intervention to restrict or prevent fires in forests and grasslands.
fire prevention
controlled fires
Prescribed burns used to burn trees, brush, and undergrowth that would fuel a large wildfire. Do not confuse this term with 'fire control'. It is one of the tools used in fire control.
controlled burns
fires (controlled)
managed fires
natural resource assessment
Estimation of the actual or potential value of natural materials and processes.
resource assessment
carbon dioxide storage assessment
Estimates of the storage capacity of carbon dioxide in geologic units at depths of 3,000 to 13,000 feet that are capable of maintaining carbon dioxide in a supercritical state.
remediation
Methods for decontaminating, reclaiming, and restoring natural resources or reducing the effects of hazards.
reclamation
restoration
bioremediation
Use of biological methods, usually involving microorganisms, to break down or neutralize contaminants in soil, water, and wastes.
biological remediation
revegetation
water resource management
Methods of controlling or directing resources and activities related to water for a predetermined goal.
artificial recharge
impoundment
reclaimed water
watershed management
Controlling and directing the resources and activities associated with the land and streams of a drainage basin to maintain the supply and quality of water and prevent floods, erosions, and other destructive conditions.
risk assessment
The evaluation of the likelihood of adverse effects due to a given factor such as energy development or recurring hazardous events such as earthquakes.
earthquake probabilities
That aspect of seismology that deals with the physical conditions or indications that precede an earthquake, in order to predict its probability, size, time, and location.
earthquake forecasting
earthquake prediction
seismicity maps
landslide susceptibility assessment
Estimation of the probability of occurrence and likely severity of landslides in a given area.
landslide susceptibility maps
slope stability
slope stability maps
volcanic eruption prediction
Estimation of future volcanic activity using geological and geophysical observations.
volcanic eruption forecasting
modeling
Human-constructed representation of processes, phenomena, or objects so that the behaviors, characteristics and relationships among things that are being studied can be understood without exhaustive data collection and analysis.
models
conceptual modeling
Representation of a system indicating the relationships among concepts, objects, or processes involved in the system, used to help people understand or simulate the system it represents. Often realized using diagrams or generalized schemas.
concept mapping
entity-relationship mapping
flow diagramming
state and transition modeling
Modeling of systems such as ecosystems to predict the consequences of natural events and management actions by describing how specified events and actions may change the components and relationships in the system.
state and transition simulation modeling
STMs
mathematical modeling
Operational representation of a system in which the characteristics and behaviors of the component processes, phenomena, or objects, understood using mathematical relationships, are represented by numerical values (measured or hypothetical), so that calculations carried out using them return numerical estimates of system parameters that were not measured directly.
computational modeling
fractal geometric methods
groundwater flow modeling
modeling (mathematical)
numerical methods
numerical modeling
statistical modeling
streamflow modeling
inverse modeling
An iterative approach to estimate the form and characteristics of a physical system explained by observations or measurements. Frequently used to determine a subsurface geological structure from measurements of physical properties obtained at or near the earth's surface.
geophysical inversion
inverse problem
inversion modeling
mathematical simulation
A computer algorithm or model, which was created to represent a simplified version of a real world situation.
physical modeling
Physical arrangement of materials or objects, to enact processes involving them. The system is understood by observing and reporting the resulting arrangement, behavior, and composition of those materials or objects.
photography
Process of using digital or film cameras to collect images of objects.
photographs
underwater photography
Photographs taken below the water surface, usually in marine, lacustrine, and estuarine environments. Subjects are typically benthic organisms and sedimentary structures on the bottom.
camera tows
remote sensing
Acquiring information about a natural feature or phenomenon, such as the Earth's surface, without actually being in contact with it. USGS remote sensing is usually carried out with airborne or spaceborne sensors or cameras.
airborne imaging
composite burn index
normalized burn ratio
photogrammetry
remote-sensing data
remote-sensing images
satellite images
satellite imaging
space-borne sensing
aerial photography
The process of taking pictures with a camera from an aircraft. Use for both the process of photography from the air and the images produced by the process.
aerial photographs
aerial photos
air photos
orthoimagery
orthophotographs
aeromagnetic surveying
Mapping of the earth's magnetic field with the use of airborne electronic magnetometers.
aeromagnetic maps
aeroradiometric surveying
Mapping of gamma radiation from the earth's surface with airborne scintillation meters or gamma-ray spectrometers.
airborne gamma-ray spectrometry
gamma-ray spectrometric surveying
hyperspectral imaging
Multispectral imaging technique that records many bands of imagery at very narrow bandwidths.
IFSAR
Interferometric comparison of radar reflectance imagery of the same area at different times to determine changes in the land surface, typically from a space-borne sensor.
InSAR
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR)
SAR interferometry
infrared imaging
Method of remote sensing in which optical sensors produce visible representations of infrared rays or radiated heat from the observed objects and the temperature variations are represented by different colors in the image.
AVHRR
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer or broad-band, four or five channel scanner, sensing in the visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This information is used to estimate characteristics of the land and sea surface such as temperature and overall health of vegetation.
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
AVHRR images
AVIRIS
airborne visible infrared imaging spectrometer
lidar
Light detection and ranging, an airborne, spaceborne or ground-based laser-ranging technique commonly used for acquiring high-resolution topographic data.
LIDAR images
microwave imaging
Remote sensing method using short high frequency electromagnetic waves reflected or radiated from the ground.
SMMR
Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR), a technique which uses a multichannel microwave radiometer mounted on an airplane or satellite to measure polarized microwave radiances from the atmosphere, seas or land. Temperatures, wind speeds, sea ice coverage, and terrain parameters can be obtained.
Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR)
SMMR images
SSM/I
Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I), technique using passive microwave radiometers aboard satellites to measure the microwave reflectivity of the earth, oceans, and the atmosphere.
Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I)
SSM/I images
multispectral imaging
A method of remote sensing that obtains optical representations in two or more ranges of frequencies or wave lengths.
advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer
ASTER
Landsat images
Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer
MODIS
thematic mapper
panchromatic imaging
Photographic technique which uses emulsions, films, or plates sensitive to all colors in light to produce black-and-white photographs. Often used in aerial and satellite photography.
radar imaging
A remote sensing technique which uses the reflection of pulsed high frequency radio waves to determine the speed, direction, and distance of faraway objects.
doppler radar imaging
Exploitation of the doppler effect in radar imaging to determine speed of airborne objects such as birds, butterflies, and clouds.
radar ecology
SLAR
Side-looking Airborne Radar, an airborne radar imaging technique, uses an antenna mounted on an airplane or satellite to project radiation at right angles to the flight path and collect high resolution images.
Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR)
thermal imaging
Remote sensing techniques using instruments to measure emitted thermal radiation to form images of the earth's surface.
visible light imaging
Remote sensing methods using electromagnetic radiation which is visible to the human eye to react with the coating on a photographic plate or film.
satellite photography
scientific interpretation
Application of scientific judgment as to the meaning of observations or models. Use for interpretations that are provided in formats similar to data, such as geospatial data.
videography
The process of recording and editing analog or digital video.
product types
General representation of the information in a resource, such as a map or data set.
animations
Graphical representation of scientific data presented as a timed sequence of visual images, normally without sound.
catalogs and indexes
Detailed enumeration of related items listed in a given order, or alphabetical lists of topics used for information retrieval.
indexes
lists of publications
metadata
bibliographies
List of publications on a given topic, by an author or group, or published in a specific time period. Limited here to lists primarily of paper documents.
directories
Searchable lists of people, typically USGS staff.
gazetteers
Indexed collections of geographic names.
datasets
Digital information in a format suitable for direct input to software that can analyze its meaning in the scientific, engineering, or business context for which the data were collected.
data
databases
streamflow data
water-quality data
geospatial datasets
Collections of related digital information that are geographically referenced.
cartographic data (digital)
digital cartographic data
digital cartographic datasets
digital line graphs
DLG
geodata
geographic information system (GIS) datasets
geospatial data
GIS datasets
digital elevation models
Gridded elevation, geographically referenced to the surface of the earth, as digital data
DDMs
DEMs
digital depth models
digital terrain models
DTMs
navigational data
Geospatial data indicating the locations of instruments, vessels, aircraft, or other vehicles used to collect scientific observations. These data include horizontal coordinates in sequence, and may include time or vertical position.
flight lines
ship tracklines
ship tracks
survey flight lines
survey navigation data
survey ship tracklines
survey tracklines
survey tracks
study areas
Geospatial data describing the areas from which samples were taken or observations were made, typically polygonal. May be approximate, as in bounding coordinates, or precise.
study boundaries
study boundary
study footprints
study polygons
assessment units
Geographic areas for which a valuable resource is estimated. Frequently defined in two or more dimensions, for example specifying underground formations in a given geographic area. Functions or services may be estimated in addition to material resources.
permissive tracts
hydrographic datasets
Datasets for graphs showing variation of water elevation, velocity, streamflow, or other property of water with respect to time.
profiles
Observations or calculations given for a series of depths, at or near the same horizontal position.
sound velocity profiles
time series datasets
Digital information describing observations taken at specified time intervals. The time interval may be regular or variable; the type of observed phenomena and the location are typically constant.
field activity logs
Operational records for observation, inventory, sampling, or monitoring activities.
field notebooks
field notes
logbooks
log books
observation logs
operational logs
survey logs
image collections
Visible representations of objects or earth properties produced by cameras, spectral instruments, or as graphical representations of measurements.
pictures
scientists-at-work photographs
image mosaics
Composite images formed by overlapping existing images, typically arranged to achieve greater spatial coverage.
maps and atlases
Representation, usually on a flat surface, of a part or whole of the Earth or other parts of the universe. Collections of maps linked digitally or bound together in a book are called atlases.
atlases
basement maps
cadastral maps
charts
depth-to maps
earthquake activity maps
earthquake epicenter maps
earthquake occurrence maps
engineering geology maps
geochemical anomaly maps
geophysical maps
geotechnical properties maps
gravity anomaly maps
ground motion maps
hydrologic maps
isopach maps
landslide maps
land subsidence maps
land use maps
lithologic maps
magnetic anomaly maps
maps
paleotectonic maps
rock mechanics maps
seismic hazard maps
shaking maps (seismic)
species distribution maps
stratigraphic thickness maps
subsurface maps
surficial geologic maps
tectonic maps
geologic maps
Maps depicting geological characteristics of the earth's surface, including lithology, geologic structure, age, and the results of crustal processes. Used where the product includes a depiction of the map as a whole, not for data sets that could be used to create a map.
geological maps
topographic maps
Maps depicting the elevation and relief of the land surface or depth of a water body (bathymetry) in an area, usually shown using contour lines. Typically these maps include manmade features and administrative boundaries as well as vegetation and hydrographic features.
bathymetric maps
elevation maps
topo maps
materials standards
Physical materials such as chemicals, rocks, water, or biological materials that are used for reference when carrying out laboratory analysis.
laboratory reference materials
standard reference samples
official communications
Corporate releases of information by USGS not generally intended to document the details of scientific data or techniques for a scientific audience.
news releases
Short information memoranda issued by organizations to highlight new activities, appointments, or discoveries for the news media.
press releases
policies and regulations
Rules, orders, and procedures issued by organizations or governments for administrative, controlling, and managing purposes.
regulations
speeches and testimony
oral presentations
talks
testimony
posters
Large single sheets of paper or board imprinted with informative text and graphics. Intended for hanging or flat display.
presentation materials
Diagrams, photos, and text gathered together as part of a presentation given in a meeting or class.
powerpoint
reports
Written items, especially those that are official, factual, or informative, often including graphics as well as text.
abstracts
articles (publications)
biographies
books and book chapters
dissertations
documents
guidelines
journal articles
journals
memos
newsletters
pamphlets, brochures, and booklets
papers (publications)
planning reports
proceedings
published series
scientific reports
serial publications
technical reports
text documents
theses
transcripts
workshop reports
yearbooks
checklists
Inventories or lists of related items for checking off or reference.
