USGS Thesaurus
type: ConceptScheme
description: 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.
creator: U.S. Geological Survey
date: 2023-11-02
language: en
rights: Public domain
subject: hierarchical
subject: transitive
subject: disciplines
subject: methods
subject: organizational functions
subject: temporal
subject: theme
subject: distinct labels

Categories
type: Concept
scope note: Thematic terms for categorizing information resources. This thesaurus is intended to support finding and understanding scientific information.
narrower: institutional structures and activities
narrower: methods
narrower: product types
narrower: sciences
narrower: time periods
narrower: topics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus
top concept of: USGS Thesaurus

institutional structures and activities
type: Concept
scope note: Organizational characteristics, services, activities and physical infrastructure, primarily focused on those of the USGS
broader: Categories
narrower: employment and volunteer opportunities
narrower: facilities
narrower: organizational structure
narrower: science programs
narrower: user services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

employment and volunteer opportunities
type: Concept
broader: institutional structures and activities
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

facilities
type: Concept
scope note: Location, character, and general use of the physical offices used to carry out research, monitoring, and administration
broader: institutional structures and activities
narrower: field offices
narrower: laboratories
narrower: libraries and archives
narrower: national centers
related: science centers
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

field offices
type: Concept
scope note: Small branch of a science center not located at the headquarters of the science center
alternative label: field stations
broader: facilities
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

laboratories
type: Concept
alternative label: nuclear reactors
broader: facilities
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

libraries and archives
type: Concept
broader: facilities
narrower: sample repositories
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sample repositories
type: Concept
scope note: Organized and curated collections of physical materials such as drill cores, rock samples, thin sections, and biological samples.
alternative label: core repositories
alternative label: sample collections
broader: libraries and archives
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

national centers
type: Concept
scope note: Research and monitoring office with a mission of nationwide scope
broader: facilities
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

organizational structure
type: Concept
broader: institutional structures and activities
narrower: mission directorates
narrower: regional offices
narrower: science centers
narrower: science discipline offices
narrower: support offices
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mission directorates
type: Concept
scope note: Offices charged with coordinating a variety of scientific activities focused on strategic objectives that may cross traditional scientific discipline boundaries.
alternative label: interdisciplinary directorates
alternative label: multidisciplinary directorates
broader: organizational structure
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

regional offices
type: Concept
scope note: Multidisciplinary management offices overseeing specified geographic area
broader: organizational structure
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

science centers
type: Concept
scope note: Organizational units that carry out research or monitoring
alternative label: geophysical observatories
alternative label: volcano observatories
broader: organizational structure
related: facilities
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

science discipline offices
type: Concept
scope note: Offices coordinating activities focused on traditional academic categories
alternative label: divisions
broader: organizational structure
related: science programs
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

support offices
type: Concept
scope note: Organizational units that carry out administrative functions rather than research or monitoring
broader: organizational structure
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

science programs
type: Concept
scope note: Broadly organized scientific research and monitoring activities
broader: institutional structures and activities
narrower: citizen science programs
narrower: environmental justice
narrower: external research support
narrower: interagency programs
narrower: interdisciplinary programs
narrower: international programs
narrower: partnerships
related: science discipline offices
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

citizen science programs
type: Concept
scope note: Observation or monitoring activities that include contributions from amateur or non-professional scientists or other citizen volunteers.
alternative label: crowd sourcing (science)
alternative label: public participation in scientific research
broader: science programs
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

environmental justice
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific planning, activities, and information intended to support equitable access and use by all people who may be affected.
alternative label: climate justice
alternative label: cultural differences
alternative label: data equity
alternative label: environmental racism
alternative label: equal protection
alternative label: social justice
broader: science programs
related: community relations
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

external research support
type: Concept
scope note: Research carried out by external organizations or individuals through contracts or grants
alternative label: contract research programs
alternative label: research grants
broader: science programs
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

interagency programs
type: Concept
scope note: Ongoing organizational activities in which USGS works directly with other government agencies
broader: science programs
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

interdisciplinary programs
type: Concept
scope note: Major research and monitoring activities focused on topics that cross or integrate multiple traditional academic categories
broader: science programs
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

international programs
type: Concept
scope note: Organizational activities that USGS undertakes with cooperation and support of foreign governments or multinational organizations
broader: science programs
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

partnerships
type: Concept
scope note: Formal collaborative relationships between USGS and other organizations
alternative label: cooperative agreements
broader: science programs
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

user services
type: Concept
broader: institutional structures and activities
narrower: community relations
narrower: customer support and user feedback
narrower: educational services
narrower: information services
narrower: media relations
narrower: standards development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

community relations
type: Concept
broader: user services
related: environmental justice
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

customer support and user feedback
type: Concept
scope note: Web sites focusing on assistance to users of USGS information products
alternative label: product support
alternative label: technical support
broader: user services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

educational services
type: Concept
broader: user services
narrower: college resources
narrower: internship programs
narrower: K-12 resources
narrower: lifelong learning resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

college resources
type: Concept
broader: educational services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

internship programs
type: Concept
broader: educational services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

K-12 resources
type: Concept
broader: educational services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lifelong learning resources
type: Concept
broader: educational services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

information services
type: Concept
alternative label: clearinghouses
broader: user services
narrower: data services
narrower: map interfaces
narrower: news services
narrower: publishing
narrower: reference services
narrower: sales and distribution services
narrower: search services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

data services
type: Concept
alternative label: data downloading
broader: information services
narrower: application programming interfaces
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

application programming interfaces
type: Concept
scope note: Internet services providing subsets of data in response to specific web requests. For APIs that are not accessible through the internet, use scientific software.
alternative label: APIs
broader: data services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

map interfaces
type: Concept
scope note: Online interfaces showing interactive maps and geospatial information
alternative label: map servers
broader: information services
narrower: web map services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

web map services
type: Concept
scope note: Internet services providing geospatial information that conform to formally defined specifications, for use in GIS and mapping software.
alternative label: GIS services
alternative label: OGC WCS
alternative label: OGC WFS
alternative label: OGC WMS
broader: map interfaces
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

news services
type: Concept
scope note: Summaries of time-sensitive information of interest to the public, may include short audio or video presentations, may provide subscription services
broader: information services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

publishing
type: Concept
scope note: Policies and procedures by which information is reviewed, approved, formatted for public distribution.
broader: information services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

reference services
type: Concept
alternative label: Earth Science Information Centers (ESICs)
broader: information services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sales and distribution services
type: Concept
scope note: Online services by which products may be purchased
alternative label: maps on demand
broader: information services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

search services
type: Concept
scope note: Automated information search systems
alternative label: search engines
broader: information services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

media relations
type: Concept
broader: user services
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

standards development
type: Concept
scope note: Creation and maintenance of formal specifications by which research and monitoring are carried out
broader: user services
related: standards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

methods
type: Concept
scope note: Techniques, methods, procedures, or strategies for research, management, collection, or analysis of scientific information in USGS.
broader: Categories
narrower: computational methods
narrower: environmental proxies
narrower: field methods
narrower: laboratory methods
narrower: management methods
narrower: modeling
narrower: photography
narrower: remote sensing
narrower: scientific interpretation
narrower: videography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

computational methods
type: Concept
scope note: Mathematical techniques used to analyze numerical data.
alternative label: mathematical methods
broader: methods
narrower: acid-base accounting
narrower: image analysis
narrower: relative abundance analysis
narrower: spatial analysis
narrower: statistical analysis
narrower: topological analysis
narrower: visualization methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

acid-base accounting
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: computational methods
related: acid neutralizing potential
related: mine drainage
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

image analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Pattern analysis of the shapes and textures of images to identify features and derive information about them.
broader: computational methods
narrower: structure from motion
related: geography
related: geospatial analysis
related: spatial analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

structure from motion
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: SfM
broader: image analysis
related: remote sensing
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

relative abundance analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Determination of the percentage of individuals of one group in comparison to the total of all individuals in a given area.
broader: computational methods
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: population and community ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

spatial analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Use of quantitative tools to study social, economic, and geographic data in relation to distributions and patterns in geographic space.
broader: computational methods
narrower: contouring
narrower: geospatial analysis
related: geography
related: image analysis
related: mathematical modeling
related: topological analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

contouring
type: Concept
scope note: Derivation of contours, or other lines of constant value, that visually summarize the spatial variation of some characteristic over an area, for example elevation.
broader: spatial analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geospatial analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Detailed study of information such as measurements, counts, and computations as a function of geographical location.
broader: spatial analysis
related: image analysis
related: topological analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

statistical analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of mathematics concerned with techniques to collect and interpret data.
alternative label: geostatistics
broader: computational methods
narrower: kriging
narrower: multivariate statistical analysis
narrower: regression analysis
narrower: time series analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

kriging
type: Concept
scope note: Statistical analysis technique which uses interpolation to best predict unknown data values from data observed at known locations.
broader: statistical analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

multivariate statistical analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Statistical study using a number of independent variables or measurements of the same attribute.
broader: statistical analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

regression analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: correlation
broader: statistical analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

time series analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Statistical analysis using frequency distribution in which time is an independent variable. A sequence of observations collected at regular time intervals is studied.
broader: statistical analysis
related: time series datasets
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

topological analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geometry concerned with the properties of objects that do not change even when deformed, twisted, stretched or otherwise changed in shape.
broader: computational methods
related: geography
related: geospatial analysis
related: spatial analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

visualization methods
type: Concept
scope note: The application of two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphical techniques for the analysis and interpretation of complex numerical data.
alternative label: visualization
broader: computational methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

environmental proxies
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: environmental surrogates
broader: methods
related: climate change
related: faunal and floral census (microscopic)
related: light stable isotope analysis
related: protists
related: radiometric dating
related: sea surface temperature
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

field methods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: methods
narrower: field experiments
narrower: field inventory and monitoring
narrower: field sampling
narrower: geolocation measurement
narrower: real-time monitoring and reporting
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

field experiments
type: Concept
scope note: Deliberate arrangement of objects and events in the field to observe the behavioral response of natural systems or organisms.
broader: field methods
narrower: tracer study
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tracer study
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: isotopic tracer study
alternative label: radioisotope tracer study
broader: field experiments
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

field inventory and monitoring
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: baseline characterization
alternative label: field monitoring
alternative label: field observation
alternative label: inventory
alternative label: ocean current measurement
alternative label: ocean monitoring
alternative label: ocean wave measurement
alternative label: precipitation measurement
alternative label: rainfall measurement
alternative label: reconnaissance
alternative label: river discharge monitoring
alternative label: snowfall measurement
alternative label: volcano monitoring
alternative label: weather monitoring
alternative label: weather observations
broader: field methods
narrower: acoustic doppler current profiling
narrower: animal and plant census
narrower: borehole logging
narrower: CTD measurement
narrower: ecosystem monitoring
narrower: electromagnetic surveying
narrower: gravimeter measurement
narrower: handheld field spectroscopy
narrower: magnetometer measurement
narrower: optical methods
narrower: seismic methods
narrower: sonar methods
narrower: statistical surveying
narrower: stream-gage measurement
narrower: telemetry
narrower: tiltmeter measurement
narrower: tomography
narrower: video monitoring
narrower: vocalization methods
related: faunal and floral census (microscopic)
related: field monitoring stations
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

acoustic doppler current profiling
type: Concept
scope note: Field monitoring of water currents using the doppler effect with acoustic instruments.
alternative label: acoustic doppler current profiler
alternative label: ADCP
alternative label: hydroacoustics
broader: field inventory and monitoring
related: stream-gage measurement
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

animal and plant census
type: Concept
scope note: Inventory of macroscopic animals and plants by observation in the field. Used to estimate population and distribution.
alternative label: census
broader: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

borehole logging
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: well logging
broader: field inventory and monitoring
narrower: borehole temperature logging
narrower: electrical resistivity logging
narrower: gamma-ray logging
related: geophysics
related: profiles
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

borehole temperature logging
type: Concept
scope note: Method of recording the measured temperature of the subsurface as a function of depth by lowering instruments into the hole.
broader: borehole logging
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

electrical resistivity logging
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: resistivity sounding
broader: borehole logging
related: electromagnetic surveying
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gamma-ray logging
type: Concept
scope note: Recording of the measurements of natural gamma radiation emitted from the rocks in a borehole to study the subsurface structures.
broader: borehole logging
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