conference proceedings
Collections of abstracts or papers given during a specific meeting, conference, or workshop.
guidebooks
Books intended to direct and instruct travelers in a given area and often geared to special interests, such as observing local birds, understanding geological features, or locating endemic plants.
field guides
field trip guidebooks
manuals
Documents giving instructions on using specified equipment or accomplishing specified tasks.
technical instructions
user guides
standards
An object or instrument of known properties used as a model, for comparison, or a set of rules used to assure quality.
strategic plans
Documents describing overall strategy, not presenting substantive scientific findings.
science strategy
scientific software
Routines, programs, and procedures devised in order to direct computers to perform specific tasks.
computer program
sound recordings
Information presented in a format for listening by the user.
audio recordings
podcasts
terminologies and classifications
Collections of terms often including definitions or scope notes, with some stated relationships among terms
controlled vocabularies
glossaries
geologic time scales
Named divisions of geologic time used to specify relationships among geologic units and structural features
videos
Animation or other motion pictures, including videotape and DVD products.
sciences
Major educational fields, fields of study, and professional groupings within USGS.
earth sciences
Broad term for all science related to the study of the earth.
geosciences
atmospheric sciences
Studies relating to composition, structure, physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the atmosphere.
climatology
Scientific study of the characteristic weather conditions of geographic areas.
meteorology
Branch of science dealing with the short-term variations of atmospheric conditions including wind, precipitation, temperature, humidity, cloud cover, and air pressure.
geochemistry
Study of the distribution of chemical elements and natural compounds on the earth and in the atmosphere and the chemical processes that affect the earth.
chemistry (Earth sciences)
soil chemistry
Branch of chemistry concerned with the elements and compounds that make up soils. Includes chemical processes involving soils.
water chemistry
Branch of chemistry that deals with the elements and compounds in water.
marine chemistry
Branch of chemistry that deals with the properties, composition, structure, and interaction of substances in the seas and oceans.
chemical oceanography
ocean chemistry
water properties (marine)
geography
Study of the earth's landforms, topography, and climate, the distribution of flora and fauna, and the distribution, culture, and activities of human populations.
geographic information sciences
cartography
The science and art of making maps.
digital cartography
mapmaking
map making
mapping
paleogeography
Study of the history of earth surface characteristics; geomorphology in the past.
geology
Study of the planet earth, its composition, structure, physical and chemical processes, and history since its origin.
economic geology
Scientific study of the formation, location, and use of marketable geologic materials including fuels, metals, minerals, and water.
geochronology
Study of the age of the earth by dating geological formations, rocks, and fossils.
geomorphology
Branch of geology dealing with surface land features and the processes that create and change them.
speleology
hydrogeology
Study of subsurface waters and geologic aspects of surface waters.
geohydrology
groundwater geology
hydrographic sections
marine geology
Branch of geology concerned with the composition, geologic history, and earth processes of the ocean floor and the continental margin.
geological oceanography
mineralogy
Branch of earth sciences concerned with the study of naturally occurring inorganic elements or compounds.
crystallography
gemology
petrology
Branch of earth sciences concerned with the origin, structure, alteration, and composition of rocks.
sedimentology
Branch of earth sciences concerned with the study of the origin, composition, transport, and changes of materials deposited by water, wind, or ice.
stratigraphy
Branch of geology concerned with the study of the formation, composition, ordering in time, and arrangement in space of stratified rocks.
biostratigraphy
Branch of geology concerned with the separation and differentiation of rock units based on the fossils they contain.
lithostratigraphy
Branch of stratigraphy dealing with the study of units of rock. Each unit is composed of a body of rock which is dominated by a certain lithology or similar color, mineralogic composition, and grain size.
structural geology
Branch of geology concerned with the distribution, position, shape, and internal structure of rocks.
volcanology
The branch of geology that deals with volcanism and the processes involved in magma flow and eruption through a vent in the earth's surface.
vulcanology
geophysics
Branch of geology studying the physical characteristics and phenomena of the earth and its atmosphere.
geodesy
Branch of science dealing with measuring the earth or large areas of the earth for making maps, determining the size and shape of the earth, and correlating gravitational, geological, and magnetic surveys of the earth.
marine geophysics
Branch of earth sciences concerned with the physical processes of the oceans and continental margins. We include here studies of large bodies of brackish and fresh water, such as lakes and rivers.
seismology
Branch of earth sciences concerned with the study of earthquakes and man-induced seismic waves.
earthquake seismology
engineering seismology
exploration seismology
paleoseismology
Branch of seismology concerned with ancient earthquakes. Clues which indicate seismic activities in the geologic past are used to date and determine the effects of those earthquakes.
tectonophysics
Branch of geophysics concerned with the structural forces affecting the deformation, uplift, and movement of the earth's crust.
glaciology
Science dealing with the features, origins, processes, and properties of snow, ice, glaciers, and ice sheets.
cryology
glacial geology
hydrology
Branch of earth science that deals with water as it occurs in the atmosphere, on the surface of the ground, and underground.
hydrodynamics
Principles of fluid dynamics applied to water bodies.
fluid dynamics
limnology
Scientific study of the physical and biological characteristics of inland bodies of water such as lakes and ponds.
ocean sciences
Sciences involved in the study of geological, biological, chemical, and physical characteristics and processes of the oceans.
oceanography
physical oceanography
paleoceanography
Study of the oceans in the geologic past, including their physical, chemical, biologic, and geologic history.
paleontology
Study of life in past geologic time based on fossil plants and animals.
paleozoology
phylogeny
taphonomy
invertebrate paleontology
Branch of paleontology which deals with fossil animals without backbones.
micropaleontology
Branch of paleontology dealing with fossils too small to be seen without a microscope.
paleobotany
Branch of paleontology concerned with the study of fossil plants and plant life in the geologic past.
vertebrate paleontology
Branch of paleontology dealing with fossil animals that have spinal columns.
soil sciences
Earth sciences dealing with the origin, classification, physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.
pedology (soils)
engineering sciences
Sciences involved in the application of scientific and mathematical principles to construction, machinery, mechanical design, mining and manufacturing processes and other practical activities.
engineering geology
Branch of geology involved in the application of soil and rock mechanics, natural hazards, and other geological studies to the practice of engineering and construction.
hydraulic engineering
Branch of engineering which applies the physical properties of fluids, such as flow and pressure, to the design and use of machinery, pumps, pipelines, etc.
hydraulic models
hydraulics
information sciences
Sciences dealing with the compilation, processing, classification, display, transmission, storage, and retrieval of recorded knowledge.
biological informatics
Development and use of computer, statistical, and other tools in the collection, organization, dissemination, and use of information to solve problems in the life sciences.
bioinformatics
computer science
Study of computers, including their design (architecture), uses (computations, data processing), and systems control.
life sciences
Branches of science that study living and fossil organisms.
biological sciences
biology
anatomy and physiology
Study of the body structures (anatomy) and life functions and activities (physiology)of plants and animals.
physiology
endocrinology
Study of the collection of ductless glands that secrete hormones which influence growth, gender, sexual maturity, and other attributes.
histology
Branch of anatomy concerned with the microscopic structure of plant and animal tissue.
immunology
Branch of biology which studies the body's production of lymphocytes, antibodies, and macrophages in response to foreign substances or pathogenic organisms.
aquatic biology
The scientific study of organisms living in or near water. This term is to be used for the science of 'aquatic biology' and for biological studies in fresh and brackish water. For marine biological studies, use 'marine biology'.
biochemistry
Study of chemical processes that occur within or are mediated by living organisms.
biogeochemistry
chemistry (life sciences)
environmental chemistry
botany
The science of plants.
palynology
Branch of botany concerned with the study of pollen and spores, especially fossil remains. These are used to study plant life and dispersal in geologic history and to date deposits.
phycology
Branch of biology concerned with the study of algae.
algology
cell biology
Branch of biology that deals with the study of the formation, structure, and physiology of cells.
cellular biology
cytology
developmental biology
Scientific study of the processes related to the transformation of living organisms from single cells to complex multi-celled individuals.
embryology
ecology
Study of the relations between living plants and animals and their environment.
bionomics
ecotoxicology
Scientific study of causes, dispersal, and effects of contaminants on the environment.
environmental toxicology
toxicology
genetics
Branch of biology that deals with heredity or the passing of traits in living organisms from one generation to the next.
heredity
marine biology
Branch of biology concerned with the organisms and habitats of the seas and oceans.
biological oceanography
microbiology
Branch of biology dealing with organisms too small to be seen without the use of a microscope.
bacteriology
Study of the single celled microorganisms known as bacteria.
virology
Branch of biology dealing with viruses and viral diseases.
molecular biology
Branch of biology concerned with the study of physiology at the molecular level.
morphology (biological)
The scientific study of the form, shape, and structure of plants and animals and their fossil remains.
mycology
Branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi.
parasitology
Branch of biology concerned with the study of organisms that, living on or in another organism, take nutrition from the host and often harm it.
pathology
Branch of biology concerned with the study of the causes, progress, symptoms, diagnosis, and effects of diseases.
pathobiology
systematics and taxonomy
Study of the identification, naming, and classification of organisms.
taxonomy
zoology
Branch of biology that deals with the reproduction, development and growth, anatomy, physiology, and behavior of animals.
malacology
ethology
Study of animal behavior under natural conditions
invertebrate zoology
Branch of biology dealing with animals having no backbones or spinal columns.
entomology
Branch of zoology involved in studying insects.
vertebrate zoology
Branch of zoology that deals with animals that have spinal columns.
herpetology
Branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians.
ichthyology
Branch of zoology concerned with the study of fish.
mammalogy
Branch of zoology concerned with the study of mammals.
ornithology
Branch of biology concerned with the study of birds.
wildlife biology
Branch of biology dealing with living organisms, usually mammals, birds, or fishes, that are not domesticated or dependent on man.
planetary sciences
Scientific study of the solid bodies of the solar system, including planets, moons, asteroids, meteorites, and interplanetary materials.
astronomy
planetology
social sciences
Sciences concerned with the structure and interrelationships of human societies, human institutions and organizations, and human culture over time.
archeology
Study of human cultures through the recovery and analysis of their material relics.
archaeology
time periods
Geologic time periods and seasons of the year
geologic time periods
geologic age
geologic time
Phanerozoic
Eon of geologic time approximately 542 million years ago extending to the present. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Cenozoic
Era of geologic time approximately 65 million years ago extending to the present. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Quaternary
Period of geologic time approximately 2.6 million years ago extending to the present. In new studies, this term is deprecated in favor of Holocene and Pleistocene. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Holocene
Epoch of geologic time approximately 11 thousand years ago extending to the present. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Pleistocene
Epoch of geologic time approximately 2.6 million to 11 thousand years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
ice age
Tertiary
Period of geologic time approximately 65 to 1.8 million years ago. In new studies, this term is deprecated in favor of Neogene and Paleogene. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Neogene
Subperiod of geologic time approximately 23 to 2.6 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Miocene
Epoch of geologic time approximately 23 to 5.3 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Pliocene
Epoch of geologic time approximately 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Paleogene
Subperiod of geologic time approximately 65 to 23 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Eocene
Epoch of geologic time approximately 56 to 34 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Oligocene
Epoch of geologic time approximately 34 to 23 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Paleocene
Epoch of geologic time approximately 65 to 56 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Mesozoic
Era of geologic time approximately 251 to 65 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Cretaceous
Period of geologic time approximately 145 to 65 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Jurassic
Period of geologic time approximately 200 to 145 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Triassic
Period of geologic time approximately 251 to 200 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Paleozoic
Era of geologic time approximately 542 to 251 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Cambrian
Period of geologic time approximately 542 to 488 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Devonian
Period of geologic time approximately 416 to 359 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Mississippian
Subperiod of geologic time approximately 359 to 318 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
lower carboniferous
Ordovician
Period of geologic time approximately 488 to 444 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Pennsylvanian
Subperiod of geologic time approximately 318 to 299 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
upper carboniferous
Permian
Period of geologic time approximately 299 to 251 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Silurian
Period of geologic time approximately 444 to 416 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Precambrian
General interval of geologic time before approximately 542 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
cryptozoic
Archaean
Eon of geologic time approximately 4 to 2.5 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Hadean
Eon of geologic time prior to 4 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Proterozoic
Eon of geologic time approximately 2.5 billion to 542 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Mesoproterozoic
Era of geologic time approximately 1.6 to 1 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Neoproterozoic
Era of geologic time approximately 1 billion to 542 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
Ediacaran
The last geological period of the Neoproterozoic Era, just before the Cambrian Period of the Paleozoic Era.
Vendian
Paleoproterozoic
Era of geologic time approximately 2.5 to 1.6 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
seasons
autumn
fall (season)
spring (season)
summer
winter
topics
Themes, subjects, and concerns for which USGS information resources are relevant.
agriculture
The science and business of soil cultivation to raise crops and of animal husbandry to raise domesticated animals.
farming
horticulture
livestock husbandry
aquaculture
The farming of organisms that live in water, such as fish, shellfish, and algae for human use.
fish farming
biological and physical processes
All continuing activities, functions, and phenomena associated with organisms and non-living matter.
bioenergetic processes
atmospheric and climatic processes
Phenomena affecting or occurring within the mass of gases that surrounds the earth, including its physics, chemistry, dynamics, and weather conditions.
climate
microclimate
weather
atmospheric circulation
Movement of atmospheric gases around the earth.
atmospheric deposition (chemical & particulate)
The transfer of substances from the air to the surface of the earth, either in wet form (rain, fog, snow, dew, frost, hail) or in dry form (gases, aerosols, particles).
atmospheric deposition (chemical and particulate)
atmospheric dust deposition
acid deposition
The process by which emissions, chiefly sulfur and nitrogen compounds, either react with the atmosphere when deposited on earth by precipitation of snow, rain, or fog with a pH of 5.5 or below, or settle out as acidic particles or gases.
acidic deposition
acid precipitation
acid rain
acid snow
climate change
Long-term alteration in the characteristic weather conditions of a region, such as changes in precipitation and temperature.
climate history
climate variability
climatic change
global climate change
global warming
paleoclimate
desertification
The alteration of arable land to dry, barren land due to prolonged drought or the deleterious effects of human intervention including overgrazing, overpopulation, or destructive agricultural practices.
droughts
Extended periods of moisture deficit over a sizeable area sufficient to have an adverse effect on vegetation, animals, or man.
drought
evaporation
Transfer of water from a surface into the atmosphere.
evapotranspiration
greenhouse effect
Local, regional, or global warming in the atmosphere due to the higher heat capacity of certain gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone.
ocean-atmosphere interaction
Processes, including momentum, heat, gas and other exchanges, which result in profound effects on climate and interactions between the air in the lowest part of the atmosphere and the oceans.
El Nino
La Nina
El Nino-Southern Oscillation
A roughly periodic variation in Pacific ocean sea-surface temperature causing changes in weather world-wide.
ENSO
precipitation (atmospheric)
Any or all forms of water particles that fall from the atmosphere, such as rain, snow, hail and sleet.
rain
rainfall
snow
snowfall
storms
Atmospheric disturbances with winds of unusual force or direction. Accompanied by rain, snow, hail, or sleet, and often by thunder and lightning.
blizzards
Severe snowstorms with intense winds.
dust storms
Atmospheric disturbances in which a significant amount of dust is transported.
hurricanes
Severe cyclones, or revolving storms, originating over the equatorial regions of the earth, accompanied by torrential rain, lightning, and winds with a speed greater than 74 miles per hour.
typhoons
ice storms
Storms in which falling snow or rain freezes on contact with surfaces on the ground.
tornadoes
Violent storms characterized by whirling funnels of wind moving at great speeds.
wind
Local air movements.
wind erosion
coastal processes
Processes unique to coastal areas including longshore transport, beach erosion, storm surge, shoreline change, delta formation, barrier island migration, beach stabilization by vegetation
beach erosion
coastal erosion
coastal hazards
shoreline change
shoreline erosion
shoreline retreat
barrier island migration
The slow, landward movement of barrier islands in response to sea level rise and repeated storm washover.
coastal emergence
Relative uplift of the coast accompanied by seaward displacement of the shoreline.
regression (marine)
coastal submergence
Relative subsidence of the coast accompanied by landward displacement of the shoreline.
transgression (marine)
longshore currents
Movement of water parallel to the coast due to waves striking the shoreline at an angle
littoral drift
longshore drift
shoreline accretion
Seaward migration of the shoreline resulting from the addition of earth materials.
tidal currents
Currents caused by tidal changes in water level from one body of water to another.
ecological processes
Dynamic biogeochemical interactions that occur among and between biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere.
ecological models
environmental processes
algal blooms
Exceptional growth of algae and cyanobacteria in lakes, rivers or oceans due to excessive nutrients or climatic conditions.
brown tides
harmful algal blooms
red tides
bioaccumulation
The biological sequestering of a substance at a higher concentration than that at which it occurs in the surrounding environment or medium. Also, the process whereby a substance enters an organism through the gills, epithelial tissues, dietary, or other sources.
bioconcentration
biogeochemical cycling
The cycling of chemical constituents through a biological system.
biogeochemical functioning
biogeochemical processes
decomposition (organic)
organic decomposition
carbon cycling
The circulation of carbon in the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere through a series of processes that include photosynthesis, consumption, and respiration.
nutrient cycling
The exchange of elements or compounds essential for the nourishment of organisms in an ecosystem.
nutrient balance
food web
The complex intertwining of the interrelated food chains in an ecosystem.
food chain
food cycle
trophic level dynamics
trophic relationships
biological productivity
The rate at which primary producers in the ecosystem utilize solar energy to produce food for consumption by other organisms. Do not use this term for productivity of organisms related to studies of the reproduction rates of a species.
carbon flux
The rate and amount of carbon exchanged between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things.
carbon exchange
contaminant transport
Processes involved in the movement of impurities through air, water, and soil.
dispersal (organisms)
The dissemination or geographic spread of individuals of a plant or animal population.
colonization (organisms)
ecological competition
The struggle between members of two or more species for scarce environmental resources.
ecosystem functions
The total life activities of organisms in habitats and the effects of those activities on the nonliving components of the environment.
estuarine ecosystem functions
wetland functions
Processes related to wetlands such as support of ecosystems, evaporation effects on weather, nutrient cycles, etc.
ecosystem resilience
Measure of the persistence of systems and of their ability to absorb change and disturbance and still maintain the same relationships between populations or state variables. (Holling, 1973)
ecological resilience
eutrophication
The process by which water becomes enriched with plant nutrients, most commonly phosphorus and nitrogen.
extinction and extirpation
Extinction is the complete disappearance of a species from the earth. Extirpation is the complete disappearance (elimination) of a species from a given region, island, or area.
extirpation
habitat alteration and disturbance
Changes in the environments where plants and animals live. Includes natural changes as well as results of human actions, deliberate or accidental.
ecological disturbance
environmental disturbance
habitat destruction
habitat disturbance
fire damage
Destruction of surficial materials and vegetation by burning.
migration (organisms)
The movement of animals, often periodical, from one area to another due to seasonal changes, availability of food, or climatic conditions.
biological invasions
flyways
seasonal migration
pollination
Wind, bees, or other agents transfer plant pollen from flower anthers or cones to stigmas, thereby fertilizing plants for reproduction.
succession (biological)
Gradual replacement of one species in an area by another.
ecologic succession
transpiration
Evaporation of water from plants.
estuarine processes
Processes affecting estuaries including tides, waves, mixing of fluvial and marine waters
estuarine sediment transport
estuarine currents
Movement of water within estuaries due to the complex interaction of winds, tides, and variations in water density
estuarine mixing
Interaction of tidal forcing and river discharge in an estuary, leading to any of three vertical salinity profiles: salt wedge, stratified, or well mixed. We also include mixing due to extreme events such as storm surge.
evolution
Change in the genetic composition of populations of living organisms.
gene flow
fires
Combustion, marked by flames or intense heat, in natural settings, often ignited by lightning or human activities. For fires set as part of natural resource management, use 'controlled fires'.
fires (uncontrolled)
wildfires
wildland fire
geochemical processes
Processes affecting the amount, distribution, or structure of chemical elements in air, water, soil, rocks, and minerals.
biodegradation
Reduction in the concentration of harmful chemicals by the action of animals and plants.
natural attenuation (harmful chemicals)
carbon sequestration
Long-term storage of carbon in soils and terrestrial organic material, either by natural or engineered processes. Typically of importance for the balance of CO2 in the global climate system.
carbon capture
carbon capture and storage
carbon storage
carbon mineralization
A form of geologic carbon dioxide storage in which it reacts with rocks and minerals to form solid and stable carbonate materials. Includes mineralization in mafic and ultramafic bedrock, mine tailings, and alkaline industrial wastes at the surface.
carbon dioxide mineralization
ocean acidification
Decrease in the pH of ocean waters as a result of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
ore formation
Geochemical processes resulting in concentration of useful chemical elements and compounds, in earth materials. Typically refers to metal ores.
metallogenesis
metallogeny
mineralization
oxidation and reduction
Addition or reduction of oxygen in a compound accompanied by exchange of electrons among atoms.
fermentation
reaction transport
Chemical reactions occurring during ground-water flow.
sorption
Attachment of chemical substances to materials, either externally (by adsorption) or internally (by absorption).
absorption
adsorption
thermal maturation
Chemical alteration of organic material within sediments and sedimentary rocks as a result of heat. Measures of thermal maturation indicate the extent of transformation of detrital organic material into coal and petroleum.
thermal indices
thermal maturity
vitrinite reflectance
geologic processes
All types of processes involving geological structures.
lithification
deformation (geologic)
Change in form and structure of geologic materials in response to stress, typically heat and pressure.
rheology
strain history
folding (geologic)
A property of geologic structures to bend or curve from the planar layers.
crenulation (geologic)
geologic folding
fracture (geologic)
Break in a geologic structure including cracks, joints, and faults.
cleavage (rock)
jointing (geologic)
faulting (geologic)
Movement of earth materials along fracture surfaces.
geologic faulting
diagenesis
Chemical, physical, and biological changes in sediment during and after its conversion to rock (lithification).
earthquakes
Ground shaking caused by the sudden release of accumulated strain by an abrupt shift of rock along a fracture in the earth or by volcanic or magmatic activity, or other sudden stress changes in the earth.
earthquake hazards
earthquake occurrences
Time, location, severity, and mechanism of earthquake events, including the frequency and history of events in a given area.
ground motion
seismic activity
seismicity
strong motion
ground failure
Any consequences of shaking, including liquefaction, landslide, and lateral spread, that affects the stability of the ground.
earthquake-triggered ground failure
liquefaction
Physical process which can occur during an earthquake. Clay-free soil deposits (primarily sands and silts)temporarily lose strength and behave as viscuous fluids, resulting in ground failure.
induced seismicity
Seismic activity such as earthquakes and tremors of low magnitude resulting from human activity that altered crustal stresses and strains on local faults and fractures.
induced earthquakes
earth tides
Periodic changes in the earth surface topography caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun, measured with tiltmeters. Used in studies of volcanic activity.
erosion
The process whereby materials of the earth's crust are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and simultaneously moved from one place to another.
dissolution
sinkhole formation
Localized collapse of the land surface usually due to erosion of the underlying materials. Most commonly occurring in karst areas, but similar effects occur due to physical erosion in other terranes.
fluid migration
Movement or migration of fluids, including petroleum and other chemicals through earth materials by natural or anthropogenic forces.
interstitial fluid
pore fluid
glaciation
The geologic processes involved in the formation, movement, changes, and effects of large ice masses (glaciers).
heat flow (earth)
Energy transferred by a difference in temperature through the surface of the earth.
geothermics
heatflow (earth)
hydrothermal processes
Natural phenomena relating to heated water generated by igneous activity.