CTD measurement
type: Concept
scope note: Instrumental determination of conductivity, temperature, and pressure as a function of depth to determine the salinity of seawater.
broader: field inventory and monitoring
related: limnology
related: marine chemistry
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecosystem monitoring
type: Concept
scope note: Recording, evaluating, and actively intervening over time in the interaction of living and nonliving elements in a specific environment.
alternative label: dendroecology
alternative label: indicator species observation
broader: field inventory and monitoring
narrower: biomarkers
narrower: habitat suitability indices
narrower: long-term ecological monitoring
related: biogeography
related: biological population management
related: bioremediation
related: ecology
related: ecosystem management
related: natural resource management
related: population and community ecology
related: relative abundance analysis
related: remediation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biomarkers
type: Concept
scope note: Biochemical, physiological, morphological, or histopathological characteristics of organisms that signify exposure to contaminants. Also used for biogeochemical measurements of rocks to detect biological origin.
alternative label: biological markers
broader: ecosystem monitoring
related: biochemistry
related: chemical analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

habitat suitability indices
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: ecosystem monitoring
related: habitat alteration and disturbance
related: habitats
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

long-term ecological monitoring
type: Concept
scope note: Data collection over a period of years or decades to assess changes in selected biological communities and habitats.
broader: ecosystem monitoring
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

electromagnetic surveying
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: field inventory and monitoring
narrower: continuous resistivity profiling
narrower: electrical resistivity imaging
narrower: ground penetrating radar
narrower: magnetotelluric surveying
related: aeromagnetic surveying
related: electrical resistivity logging
related: inverse modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

continuous resistivity profiling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: continuous resistivity surveying
alternative label: CRP profiling
alternative label: CRP surveying
broader: electromagnetic surveying
related: inverse modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

electrical resistivity imaging
type: Concept
scope note: 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).
alternative label: electrical resistivity tomography
alternative label: ERT surveying
broader: electromagnetic surveying
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ground penetrating radar
type: Concept
scope note: Electromagnetic imaging instrument using radar to investigate shallow subsurface structure.
alternative label: GPR
alternative label: ground-penetrating radar
alternative label: ground penetrating radar (GPR)
broader: electromagnetic surveying
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetotelluric surveying
type: Concept
scope note: Passive geophysical technique that uses the earth's natural electromagnetic field to investigate the spatial variation of electrical resistivity in the subsurface.
alternative label: AMT surveying
alternative label: audio magneto telluric surveying
alternative label: audio-magneto-telluric surveying
alternative label: magneto telluric surveying
alternative label: magneto-telluric surveying
broader: electromagnetic surveying
related: inverse modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gravimeter measurement
type: Concept
scope note: Use of a specialized instrument for measuring the earth's gravity at a given location.
alternative label: gravimetric methods
alternative label: gravimetry
broader: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

handheld field spectroscopy
type: Concept
scope note: Use of portable equipment to measure spectral reflectance of materials in the field.
alternative label: hand-held field spectroscopy
broader: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetometer measurement
type: Concept
scope note: Use of specialized instruments designed to measure the earth's magnetic field at a given location.
alternative label: magnetic surveying
alternative label: magnetometry
broader: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

optical methods
type: Concept
scope note: Measurement of light transmission or reflectance in the field to estimate, for example, the density of suspended sediment in water bodies.
alternative label: optical backscatterance sensing
alternative label: optical reflectance measurement
broader: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

seismic methods
type: Concept
scope note: Procedures used to record and study earthquakes or earth vibrations including those that are artificially induced.
alternative label: seismic exploration
alternative label: seismic imaging
alternative label: seismic profiles
alternative label: seismograms
alternative label: seismometry
broader: field inventory and monitoring
narrower: seismic networking
narrower: seismic reflection methods
narrower: seismic refraction methods
related: remote sensing
related: seismology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

seismic networking
type: Concept
scope note: Deploying, operating, and maintaining groups and arrays of instruments for detecting and describing local movements of the earth.
alternative label: earthquake monitoring
broader: seismic methods
related: seismology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

seismic reflection methods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: seismic reflection survey maps
broader: seismic methods
narrower: sub-bottom profiling
related: seismology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sub-bottom profiling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: boomer profiling
alternative label: chirp profiling
alternative label: multi-channel seismic profiling
alternative label: multichannel seismic profiling
alternative label: single channel seismic profiling
alternative label: sparker profiling
alternative label: subbottom profiling
broader: seismic reflection methods
related: profiles
related: seismic refraction methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

seismic refraction methods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: seismic methods
related: seismology
related: sub-bottom profiling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sonar methods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: field inventory and monitoring
narrower: interferometric sonar
narrower: multibeam sonar
narrower: sidescan sonar
narrower: single-beam echo sounder
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

interferometric sonar
type: Concept
scope note: Acoustic technique for determining depths or creating backscatter imagery in a wide swath of seafloor or lakebed centered below the instrument platform.
broader: sonar methods
related: bathymetry
related: lakebed acoustic reflectivity
related: sea-floor acoustic reflectivity
related: sea-floor characteristics
related: sound velocity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

multibeam sonar
type: Concept
scope note: Acoustic technique for determining depths or creating backscatter imagery in a wide swath of seafloor or lakebed centered below the instrument platform.
alternative label: multibeam
alternative label: multi-beam
alternative label: multi-beam echosounder
alternative label: multi-beam echo sounder
alternative label: multibeam echosounder
alternative label: multibeam echo sounder
alternative label: multi-beam sonar
broader: sonar methods
related: bathymetry
related: lakebed acoustic reflectivity
related: sea-floor acoustic reflectivity
related: sea-floor characteristics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sidescan sonar
type: Concept
scope note: Acoustic technique for creating oblique backscatter imagery of the seafloor or lakebed.
alternative label: geological long-range inclined asdic
alternative label: sidescan
alternative label: side scan sonar
alternative label: side-scan sonar
alternative label: sidescan sonar mosaics
broader: sonar methods
related: lakebed acoustic reflectivity
related: sea-floor acoustic reflectivity
related: sea-floor characteristics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

single-beam echo sounder
type: Concept
scope note: Acoustic technique for determining seafloor or lakebed depth directly below the instrument platform.
alternative label: fathometer
alternative label: single beam echosounder
alternative label: single beam echo sounder
alternative label: single-beam echosounder
broader: sonar methods
related: bathymetry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

statistical surveying
type: Concept
scope note: Information gathering by asking questions of selected people or organizations.
alternative label: canvassing
broader: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

stream-gage measurement
type: Concept
scope note: Use of specialized instruments designed for observing, checking, and recording the water discharge that occurs in a natural channel.
alternative label: gage-height monitoring
alternative label: stream current monitoring
alternative label: stream flow monitoring
alternative label: stream-flow monitoring
alternative label: streamflow monitoring
alternative label: stream gage monitoring
alternative label: stream-gage monitoring
broader: field inventory and monitoring
related: acoustic doppler current profiling
related: hydrology
related: streamflow
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

telemetry
type: Concept
scope note: Field technique using instruments which measure heat, radiation, speed, or other property and transmit the data to a distant receiver.
alternative label: acoustic telemetry
alternative label: biotelemetry
alternative label: microwave telemetry
alternative label: radio telemetry
broader: field inventory and monitoring
related: animal tracking
related: remote sensing
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tiltmeter measurement
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: tiltmeter
broader: field inventory and monitoring
related: seismology
related: volcanology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tomography
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: radar tomography
alternative label: seismic tomography
broader: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

video monitoring
type: Concept
scope note: Field study employing the use of filming or repeated photography with stationary optical or digital cameras to observe changes in a feature or organism.
alternative label: remote video monitoring
broader: field inventory and monitoring
related: videography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vocalization methods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: field inventory and monitoring
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

field sampling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: fish inventories
broader: field methods
narrower: animal tracking
narrower: capturing (animals)
narrower: dredge sampling
narrower: drilling and coring
narrower: grab sampling
narrower: plant and animal tagging
narrower: plot sampling
narrower: sexing (plants & animals)
narrower: specimen collecting
narrower: transect sampling
narrower: trenching
narrower: water sampling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

animal tracking
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: fish tracking
alternative label: tracking
broader: field sampling
related: plant and animal tagging
related: telemetry
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

capturing (animals)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: trapping (animals)
broader: field sampling
related: specimen collecting
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dredge sampling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: field sampling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

drilling and coring
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: core sampling
alternative label: coring
alternative label: ice core sampling
broader: field sampling
narrower: augering
narrower: box coring
narrower: gravity coring
narrower: piston coring
narrower: push coring
narrower: rotary drilling
narrower: vibracoring
related: botany
related: core analysis
related: geology
related: glaciology
related: well drilling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

augering
type: Concept
scope note: Use of a device with rotating blades and possibly helical flanges to dig holes in unconsolidated material for subsurface sampling.
broader: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

box coring
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gravity coring
type: Concept
scope note: Use of a simple tube pushed into underwater sediments by an overhanging weight, to extract relatively undisturbed material for study.
broader: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

piston coring
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

push coring
type: Concept
scope note: Use of a small, hand-held tube pressed into unconsolidated material for sampling.
broader: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rotary drilling
type: Concept
scope note: Use of machinery to drive a rotating bit through earth materials in order to sample below the surface.
broader: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vibracoring
type: Concept
scope note: Application of vibration to a coring device in order to achieve greater penetration for sampling unconsolidated material.
broader: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

grab sampling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: field sampling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

plant and animal tagging
type: Concept
scope note: Methods of attaching a tag or marker to an organism as long-term identification for study purposes.
alternative label: animal tagging
alternative label: banding
alternative label: bird banding
alternative label: radioisotope tagging
alternative label: tagging
broader: field sampling
related: animal tracking
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

plot sampling
type: Concept
scope note: Outlining small areas of land within a larger area to use as samples to study biological populations or ecosystems.
broader: field sampling
related: ecology
related: transect sampling
related: trenching
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sexing (plants & animals)
type: Concept
scope note: Determination of the sex of an individual organism for study purposes, such as wildlife surveys.
alternative label: sexing (plants and animals)
broader: field sampling
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

specimen collecting
type: Concept
scope note: Taking of samples from the environment for study.
alternative label: collection of specimens
broader: field sampling
related: capturing (animals)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

transect sampling
type: Concept
scope note: Systematic method of collecting field data by recording observations or collecting specimens along a vector or measured course across the environment.
broader: field sampling
related: plot sampling
related: trenching
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

trenching
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: field sampling
related: plot sampling
related: sedimentology
related: soil sciences
related: transect sampling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water sampling
type: Concept
scope note: Methods of collecting a representative part of a body of water for testing in controlled conditions.
broader: field sampling
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geolocation measurement
type: Concept
scope note: Methods for establishing a geographic location on the surface of the earth.
alternative label: location measurement
alternative label: navigating
alternative label: orienteering
broader: field methods
narrower: altimetry measurement
narrower: bathymetry measurement
narrower: GPS measurement
narrower: land surveying
narrower: LORAN-C navigation
related: geographic information systems
related: geography
related: navigational data
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

altimetry measurement
type: Concept
scope note: The measurement of altitude, or height above mean sea level, using instruments such as aneroid barometers and radar altimeters.
alternative label: satellite altimetry
broader: geolocation measurement
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bathymetry measurement
type: Concept
scope note: Means of determining the depth to the floor of a body of water, especially the ocean.
broader: geolocation measurement
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

GPS measurement
type: Concept
scope note: Determination of distance and location using instruments receiving signals from the Global Positioning System, a system of satellites for identifying earth locations.
alternative label: DGPS
alternative label: differential GPS
alternative label: global positioning measurement
alternative label: real-time kinematic navigation
broader: geolocation measurement
related: geographic information systems
related: geography
related: navigational data
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

land surveying
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: surveying
broader: geolocation measurement
related: geodesy
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

LORAN-C navigation
type: Concept
scope note: Hyperbolic radio navigation system used for near-shore waters.
broader: geolocation measurement
related: navigational data
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

real-time monitoring and reporting
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: real-time data
broader: field methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

laboratory methods
type: Concept
scope note: Techniques to analyze and test samples in a place equipped and designed for the work.
broader: methods
narrower: age estimation methods
narrower: camera calibration
narrower: chemical analysis
narrower: core analysis
narrower: culturing (specimens)
narrower: faunal and floral census (microscopic)
narrower: grain-size analysis
narrower: isotopic analysis
narrower: laboratory experiments
narrower: meristics
narrower: microscopy
narrower: paleomagnetic analysis
narrower: petrography
narrower: plant and animal testing
narrower: subsampling
narrower: therapeutic methods
narrower: tree ring analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

age estimation methods
type: Concept
scope note: Methods used to determine the age of earth materials, typically by laboratory analysis of properties of those materials.
alternative label: dating methods
broader: laboratory methods
narrower: fission-track dating
narrower: luminescence dating
narrower: sclerochronology
narrower: tephrochronology
related: radiometric dating
related: tree ring analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fission-track dating
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: age dating (fission-track)
alternative label: fission-track method
broader: age estimation methods
related: geochronology
related: radiometric dating
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

luminescence dating
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: optically-stimulated luminescence dating
alternative label: thermoluminescence dating
alternative label: TL/OSL dating
broader: age estimation methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sclerochronology
type: Concept
scope note: Description of the history of individual organisms by studying the variations in thickness of accretionary layers in their skeletons.
broader: age estimation methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tephrochronology
type: Concept
scope note: Age determination of rocks and deposits by correlation of volcanic ash layers (tephra) that bound the deposits below and above.
broader: age estimation methods
related: lithostratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

camera calibration
type: Concept
scope note: Optical calibration of cameras that are typically used in airborne remote sensing.
broader: laboratory methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

chemical analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Chemical techniques used to identify the composition of substances.
alternative label: detection (chemical)
alternative label: geochemical surveys
alternative label: leaching (analytical method)
alternative label: mineralogical analysis
alternative label: nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
alternative label: sediment geochemistry
broader: laboratory methods
narrower: atomic absorption analysis
narrower: atomic emission spectroscopy
narrower: chromatography
narrower: DNA sequencing
narrower: electrophoresis
narrower: flow cytometry
narrower: mass spectroscopy
narrower: neutron activation analysis
narrower: particle-beam spectroscopy
narrower: polymerase chain reaction
narrower: x-ray diffraction
narrower: x-ray fluorescence
related: biochemistry
related: biomarkers
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atomic absorption analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Technique used to identify chemicals based on the measurement of the spectra produced by atoms and molecules with absorption of electromagnetic radiation.
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atomic emission spectroscopy
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: ICP-AES
alternative label: inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry
broader: chemical analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

chromatography
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: chemical analysis
narrower: gas chromatography
narrower: liquid chromatography
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gas chromatography
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: chromatography
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

liquid chromatography
type: Concept
scope note: Chromatographic technique to separate or partition the components of a mixture in which samples are liquid and passed through a column.
alternative label: high-pressure liquid chromatography
alternative label: HPLC
broader: chromatography
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