isostasy
Condition of equilibrium or buoyancy of the earth's crust above the mantle.
magnetic storms
A period of time during which the earth's magnetic field varies rapidly. During magnetic storms, satellite electronics can be damaged through the build up and subsequent discharge of static electric charges and astronauts and high-altitude pilots can be subjected to increased levels of radiation.
geomagnetic storms
metamorphism (geological)
Process by which rocks are altered in composition and texture by extreme heat, high pressure, or the action of chemicals.
alteration
Local changes in the mineralogy of a rock body due to low-grade metamorphism, weathering, or both. May indicate underlying mineral deposits.
sedimentation
Process of deposition of sediments (loose, uncemented pieces of rock, mineral fragments, or biological materials). The sediments settle out of water or air into layers on a surface.
alluvial sedimentation
deposition (sediment)
dust deposition
sediment transport
Transport of solid particles of unconsolidated rock and mineral fragments, chemical precipitates, or biological materials.
alluvial transport
bedload
bed load
density flow
dust transport
marine sediment transport
suspended load
turbidity flow
slope processes
The down slope movement of earth material under the influence of gravity.
mass wasting
soil creep
landslides
Downslope movement of rock, soil, or artificial fill under the influences of gravity.
avalanches
debris avalanches
debris flows
earth flows
mudslides
rockfalls
slides (land)
slumps
lahars
Downslope flow of ash and rock debris resulting from volcanic activity.
soil formation
Geological, geochemical, and ecological processes that work together to produce soils.
pedogenesis
subsidence
Settling, compaction, or caving in of land caused by subsurface mining, ground-water withdrawal, or pumping of oil and gas.
land subsidence
tectonic processes
The structural forces affecting the deformation, uplift, and movement of the earth's crust.
continental drift
dynamic geology
plate tectonics
subduction
tectonics
wilson cycle
neotectonic processes
Changes which took place during geological time after the Miocene era and are associated with the structural forces that affect the deformation, uplift, and movement occurring in the earth's crust.
neotectonics
uplift
Local or regional rise in the elevation of the land surface, usually due to tectonic or volcanic processes.
volcanic activity
Episodes during which gases, ash, and lava (molten rock) escape from vents in the earth's crust, accompanied by minor tremors.
eruption
lava flows
pyroclastic flows
volcanic tremors
volcanism
volcanic gas emission
Emission of gases from fumaroles and volcanoes.
fumarolic activity
hydrocarbon reservoir processes
Interactions among groundwater, hydrocarbons, and rock properties of subsurface geological formations, affecting the potential of those formations to form, trap, and permit the passage and extraction of hydrocarbons.
hydrologic processes
floods
Relatively high water that overflows the natural or artificial banks of a stream or coastal area that submerges land not normally below water level.
bankfull stage
storm surge
Coastal high water level caused by wind from storms.
groundwater and surface-water interaction
Traditionally, management of water resources has focused on surface water or groundwater as if they were separate entities. As development of land and water resources increases, it is apparent that development of either of these resources affects the quantity and quality of the other. Nearly all surface-water features (streams, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and estuaries) interact with groundwater. These interactions take many forms. In many situations, surface-water bodies gain water and solutes from groundwater systems and in others the surface-water body is a source of groundwater recharge and causes changes in groundwater quality. As a result, withdrawal of water from streams can deplete groundwater or conversely, pumpage of groundwater can deplete water in streams, lakes, or wetlands. Pollution of surface water can cause degradation of groundwater quality and conversely pollution of groundwater can degrade surface water.
aquifer-surface water interaction
ground-water/surface-water interaction
groundwater/surface water interaction
hyporheic zone processes
surface water/groundwater interaction
surface-water/ground-water interaction
groundwater flow
Movement of subsurface water in the saturated zone from areas of recharge to areas of discharge.
ground-water flow
groundwater movement
percolation
The movement of water through fractures or interstices of a rock or soil.
infiltration (water)
runoff
Flow of water over land surfaces (including paved surfaces), typically from precipitation.
stormwater runoff
urban runoff
saltwater intrusion
Infusion of saline waters in an aquifer or body of surface water.
salt-water intrusion
scour
Erosion of sediment in a stream bed, often occurring at manmade structures such as bridge supports.
bridge scour
streamflow
A type of channel flow, applied to a specific part of surface runoff in a stream, whether or not it is affected by diversion or regulation.
flood stage
fluvial processes
gage height
stream current
stream flow
stream stage
stream discharge
Volume of water in a stream passing a given point at a given moment in time, expressed as a measure of volume per unit of time, i.e. cubic feet per second, million gallons per day, or gallons per minute.
river discharge
stream discharge monitoring
turbidity
Cloudiness in the water column, caused by the presence of suspended and dissolved matter such as clay, silt, organic matter, or plankton.
turbulence
water circulation
The flow of water in a body of water due to wind or other forces or variations in density or temperature. Use 'water circulation' for situations that are not specifically covered by narrower terms. Use 'ocean circulation' for water circulation in the oceans.
circulation (water)
lake circulation
water cycle
Interchange of water among land, oceans, and atmosphere.
hydrologic cycle
recharge
impact cratering
Impact of extraterrestrial objects such as asteroids, comets, and meteorites on Earth.
asteroid impact
bolide impact
comet impact
meteor impact
ocean processes
Recurrent natural changes that are physical, biological, or chemical, actively affecting the seas and oceans.
ocean hazards
oceans
ocean circulation
Movement of large masses of water within an ocean.
circulation (ocean)
ocean currents
Recurrent strong flows of seawater generated by wind or variations in water density along a given path.
ocean waves
A periodic movement of seawater caused by wind, tide, and currents.
water waves
tsunamis
Sea waves generated by submarine earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, which are generally imperceptible in deep water but may be very destructive when striking the shoreline.
tidal waves
tides (oceanic)
The periodic rise and fall of the level of the sea due to the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun. Occurs twice each day.
ocean tides
physiological processes
Characteristics and processes of individual organisms that are not the direct result of their interaction with other organisms or with the environment.
bioenergetics
Processes by which a living organism acquires, produces, utilizes, or transforms energy.
aerobic scope
Citric acid cycle
energy metabolism
Gluconeogenesis
Glycogenesis
Ketosis
bioluminescence
Emission of light by organisms.
organism growth and development
Changes that living things undergo as they progress from inception as a single cell to adult forms.
ontogeny
anatomical deformities
Physical malformation of organisms typically resulting from exposure to contaminants, disease, or adverse environmental conditions.
metamorphosis
Transformation in animals, such as amphibians and insects, from one developmental stage to another.
metamorphism (biological)
osmosis
Transfer of substances through biological membranes.
photosynthesis
Conversion of sunlight, water, and nutrients into energy by plants.
contamination and pollution
Introduction of harmful substances into the environment by human action or natural processes.
air pollution
effluent
natural contaminants
outfall
pollution
soil pollution
water pollution
industrial pollution
Introduction of harmful substances into the environment by manufacturing, power generation, mining, or material processing.
oil spills
PCBs
polychlorinated biphenyls
mine drainage
Introduction of harmful substances into the environment from mines and tailings.
produced water
Water produced during generation and development of energy resources, particularly hydrocarbons, as well as related fluids injected into reservoirs for energy development and associated waste disposal.
co-produced water
microplastic contamination
Plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter that come from a wide variety of sources, found in a variety of forms, including fibers, pellets/beads, foams, films, fragments, and tire particles, and reach aquatic environments through diverse pathways.
microplastic pollution
plastic microbeads
nonpoint-source pollution
Contamination of the environment from sources spread widely across an area, not from a small number of identifiable locations.
pesticide and herbicide contamination
Pollution resulting from chemical agents applied to crops, rights of way, lawns, or residences to control weeds, insects, fungi, nematodes, rodents or other pests (pesticides) or kill undesirable plants (herbicides).
biocide contamination
degradation products (chemical)
herbicide contamination
insecticide contamination
PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemical compounds that are an emerging contaminant.
perfluorinated alkylated substances
perfluorinated chemicals
perfluorochemicals
PFCs
pharmaceutical contamination
Unintentional release of pharmaceutical compounds into the environment; work focuses on the effects of these compounds on organisms and water resources.
toxic radionuclide contamination
Introduction into the environment of unstable isotopes of elements that undergo radioactive decay, emitting radiation that is harmful to organisms.
toxic trace element contamination
Introduction into the environment of elements (such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) which have a deleterious effect on living organisms when found naturally in only minor amounts (concentrations less than 1.0 milligram per liter) in water or sediment.
mercury contamination
Biological disturbances caused by mercury compounds that have entered the environment.
culture and demographics
Information on human behavior, ways of living and thinking, and characteristics of human populations.
demographics
socioeconomics
administrative and political boundaries
Lines drawn on maps or described in documents which encompass territory controlled by a government or organizational unit that may or may not align with geographic or cultural barriers. Use for datasets containing boundary representations for political/administrative units and related information.
borders
geographic boundaries
governmental units
political boundaries
protected areas
Terrestrial and marine areas that are designated and managed for the preservation of biological diversity or other natural, recreational, or cultural uses.
business and economics
The activities and processes associated with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
commerce
economics
materials flow (commodities)
Industrial and commercial processes by which material resources are extracted, used or consumed, and disposed or recycled.
recycling
Physical processes by which previously-used materials are converted from scrap and waste to reusable forms.
resource supply and demand
Statistics indicating the commercial interests in material resources, typically mineral commodities, energy, or forest or fishery resources.
cadastral and legal land descriptions
Records in official registers showing extent, boundaries, and ownerships of land for administration and taxation.
land partitioning systems
legal land descriptions
geographic names
Names by which cultural and geographic features are known. Generally to be used for collections of names stored in gazetteers.
laws and regulations
Legal statements of the government regarding actions people or corporations might undertake.
legal processes
legislation
statutes
population (human)
Geographic distribution and temporal trends of human habitation in specific areas
transportation
Movement of people or materials from one place to another for economic, political, or recreational purposes.
air transportation
aviation
ground transportation
earth characteristics
The measurable, definable properties and features of the earth.
atmospheric properties
Characteristics of the mass of gases surrounding the earth such as composition, temperature, pressure, and humidity.
atmosphere properties
air temperature
temperature (air)
atmospheric composition
Components of the mass of gases that surrounds a planet. The earth's atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and small portions of other gases.
greenhouse gases
Atmospheric gases, including carbon dioxide, fluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, ozone, and water vapor, that trap radiant (infrared) energy keeping the earth's surface warmer than it would otherwise be.
ozone layer
Upper atmosphere layer composed of ozone, a gas made up of molecules comprised of three oxygen atoms, which helps to shield the earth from ultraviolet rays.
ozonesphere
earth material properties
Physical characteristics of rocks and unconsolidated earth materials such as soils and sediments.
acid neutralizing potential
Geochemical capacity of earth materials to affect the pH of waters flowing through them.
acid neutralizing capacity
neutralization potential
bulk density
Overall density of an unconsolidated earth material.
electromagnetic reflectance and emissivity
Effectiveness of an earth material in reflecting or emitting radiation, varying by wavelength. Measurements are made over the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum in a laboratory to compare with remotely-sensed data obtained by airborne or satellite imaging systems.
infrared reflectance
laboratory reflectance
laboratory spectra
spectral radiance
spectral reflectance
magnetism
Strength and orientation of the permanent magnetic field in a given sample of an earth material
magnetic susceptibility
Degree to which a rock type or other earth material can acquire and retain the orientation and intensity of an applied magnetic field.
remanent magnetism
Magnetic characteristic of rocks and deposits reflective of the earth's magnetic field at the time of the deposit's formation.
natural remanent magnetism
permeability
The ability of fluids to pass through an earth material, typically depending on the connectedness of pore space in the material.
soil permeability
porosity
The proportion of open space in a rock or unconsolidated material.
interstices
soil porosity
radioactivity
Release of subatomic particles from earth materials. Generally the energy of these particles is used to determine the chemical elements present.
gamma ray emission
resistivity
Electrical resistance of materials, often measured in boreholes.
soil moisture
Water content of soil and other near-surface unconsolidated earth material
soil temperature
Temperature and temperature gradients in soil and other near-surface unconsolidated earth materials
earth structure
Major interior structural features of the planet earth.
core (earth)
The superdense center of the earth composed of two layers: a liquid outer layer and a solid inner core of metallic iron-nickel alloy.
inner core (earth)
The solid interior part of the earth's core, presumed to be composed principally of iron with an alloy of about 10 percent oxygen, sulfur, or nickel, or perhaps some combination of these three elements. The inner core is about 1221 kilometers thick.
outer core (earth)
Outer zone of the earth's core between the mantle and the inner core.
crust (earth)
The outermost layer of the earth which is relatively thin, of lower density than the core, and rocky.
lithosphere
The solid outer zone of the earth comprising the crust and the upper layer of the mantle.
continental lithosphere
The earth's hard, outermost shell comprised of the crust and the upper part of the mantle.
craton
oceanic lithosphere
The solid outer zone of the earth, covered by seawater, and comprised of the crust and the upper layer of the mantle.
mantle (earth)
Zone of earth's interior between the crust and the core. It is 2,900 kilometers (1,740 miles) thick and consists of a dense upper layer (upper mantle) and a partially molten lower layer (lower mantle), separated by a transition zone.
asthenosphere
A layer of the earth within the upper mantle and directly below the lithosphere. This layer has a semi-solid consistency that reaches to about 200 kilometers (124 miles) below the surface.
geologic history
Record (and inferred reconstruction) of the origin and development of the earth since its formation.
chronostratigraphy
geohistory
earth history
The structural and compositional changes that the earth has undergone from its formation. Use for discussions of the whole earth (or large sections of it) instead of regional studies.
geologic structure
General position of rocks in an area, and geometrical relationships among rocks.
foliation (geologic)
The property of rocks or glaciers splitting into thin layers or plates due to the orientation of crystals and dynamic movement.
lineation (geologic)
Linear topographic feature on the earth's surface or in rocks.
lineaments
structure contours
Gridding and contouring lines drawn on geologic maps to depict boundaries of structural features.
gravitational field (earth)
Region or space around earth's mass which exerts a force that mutually attracts other masses in proportion to the product of the two masses and the distance between them.
gravity
gravity field
bouguer anomaly
Gravity anomaly corrected to remove the effects of topography using knowledge of the terrain in the area surrounding the measurement station.
free-air anomaly
Gravity anomaly corrected for elevation of the location at which the measurements were made.
gravity gradient
Lateral variation of the three-dimensional vector components of gravity, typically measured using airborne sensors.
gravity gradiometry
isostatic anomaly
Gravity anomaly corrected for the effects of low-density rocks underlying mountains.
lakebed characteristics
Characteristics of the bottom of inland bodies of water.
lake-bed characteristics
lake-bottom characteristics
lake-floor characteristics
lakebed acoustic reflectivity
Acoustic energy received by a sonar system, providing a measure of the roughness of the lakebed.
backscatter (lakebed)
land surface characteristics
Features and attributes of earth's land surface.
landscape
physiography
karst
Landscape characterized by dissolution features in carbonate or evaporite terranes, often containing caves and sinkholes.
karstic
karst topography
magnetic field (earth)
The magnetic region surrounding earth. It is generated by the dipolar characteristic of earth's core whereby earth itself acts as a great spherical magnet with poles near, but not exactly at, the North and South poles.
geomagnetic field
geomagnetics
geomagnetism
magnetic field
magnetosphere
ocean characteristics
The attributes and process of seas and oceans.
ocean mixed-layer depth
ocean surface characteristics
sea surface reflectance
ocean salinity
Measure of the percentage of dissolved salts in seawater.
ocean temperature
Distribution of heat in the oceans, including surface water, thermocline and mode waters, and deep waters. Includes discussion and measures of both in-situ and potential temperature.
temperature (ocean)
sea surface temperature
Observed temperature of surface ocean waters, typically encompassing the entire mixed layer. Some observational methods, however, may measure a much smaller depth range. Includes temperature data obtained in-situ or by remote sensing methods.
sea-surface temperature
sst
temperature (sea surface)
sea-floor characteristics
Geomorphic features and geographic, compositional, and textural variation in the materials composing the ocean floor. Includes both large-scale structures (such as seamounts and rises) and fine-scale variations in rocks and deposits on the sea floor.
ocean bottom characteristics
sea floor characteristics
seafloor characteristics
sea-floor acoustic reflectivity
Acoustic energy received by a sonar system, providing a measure of the roughness of the sea floor.
backscatter (sea floor)
sea-floor acoustic backscatter
sea-level change
Variation in the relative vertical position of land and ocean waters. Caused globally by changes in the distribution of ice masses and the shape of the oceans, and locally by the rate of uplift or subsidence of the land surface. Includes both global (eustatic) and local (relative) sea-level variations.
sea level change
sea level rise
sea-level rise
rocks and deposits
Solid masses that make up the earth's crust as well as accumulations of materials. Use for major rock types and unconsolidated deposits. For deposits of economic value, see related terms.
crystals
lithology
rock composition
fossils
Recognizable remains such as bones, shells, leaves, burrows, impressions, or tracks of past life on the earth.
index fossils
microfossils
ichnofossils
Fossilized remains of the traces of animal activity from different geologic time periods including burrows, tracks, trails, borings, and other features found in sedimentary structures.
trace fossils
igneous rocks
Rocks formed from melted rock that has cooled and solidified.
plutonic rocks
Rocks formed at considerable depth by crystallization of magma and/or by chemical alteration. They are characteristically medium- to coarse-grained, of granitoid texture.
intrusive rocks
magma
volcanic rocks
A generally finely crystalline or glassy igneous rock resulting from volcanic action at or near the earth's surface, either ejected explosively or extruded as lava. The term includes near-surface intrusions that form a part of the volcanic structure.
lava
pyroclastic
tuff
volcanic ash
metamorphic rocks
Sedimentary or igneous rocks which have undergone such intense changes in temperature, pressure, structural stress, or chemical environment that they are transformed into denser rocks.
mineral deposits
Deposits in which particular minerals are concentrated, typically noticed and studied if the minerals have economic value.
ore deposits
permafrost
Rocks and deposits in which the interstitial waters remain perennially frozen.
petroleum
Naturally occurring hydrocarbons, typically fluid or gas, often of economic use. Includes oil, natural gas, and asphaltic compounds found in tar sands and oil shales.
sedimentary rocks
Rocks formed by the consolidation of loose, uncemented pieces of sediments.
bedforms
Fluctuations from horizontal layers in sediments or sedimentary rocks made by flow on the beds of alluvial channels.
bed forms
unconsolidated deposits
Loosely bound sediments such as sand, gravel, and silt which tend to accumulate in low areas or valleys.
alluvium
eolian sediments
loess
sediments
surficial deposits
clay deposits
Fine-grained sedimentary soil deposits, containing hydrated silicas of aluminum, that are plastic and sticky when wet and harden when heated.
gravel deposits
Alluvial accumulations of small unconsolidated rock fragments, such as pebbles and cobbles, used in construction as fill, ground cover, or aggregate for concrete.
mine waste
Earth materials removed during mining and concentrated in piles or beds, typically near the site of extraction. Tailings are mine waste that has been processed to remove valuable components; unprocessed mine waste includes overburden removed to reach commodity materials such as ore or coal.
mine spoil
mine tailings
tailing piles
sand deposits
Deposits of loose particles of rock or mineral (sediment) that range in size from 0.0625-2.0 millimeters in diameter.
soil horizons
Layers in soil defined by physical, chemical, biological, or mineralogical properties which vary with depth.
A horizon
B horizon
C horizon
solid industrial waste material
Waste solid materials produced by industrial processing of earth materials, not simply material extracted in the search for ores.
coal ash
Solid waste material remaining from the burning of coal.
coal fly ash
slag
Solid waste material produced by the industrial processing of ore materials.
snow and ice cover
Accumulation of snow or ice blanketing land surfaces.
cryosphere
glaciers
ice
snowpack
sea ice concentration
Proportion of ocean area in a given region that contains or is covered by floating ice.
sea-ice concentration
sea ice cover
stratigraphic sections
Vertical arrangement in layers of rock units whose sequence is used to study the geological history of the strata.
geologic sections
geologic units
sections (geologic)
sections (stratigraphic)
strata
stratum
bedrock geologic units
Units of consolidated (solid) rock that underlie soils or other unconsolidated materials.
geologic formations
geologic contacts
Junctions of two different rock formations varying by type or age of rock, including faults, unconformities, and bedding planes.
contacts (geologic)
unconformities
The contact between older rocks and younger sedimentary rocks where erosion had removed some of the older rocks before the younger rocks were deposited.
stratigraphic thickness
Thickness of earth material layers or groups of such layers, often portrayed as isopachs (contours) or gridded data.
isopach
sediment thickness
surficial geologic units
Rock units on the earth's surface.
topography
Configuration of the land surface and sea floor.
elevation and relief
bathymetry
The elevation of the earth's surface beneath a body of water, especially the ocean, typically determined by measurements of depth from the water surface.
bathymetry data
sea floor topography
underwater contours
effects of climate change
Characteristics and behaviors of organisms and earth systems that are modified as a result of changes in global, regional, or local climate.
climate change effects
climate effects
global change
elements
Chemical elements and element groups
chemical element groups
Groups shown at <http://periodic.lanl.gov/>
actinide series elements
alkali metal elements
alkaline earth elements
halogen elements
lanthanide series elements
lanthanoid elements
metal elements
noble gas elements
inert gases
nonmetal elements
platinum-group elements
A group of chemically similar metal elements that tend to occur in the same types of mineral deposits.
PGE
PGM
platinum-group metals
rare earth elements
A group of elements including the lanthanoids, or lanthanides, of interest because they are used in modern technological industries. Yttrium and scandium are often included in this group.