DNA sequencing
type: Concept
scope note: Biochemical procedure to determine the order of nucleotides in genes.
alternative label: gene sequencing
alternative label: genome
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
related: genetics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

electrophoresis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

flow cytometry
type: Concept
scope note: Laboratory technique to determine the amount of DNA in cells tagged by fluorescent dye by measuring the intensity of fluorescence under a laser beam.
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
related: cell biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mass spectroscopy
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: mass spectrometry
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

neutron activation analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

particle-beam spectroscopy
type: Concept
scope note: Analytical technique using a concentrated beam of charged subatomic particles.
alternative label: electron probe microanalysis
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

polymerase chain reaction
type: Concept
scope note: Biochemical technique that uses enzymes to replicate new nucleotides of DNA from DNA triphosphates using DNA as a template.
broader: chemical analysis
related: biochemistry
related: genetics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

x-ray diffraction
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: chemical analysis
related: mineralogy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

x-ray fluorescence
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: XRF
broader: chemical analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

core analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: laboratory methods
related: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

culturing (specimens)
type: Concept
scope note: Growing microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium for diagnostic or scientific use.
broader: laboratory methods
related: bacteriology
related: microbiology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

faunal and floral census (microscopic)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: pollen analysis
broader: laboratory methods
related: environmental proxies
related: field inventory and monitoring
related: microbiology
related: micropaleontology
related: microscopy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

grain-size analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Method of studying soils, sediments, sands, or rock by determining the size, distribution, and proportion of selected particles.
alternative label: grainsize analysis
alternative label: granulometry
alternative label: particle-size analysis
broader: laboratory methods
narrower: sieve-size analysis
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sieve-size analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: grain-size analysis
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

isotopic analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Experimental determination of the proportion of a given isotope (or isotopes) in a sample.
broader: laboratory methods
narrower: light stable isotope analysis
narrower: radiometric dating
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

light stable isotope analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: light stable-isotope analysis
alternative label: stable isotope analysis
broader: isotopic analysis
narrower: beryllium isotope analysis
narrower: carbon isotope analysis
narrower: oxygen isotope analysis
narrower: tritium analysis
related: biochemistry
related: environmental proxies
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

beryllium isotope analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Method of age determination based on measurement of the activity of beryllium-10, used in dating deep-sea sediments, and in determining sedimentation rates.
broader: light stable isotope analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon isotope analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Experimental determination of the proportion of a given stable carbon isotope (C12 or C13) in a sample.
broader: light stable isotope analysis
related: biochemistry
related: carbon-14 analysis
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oxygen isotope analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Experimental determination of the proportion of a given stable oxygen isotope in a sample.
broader: light stable isotope analysis
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tritium analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: tritium-helium dating
broader: light stable isotope analysis
related: biochemistry
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

radiometric dating
type: Concept
scope note: Methods for age determination of rocks and fossils by measuring the proportions of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes to their decay products.
alternative label: age dating (radiometric)
alternative label: argon-argon dating
alternative label: lead-210 dating
alternative label: radiometric age determination
broader: isotopic analysis
narrower: carbon-14 analysis
narrower: potassium-argon analysis
narrower: rubidium-strontium analysis
narrower: uranium-lead analysis
narrower: uranium-thorium analysis
related: age estimation methods
related: environmental proxies
related: fission-track dating
related: geochronology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon-14 analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: carbon dating
alternative label: radiocarbon dating
broader: radiometric dating
related: carbon isotope analysis
related: geochronology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

potassium-argon analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Radiometric age determination by comparison of the concentrations of radioactive potassium and argon daughter products.
alternative label: K-Ar dating
broader: radiometric dating
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rubidium-strontium analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: Rb-Sr age analysis
broader: radiometric dating
related: geochronology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

uranium-lead analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: radiometric dating
related: geochronology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

uranium-thorium analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: radiometric dating
related: geochronology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

laboratory experiments
type: Concept
scope note: Procedures carried out in a laboratory under controlled conditions to test specific scientific hypotheses.
broader: laboratory methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

meristics
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of zoology concerned with classifying animals by counting and measuring body parts.
alternative label: morphometrics
broader: laboratory methods
related: morphology (biological)
related: systematics and taxonomy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

microscopy
type: Concept
scope note: Laboratory methods using instruments that employ optical lenses or radiation to study objects too small to be seen by the naked eye.
alternative label: microscope methods
broader: laboratory methods
narrower: electron microscopy
narrower: optical microscopy
related: faunal and floral census (microscopic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

electron microscopy
type: Concept
scope note: Study of small particles of matter with a microscope that produces a magnified image by using a beam of electrons focused by magnetic lenses.
broader: microscopy
narrower: scanning electron microscopy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

scanning electron microscopy
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: electron microscopy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

optical microscopy
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific techniques using a microscope with one or more lenses illuminated with visible light to view small objects.
broader: microscopy
narrower: microtomy
related: petrography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

microtomy
type: Concept
scope note: Laboratory methods using special instruments, or microtomes, to cut very thin slices of specimens for microscopic studies.
broader: optical microscopy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

paleomagnetic analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Determination of the intensity and direction of residual magnetism in rocks to study changes in the earth's magnetic field during past geologic time.
broader: laboratory methods
narrower: Curie temperature analysis
narrower: laboratory-induced magnetization analysis
narrower: magnetic hysteresis analysis
narrower: magnetic susceptibility analysis
narrower: natural remanent magnetization analysis
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Curie temperature analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Analysis of rock specimens using the Curie temperature point above which ferromagnetic materials lose permanent magnetism.
alternative label: temperature analysis (Curie)
broader: paleomagnetic analysis
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

laboratory-induced magnetization analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Laboratory method to study rocks using magnetometers to measure remanent magnetic fields induced in the samples.
broader: paleomagnetic analysis
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetic hysteresis analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: hysteresis
broader: paleomagnetic analysis
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetic susceptibility analysis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: paleomagnetic analysis
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

natural remanent magnetization analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Method which measures the intensity and direction of residual magnetism in rocks to determine their age and history.
alternative label: natural remnant magnetization analysis
broader: paleomagnetic analysis
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

petrography
type: Concept
scope note: Use of optical microscopy for the description and classification of rocks.
alternative label: thin section analysis
broader: laboratory methods
related: optical microscopy
related: petrology
related: rocks and deposits
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

plant and animal testing
type: Concept
scope note: Use of live or dead organisms for scientific study.
alternative label: animal testing
broader: laboratory methods
related: anatomy and physiology
related: ecotoxicology
related: pathology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

subsampling
type: Concept
scope note: Preparation of study materials by dividing or slicing cores, samples, or other collected materials.
alternative label: thin sectioning
broader: laboratory methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

therapeutic methods
type: Concept
scope note: Methods of restoring health with remedial agents or treatments.
broader: laboratory methods
related: anatomy and physiology
related: ecotoxicology
related: pathology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tree ring analysis
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the variations in width and number of tree rings to date historical events and to study periods of climatic and hydrologic changes.
alternative label: age dating (tree ring)
broader: laboratory methods
related: age estimation methods
related: geochronology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

management methods
type: Concept
scope note: Techniques of judiciously controlling or directing resources for a predetermined goal.
broader: methods
narrower: adaptive management
narrower: decision support methods
narrower: environmental assessment
narrower: hazard preparedness
narrower: information technology methods
narrower: mitigation of coastal hazards
narrower: natural resource management
narrower: risk assessment
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

adaptive management
type: Concept
scope note: A decision-making process aiming to reduce uncertainty through system monitoring and feedback, used for environmental or resource management.
alternative label: adaptive environmental assessment and management
alternative label: adaptive resource management
broader: management methods
related: state and transition modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

decision support methods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: conflict resolution methods
broader: management methods
narrower: ecosystem services valuation
related: geographic information systems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecosystem services valuation
type: Concept
scope note: Assessment of the value of ecosystem functions in supporting, sustaining, or enriching life.
broader: decision support methods
related: ecosystem functions
related: ecosystem management
related: ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

environmental assessment
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: environmental analysis
alternative label: environmental impact assessment
broader: management methods
narrower: TMDL
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

TMDL
type: Concept
scope note: A calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water-quality standards.
alternative label: total maximum daily load
broader: environmental assessment
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hazard preparedness
type: Concept
scope note: Awareness of the consequences of hazards and actions to be taken before, during, or after hazards occur or are encountered.
alternative label: early warning systems
alternative label: emergency response planning
alternative label: fire preparedness
alternative label: flood preparedness
alternative label: landslide preparedness
alternative label: tsunami preparedness
broader: management methods
narrower: aviation safety
narrower: earthquake preparedness
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aviation safety
type: Concept
scope note: Effects on air transportation of natural hazards such as volcanic activity (ash plumes and volcanic clouds).
broader: hazard preparedness
related: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earthquake preparedness
type: Concept
scope note: Awareness of the consequences of earthquake events and actions to be taken before, during, or after events.
broader: hazard preparedness
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

information technology methods
type: Concept
scope note: Information-related concerns on which people focus their work in support of scientific investigations and research.
alternative label: informatics activities
broader: management methods
narrower: data communication
narrower: data integration
narrower: data management
narrower: information system administration
narrower: software development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

data communication
type: Concept
scope note: Design, development, and deployment of methods to convey scientific information to potential users.
broader: information technology methods
narrower: markup and query language development
narrower: social network development
narrower: web interface development
narrower: web service development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

markup and query language development
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: data communication
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

social network development
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: data communication
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

web interface development
type: Concept
scope note: Design of user interfaces for scientific information that are accessed using web browser software.
broader: data communication
narrower: data packaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

data packaging
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: web interface development
related: improvement of scientific data usability
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

web service development
type: Concept
scope note: Design and deployment of data services accessed using the hypertext transfer protocol.
broader: data communication
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

data integration
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: information technology methods
narrower: information architecture
narrower: knowledge organization system development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

information architecture
type: Concept
scope note: Design of conceptual, logical, and physical information system components (both data and software) to support effective maintenance, integration, or use of the data.
broader: data integration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

knowledge organization system development
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: ontology development
broader: data integration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

data management
type: Concept
scope note: Activities focused on the creation, documentation, and preservation of scientific data with the intent that the data continue to be usable in the future.
alternative label: collection management
alternative label: data curation
alternative label: digital curation
alternative label: information management
alternative label: knowledge management
broader: information technology methods
narrower: data preservation
narrower: digitization
narrower: improvement of scientific data usability
narrower: metadata management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

data preservation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: data archiving
broader: data management
narrower: data rescue
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

data rescue
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: data preservation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

digitization
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: digitizing
broader: data management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

improvement of scientific data usability
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: redatafication
broader: data management
related: data packaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

metadata management
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: data management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

information system administration
type: Concept
scope note: Design, deployment, and maintenance of computing systems that support creation, maintenance, and use of scientific information.
broader: information technology methods
narrower: database administration
narrower: information system security
narrower: network administration
related: information system design and development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

database administration
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: information system administration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

information system security
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: information system administration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

network administration
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: information system administration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

software development
type: Concept
scope note: Design and development of procedures and instructions by which information is modified or presented.
alternative label: application development
alternative label: computer programming
alternative label: programming
broader: information technology methods
related: scientific software
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mitigation of coastal hazards
type: Concept
scope note: Actions taken to reduce risk of physical disruption in coastal environments.
broader: management methods
narrower: coastal infrastructure relocation
narrower: hard shoreline stabilization
narrower: soft shoreline stabilization
related: coastal processes
related: engineering geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coastal infrastructure relocation
type: Concept
scope note: Landward relocation of infrastructure to reduce the risk from coastal hazards.
broader: mitigation of coastal hazards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hard shoreline stabilization
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: mitigation of coastal hazards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soft shoreline stabilization
type: Concept
scope note: 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).
broader: mitigation of coastal hazards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

natural resource management
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: conservation
alternative label: environmental management
alternative label: environmental planning
alternative label: resource conservation
alternative label: resource restoration
broader: management methods
narrower: beach nourishment
narrower: biological population management
narrower: controlled flooding
narrower: ecosystem management
narrower: fire control
narrower: natural resource assessment
narrower: remediation
narrower: water resource management
narrower: watershed management
related: carbon mineralization
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: natural resources
related: population and community ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

beach nourishment
type: Concept
scope note: Transfer of sand from offshore areas to resupply beach areas that have been eroded.
alternative label: beach replenishment
broader: natural resource management
related: dredging
related: natural resource extraction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biological population management
type: Concept
scope note: Judicious means of controlling or directing numbers and life conditions of organisms living in a specific locality to achieve a selected goal.
alternative label: conservation genetics
broader: natural resource management
narrower: fishery management
narrower: pest control
narrower: reintroduction (organisms)
narrower: wildlife population management
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: population and community ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fishery management
type: Concept
scope note: Controlling or directing numbers and life conditions of fish living in a specific locality to achieve a selected goal.
broader: biological population management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

pest control
type: Concept
scope note: Intentional reduction in the abundance of specific harmful organisms in a given area.
broader: biological population management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

reintroduction (organisms)
type: Concept
scope note: Return of a species to an area through the intervention of man.
alternative label: recolonization (organisms)
alternative label: re-establishment (organisms)
broader: biological population management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wildlife population management
type: Concept
scope note: Monitoring and control of wildlife as a sustainable natural asset.
broader: biological population management
narrower: game management
related: biogeography
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

game management
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific monitoring and control of hunted wildlife.
broader: wildlife population management
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

controlled flooding
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: flooding (controlled)
alternative label: managed flooding
broader: natural resource management
related: floods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecosystem management
type: Concept
scope note: Means of controlling or directing human practices, species populations, and physical environment within an ecosystem to achieve a selected state of sustainability.
alternative label: ecosystem preservation
alternative label: reintroduction (organisms)
broader: natural resource management
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: ecosystem services valuation
related: state and transition modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fire control
type: Concept
scope note: Human intervention to restrict or prevent fires in forests and grasslands.
alternative label: fire prevention
broader: natural resource management
narrower: controlled fires
related: controlled fires
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

controlled fires
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: controlled burns
alternative label: fires (controlled)
alternative label: managed fires
broader: fire control
related: fire control
related: fires
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

natural resource assessment
type: Concept
scope note: Estimation of the actual or potential value of natural materials and processes.
alternative label: resource assessment
broader: natural resource management
narrower: carbon dioxide storage assessment
related: assessment units
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon dioxide storage assessment
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: natural resource assessment
related: assessment units
related: carbon cycling
related: carbon sequestration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

remediation
type: Concept
scope note: Methods for decontaminating, reclaiming, and restoring natural resources or reducing the effects of hazards.
alternative label: reclamation
alternative label: restoration
broader: natural resource management
narrower: bioremediation
related: ecology
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: engineering geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bioremediation
type: Concept
scope note: Use of biological methods, usually involving microorganisms, to break down or neutralize contaminants in soil, water, and wastes.
alternative label: biological remediation
alternative label: revegetation
broader: remediation
related: ecology
related: ecosystem monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water resource management
type: Concept
scope note: Methods of controlling or directing resources and activities related to water for a predetermined goal.
alternative label: artificial recharge
alternative label: impoundment
alternative label: reclaimed water
broader: natural resource management
related: hydraulic engineering
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

watershed management
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: natural resource management
related: erosion
related: floods
related: streamflow
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

risk assessment
type: Concept
scope note: The evaluation of the likelihood of adverse effects due to a given factor such as energy development or recurring hazardous events such as earthquakes.
broader: management methods
narrower: earthquake probabilities
narrower: landslide susceptibility assessment
narrower: volcanic eruption prediction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earthquake probabilities
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: earthquake forecasting
alternative label: earthquake prediction
alternative label: seismicity maps
broader: risk assessment
related: earthquakes
related: neotectonic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

landslide susceptibility assessment
type: Concept
scope note: Estimation of the probability of occurrence and likely severity of landslides in a given area.
alternative label: landslide susceptibility maps
alternative label: slope stability
alternative label: slope stability maps
broader: risk assessment
related: landslides
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

volcanic eruption prediction
type: Concept
scope note: Estimation of future volcanic activity using geological and geophysical observations.
alternative label: volcanic eruption forecasting
broader: risk assessment
related: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

modeling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: models
broader: methods
narrower: conceptual modeling
narrower: mathematical modeling
narrower: physical modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

conceptual modeling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: concept mapping
alternative label: entity-relationship mapping
alternative label: flow diagramming
broader: modeling
narrower: state and transition modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

state and transition modeling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: state and transition simulation modeling
alternative label: STMs
broader: conceptual modeling
related: adaptive management
related: ecological processes
related: ecosystem management
related: terrestrial ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mathematical modeling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: computational modeling
alternative label: fractal geometric methods
alternative label: groundwater flow modeling
alternative label: modeling (mathematical)
alternative label: numerical methods
alternative label: numerical modeling
alternative label: statistical modeling
alternative label: streamflow modeling
broader: modeling
narrower: inverse modeling
narrower: mathematical simulation
related: spatial analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

inverse modeling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: geophysical inversion
alternative label: inverse problem
alternative label: inversion modeling
broader: mathematical modeling
related: continuous resistivity profiling
related: electromagnetic surveying
related: geologic structure
related: geophysics
related: gravitational field (earth)
related: magnetic field (earth)
related: magnetotelluric surveying
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mathematical simulation
type: Concept
scope note: A computer algorithm or model, which was created to represent a simplified version of a real world situation.
broader: mathematical modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

physical modeling
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

photography
type: Concept
scope note: Process of using digital or film cameras to collect images of objects.
alternative label: photographs
broader: methods
narrower: underwater photography
related: aerial photography
related: videography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

underwater photography
type: Concept
scope note: Photographs taken below the water surface, usually in marine, lacustrine, and estuarine environments. Subjects are typically benthic organisms and sedimentary structures on the bottom.
alternative label: camera tows
broader: photography
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

remote sensing
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: airborne imaging
alternative label: composite burn index
alternative label: normalized burn ratio
alternative label: photogrammetry
alternative label: remote-sensing data
alternative label: remote-sensing images
alternative label: satellite altimetry
alternative label: satellite images
alternative label: satellite imaging
alternative label: space-borne sensing
broader: methods
narrower: aerial photography
narrower: aeromagnetic surveying
narrower: aeroradiometric surveying
narrower: hyperspectral imaging
narrower: IFSAR
narrower: infrared imaging
narrower: lidar
narrower: microwave imaging
narrower: multispectral imaging
narrower: panchromatic imaging
narrower: radar imaging
narrower: thermal imaging
narrower: visible light imaging
related: geography
related: gravity gradient
related: seismic methods
related: structure from motion
related: telemetry
related: videography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aerial photography
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: aerial photographs
alternative label: aerial photos
alternative label: air photos
alternative label: orthoimagery
alternative label: orthophotographs
broader: remote sensing
related: photography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aeromagnetic surveying
type: Concept
scope note: Mapping of the earth's magnetic field with the use of airborne electronic magnetometers.
alternative label: aeromagnetic maps
broader: remote sensing
related: electromagnetic surveying
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aeroradiometric surveying
type: Concept
scope note: Mapping of gamma radiation from the earth's surface with airborne scintillation meters or gamma-ray spectrometers.
alternative label: airborne gamma-ray spectrometry
alternative label: gamma-ray spectrometric surveying
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hyperspectral imaging
type: Concept
scope note: Multispectral imaging technique that records many bands of imagery at very narrow bandwidths.
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

IFSAR
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: InSAR
alternative label: Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR)
alternative label: SAR interferometry
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

infrared imaging
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: remote sensing
narrower: AVHRR
narrower: AVIRIS
related: electromagnetic reflectance and emissivity
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

AVHRR
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
alternative label: AVHRR images
broader: infrared imaging
related: geography
related: ocean characteristics
related: sea surface temperature
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

AVIRIS
type: Concept
alternative label: airborne visible infrared imaging spectrometer
broader: infrared imaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lidar
type: Concept
scope note: Light detection and ranging, an airborne, spaceborne or ground-based laser-ranging technique commonly used for acquiring high-resolution topographic data.
alternative label: LIDAR images
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
related: topography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

microwave imaging
type: Concept
scope note: Remote sensing method using short high frequency electromagnetic waves reflected or radiated from the ground.
broader: remote sensing
narrower: SMMR
narrower: SSM/I
related: geography
related: radar imaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

SMMR
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR)
alternative label: SMMR images
broader: microwave imaging
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

SSM/I
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I)
alternative label: SSM/I images
broader: microwave imaging
related: geography
related: snow and ice cover
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

multispectral imaging
type: Concept
scope note: A method of remote sensing that obtains optical representations in two or more ranges of frequencies or wave lengths.
alternative label: advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer
alternative label: ASTER
alternative label: Landsat images
alternative label: Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer
alternative label: MODIS
alternative label: thematic mapper
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

panchromatic imaging
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

radar imaging
type: Concept
scope note: A remote sensing technique which uses the reflection of pulsed high frequency radio waves to determine the speed, direction, and distance of faraway objects.
broader: remote sensing
narrower: doppler radar imaging
narrower: SLAR
related: geography
related: microwave imaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

doppler radar imaging
type: Concept
scope note: Exploitation of the doppler effect in radar imaging to determine speed of airborne objects such as birds, butterflies, and clouds.
alternative label: radar ecology
broader: radar imaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

SLAR
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR)
broader: radar imaging
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

thermal imaging
type: Concept
scope note: Remote sensing techniques using instruments to measure emitted thermal radiation to form images of the earth's surface.
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

visible light imaging
type: Concept
scope note: Remote sensing methods using electromagnetic radiation which is visible to the human eye to react with the coating on a photographic plate or film.
alternative label: satellite photography
broader: remote sensing
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

scientific interpretation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

videography
type: Concept
scope note: The process of recording and editing analog or digital video.
broader: methods
related: photography
related: remote sensing
related: video monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

product types
type: Concept
scope note: General representation of the information in a resource, such as a map or data set.
broader: Categories
narrower: animations
narrower: catalogs and indexes
narrower: datasets
narrower: field activity logs
narrower: image collections
narrower: maps and atlases
narrower: materials standards
narrower: official communications
narrower: posters
narrower: presentation materials
narrower: reports
narrower: scientific software
narrower: sound recordings
narrower: terminologies and classifications
narrower: videos
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

animations
type: Concept
scope note: Graphical representation of scientific data presented as a timed sequence of visual images, normally without sound.
broader: product types
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

catalogs and indexes
type: Concept
scope note: Detailed enumeration of related items listed in a given order, or alphabetical lists of topics used for information retrieval.
alternative label: clearinghouses
alternative label: indexes
alternative label: lists of publications
alternative label: metadata
broader: product types
narrower: bibliographies
narrower: directories
narrower: gazetteers
related: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bibliographies
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: catalogs and indexes
related: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

directories
type: Concept
scope note: Searchable lists of people, typically USGS staff.
broader: catalogs and indexes
related: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gazetteers
type: Concept
scope note: Indexed collections of geographic names.
broader: catalogs and indexes
related: geographic names
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

datasets
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: data
alternative label: databases
alternative label: streamflow data
alternative label: water-quality data
broader: product types
narrower: geospatial datasets
narrower: hydrographic datasets
narrower: profiles
narrower: time series datasets
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geospatial datasets
type: Concept
scope note: Collections of related digital information that are geographically referenced.
alternative label: cartographic data (digital)
alternative label: digital cartographic data
alternative label: digital cartographic datasets
alternative label: digital line graphs
alternative label: DLG
alternative label: geodata
alternative label: geographic information system (GIS) datasets
alternative label: geospatial data
alternative label: GIS datasets
broader: datasets
narrower: digital elevation models
narrower: navigational data
narrower: study areas
related: geographic information systems
related: hydrographic datasets
related: topography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

digital elevation models
type: Concept
scope note: Gridded elevation, geographically referenced to the surface of the earth, as digital data
alternative label: DDMs
alternative label: DEMs
alternative label: digital depth models
alternative label: digital terrain models
alternative label: DTMs
broader: geospatial datasets
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

navigational data
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: flight lines
alternative label: ship tracklines
alternative label: ship tracks
alternative label: survey flight lines
alternative label: survey navigation data
alternative label: survey ship tracklines
alternative label: survey tracklines
alternative label: survey tracks
broader: geospatial datasets
related: geolocation measurement
related: GPS measurement
related: LORAN-C navigation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

study areas
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: study boundaries
alternative label: study boundary
alternative label: study footprints
alternative label: study polygons
broader: geospatial datasets
narrower: assessment units
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

assessment units
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: permissive tracts
broader: study areas
related: carbon dioxide storage assessment
related: energy resources
related: mineral resources
related: natural resource assessment
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrographic datasets
type: Concept
scope note: Datasets for graphs showing variation of water elevation, velocity, streamflow, or other property of water with respect to time.
broader: datasets
related: geospatial datasets
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

profiles
type: Concept
scope note: Observations or calculations given for a series of depths, at or near the same horizontal position.
alternative label: sound velocity profiles
broader: datasets
related: borehole logging
related: sub-bottom profiling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

time series datasets
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: datasets
related: time series analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

field activity logs
type: Concept
scope note: Operational records for observation, inventory, sampling, or monitoring activities.
alternative label: field notebooks
alternative label: field notes
alternative label: logbooks
alternative label: log books
alternative label: observation logs
alternative label: operational logs
alternative label: survey logs
broader: product types
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

image collections
type: Concept
scope note: Visible representations of objects or earth properties produced by cameras, spectral instruments, or as graphical representations of measurements.
alternative label: aerial photographs
alternative label: aerial photos
alternative label: air photos
alternative label: AVHRR images
alternative label: Landsat images
alternative label: LIDAR images
alternative label: orthoimagery
alternative label: orthophotographs
alternative label: photographs
alternative label: pictures
alternative label: remote-sensing data
alternative label: remote-sensing images
alternative label: satellite images
alternative label: scientists-at-work photographs
broader: product types
narrower: image mosaics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

image mosaics
type: Concept
scope note: Composite images formed by overlapping existing images, typically arranged to achieve greater spatial coverage.
alternative label: sidescan sonar mosaics
broader: image collections
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

maps and atlases
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: aeromagnetic maps
alternative label: atlases
alternative label: basement maps
alternative label: cadastral maps
alternative label: charts
alternative label: depth-to maps
alternative label: earthquake activity maps
alternative label: earthquake epicenter maps
alternative label: earthquake occurrence maps
alternative label: engineering geology maps
alternative label: geochemical anomaly maps
alternative label: geophysical maps
alternative label: geotechnical properties maps
alternative label: gravity anomaly maps
alternative label: ground motion maps
alternative label: hydrologic maps
alternative label: isopach maps
alternative label: landslide maps
alternative label: landslide susceptibility maps
alternative label: land subsidence maps
alternative label: land use maps
alternative label: lithologic maps
alternative label: magnetic anomaly maps
alternative label: maps
alternative label: paleotectonic maps
alternative label: rock mechanics maps
alternative label: seismic hazard maps
alternative label: seismicity maps
alternative label: seismic reflection survey maps
alternative label: shaking maps (seismic)
alternative label: slope stability maps
alternative label: species distribution maps
alternative label: stratigraphic thickness maps
alternative label: subsurface maps
alternative label: surficial geologic maps
alternative label: tectonic maps
broader: product types
narrower: geologic maps
narrower: topographic maps
related: cartography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic maps
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: geological maps
broader: maps and atlases
related: bedrock geologic units
related: geologic contacts
related: geologic structure
related: geology
related: surficial geologic units
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