chemical elements
Chemical substances distinguished by atomic number. http://periodic.lanl.gov/
actinium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Ac and atomic number 89 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/89.shtml>
aluminum
Metalloid element with symbol Al and atomic number 13 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/13.shtml>
americium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Am and atomic number 95 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/95.shtml>
antimony
Metalloid element with symbol Sb and atomic number 51 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/51.shtml>
argon
Noble gas element with symbol Ar and atomic number 18 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/18.shtml>
arsenic
Nonmetal element with symbol As and atomic number 33 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/33.shtml>
astatine
Halogen element with symbol At and atomic number 85 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/85.shtml>
barium
Alkaline earth element with symbol Ba and atomic number 56 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/56.shtml>
berkelium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Bk and atomic number 97 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/97.shtml>
beryllium
Alkaline earth element with symbol Be and atomic number 4 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/4.shtml>
bismuth
Metalloid element with symbol Bi and atomic number 83 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/83.shtml>
bohrium
Metal element with symbol Bh and atomic number 107 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/107.shtml>
boron
Nonmetal element with symbol B and atomic number 5 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/5.shtml>
bromine
Halogen element with symbol Br and atomic number 35 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/35.shtml>
cadmium
Metal element with symbol Cd and atomic number 48 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/48.shtml>
calcium
Alkaline earth element with symbol Ca and atomic number 20 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/20.shtml>
californium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Cf and atomic number 98 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/98.shtml>
carbon
Nonmetal element with symbol C and atomic number 6 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/6.shtml>
cerium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Ce and atomic number 58 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/58.shtml>
cesium
Alkali metal element with symbol Cs and atomic number 55 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/55.shtml>
chlorine
Halogen element with symbol Cl and atomic number 17 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/17.shtml>
chromium
Metal element with symbol Cr and atomic number 24 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/24.shtml>
cobalt
Metal element with symbol Co and atomic number 27 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/27.shtml>
copper
Metal element with symbol Cu and atomic number 29 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/29.shtml>
curium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Cm and atomic number 96 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/96.shtml>
darmstadtium
Metal element with symbol Ds and atomic number 110 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/110.shtml>
dubnium
Metal element with symbol Db and atomic number 105 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/105.shtml>
dysprosium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Dy and atomic number 66 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/66.shtml>
einsteinium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Es and atomic number 99 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/99.shtml>
erbium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Er and atomic number 68 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/68.shtml>
europium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Eu and atomic number 63 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/63.shtml>
fermium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Fm and atomic number 100 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/100.shtml>
fluorine
Halogen element with symbol F and atomic number 9 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/9.shtml>
francium
Alkali metal element with symbol Fr and atomic number 87 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/87.shtml>
gadolinium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Gd and atomic number 64 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/64.shtml>
gallium
Metalloid element with symbol Ga and atomic number 31 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/31.shtml>
germanium
Metalloid element with symbol Ge and atomic number 32 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/32.shtml>
gold
Metal element with symbol Au and atomic number 79 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/79.shtml>
hafnium
Metal element with symbol Hf and atomic number 72 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/72.shtml>
hassium
Metal element with symbol Hs and atomic number 108 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/108.shtml>
helium
Noble gas element with symbol He and atomic number 2 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/2.shtml>
holmium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Ho and atomic number 67 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/67.shtml>
hydrogen
Alkali metal element with symbol H and atomic number 1 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/1.shtml>
indium
Metalloid element with symbol In and atomic number 49 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/49.shtml>
iodine
Halogen element with symbol I and atomic number 53 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/53.shtml>
iridium
Metal element with symbol Ir and atomic number 77 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/77.shtml>
irridium
iron
Metal element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/26.shtml>
krypton
Noble gas element with symbol Kr and atomic number 36 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/36.shtml>
lanthanum
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol La and atomic number 57 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/57.shtml>
lawrencium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Lr and atomic number 103 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/103.shtml>
lead
Metalloid element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/82.shtml>
lithium
Alkali metal element with symbol Li and atomic number 3 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/3.shtml>
lutetium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Lu and atomic number 71 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/71.shtml>
magnesium
Alkaline earth element with symbol Mg and atomic number 12 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/12.shtml>
manganese
Metal element with symbol Mn and atomic number 25 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/25.shtml>
meitnerium
Metal element with symbol Mt and atomic number 109 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/109.shtml>
mendelevium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Md and atomic number 101 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/101.shtml>
mercury
Metal element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/80.shtml>
molybdenum
Metal element with symbol Mo and atomic number 42 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/42.shtml>
neodymium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Nd and atomic number 60 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/60.shtml>
neon
Noble gas element with symbol Ne and atomic number 10 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/10.shtml>
neptunium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Np and atomic number 93 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/93.shtml>
nickel
Metal element with symbol Ni and atomic number 28 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/28.shtml>
niobium
Metal element with symbol Nb and atomic number 41 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/41.shtml>
columbium
nitrogen
Nonmetal element with symbol N and atomic number 7 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/7.shtml>
nobelium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol No and atomic number 102 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/102.shtml>
osmium
Metal element with symbol Os and atomic number 76 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/76.shtml>
oxygen
Nonmetal element with symbol O and atomic number 8 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/8.shtml>
palladium
Metal element with symbol Pd and atomic number 46 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/46.shtml>
phosphorus
Nonmetal element with symbol P and atomic number 15 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/15.shtml>
platinum
Metal element with symbol Pt and atomic number 78 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/78.shtml>
plutonium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Pu and atomic number 94 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/94.shtml>
polonium
Metalloid element with symbol Po and atomic number 84 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/84.shtml>
potassium
Alkali metal element with symbol K and atomic number 19 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/19.shtml>
praseodymium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Pr and atomic number 59 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/59.shtml>
promethium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Pm and atomic number 61 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/61.shtml>
protactinium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Pa and atomic number 91 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/91.shtml>
radium
Alkaline earth element with symbol Ra and atomic number 88 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/88.shtml>
radon
Noble gas element with symbol Rn and atomic number 86 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/86.shtml>
rhenium
Metal element with symbol Re and atomic number 75 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/75.shtml>
rhodium
Metal element with symbol Rh and atomic number 45 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/45.shtml>
rubidium
Alkali metal element with symbol Rb and atomic number 37 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/37.shtml>
ruthenium
Metal element with symbol Ru and atomic number 44 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/44.shtml>
rutherfordium
Metal element with symbol Rf and atomic number 104 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/104.shtml>
samarium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Sm and atomic number 62 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/62.shtml>
scandium
Metal element with symbol Sc and atomic number 21 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/21.shtml>
seaborgium
Metal element with symbol Sg and atomic number 106 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/106.shtml>
selenium
Nonmetal element with symbol Se and atomic number 34 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/34.shtml>
silicon
Nonmetal element with symbol si and atomic number 14 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/14.shtml>
silver
Metal element with symbol Ag and atomic number 47 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/47.shtml>
sodium
Alkali metal element with symbol Na and atomic number 11 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/11.shtml>
strontium
Alkaline earth element with symbol Sr and atomic number 38 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/38.shtml>
sulfur
Nonmetal element with symbol S and atomic number 16 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/16.shtml>
tantalum
Metal element with symbol Ta and atomic number 73 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/73.shtml>
technetium
Metal element with symbol Tc and atomic number 43 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/43.shtml>
tellurium
Nonmetal element with symbol Te and atomic number 52 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/52.shtml>
terbium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Tb and atomic number 65 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/65.shtml>
thallium
Metalloid element with symbol Tl and atomic number 81 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/81.shtml>
thorium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Th and atomic number 90 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/90.shtml>
thulium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Tm and atomic number 69 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/69.shtml>
tin
Metalloid element with symbol Sn and atomic number 50 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/50.shtml>
titanium
Metal element with symbol Ti and atomic number 22 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/22.shtml>
tungsten
Metal element with symbol W and atomic number 74 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/74.shtml>
ununnilium
Metal element with symbol Uuu and atomic number 111 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/111.shtml>
Uuu
ununnubium
Metal element with symbol Uub and atomic number 113 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/113.shtml>
Uub
ununnunium
Metal element with symbol Uun and atomic number 112 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/112.shtml>
Uun
uranium
Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol U and atomic number 92 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/92.shtml>
vanadium
Metal element with symbol V and atomic number 23 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/23.shtml>
xenon
Noble gas element with symbol Xe and atomic number 54 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/54.shtml>
ytterbium
Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Yb and atomic number 70 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/70.shtml>
yttrium
Metal element with symbol Y and atomic number 39 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/39.shtml>
zinc
Metal element with symbol Zn and atomic number 30 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/30.shtml>
zirconium
Metal element with symbol Zr and atomic number 40 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/40.shtml>
field monitoring stations
Locations where USGS scientists or their collaborators make measurements of natural phenomena.
benchmarks
seismic monitoring stations
stream gaging stations
hazards
Potential dangers from both natural processes (e.g., earthquakes, floods, and climate change) and human impacts on the environment.
catastrophes
disasters
emergency management resources
environmental hazards
geologic hazards
health and disease
Normal and abnormal conditions of plant and animal bodies. Covers both human and non-human health and disease topics. For human health and disease, use the narrower term 'environmental health (human)'.
disease
nutrition
disease vectors
Organisms, such as insects, that transmit pathogens from one host to another.
environmental health (human)
Effects of the environment on human health.
disease (human)
health (human)
human disease
human health
human environmental safety
Monitoring and managing potentially harmful factors in the environment for human safety.
safety issues (human)
wildlife disease
Includes viral, bacterial, and fungal infections as well as exposure of organisms to dangerous chemicals or toxic substances.
avian influenza
A virulent disease of poultry and wild birds that has spread throughout a large geographic area in Asia and Eastern Europe since it was first documented in 1997 in Asia.
avian flu
bird flu
H5N1
HPAI
chronic wasting disease
Transmissible neurological disease of deer and elk that produces small lesions in the brains of infected animals; may be transmitted to humans who consume the meat of infected animals.
CWD
white-nose syndrome
Disease affecting hibernating bats caused by a white fungus infecting the skin of the muzzle, ears, and wings
WNS
zoonotic diseases
Diseases of animals that can be communicated to humans
zoonoses
zoonosis
human impacts
The effects, intentional or unintentional, beneficial or harmful, direct or indirect, which human activities have upon the environment and living things.
abandoned mines and quarries
Mines and quarries that have been abandoned and may expose harmful chemicals to the environment.
deforestation
Reduction in the density of forest cover or tree canopy, typically by harvesting trees for human use or clearing land for other purposes such as agriculture.
dredging
Removal of sediments from water bodies to aid navigation or to transfer material to another location.
land use change
Effect of changing land use patterns on ecological systems.
urbanization
habitat fragmentation
Disruption of once-continuous natural habitats by human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, resource extraction, and the construction of roads, railways, fences, and pipelines.
mining hazards
Dangerous conditions which result from the extraction of naturally occurring mineral deposits. Includes tunnel collapses, fires, and explosions.
overfishing
Taking too many fish from an area beyond the capacity for the population to replenish its numbers. The balance of the ecosystem is upset, leading to long-term depletion of fish stock.
over-fishing
overgrazing
The practice of allowing animals to eat vegetation, especially ground cover, beyond the capacity of the plant population to replenish itself. Leads to erosion and other harm to the ecosystem.
over-grazing
waste treatment and disposal
The chemical and physical methods to recycle or dispose of materials which, without treatment, are deemed to have no further value or are too contaminated to be used.
nuclear waste repositories
radioactive waste repositories
sewage disposal
waste repositories
waste treatment
wastewater treatment
information system design and development
Use for the design and development of information systems. Do not use for general cases in which information systems are part of the activity.
geographic information systems
Computer software that allows geospatially referenced data to be linked to geographic features. Use this term only for information that is about GIS and not for the use of GIS in applications and projects.
geographic information systems (GIS)
GIS
metadata development
Use for the development of metadata schemes and applications. Do not use for general cases where metadata are part of the activities.
instrument design and development
Includes the design and development of software for a particular instrument.
tool development
land use and land cover
The vegetation, water, natural surface, and cultural features on the land surface.
map coordinate systems
Systems using sets of numbers combined with geometric nets or grids to specific positions on a map or globe.
coordinate systems
geographic coordinate systems
grid coordinate systems
horizontal datums
map projections
vertical datums
natural resource exploration
Techniques for locating deposits or stocks of useful minerals, water, and other resources using reconnaissance or instrumental methods.
dowsing
exploration
prospecting
natural resource extraction
Removal of natural materials or properties (such as heat) for use.
resource extraction
enhanced oil recovery
Injection of steam, gas, or other chemical compounds into hydrocarbon reservoirs to stimulate the production of usable oil beyond what is possible through natural pressure, water injection, and pumping at the wellhead.