topographic maps
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: bathymetric maps
alternative label: elevation maps
alternative label: topo maps
broader: maps and atlases
related: topography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

materials standards
type: Concept
scope note: Physical materials such as chemicals, rocks, water, or biological materials that are used for reference when carrying out laboratory analysis.
alternative label: laboratory reference materials
alternative label: standard reference samples
broader: product types
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

official communications
type: Concept
scope note: Corporate releases of information by USGS not generally intended to document the details of scientific data or techniques for a scientific audience.
broader: product types
narrower: news releases
narrower: policies and regulations
narrower: speeches and testimony
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

news releases
type: Concept
scope note: Short information memoranda issued by organizations to highlight new activities, appointments, or discoveries for the news media.
alternative label: press releases
broader: official communications
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

policies and regulations
type: Concept
scope note: Rules, orders, and procedures issued by organizations or governments for administrative, controlling, and managing purposes.
alternative label: regulations
broader: official communications
related: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

speeches and testimony
type: Concept
alternative label: oral presentations
alternative label: talks
alternative label: testimony
broader: official communications
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

posters
type: Concept
scope note: Large single sheets of paper or board imprinted with informative text and graphics. Intended for hanging or flat display.
broader: product types
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

presentation materials
type: Concept
scope note: Diagrams, photos, and text gathered together as part of a presentation given in a meeting or class.
alternative label: powerpoint
broader: product types
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

reports
type: Concept
scope note: Written items, especially those that are official, factual, or informative, often including graphics as well as text.
alternative label: abstracts
alternative label: articles (publications)
alternative label: biographies
alternative label: books and book chapters
alternative label: dissertations
alternative label: documents
alternative label: guidelines
alternative label: journal articles
alternative label: journals
alternative label: memos
alternative label: newsletters
alternative label: pamphlets, brochures, and booklets
alternative label: papers (publications)
alternative label: planning reports
alternative label: proceedings
alternative label: published series
alternative label: scientific reports
alternative label: serial publications
alternative label: technical reports
alternative label: text documents
alternative label: theses
alternative label: transcripts
alternative label: workshop reports
alternative label: yearbooks
broader: product types
narrower: checklists
narrower: conference proceedings
narrower: guidebooks
narrower: manuals
narrower: standards
narrower: strategic plans
related: bibliographies
related: catalogs and indexes
related: directories
related: policies and regulations
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

checklists
type: Concept
scope note: Inventories or lists of related items for checking off or reference.
broader: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

conference proceedings
type: Concept
scope note: Collections of abstracts or papers given during a specific meeting, conference, or workshop.
broader: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

guidebooks
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: field guides
alternative label: field trip guidebooks
broader: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

manuals
type: Concept
scope note: Documents giving instructions on using specified equipment or accomplishing specified tasks.
alternative label: technical instructions
alternative label: user guides
broader: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

standards
type: Concept
scope note: An object or instrument of known properties used as a model, for comparison, or a set of rules used to assure quality.
broader: reports
related: standards development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

strategic plans
type: Concept
scope note: Documents describing overall strategy, not presenting substantive scientific findings.
alternative label: science strategy
broader: reports
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

scientific software
type: Concept
scope note: Routines, programs, and procedures devised in order to direct computers to perform specific tasks.
alternative label: computer program
broader: product types
related: software development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sound recordings
type: Concept
scope note: Information presented in a format for listening by the user.
alternative label: audio recordings
alternative label: podcasts
broader: product types
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

terminologies and classifications
type: Concept
scope note: Collections of terms often including definitions or scope notes, with some stated relationships among terms
alternative label: controlled vocabularies
alternative label: glossaries
broader: product types
narrower: geologic time scales
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic time scales
type: Concept
scope note: Named divisions of geologic time used to specify relationships among geologic units and structural features
broader: terminologies and classifications
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

videos
type: Concept
scope note: Animation or other motion pictures, including videotape and DVD products.
broader: product types
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Major educational fields, fields of study, and professional groupings within USGS.
broader: Categories
narrower: earth sciences
narrower: engineering sciences
narrower: information sciences
narrower: life sciences
narrower: planetary sciences
narrower: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earth sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Broad term for all science related to the study of the earth.
alternative label: geosciences
broader: sciences
narrower: atmospheric sciences
narrower: geochemistry
narrower: geography
narrower: geology
narrower: geophysics
narrower: glaciology
narrower: hydrology
narrower: limnology
narrower: ocean sciences
narrower: paleontology
narrower: soil sciences
related: earth characteristics
related: natural resources
related: scientific careers
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atmospheric sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Studies relating to composition, structure, physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the atmosphere.
broader: earth sciences
narrower: climatology
narrower: meteorology
related: acid deposition
related: air temperature
related: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: atmospheric circulation
related: atmospheric composition
related: atmospheric deposition (chemical & particulate)
related: atmospheric properties
related: droughts
related: effects of climate change
related: fires
related: greenhouse gases
related: ocean-atmosphere interaction
related: ocean temperature
related: ozone layer
related: precipitation (atmospheric)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

climatology
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific study of the characteristic weather conditions of geographic areas.
broader: atmospheric sciences
related: climate change
related: desertification
related: meteorology
related: ocean circulation
related: sea-level change
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

meteorology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of science dealing with the short-term variations of atmospheric conditions including wind, precipitation, temperature, humidity, cloud cover, and air pressure.
broader: atmospheric sciences
related: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: climatology
related: hurricanes
related: hydrology
related: ocean currents
related: ocean sciences
related: planetary sciences
related: storms
related: tornadoes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geochemistry
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: chemistry (Earth sciences)
alternative label: geochemical anomaly maps
broader: earth sciences
narrower: soil chemistry
narrower: water chemistry
related: atomic absorption analysis
related: biogeochemical cycling
related: carbon cycling
related: carbon isotope analysis
related: chemical analysis
related: chromatography
related: earth history
related: gas chromatography
related: geochemical processes
related: isotopic analysis
related: light stable isotope analysis
related: liquid chromatography
related: mass spectroscopy
related: metamorphism (geological)
related: neutron activation analysis
related: oxygen isotope analysis
related: particle-beam spectroscopy
related: tritium analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soil chemistry
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of chemistry concerned with the elements and compounds that make up soils. Includes chemical processes involving soils.
broader: geochemistry
related: agriculture
related: soil resources
related: soil sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water chemistry
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of chemistry that deals with the elements and compounds in water.
broader: geochemistry
narrower: marine chemistry
related: groundwater quality
related: nutrient content (water)
related: oxygen content (water)
related: salinity
related: surface water quality
related: suspended material (water)
related: water hardness
related: water pH
related: water properties
related: water quality
related: water sampling
related: water temperature
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

marine chemistry
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of chemistry that deals with the properties, composition, structure, and interaction of substances in the seas and oceans.
alternative label: chemical oceanography
alternative label: ocean chemistry
alternative label: water properties (marine)
broader: water chemistry
related: CTD measurement
related: marine water quality
related: ocean acidification
related: ocean characteristics
related: ocean salinity
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geography
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the earth's landforms, topography, and climate, the distribution of flora and fauna, and the distribution, culture, and activities of human populations.
alternative label: geographic information sciences
broader: earth sciences
narrower: cartography
narrower: paleogeography
related: administrative and political boundaries
related: aeromagnetic surveying
related: aeroradiometric surveying
related: altimetry measurement
related: AVHRR
related: bathymetry measurement
related: cadastral and legal land descriptions
related: culture and demographics
related: geodesy
related: geographic information systems
related: geolocation measurement
related: GPS measurement
related: hyperspectral imaging
related: IFSAR
related: image analysis
related: infrared imaging
related: land surface characteristics
related: land surveying
related: land use change
related: lidar
related: map coordinate systems
related: microwave imaging
related: multispectral imaging
related: panchromatic imaging
related: radar imaging
related: remote sensing
related: SLAR
related: SMMR
related: spatial analysis
related: SSM/I
related: thermal imaging
related: topography
related: topological analysis
related: visible light imaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

cartography
type: Concept
scope note: The science and art of making maps.
alternative label: digital cartography
alternative label: mapmaking
alternative label: map making
alternative label: mapping
broader: geography
related: map coordinate systems
related: maps and atlases
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

paleogeography
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the history of earth surface characteristics; geomorphology in the past.
broader: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the planet earth, its composition, structure, physical and chemical processes, and history since its origin.
alternative label: subsurface maps
broader: earth sciences
narrower: economic geology
narrower: geochronology
narrower: geomorphology
narrower: hydrogeology
narrower: marine geology
narrower: mineralogy
narrower: petrology
narrower: sedimentology
narrower: stratigraphy
narrower: structural geology
narrower: volcanology
related: drilling and coring
related: earth history
related: engineering geology
related: geologic history
related: geologic maps
related: geologic processes
related: metamorphism (geological)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

economic geology
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific study of the formation, location, and use of marketable geologic materials including fuels, metals, minerals, and water.
broader: geology
related: building stone resources
related: clay deposits
related: coalbed methane resources
related: coal resources
related: energy resources
related: gas hydrate resources
related: gem resources
related: gravel deposits
related: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
related: metallic mineral resources
related: mineral resources
related: natural gas resources
related: nonmetallic mineral resources
related: oil resources
related: oil sand resources
related: oil shale resources
related: sand deposits
related: soil resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geochronology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the age of the earth by dating geological formations, rocks, and fossils.
broader: geology
related: carbon-14 analysis
related: fission-track dating
related: radiometric dating
related: rubidium-strontium analysis
related: stratigraphy
related: tree ring analysis
related: uranium-lead analysis
related: uranium-thorium analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geomorphology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geology dealing with surface land features and the processes that create and change them.
alternative label: speleology
broader: geology
related: bathymetry
related: erosion
related: landslides
related: land surface characteristics
related: subsidence
related: topography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrogeology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of subsurface waters and geologic aspects of surface waters.
alternative label: geohydrology
alternative label: groundwater geology
alternative label: hydrographic sections
broader: geology
related: geothermal resources
related: groundwater
related: groundwater flow
related: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
related: hydrology
related: hydrothermal processes
related: water resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

marine geology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geology concerned with the composition, geologic history, and earth processes of the ocean floor and the continental margin.
alternative label: geological oceanography
broader: geology
related: marine geophysics
related: ocean sciences
related: sea-floor characteristics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mineralogy
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of earth sciences concerned with the study of naturally occurring inorganic elements or compounds.
alternative label: crystallography
alternative label: gemology
broader: geology
related: gem resources
related: metallic mineral resources
related: mineral resources
related: x-ray diffraction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

petrology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of earth sciences concerned with the origin, structure, alteration, and composition of rocks.
broader: geology
related: diagenesis
related: igneous rocks
related: metamorphic rocks
related: petrography
related: rocks and deposits
related: sedimentary rocks
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sedimentology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of earth sciences concerned with the study of the origin, composition, transport, and changes of materials deposited by water, wind, or ice.
broader: geology
related: bedforms
related: building stone resources
related: clay deposits
related: diagenesis
related: erosion
related: grain-size analysis
related: gravel deposits
related: sand deposits
related: sedimentary rocks
related: sedimentation
related: sediment transport
related: sieve-size analysis
related: trenching
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

stratigraphy
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geology concerned with the study of the formation, composition, ordering in time, and arrangement in space of stratified rocks.
broader: geology
narrower: biostratigraphy
narrower: lithostratigraphy
related: bedrock geologic units
related: borehole logging
related: electrical resistivity logging
related: gamma-ray logging
related: geochronology
related: geologic contacts
related: geologic history
related: stratigraphic sections
related: surficial geologic units
related: unconformities
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biostratigraphy
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geology concerned with the separation and differentiation of rock units based on the fossils they contain.
broader: stratigraphy
related: fossils
related: geologic history
related: ichnofossils
related: paleontology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lithostratigraphy
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: stratigraphy
related: geologic history
related: tephrochronology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

structural geology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geology concerned with the distribution, position, shape, and internal structure of rocks.
broader: geology
related: earth structure
related: folding (geologic)
related: foliation (geologic)
related: fracture (geologic)
related: geologic structure
related: lineation (geologic)
related: neotectonic processes
related: structure contours
related: tectonic processes
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

volcanology
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: vulcanology
broader: geology
related: geothermal resources
related: seismology
related: tectonophysics
related: tiltmeter measurement
related: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geophysics
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geology studying the physical characteristics and phenomena of the earth and its atmosphere.
alternative label: geophysical maps
broader: earth sciences
narrower: geodesy
narrower: marine geophysics
narrower: seismology
narrower: tectonophysics
related: borehole logging
related: borehole temperature logging
related: core (earth)
related: Curie temperature analysis
related: gravitational field (earth)
related: gravity gradient
related: heat flow (earth)
related: inner core (earth)
related: inverse modeling
related: isostasy
related: laboratory-induced magnetization analysis
related: magnetic field (earth)
related: magnetic hysteresis analysis
related: magnetic susceptibility analysis
related: mantle (earth)
related: metamorphism (geological)
related: natural remanent magnetization analysis
related: outer core (earth)
related: paleomagnetic analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geodesy
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: geophysics
related: geography
related: land surveying
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

marine geophysics
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: geophysics
related: marine geology
related: ocean characteristics
related: ocean processes
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

seismology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of earth sciences concerned with the study of earthquakes and man-induced seismic waves.
alternative label: earthquake seismology
alternative label: engineering seismology
alternative label: exploration seismology
broader: geophysics
narrower: paleoseismology
related: earthquake occurrences
related: earthquakes
related: seismic methods
related: seismic networking
related: seismic reflection methods
related: seismic refraction methods
related: tectonic processes
related: tiltmeter measurement
related: tsunamis
related: volcanology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

paleoseismology
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: seismology
related: geologic history
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tectonophysics
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of geophysics concerned with the structural forces affecting the deformation, uplift, and movement of the earth's crust.
broader: geophysics
related: asthenosphere
related: continental lithosphere
related: crust (earth)
related: earth history
related: earthquakes
related: earth structure
related: lithosphere
related: neotectonic processes
related: oceanic lithosphere
related: structural geology
related: tectonic processes
related: volcanology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

glaciology
type: Concept
scope note: Science dealing with the features, origins, processes, and properties of snow, ice, glaciers, and ice sheets.
alternative label: cryology
alternative label: glacial geology
broader: earth sciences
related: drilling and coring
related: erosion
related: glaciation
related: isostasy
related: snow and ice cover
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of earth science that deals with water as it occurs in the atmosphere, on the surface of the ground, and underground.
alternative label: hydrologic maps
broader: earth sciences
narrower: hydrodynamics
related: domestic well water use
related: erosion
related: floods
related: geologic processes
related: groundwater quality
related: hydrogeology
related: hydrothermal processes
related: industrial water use
related: irrigation
related: limnology
related: marine water quality
related: meteorology
related: mining water use
related: nutrient content (water)
related: ocean sciences
related: oxygen content (water)
related: power generation water use
related: precipitation (atmospheric)
related: river reaches
related: river systems
related: salinity
related: sediment transport
related: stream discharge
related: streamflow
related: stream-gage measurement
related: surface water (non-marine)
related: surface water quality
related: suspended material (water)
related: wastewater discharge
related: water circulation
related: water hardness
related: water pH
related: water properties
related: water quality
related: water resources
related: water sampling
related: water temperature
related: water use
related: wetland functions
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrodynamics
type: Concept
scope note: Principles of fluid dynamics applied to water bodies.
alternative label: fluid dynamics
broader: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

limnology
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific study of the physical and biological characteristics of inland bodies of water such as lakes and ponds.
broader: earth sciences
related: aquatic ecosystems
related: bathymetry
related: benthic ecosystems
related: CTD measurement
related: eutrophication
related: freshwater ecosystems
related: hydrology
related: surface water (non-marine)
related: surface water quality
related: water resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Sciences involved in the study of geological, biological, chemical, and physical characteristics and processes of the oceans.
alternative label: oceanography
alternative label: physical oceanography
broader: earth sciences
narrower: paleoceanography
related: bathymetry
related: CTD measurement
related: effects of climate change
related: hydrology
related: marine biology
related: marine chemistry
related: marine geology
related: marine geophysics
related: marine water quality
related: meteorology
related: ocean-atmosphere interaction
related: ocean characteristics
related: ocean circulation
related: ocean currents
related: ocean processes
related: ocean salinity
related: ocean temperature
related: ocean waves
related: sea-floor characteristics
related: sea-level change
related: tides (oceanic)
related: tsunamis
related: underwater photography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

paleoceanography
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the oceans in the geologic past, including their physical, chemical, biologic, and geologic history.
broader: ocean sciences
related: paleontology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

paleontology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of life in past geologic time based on fossil plants and animals.
alternative label: paleozoology
alternative label: phylogeny
alternative label: taphonomy
broader: earth sciences
narrower: invertebrate paleontology
narrower: micropaleontology
narrower: paleobotany
narrower: vertebrate paleontology
related: biostratigraphy
related: fossils
related: geologic history
related: ichnofossils
related: life sciences
related: paleoceanography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

invertebrate paleontology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of paleontology which deals with fossil animals without backbones.
broader: paleontology
related: bryozoans and brachiopods
related: conodonts
related: invertebrates
related: invertebrate zoology
related: trilobites
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

micropaleontology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of paleontology dealing with fossils too small to be seen without a microscope.
broader: paleontology
related: calcareous nannoplankton
related: conodonts
related: diatoms
related: dinoflagellates
related: faunal and floral census (microscopic)
related: fossils
related: protists
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

paleobotany
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of paleontology concerned with the study of fossil plants and plant life in the geologic past.
broader: paleontology
related: botany
related: palynology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vertebrate paleontology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of paleontology dealing with fossil animals that have spinal columns.
broader: paleontology
related: dinosaurs
related: vertebrates
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soil sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Earth sciences dealing with the origin, classification, physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.
alternative label: pedology (soils)
broader: earth sciences
related: soil chemistry
related: soil horizons
related: soil resources
related: trenching
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

engineering sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Sciences involved in the application of scientific and mathematical principles to construction, machinery, mechanical design, mining and manufacturing processes and other practical activities.
alternative label: engineering seismology
broader: sciences
narrower: engineering geology
narrower: hydraulic engineering
related: instrument design and development
related: mining hazards
related: scientific careers
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

engineering geology
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: engineering geology maps
alternative label: geotechnical properties maps
alternative label: rock mechanics maps
broader: engineering sciences
related: geology
related: liquefaction
related: mitigation of coastal hazards
related: remediation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydraulic engineering
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: hydraulic models
alternative label: hydraulics
broader: engineering sciences
related: domestic well water use
related: dredging
related: industrial water use
related: irrigation
related: mining water use
related: power generation water use
related: wastewater discharge
related: water resource management
related: water use
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

information sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Sciences dealing with the compilation, processing, classification, display, transmission, storage, and retrieval of recorded knowledge.
broader: sciences
narrower: biological informatics
narrower: computer science
related: geographic information systems
related: information system design and development
related: metadata development
related: scientific careers
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biological informatics
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: bioinformatics
broader: information sciences
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

computer science
type: Concept
scope note: Study of computers, including their design (architecture), uses (computations, data processing), and systems control.
broader: information sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

life sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Branches of science that study living and fossil organisms.
alternative label: biological sciences
alternative label: biology
broader: sciences
narrower: anatomy and physiology
narrower: aquatic biology
narrower: biochemistry
narrower: botany
narrower: cell biology
narrower: developmental biology
narrower: ecology
narrower: ecotoxicology
narrower: genetics
narrower: marine biology
narrower: microbiology
narrower: molecular biology
narrower: morphology (biological)
narrower: mycology
narrower: parasitology
narrower: pathology
narrower: systematics and taxonomy
narrower: zoology
related: biodiversity
related: biological informatics
related: biological productivity
related: biota
related: decomposers
related: disease vectors
related: dispersal (organisms)
related: endangered species
related: endemic species
related: extinction and extirpation
related: health and disease
related: invasive species
related: migration (organisms)
related: native species
related: natural resources
related: nonindigenous species
related: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: organisms
related: paleontology
related: plant and animal tagging
related: scientific careers
related: sexing (plants & animals)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

anatomy and physiology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the body structures (anatomy) and life functions and activities (physiology)of plants and animals.
alternative label: physiology
broader: life sciences
narrower: endocrinology
narrower: histology
narrower: immunology
related: plant and animal testing
related: therapeutic methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

endocrinology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the collection of ductless glands that secrete hormones which influence growth, gender, sexual maturity, and other attributes.
broader: anatomy and physiology
related: health and disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

histology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of anatomy concerned with the microscopic structure of plant and animal tissue.
broader: anatomy and physiology
related: health and disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

immunology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology which studies the body's production of lymphocytes, antibodies, and macrophages in response to foreign substances or pathogenic organisms.
broader: anatomy and physiology
related: health and disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aquatic biology
type: Concept
scope note: 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'.
broader: life sciences
related: aquatic ecosystems
related: benthic ecosystems
related: commercial fishery resources
related: ecology
related: estuarine ecosystems
related: fishery resources
related: freshwater ecosystems
related: inland fishery resources
related: macroinvertebrates
related: marine biology
related: marine ecosystems
related: marine fishery resources
related: migratory species
related: plankton
related: recreational fishery resources
related: shellfish
related: water quality
related: wetland ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biochemistry
type: Concept
scope note: Study of chemical processes that occur within or are mediated by living organisms.
alternative label: biogeochemistry
alternative label: chemistry (life sciences)
alternative label: environmental chemistry
broader: life sciences
related: atomic absorption analysis
related: bioenergetics
related: biogeochemical cycling
related: biomarkers
related: carbon cycling
related: carbon isotope analysis
related: chemical analysis
related: chromatography
related: DNA sequencing
related: electrophoresis
related: flow cytometry
related: food web
related: gas chromatography
related: isotopic analysis
related: light stable isotope analysis
related: liquid chromatography
related: mass spectroscopy
related: mercury contamination
related: neutron activation analysis
related: nutrient cycling
related: oxygen isotope analysis
related: particle-beam spectroscopy
related: pesticide and herbicide contamination
related: polymerase chain reaction
related: tritium analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

botany
type: Concept
scope note: The science of plants.
broader: life sciences
narrower: palynology
narrower: phycology
related: drilling and coring
related: ferns and fern allies
related: flowering plants
related: forest resources
related: gymnosperms
related: liverworts and hornworts
related: mosses
related: mycology
related: nonvascular plants
related: paleobotany
related: plants (organisms)
related: producers (organisms)
related: vascular plants
related: vegetation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

palynology
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: botany
related: paleobotany
related: plants (organisms)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

phycology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology concerned with the study of algae.
alternative label: algology
broader: botany
related: algae
related: algal blooms
related: calcareous nannoplankton
related: diatoms
related: dinoflagellates
related: lichens
related: plankton
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

cell biology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology that deals with the study of the formation, structure, and physiology of cells.
alternative label: cellular biology
alternative label: cytology
broader: life sciences
related: bioenergetics
related: flow cytometry
related: molecular biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

developmental biology
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific study of the processes related to the transformation of living organisms from single cells to complex multi-celled individuals.
alternative label: embryology
broader: life sciences
related: organism growth and development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the relations between living plants and animals and their environment.
alternative label: bionomics
broader: life sciences
related: animal behavior
related: aquatic biology
related: aquatic ecosystems
related: benthic ecosystems
related: bioaccumulation
related: biodiversity
related: biogeochemical cycling
related: biogeography
related: biological productivity
related: bioremediation
related: carbon cycling
related: carnivores
related: coastal ecosystems
related: community ecology
related: consumers (organisms)
related: decomposers
related: desert ecosystems
related: desertification
related: dispersal (organisms)
related: ecological competition
related: ecological processes
related: ecosystem functions
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: ecosystems
related: ecotoxicology
related: effects of climate change
related: endangered species
related: endemic species
related: estuarine ecosystems
related: eutrophication
related: extinction and extirpation
related: fires
related: food web
related: forest ecosystems
related: forest resources
related: freshwater ecosystems
related: grassland ecosystems
related: habitat alteration and disturbance
related: herbivores
related: human impacts
related: invasive species
related: land use change
related: long-term ecological monitoring
related: marine ecosystems
related: mercury contamination
related: migration (organisms)
related: migratory species
related: native species
related: nonindigenous species
related: nutrient cycling
related: omnivores
related: pesticide and herbicide contamination
related: plot sampling
related: pollinators
related: population and community ecology
related: population dynamics
related: producers (organisms)
related: reef ecosystems
related: remediation
related: shrubland ecosystems
related: succession (biological)
related: terrestrial ecosystems
related: tundra ecosystems
related: vegetation
related: waste treatment and disposal
related: wetland ecosystems
related: wetland functions
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecotoxicology
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific study of causes, dispersal, and effects of contaminants on the environment.
alternative label: environmental toxicology
alternative label: toxicology
broader: life sciences
related: bioaccumulation
related: contaminant transport
related: contamination and pollution
related: ecology
related: hazards
related: human impacts
related: mercury contamination
related: pesticide and herbicide contamination
related: plant and animal testing
related: therapeutic methods
related: toxic radionuclide contamination
related: toxic trace element contamination
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

genetics
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology that deals with heredity or the passing of traits in living organisms from one generation to the next.
alternative label: heredity
broader: life sciences
related: DNA sequencing
related: molecular biology
related: polymerase chain reaction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

marine biology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology concerned with the organisms and habitats of the seas and oceans.
alternative label: biological oceanography
broader: life sciences
related: aquatic biology
related: aquatic ecosystems
related: benthic ecosystems
related: commercial fishery resources
related: fishery resources
related: marine ecosystems
related: marine fishery resources
related: migratory species
related: ocean sciences
related: recreational fishery resources
related: reef ecosystems
related: whaling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

microbiology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology dealing with organisms too small to be seen without the use of a microscope.
broader: life sciences
narrower: bacteriology
narrower: virology
related: archaea
related: bacteria
related: culturing (specimens)
related: faunal and floral census (microscopic)
related: plankton
related: producers (organisms)
related: protists
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bacteriology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the single celled microorganisms known as bacteria.
broader: microbiology
related: culturing (specimens)
related: health and disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

virology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology dealing with viruses and viral diseases.
broader: microbiology
related: environmental health (human)
related: viruses
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

molecular biology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology concerned with the study of physiology at the molecular level.
broader: life sciences
related: cell biology
related: genetics
related: organism growth and development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

morphology (biological)
type: Concept
scope note: The scientific study of the form, shape, and structure of plants and animals and their fossil remains.
broader: life sciences
related: meristics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mycology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi.
broader: life sciences
related: botany
related: fungi
related: lichens
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

parasitology
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: life sciences
related: health and disease
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