EOR
tertiary oil recovery
hydraulic fracturing
Injection of water and other fluids through a well into geologic formations in order to increase the permeability of the rock units and thus permit natural gas or oil to be produced from them.
fracking
hydrofracking
mining and quarrying
Extracting mineral deposits from a pit, tunnel, or excavation.
quarrying
placer deposit mining
Extraction of minerals, typically metal ores, from unconsolidated surficial materials such as stream sediments.
well drilling
The process of artificial excavation for the purpose of withdrawing water, oil, or gas from underground.
natural resources
Stocks of anything naturally occurring that have a beneficial use for man including economic, nutritional, recreational, aesthetic, and other benefits.
energy resources
Natural resources that are used for heat and power generation, including oil, natural gas, coal, and geothermal energy.
energy sources
fossil fuels
coal resources
Fuel resources such as anthracite, lignite, bituminous coal, or coke, consisting largely of carbonaceous material and formed from fossilized plants.
anthracite resources
bituminous coal resources
lignite resources
subbituminous coal resources
energy storage
Methods and technologies for holding energy to be recovered at a later time.
battery storage
mechanical energy storage
pumped storage hydroelectricity
geologic energy storage
Use of subsurface reservoirs to store energy that can be recovered at a later time using thermal [energy], gravity, or stored air or natural gases.
aquifer thermal energy storage
compressed air storage
geothermal energy storage
reservoir thermal energy storage
underground natural gas storage
geothermal resources
Energy resources related to the earth's internal heat, commonly applied to springs or vents discharging hot water or steam.
natural gas resources
Stocks of naturally formed hydrocarbon gases which are usually associated with petroleum fields. Useful for heating, they are principally methane, but can be ethane, butane, or propane.
petroleum resources (gas)
coalbed methane resources
Resources of methane-rich gas generated and stored in coalbeds.
coal bed methane resources
methane resources (coalbed)
gas hydrate resources
Deposits of a crystalline solid in which water molecules trap gas molecules, usually methane, in a cagelike structure known as a clathrate occurring in sediments overlain by cold deep water.
methane hydrate resources
oil resources
Deposits (pools) of highly valuable liquid hydrocarbons or fossil fuels.
petroleum resources (oil)
oil sand resources
Deposits of sandstone or unconsolidated sand containing bitumen that can be extracted as an oil resource.
tar sand resources
oil shale resources
Deposits of finely grained sedimentary rock containing kerogen that can be distilled to produce liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons.
wind energy
Use of prevailing wind as a source of energy to drive turbines or other machinery.
fishery resources
The stock of anadromous, marine, and freshwater fish in fishing areas of commercial, subsistence, and recreational value.
commercial fishery resources
Stocks of fish and other seafood used for marketing purposes.
inland fishery resources
Stocks of fish available to be taken in lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, and other inland bodies of water.
marine fishery resources
The stock of fisheries located in seas and oceans.
coastal fisheries
coastal fishing
deep sea fisheries
deep sea fishing
reef fisheries
reef fishing
whaling
Taking whales from the ocean for marketing or subsistence purposes.
recreational fishery resources
The stock of fish and other seafood resources in areas used for recreational fishing.
recreational fishing
sport fishing
subsistence fishery resources
The stock of fish taken and eaten by local populations rather than marketed.
forest resources
Trees and associated vegetation available for human use. Use for timber and other forest resources with economic value.
forestry
mineral resources
Natural occurrences of useful inorganic elements or compounds.
critical minerals
A non-fuel mineral or mineral material essential to the economic and national security of the US, the supply chain of which is vulnerable to disruption, and that serves an essential function in the manufacturing of a product, the absence of which would have significant consequences for our economy or our national security.
critical mineral resources
metallic mineral resources
Resources from which ductile, malleable, opaque,and reflective metals that are also good heat and electricity conductors can be extracted.
metallic ores
ore deposits (metallic)
nonmetallic mineral resources
Useful mineral deposits that are not metals. Includes materials used for construction, decoration, fuel, and industrial purposes.
industrial mineral resources
industrial minerals
barite
Mineral commodity barium sulfate used in many applications where a high-density non-metallic subsance is needed, such as drilling mud and medical technology.
building stone resources
Deposits of rocks used in construction, including crushed stone and dimension stone. Dimension stone includes limestone and granite, quarried in large blocks, and shaped in cubes, panels and other forms.
crushed stone
dimension stone
fluorite
Mineral comodity calcium fluoride used in industrial applications and to produce hydrofluoric acid.
fluorspar
gem resources
Deposits of rare minerals prized for their color, durability, sparkle, and clarity when cut and polished and used as ornaments or jewelry.
graphite
Mineral commodity composed of carbon arranged in sheet structures used in many ways, most recently in battery technology.
soil resources
Natural resources of unconsolidated fragmented rock, humus, and mineral matter that cover the surface of the earth.
biological soil crusts
Communities commonly found on the soil surface in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, these consist of mosses, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, and microfungi, which weave together and adhere to the soil to form a matrix that lessens erosion, supports nitrogen fixation, and retains moisture. These organisms are important to the functioning of ecosystems and to the organization of plant and soil communities.
biocrusts
cryptobiotic soil crusts
cryptogamic soil crusts
microbiotic soil crusts
water resources
Stocks of water, the liquid derived from precipitation. A constituent of living matter and necessity for all life, it covers a large proportion of the earth's surface.
hydrosphere
groundwater
All water that exists beneath the land surface, but more commonly applied to water in fully saturated soils and geologic formations.
freshwater (ground)
ground water
ground-water
water subsurface
groundwater level
Depth in a well or aquifer at which groundwater occurs.
aquifer level
ground-water level
potentiometric surface
water table
unsaturated zone
The portion of the subsurface above the ground water table.
vadose zone
surface water (non-marine)
Open bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, or streams. All non-marine waters on the surface of the earth, including fresh, brackish, and salt water.
freshwater (surface)
river systems
Long water courses including main streams and tributaries.
river ecosystems
river reaches
Continuous parts of streams between two specified points.
reaches (hydraulic)
reaches (streams)
surface-water level
Height of the water surface in a lake, reservoir, or wetland. For water levels in flowing streams, refer to streamflow.
organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
Used for categories of living organisms that are not taxonomic and that include species from more than one taxonomic group.
benthos
Animals that live on the bottom of water bodies.
biota
All living organisms in an area.
consumers (organisms)
Organisms unable to produce food from nonliving matter and dependent on ingesting other animals, plants, or particulate organic matter.
carnivores
Flesh-eating animals.
predators
herbivores
Animals that eat chiefly plants or their products, such as seeds, nectar, and fruit.
omnivores
Animals that eat both plant and animal materials.
decomposers
Organisms, chiefly microorganisms and invertebrates, that feed on dead plant or animal matter breaking it down and recycling the resulting elements and compounds in the environment.
endangered species
Plant or animal species reduced to such low numbers of individuals that they are at risk of becoming extinct.
game species
Species of wild animals that are hunted for food or sport.
genetically engineered organisms
Organisms whose DNA has been modified through the insertion or deletion of DNA fragments from the same or another species, in order to produce or enhance desirable traits such as increased yield, resistance to pests, adaptation to drastically changed environments, or formation of entirely new compounds.
genetically modified organisms
keystone species
Species whose abundance and ecological role has a dramatic effect on the other species in an ecosystem.
macroinvertebrates
Invertebrate animals large enough to be studied without a microscope.
microbes
Microscopic, typically one-celled organisms.
microorganisms
migratory species
Species that have a pattern of moving from one geographical area to another, primarily according to the seasons, and usually traveling long distances along established routes.
anadromous fish
diadromous fish
native species
Organisms originating in the area where they live.
indigenous species
endemic species
Plant and animals species native to and confined to specific geographic areas.
nekton
Free-swimming aquatic organisms able to move without depending on waves, currents, and tides.
nonindigenous species
Organisms accidentally or intentionally introduced into areas where they did not previously originate or live.
alien species
exotic species
foreign species
introduced species
non-indigenous species
non-native species
invasive species
Plant, animal, or microbe species that is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health.
invader species
nuisance species
Organisms whose presence or behavior has undesirable effects on human activities.
parasites
Symbiotic organisms that are detrimental to the host.
plankton
Floating aquatic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) which are often microscopic and drift with the current in lakes, rivers, and oceans.
planktonic ecosystems
zooplankton
phytoplankton
Small, mostly microscopic aquatic plants such as algae and bacteria suspended in water.
pollinators
Organisms that aid in the growth and distribution of plants by transferring pollen as a byproduct of their feeding activities.
producers (organisms)
Organisms, chiefly green plants, which use inorganic elements, compounds, and light to produce their food (photosynthesis). They are a source of food for animals.
shellfish
Aquatic invertebrates with shells, usually mollusks and crustaceans. Includes clams, lobsters, and oysters.
vegetation
Plant life or general plant cover in an area.
grasses
trees
aquatic vegetation
Plants living primarily in or under water.
hydrophytes
mangroves
seagrass
seaweeds
periphyton
A plant assemblage including microbial communities of algae and cyanobacteria living attached to submerged aquatic vegetation.
weeds
Plants whose presence in an area is undesirable.
wildlife
Undomesticated organisms living in natural settings without dependence on man.
organisms
Living individuals that grow, reproduce, and die.
biological organisms
algae
Chlorophyll-bearing primarily aquatic nonvascular species that have no true roots, stems, or leaves; most algae are microscopic, but some species can be as large as vascular plants.
calcareous nannoplankton
Organisms of the kingdom Protista that normally produce coccoliths, microscopic structures of calcite (calcium carbonate), during some phase of their life cycle.
coccoliths
diatoms
Microscopic, single-celled plants of the class Bacillariophyceae that have siliceous shells called frustules, and which grow in both marine and fresh water.
dinoflagellates
Single-celled planktonic organisms, chiefly marine, characterized by twirling motion and whip-like flagella with affinities to both plants and animals.
animals
Multi-celled organisms of the kingdom Animalia with eukaryotic cells (cells with distinct nuclei containing genetic material and bounded by thin membranes) that are heterotrophic (obtaining energy from organic substances produced by other organisms).
fauna
invertebrates
Animals having no backbone or spinal column, such as insects, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and similar organisms.
arthropods
Invertebrates belonging to the largest phylum of animals, Arthropoda, with an exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, including many subphyla and classes, such as insects, crustaceans, horseshoe crabs, sea spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and the extinct trilobites.
arachnids
Carnivorous arthropods, chiefly terrestrial, of the class Arachnida including spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks, false scorpions, palpigrades, solifugids, and harvestmen.
false scorpions
mites
spiders
ticks
crustaceans
Arthropods of class Crustacea, such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp, prawns, or barnacles, with hard shells (exoskeleton) and segmented bodies with pairs of jointed appendages.
ostracodes
Small aquatic crustaceans belonging to the subclass Ostracoda, characterized by a bivalve shell.
Ostracoda
ostracods
horseshoe crabs
Marine arthropods, usually classed as Merostomata, which have a broad crescent (horseshoe-shaped) cephalothorax.
insects
Small arthropod animals of the class Insecta with bodies in 3 segments (head, thorax, and abdomen). They have 3 pairs of legs, 2 antennae, and usually one or two pairs of wings. Includes flies, mosquitoes, beetles, butterflies, bees, crickets, and dragonflies.
bugs
bees and wasps
bees
wasps
butterflies and moths
Insects of the order Lepidoptera that have four wings with overlapping, often highly colored scales. They undergo four life cycle stages: eggs, caterpillar larvae, pupae, and the winged adults.
lepidoptera
moths
trilobites
Extinct marine arthropods of the class Trilobita with segmented bodies and jointed appendages found as Paleozoic fossils in many parts of the world.
bryozoans and brachiopods
Aquatic invertebrates, usually marine, belonging to the phyla Bryozoa and Brachiopoda. Brachiopods, or clam shells, are solitary living invertebrates characterized by two shells and a lophophore, which is a complex food gathering organ. Bryozoans are colonial and include moss coral and moss polyps.
brachiopods
ectoprocta
coelenterates
Freshwater and marine invertebrates, such as corals, jellyfish, and sea anemones, belonging to the phylum Coelenterata and living as sedentary polyps or free swimming medusae.
corals
jellyfish
sea anemones
conodonts
Microscopic teeth of primitive, boneless, eel-like animals, similar to modern hagfish, that lived in many of the world's oceans from the Cambrian through Triassic Periods of geologic time (550 to 210 million years ago).
echinoderms
Marine invertebrates of the phylum Echinodermata with a radial body and a calcareous exoskeleton. Includes starfishes, brittle stars, sea lilies, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.
mollusks
Invertebrates belonging to the phylum Mollusca with soft, nonsegmented bodies, often covered by a hard shell. Includes snails, clams, oysters, whelks, mussels, slugs, octopuses, and squids.
molluscs
sponges
Aquatic invertebrates belonging to the phylum Porifera having internal skeletons of silica or collagen, porous body around a cavity or cavities, and usually living in stationary communities.
tunicates
Marine organisms of the subphylum tunicata of the phylum chordata.
sea squirts
urochordates
worms
Invertebrate animals of the phyla Annelida, Nematoda, Memertea, or Plathyhelminthes, that have long thin rounded or flat bodies without obvious appendages.