pathology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology concerned with the study of the causes, progress, symptoms, diagnosis, and effects of diseases.
alternative label: pathobiology
broader: life sciences
related: health and disease
related: plant and animal testing
related: therapeutic methods
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

systematics and taxonomy
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the identification, naming, and classification of organisms.
alternative label: taxonomy
broader: life sciences
related: meristics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

zoology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology that deals with the reproduction, development and growth, anatomy, physiology, and behavior of animals.
alternative label: malacology
broader: life sciences
narrower: ethology
narrower: invertebrate zoology
narrower: vertebrate zoology
narrower: wildlife biology
related: animals
related: capturing (animals)
related: carnivores
related: consumers (organisms)
related: herbivores
related: migratory species
related: omnivores
related: pollinators
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ethology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of animal behavior under natural conditions
broader: zoology
related: animal behavior
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

invertebrate zoology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology dealing with animals having no backbones or spinal columns.
broader: zoology
narrower: entomology
related: arachnids
related: arthropods
related: bryozoans and brachiopods
related: coelenterates
related: crustaceans
related: echinoderms
related: flatworms
related: horseshoe crabs
related: invertebrate paleontology
related: invertebrates
related: mollusks
related: ostracodes
related: roundworms
related: segmented worms
related: shellfish
related: sponges
related: worms
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

entomology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of zoology involved in studying insects.
broader: invertebrate zoology
related: arachnids
related: butterflies and moths
related: insects
related: pollinators
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vertebrate zoology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of zoology that deals with animals that have spinal columns.
broader: zoology
narrower: herpetology
narrower: ichthyology
narrower: mammalogy
narrower: ornithology
related: game species
related: vertebrates
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

herpetology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians.
broader: vertebrate zoology
related: amphibians
related: reptiles
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ichthyology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of zoology concerned with the study of fish.
broader: vertebrate zoology
related: commercial fishery resources
related: fish
related: fishery resources
related: inland fishery resources
related: marine fishery resources
related: overfishing
related: recreational fishery resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mammalogy
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of zoology concerned with the study of mammals.
broader: vertebrate zoology
related: mammals
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ornithology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology concerned with the study of birds.
broader: vertebrate zoology
related: birds
related: pollinators
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wildlife biology
type: Concept
scope note: Branch of biology dealing with living organisms, usually mammals, birds, or fishes, that are not domesticated or dependent on man.
broader: zoology
related: animal tracking
related: game management
related: game species
related: overfishing
related: parasitology
related: vocalization methods
related: wildlife
related: wildlife population management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

planetary sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Scientific study of the solid bodies of the solar system, including planets, moons, asteroids, meteorites, and interplanetary materials.
alternative label: astronomy
alternative label: planetology
broader: sciences
related: meteorology
related: planetary bodies
related: scientific careers
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

social sciences
type: Concept
scope note: Sciences concerned with the structure and interrelationships of human societies, human institutions and organizations, and human culture over time.
broader: sciences
narrower: archeology
related: business and economics
related: cadastral and legal land descriptions
related: culture and demographics
related: environmental health (human)
related: hazards
related: health and disease
related: human environmental safety
related: human impacts
related: land use change
related: mining hazards
related: overfishing
related: scientific careers
related: waste treatment and disposal
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

archeology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of human cultures through the recovery and analysis of their material relics.
alternative label: archaeology
broader: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

time periods
type: Concept
scope note: Geologic time periods and seasons of the year
broader: Categories
narrower: geologic time periods
narrower: seasons
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic time periods
type: Concept
alternative label: geologic age
alternative label: geologic time
broader: time periods
narrower: Phanerozoic
narrower: Precambrian
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Phanerozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Eon of geologic time approximately 542 million years ago extending to the present. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: geologic time periods
narrower: Cenozoic
narrower: Mesozoic
narrower: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Cenozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Era of geologic time approximately 65 million years ago extending to the present. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Phanerozoic
narrower: Quaternary
narrower: Tertiary
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Quaternary
type: Concept
scope note: 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
broader: Cenozoic
narrower: Holocene
narrower: Pleistocene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Holocene
type: Concept
scope note: Epoch of geologic time approximately 11 thousand years ago extending to the present. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Quaternary
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Pleistocene
type: Concept
scope note: Epoch of geologic time approximately 2.6 million to 11 thousand years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
alternative label: ice age
broader: Quaternary
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Tertiary
type: Concept
scope note: 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
broader: Cenozoic
narrower: Neogene
narrower: Paleogene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Neogene
type: Concept
scope note: Subperiod of geologic time approximately 23 to 2.6 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Tertiary
narrower: Miocene
narrower: Pliocene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Miocene
type: Concept
scope note: Epoch of geologic time approximately 23 to 5.3 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Neogene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Pliocene
type: Concept
scope note: Epoch of geologic time approximately 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Neogene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Paleogene
type: Concept
scope note: Subperiod of geologic time approximately 65 to 23 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Tertiary
narrower: Eocene
narrower: Oligocene
narrower: Paleocene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Eocene
type: Concept
scope note: Epoch of geologic time approximately 56 to 34 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleogene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Oligocene
type: Concept
scope note: Epoch of geologic time approximately 34 to 23 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleogene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Paleocene
type: Concept
scope note: Epoch of geologic time approximately 65 to 56 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleogene
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Mesozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Era of geologic time approximately 251 to 65 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Phanerozoic
narrower: Cretaceous
narrower: Jurassic
narrower: Triassic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Cretaceous
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 145 to 65 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Mesozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Jurassic
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 200 to 145 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Mesozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Triassic
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 251 to 200 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Mesozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Paleozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Era of geologic time approximately 542 to 251 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Phanerozoic
narrower: Cambrian
narrower: Devonian
narrower: Mississippian
narrower: Ordovician
narrower: Pennsylvanian
narrower: Permian
narrower: Silurian
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Cambrian
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 542 to 488 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Devonian
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 416 to 359 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Mississippian
type: Concept
scope note: Subperiod of geologic time approximately 359 to 318 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
alternative label: lower carboniferous
broader: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Ordovician
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 488 to 444 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Pennsylvanian
type: Concept
scope note: Subperiod of geologic time approximately 318 to 299 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
alternative label: upper carboniferous
broader: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Permian
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 299 to 251 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Silurian
type: Concept
scope note: Period of geologic time approximately 444 to 416 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Paleozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Precambrian
type: Concept
scope note: General interval of geologic time before approximately 542 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
alternative label: cryptozoic
broader: geologic time periods
narrower: Archaean
narrower: Hadean
narrower: Proterozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Archaean
type: Concept
scope note: Eon of geologic time approximately 4 to 2.5 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Precambrian
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Hadean
type: Concept
scope note: Eon of geologic time prior to 4 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Precambrian
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Proterozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Eon of geologic time approximately 2.5 billion to 542 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Precambrian
narrower: Mesoproterozoic
narrower: Neoproterozoic
narrower: Paleoproterozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Mesoproterozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Era of geologic time approximately 1.6 to 1 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Proterozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Neoproterozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Era of geologic time approximately 1 billion to 542 million years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Proterozoic
narrower: Ediacaran
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Ediacaran
type: Concept
scope note: The last geological period of the Neoproterozoic Era, just before the Cambrian Period of the Paleozoic Era.
alternative label: Vendian
broader: Neoproterozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

Paleoproterozoic
type: Concept
scope note: Era of geologic time approximately 2.5 to 1.6 billion years ago. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20103059
broader: Proterozoic
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

seasons
type: Concept
broader: time periods
narrower: autumn
narrower: spring (season)
narrower: summer
narrower: winter
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

autumn
type: Concept
alternative label: fall (season)
broader: seasons
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

spring (season)
type: Concept
broader: seasons
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

summer
type: Concept
broader: seasons
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

winter
type: Concept
broader: seasons
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

topics
type: Concept
scope note: Themes, subjects, and concerns for which USGS information resources are relevant.
broader: Categories
narrower: agriculture
narrower: biological and physical processes
narrower: contamination and pollution
narrower: culture and demographics
narrower: earth characteristics
narrower: effects of climate change
narrower: elements
narrower: field monitoring stations
narrower: hazards
narrower: health and disease
narrower: human impacts
narrower: information system design and development
narrower: instrument design and development
narrower: land use and land cover
narrower: map coordinate systems
narrower: natural resource exploration
narrower: natural resource extraction
narrower: natural resources
narrower: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
narrower: organisms
narrower: planetary bodies
narrower: population and community ecology
narrower: recreation
narrower: scientific careers
narrower: water properties
narrower: water quality
narrower: water supply and demand
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

agriculture
type: Concept
scope note: The science and business of soil cultivation to raise crops and of animal husbandry to raise domesticated animals.
alternative label: farming
alternative label: horticulture
alternative label: livestock husbandry
broader: topics
narrower: aquaculture
related: soil chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aquaculture
type: Concept
scope note: The farming of organisms that live in water, such as fish, shellfish, and algae for human use.
alternative label: fish farming
broader: agriculture
related: commercial fishery resources
related: fishery resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biological and physical processes
type: Concept
scope note: All continuing activities, functions, and phenomena associated with organisms and non-living matter.
alternative label: bioenergetic processes
broader: topics
narrower: atmospheric and climatic processes
narrower: coastal processes
narrower: ecological processes
narrower: estuarine processes
narrower: evolution
narrower: fires
narrower: geochemical processes
narrower: geologic processes
narrower: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
narrower: hydrologic processes
narrower: impact cratering
narrower: ocean processes
narrower: physiological processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atmospheric and climatic processes
type: Concept
scope note: Phenomena affecting or occurring within the mass of gases that surrounds the earth, including its physics, chemistry, dynamics, and weather conditions.
alternative label: climate
alternative label: microclimate
alternative label: weather
alternative label: weather monitoring
alternative label: weather observations
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: atmospheric circulation
narrower: atmospheric deposition (chemical & particulate)
narrower: climate change
narrower: droughts
narrower: evaporation
narrower: greenhouse effect
narrower: ocean-atmosphere interaction
narrower: precipitation (atmospheric)
narrower: storms
narrower: wind
related: atmospheric properties
related: atmospheric sciences
related: meteorology
related: snow and ice cover
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atmospheric circulation
type: Concept
scope note: Movement of atmospheric gases around the earth.
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: atmospheric sciences
related: water circulation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atmospheric deposition (chemical & particulate)
type: Concept
scope note: 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).
alternative label: atmospheric deposition (chemical and particulate)
alternative label: atmospheric dust deposition
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
narrower: acid deposition
related: atmospheric sciences
related: precipitation (atmospheric)
related: sedimentation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

acid deposition
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: acidic deposition
alternative label: acid precipitation
alternative label: acid rain
alternative label: acid snow
broader: atmospheric deposition (chemical & particulate)
related: atmospheric sciences
related: human impacts
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

climate change
type: Concept
scope note: Long-term alteration in the characteristic weather conditions of a region, such as changes in precipitation and temperature.
alternative label: climate history
alternative label: climate variability
alternative label: climatic change
alternative label: global climate change
alternative label: global warming
alternative label: paleoclimate
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
narrower: desertification
related: climatology
related: effects of climate change
related: environmental proxies
related: greenhouse gases
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

desertification
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: climate change
related: climatology
related: desert ecosystems
related: ecology
related: hazards
related: land use change
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

droughts
type: Concept
scope note: Extended periods of moisture deficit over a sizeable area sufficient to have an adverse effect on vegetation, animals, or man.
alternative label: drought
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: atmospheric sciences
related: hazards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

evaporation
type: Concept
scope note: Transfer of water from a surface into the atmosphere.
alternative label: evapotranspiration
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: transpiration
related: water cycle
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

greenhouse effect
type: Concept
scope note: Local, regional, or global warming in the atmosphere due to the higher heat capacity of certain gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone.
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: greenhouse gases
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean-atmosphere interaction
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: El Nino
alternative label: La Nina
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
narrower: El Nino-Southern Oscillation
related: atmospheric sciences
related: ocean processes
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