flatworms
Soft flat worms of the phylum Platyhelminthes, which are often parasitic. Includes tapeworms and flukes.
roundworms
Worms of the phylum Nematoda, often parasitic, such as hookworms and pinworms, having soft cylindrical bodies without segments.
nematodes
segmented worms
Worms belonging to the phylum Annelida, with soft bodies divided into segments and distinct heads. Includes leeches, earthworms, and marine worms.
annelids
vertebrates
Animals possessing a vertebral column or backbone including birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.
amphibians
Vertebrates of the class Amphibia including frogs and toads (Anura), salamanders (Urodela), caecilians (Apoda) and extinct forms which are cold-blooded and have life stages in water as eggs and larval forms (tadpoles)until they metamorphose as adults.
birds
Land vertebrates belonging to the class Aves with warm blood, feathers, wings, and reproduction characterized by egg laying.
shorebirds
water birds
waterfowl
fish
Cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates with fins for swimming, gills for breathing, and usually scales.
fishes
mammals
Vertebrate animals, generally large, with skin covered by hair and large brain cavities. Females have mammary glands for feeding the young, who are usually born quite mature.
bats
Small flying mammals of the order Chiroptera.
bears
Large wild mammals of the family Ursidae. Includes black and brown (grizzly) bears and polar bears.
black bears
grizzly bears
polar bears
walruses
walrus
reptiles
Cold-blooded vertebrates of the class Reptilia. Characterized by skin covered with scales or horny plates and reproduced by eggs. Includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, alligators, turtles, and extinct species such as dinosaurs.
dinosaurs
Extinct reptiles, often gigantic, chiefly terrestrial, carnivorous or herbivorous, that lived during the Mesozoic era.
archaea
Microscopic organisms of the domain Archaea living on a diet of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, once thought to be bacteria, and often inhabiting extreme environments, such as thermal vents and hot springs, extremely alkaline and acidic waters, hypersaline water, and anoxic habitats.
archaebacteria
bacteria
Single celled microorganisms, beneficial or pathogenic, without a nuclear membrane.
fungi
Immobile organisms of the kingdom Fungi that lack chlorophyll and that obtain nutrients from other dead or living organisms. Fungi reproduce by spores and include yeasts, molds, smuts, and mushrooms.
lichens
Plants that are composed of a fungus and an alga growing together symbiotically and often found growing on rocks or tree trunks.
plants (organisms)
Organisms which belong to the plant kingdom. Commonly multicellular, they produce food through photosynthesis.
flora
nonvascular plants
Simple plants which lack conducting tissues known as vascular bundles, a group of specialized cells made up of xylem and phloem.
non-vascular plants
liverworts and hornworts
Simple green land plants of the phyla Bryophyta with leaves and a stem and always without roots.
mosses
Simple green land plants, member of the phyla Bryophyta, along with liverworts and hornworts. They have leaves and a stem, but always lack roots.
vascular plants
Plants which have a specialized conductive system. Includes xylem and phloem: club mosses, ferns, cycads, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.
ferns and fern allies
Spore-bearing, vascular plants having leaves known as fronds.
flowering plants
Plants known as angiosperms which periodically produce flowers which have various parts including sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.
gymnosperms
Seed-bearing woody vascular plants, such as the conifers (pine, spruce, fir, etc.), whose seeds are not enclosed in an ovary or fruit, but are exposed.
protists
Unicellular eukaryotes (organisms possessing nucleated cells) with affinities to both plants and animals. Classed in the Protista or Potoctista kingdom, they include protozoans, foraminifera, radiolarians, fungi and some algae.
foraminifera
protozoans
radiolaria
viruses
Very small particles visible only with an electronic microscope. Considered to be complex molecules and not living organisms, these are often causes of disease in plants, animals, and bacteria.
planetary bodies
Large celestial masses of rock, metal, or gas orbiting around a star. Use for extraterrestrial bodies.
meteorites
Masses of rock or metal from space that reach the earth's surface without burning up. Use for 'meteors' or 'meteoroids' as well as 'meteorites'. USGS is more likely to have information about 'meteorites' since these are objects found on the earth.
bolides
chondrites
meteors
population and community ecology
Interactions of a single species (population) or an association of different species (community) occupying a particular region, including their biotic and abiotic environments.
life history
population energetics
animal behavior
The way animals act or react to conditions in the environment and to other organisms, including life patterns such as migration, hibernation, and nocturnal living.
biodiversity
The variety in form, genetics, and ecological roles of organisms within a specific geographic area.
biological diversity
diversity (biological)
ecosystem diversity
Measure of the variety of biological communities and habitats important for ecological stability.
environmental DNA
Nuclear or mitochondrial DNA released into the environment as bodily secretions, hair, or similar materials other than whole individuals. Used to detect organisms that are not observed directly.
eDNA
genetic diversity
Measure of the variety of genes within a population pool in a given area.
genotype
Genetic characteristics of an individual organism.
species diversity
An ecological concept incorporating both the number of species in a particular sampling area and the evenness with which individuals are distributed among the various species.
biogeography
The study of the geographic distributions of plants and animals.
animal distribution
distribution of animals
distribution of plants
distribution of species
plant distribution
species distribution
species geographic range
community ecology
Study of the relationships of species that interact in a common area.
ecosystems
The interacting populations of plants, animals, and microorganisms occupying a certain area, and their relationship to the environment.
biosphere
clines
ecoclines
ecotones
aquatic ecosystems
Communities of interdependent organisms living primarily in or on water.
benthic ecosystems
Biologic communities and habitats at the bottom of lakes, streams, or oceans.
estuarine ecosystems
Biological communities and habitats within sea inlets or the zones where rivers meet the seas which are subject to tidal effects and the mixture of fresh and saltwater.
freshwater ecosystems
Biological communities and habitats that exist in lakes, rivers, ponds, and other bodies of water that are not salty.
lake ecosystems
pond ecosystems
spring ecosystems
stream ecosystems
marine ecosystems
Biological communities composed of plants and animals living primarily in or on seawater.
reef ecosystems
Biological communities formed by the skeletons of calcareous seawater organisms, usually corals.
coral reef ecosystems
terrestrial ecosystems
Communities of living organisms in a specific geographical location which exist primarily on land and not in water.
rangeland ecosystems
coastal ecosystems
Biological communities and habitats within the narrow zones of land between the margin of oceans or seas and large landmasses.
littoral ecosystems
desert ecosystems
Biological communities and habitats in arid areas with little precipitation, sparse, highly adapted vegetation, and extreme temperatures.
forest ecosystems
Biological communities and habitats in geographic areas with dense growths of trees and associated vegetation.
arboreal ecosystems
coniferous forests ecosystems
deciduous forest ecosystems
mixed forest ecosystems
taiga ecosystems
grassland ecosystems
Biological communities and habitats with ground cover of grasses and other herbaceous plants, but few trees. Examples include prairies, meadows, and savannas.
mixed grass ecosystems
plains ecosystems
prairie ecosystems
short grass ecosystems
tall grass ecosystems
island ecosystems
Communities of living organisms on islands.
insular ecology
shrubland ecosystems
Biological land communities and habitats with sparse, low-growing vegetation.
scrubland ecosystems
tundra ecosystems
Biological communities and habitats located in the treeless plains of Arctic regions where the subsoil is permanently frozen.
wetland ecosystems
Ecosystems whose soil is saturated for long periods seasonally or continuously, including marshes, swamps, and ephemeral ponds. More detailed terms for wetlands can be selected from the FGDC Wetland Classification <http://fgdc.gov/standards/status/sub3_4.html>.
marsh ecosystems
marshland ecosystems
riparian ecosystems
habitats
Parts of the physical environment where plants and animals live. Use in combination with terms from organisms and organism groupings (non-taxonomic) to indicate the topic of a species or group of species habitat.
phenology
Study of the response of organisms to seasonal or interannual changes in the environment.
population dynamics
Changes in the size, composition, or structure of aggregates of single or multiple species in a specific area over time.
symbiosis
An intimate, prolonged association between two or more organisms of different species that may or may not benefit each member.
commensalism
mutualism
parasitism
recreation
Pursuit of leisure-time activities, typically out of doors.
biking
bird watching
boating
camping
canoeing
caving
climbing
fishing (recreational)
hiking
hunting
kayaking
scientific careers
Professions in which people carry out or support scientific research or monitoring.
careers in science
water properties
Measurable physical and chemical characteristics of water from different sources.
dissolved gases
Gases such as ammonia, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide in solution measured in a water sample.
dissolved metals
Metal elements in solution, of concern in studies of hazards such as mine drainage and of water resource usability.
dissolved organic compounds
Organic compounds present in water, typically as anthropogenic contaminants including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and herbicides.
nutrient content (water)
Contaminants in water that nourish organisms, especially plants. Includes nitrogen and phosphorus, either of which can lead to the harmful growth of algae and other plants when present to excess in a body of water.
nitrogen content
phosphorus content
oxygen content (water)
Measurement of the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water, which is an important indicator of the condition of a water body.
anoxia
dissolved oxygen
hypoxia
salinity
Measure of the concentration of salts dissolved in a solution.
chloride concentration
sound velocity
Estimates of the velocity of sound in water, indexed by depth at a specific location, usually calculated from other water properties.
suspended material (water)
Sediment or organic material carried in suspension in the water column, in contrast to material that moves on or near the bottom. May be measured directly by sampling, or indirectly by acoustic or optical backscatter or transmission.
suspended sediment concentration
suspended-sediment concentration
water column reflectivity
A measure of the strength of reflection from small particles suspended in water. It is usually measured by sending a pulse of sound or light through the water and measuring the sound or light that is returned. Water column reflectivity can be used to measure the concentration of suspended particles.
backscatter (water column)
water column acoustic reflectivity
water column optical reflectivity
water hardness
Indicator of the concentration of alkaline salts in water, mainly calcium and magnesium, as a measure of water quality.
hardness (water)
water pH
The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration or activity of a water solution. Used for expressing both acidity (pH less than 7) and alkalinity (pH greater than 7), with 7 considered neutral.
pH (water)
water temperature
The degrees of heat of water from a given source at a specific time.
temperature (water)
water quality
The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose.
dissolved constituents
dissolved contaminants
water-quality
groundwater quality
Fitness of subsurface water for use based on its composition and properties.
ground-water quality
marine water quality
Observed intrinsic characteristics of marine waters affecting their ability to support life or facilitate biological processes such as waste decomposition.
ocean water quality
surface water quality
Chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water in lakes, rivers, or streams related to its fitness for use.
water supply and demand
The quantities of water resources in an area that are easily available and the amount of water that is needed for all uses.
water demand
wastewater discharge
Water that is returned or reused after release from a wastewater treatment plant.
gray water
grey water
treated sewage
treated wastewater
wastewater
water budget
An accounting of the inflow, outflow, and storage changes of water in a hydrologic unit.
water balance
water use
Water withdrawal for a specific purpose, such as domestic use, irrigation, or industrial processing.
consumptive use (water)
drawdown
water utilities
aquaculture water use
Use of water to raise aquatic organisms, typically for food, restoration, conservation, or sport.
domestic well water use
Use of self-supplied water for household purposes, such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, and watering lawns and gardens.
residential well water use
self-supplied water use
drinking water use
drinking water
potable water
industrial water use
Use of water for industrial purposes such as fabrication, processing, washing, and cooling, and including such industries as steel, chemical and allied products, paper and allied products, mining, and petroleum refining.
irrigation
Artificial application of water on lands to assist in the growing of crops and pastures or to maintain vegetative growth in recreational lands such as parks and golf courses.
flood irrigation
microirrigation
spray irrigation
mining water use
Water use for the extraction of naturally occurring mineral deposits by mining or quarrying.
power generation water use
Use of water in the process of producing electric energy by transforming other forms of energy.
hydroelectric power generation water use
thermoelectric power generation water use
public supply water use
Provision of water by local governments or private companies for residential, commercial, and light industrial use.