El Nino-Southern Oscillation
type: Concept
scope note: A roughly periodic variation in Pacific ocean sea-surface temperature causing changes in weather world-wide.
alternative label: El Nino
alternative label: ENSO
alternative label: La Nina
broader: ocean-atmosphere interaction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

precipitation (atmospheric)
type: Concept
scope note: Any or all forms of water particles that fall from the atmosphere, such as rain, snow, hail and sleet.
alternative label: precipitation measurement
alternative label: rain
alternative label: rainfall
alternative label: rainfall measurement
alternative label: snow
alternative label: snowfall
alternative label: snowfall measurement
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: atmospheric deposition (chemical & particulate)
related: atmospheric sciences
related: hydrologic processes
related: hydrology
related: storms
related: water cycle
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

storms
type: Concept
scope note: Atmospheric disturbances with winds of unusual force or direction. Accompanied by rain, snow, hail, or sleet, and often by thunder and lightning.
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
narrower: blizzards
narrower: dust storms
narrower: hurricanes
narrower: ice storms
narrower: tornadoes
related: hazards
related: meteorology
related: precipitation (atmospheric)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

blizzards
type: Concept
scope note: Severe snowstorms with intense winds.
broader: storms
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dust storms
type: Concept
scope note: Atmospheric disturbances in which a significant amount of dust is transported.
broader: storms
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hurricanes
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: typhoons
broader: storms
related: meteorology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ice storms
type: Concept
scope note: Storms in which falling snow or rain freezes on contact with surfaces on the ground.
broader: storms
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tornadoes
type: Concept
scope note: Violent storms characterized by whirling funnels of wind moving at great speeds.
broader: storms
related: meteorology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wind
type: Concept
scope note: Local air movements.
alternative label: wind erosion
broader: atmospheric and climatic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coastal processes
type: Concept
scope note: Processes unique to coastal areas including longshore transport, beach erosion, storm surge, shoreline change, delta formation, barrier island migration, beach stabilization by vegetation
alternative label: beach erosion
alternative label: coastal erosion
alternative label: coastal hazards
alternative label: shoreline change
alternative label: shoreline erosion
alternative label: shoreline retreat
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: barrier island migration
narrower: coastal emergence
narrower: coastal submergence
narrower: longshore currents
narrower: shoreline accretion
narrower: tidal currents
related: mitigation of coastal hazards
related: storm surge
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

barrier island migration
type: Concept
scope note: The slow, landward movement of barrier islands in response to sea level rise and repeated storm washover.
broader: coastal processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coastal emergence
type: Concept
scope note: Relative uplift of the coast accompanied by seaward displacement of the shoreline.
alternative label: regression (marine)
broader: coastal processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coastal submergence
type: Concept
scope note: Relative subsidence of the coast accompanied by landward displacement of the shoreline.
alternative label: transgression (marine)
broader: coastal processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

longshore currents
type: Concept
scope note: Movement of water parallel to the coast due to waves striking the shoreline at an angle
alternative label: littoral drift
alternative label: longshore drift
broader: coastal processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

shoreline accretion
type: Concept
scope note: Seaward migration of the shoreline resulting from the addition of earth materials.
broader: coastal processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tidal currents
type: Concept
scope note: Currents caused by tidal changes in water level from one body of water to another.
broader: coastal processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecological processes
type: Concept
scope note: Dynamic biogeochemical interactions that occur among and between biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere.
alternative label: ecological models
alternative label: environmental processes
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: algal blooms
narrower: bioaccumulation
narrower: biogeochemical cycling
narrower: biological productivity
narrower: carbon flux
narrower: contaminant transport
narrower: dispersal (organisms)
narrower: ecological competition
narrower: ecosystem functions
narrower: ecosystem resilience
narrower: eutrophication
narrower: extinction and extirpation
narrower: habitat alteration and disturbance
narrower: migration (organisms)
narrower: pollination
narrower: succession (biological)
narrower: transpiration
related: ecology
related: population and community ecology
related: soil formation
related: state and transition modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

algal blooms
type: Concept
scope note: Exceptional growth of algae and cyanobacteria in lakes, rivers or oceans due to excessive nutrients or climatic conditions.
alternative label: brown tides
alternative label: harmful algal blooms
alternative label: red tides
broader: ecological processes
related: algae
related: hazards
related: phycology
related: population dynamics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bioaccumulation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: bioconcentration
broader: ecological processes
related: ecology
related: ecotoxicology
related: microplastic contamination
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biogeochemical cycling
type: Concept
scope note: The cycling of chemical constituents through a biological system.
alternative label: biogeochemical functioning
alternative label: biogeochemical processes
alternative label: decomposition (organic)
alternative label: organic decomposition
broader: ecological processes
narrower: carbon cycling
narrower: nutrient cycling
related: biochemistry
related: decomposers
related: ecology
related: geochemical processes
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon cycling
type: Concept
scope note: The circulation of carbon in the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere through a series of processes that include photosynthesis, consumption, and respiration.
broader: biogeochemical cycling
related: biochemistry
related: carbon dioxide storage assessment
related: carbon flux
related: ecology
related: geochemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nutrient cycling
type: Concept
scope note: The exchange of elements or compounds essential for the nourishment of organisms in an ecosystem.
alternative label: nutrient balance
broader: biogeochemical cycling
narrower: food web
related: biochemistry
related: ecology
related: nutrient content (water)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

food web
type: Concept
scope note: The complex intertwining of the interrelated food chains in an ecosystem.
alternative label: food chain
alternative label: food cycle
alternative label: trophic level dynamics
alternative label: trophic relationships
broader: nutrient cycling
related: biochemistry
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biological productivity
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: ecological processes
related: ecology
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon flux
type: Concept
scope note: The rate and amount of carbon exchanged between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things.
alternative label: carbon exchange
broader: ecological processes
related: carbon cycling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

contaminant transport
type: Concept
scope note: Processes involved in the movement of impurities through air, water, and soil.
broader: ecological processes
related: ecotoxicology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dispersal (organisms)
type: Concept
scope note: The dissemination or geographic spread of individuals of a plant or animal population.
alternative label: colonization (organisms)
broader: ecological processes
related: ecology
related: life sciences
related: migration (organisms)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecological competition
type: Concept
scope note: The struggle between members of two or more species for scarce environmental resources.
broader: ecological processes
related: biodiversity
related: community ecology
related: ecology
related: endangered species
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecosystem functions
type: Concept
scope note: The total life activities of organisms in habitats and the effects of those activities on the nonliving components of the environment.
alternative label: estuarine ecosystem functions
broader: ecological processes
narrower: wetland functions
related: ecology
related: ecosystem resilience
related: ecosystems
related: ecosystem services valuation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wetland functions
type: Concept
scope note: Processes related to wetlands such as support of ecosystems, evaporation effects on weather, nutrient cycles, etc.
broader: ecosystem functions
related: ecology
related: hydrology
related: wetland ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecosystem resilience
type: Concept
scope note: 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)
alternative label: ecological resilience
broader: ecological processes
related: ecosystem functions
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

eutrophication
type: Concept
scope note: The process by which water becomes enriched with plant nutrients, most commonly phosphorus and nitrogen.
broader: ecological processes
related: ecology
related: limnology
related: oxygen content (water)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

extinction and extirpation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: extirpation
broader: ecological processes
related: ecology
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

habitat alteration and disturbance
type: Concept
scope note: Changes in the environments where plants and animals live. Includes natural changes as well as results of human actions, deliberate or accidental.
alternative label: ecological disturbance
alternative label: environmental disturbance
alternative label: habitat destruction
alternative label: habitat disturbance
broader: ecological processes
narrower: fire damage
related: ecology
related: habitat fragmentation
related: habitat suitability indices
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fire damage
type: Concept
scope note: Destruction of surficial materials and vegetation by burning.
alternative label: composite burn index
alternative label: normalized burn ratio
broader: habitat alteration and disturbance
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

migration (organisms)
type: Concept
scope note: The movement of animals, often periodical, from one area to another due to seasonal changes, availability of food, or climatic conditions.
alternative label: biological invasions
alternative label: flyways
alternative label: seasonal migration
broader: ecological processes
related: animal behavior
related: biogeography
related: dispersal (organisms)
related: ecology
related: life sciences
related: migratory species
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

pollination
type: Concept
scope note: Wind, bees, or other agents transfer plant pollen from flower anthers or cones to stigmas, thereby fertilizing plants for reproduction.
broader: ecological processes
related: pollinators
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

succession (biological)
type: Concept
scope note: Gradual replacement of one species in an area by another.
alternative label: ecologic succession
broader: ecological processes
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

transpiration
type: Concept
scope note: Evaporation of water from plants.
alternative label: evapotranspiration
broader: ecological processes
related: evaporation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

estuarine processes
type: Concept
scope note: Processes affecting estuaries including tides, waves, mixing of fluvial and marine waters
alternative label: estuarine sediment transport
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: estuarine currents
narrower: estuarine mixing
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

estuarine currents
type: Concept
scope note: Movement of water within estuaries due to the complex interaction of winds, tides, and variations in water density
broader: estuarine processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

estuarine mixing
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: estuarine processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

evolution
type: Concept
scope note: Change in the genetic composition of populations of living organisms.
alternative label: gene flow
broader: biological and physical processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fires
type: Concept
scope note: 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'.
alternative label: fire preparedness
alternative label: fires (uncontrolled)
alternative label: wildfires
alternative label: wildland fire
broader: biological and physical processes
related: atmospheric sciences
related: controlled fires
related: ecology
related: hazards
related: human impacts
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geochemical processes
type: Concept
scope note: Processes affecting the amount, distribution, or structure of chemical elements in air, water, soil, rocks, and minerals.
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: biodegradation
narrower: carbon sequestration
narrower: ocean acidification
narrower: ore formation
narrower: oxidation and reduction
narrower: reaction transport
narrower: sorption
narrower: thermal maturation
related: biogeochemical cycling
related: geochemistry
related: soil formation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biodegradation
type: Concept
scope note: Reduction in the concentration of harmful chemicals by the action of animals and plants.
alternative label: natural attenuation (harmful chemicals)
broader: geochemical processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon sequestration
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: carbon capture
alternative label: carbon capture and storage
alternative label: carbon storage
broader: geochemical processes
narrower: carbon mineralization
related: carbon dioxide storage assessment
related: geologic energy storage
related: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon mineralization
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: carbon dioxide mineralization
broader: carbon sequestration
related: natural resource management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean acidification
type: Concept
scope note: Decrease in the pH of ocean waters as a result of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
broader: geochemical processes
related: effects of climate change
related: marine chemistry
related: ocean processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ore formation
type: Concept
scope note: Geochemical processes resulting in concentration of useful chemical elements and compounds, in earth materials. Typically refers to metal ores.
alternative label: metallogenesis
alternative label: metallogeny
alternative label: mineralization
broader: geochemical processes
related: mineral deposits
related: mineral resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oxidation and reduction
type: Concept
scope note: Addition or reduction of oxygen in a compound accompanied by exchange of electrons among atoms.
alternative label: fermentation
broader: geochemical processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

reaction transport
type: Concept
scope note: Chemical reactions occurring during ground-water flow.
broader: geochemical processes
related: groundwater flow
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sorption
type: Concept
scope note: Attachment of chemical substances to materials, either externally (by adsorption) or internally (by absorption).
alternative label: absorption
alternative label: adsorption
broader: geochemical processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

thermal maturation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: thermal indices
alternative label: thermal maturity
alternative label: vitrinite reflectance
broader: geochemical processes
related: coal resources
related: earth material properties
related: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
related: oil resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic processes
type: Concept
scope note: All types of processes involving geological structures.
alternative label: lithification
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: deformation (geologic)
narrower: diagenesis
narrower: earthquakes
narrower: earth tides
narrower: erosion
narrower: fluid migration
narrower: glaciation
narrower: heat flow (earth)
narrower: hydrothermal processes
narrower: isostasy
narrower: magnetic storms
narrower: metamorphism (geological)
narrower: sedimentation
narrower: sediment transport
narrower: slope processes
narrower: soil formation
narrower: subsidence
narrower: tectonic processes
narrower: uplift
narrower: volcanic activity
related: geology
related: hydrology
related: tsunamis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

deformation (geologic)
type: Concept
scope note: Change in form and structure of geologic materials in response to stress, typically heat and pressure.
alternative label: rheology
alternative label: strain history
broader: geologic processes
narrower: folding (geologic)
narrower: fracture (geologic)
related: geologic structure
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

folding (geologic)
type: Concept
scope note: A property of geologic structures to bend or curve from the planar layers.
alternative label: crenulation (geologic)
alternative label: geologic folding
broader: deformation (geologic)
related: structural geology
related: tectonic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fracture (geologic)
type: Concept
scope note: Break in a geologic structure including cracks, joints, and faults.
alternative label: cleavage (rock)
alternative label: jointing (geologic)
broader: deformation (geologic)
narrower: faulting (geologic)
related: structural geology
related: tectonic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

faulting (geologic)
type: Concept
scope note: Movement of earth materials along fracture surfaces.
alternative label: geologic faulting
broader: fracture (geologic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

diagenesis
type: Concept
scope note: Chemical, physical, and biological changes in sediment during and after its conversion to rock (lithification).
broader: geologic processes
related: petrology
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earthquakes
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: earthquake hazards
broader: geologic processes
narrower: earthquake occurrences
related: earthquake probabilities
related: hazards
related: seismology
related: tectonic processes
related: tectonophysics
related: tsunamis
related: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earthquake occurrences
type: Concept
scope note: Time, location, severity, and mechanism of earthquake events, including the frequency and history of events in a given area.
alternative label: earthquake activity maps
alternative label: earthquake epicenter maps
alternative label: earthquake occurrence maps
alternative label: earthquake seismology
alternative label: ground motion
alternative label: ground motion maps
alternative label: seismic activity
alternative label: seismic hazard maps
alternative label: seismicity
alternative label: shaking maps (seismic)
alternative label: strong motion
broader: earthquakes
narrower: ground failure
narrower: induced seismicity
related: seismology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ground failure
type: Concept
scope note: Any consequences of shaking, including liquefaction, landslide, and lateral spread, that affects the stability of the ground.
alternative label: earthquake-triggered ground failure
broader: earthquake occurrences
narrower: liquefaction
related: landslides
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

liquefaction
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: ground failure
related: engineering geology
related: hazards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

induced seismicity
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: induced earthquakes
broader: earthquake occurrences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earth tides
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: geologic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

erosion
type: Concept
scope note: The process whereby materials of the earth's crust are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and simultaneously moved from one place to another.
alternative label: beach erosion
alternative label: coastal erosion
alternative label: dissolution
alternative label: shoreline erosion
alternative label: shoreline retreat
alternative label: wind erosion
broader: geologic processes
narrower: sinkhole formation
related: geomorphology
related: glaciology
related: hydrology
related: scour
related: sedimentology
related: watershed management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sinkhole formation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: erosion
related: karst
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fluid migration
type: Concept
scope note: Movement or migration of fluids, including petroleum and other chemicals through earth materials by natural or anthropogenic forces.
alternative label: interstitial fluid
alternative label: pore fluid
broader: geologic processes
related: groundwater flow
related: hydraulic fracturing
related: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

glaciation
type: Concept
scope note: The geologic processes involved in the formation, movement, changes, and effects of large ice masses (glaciers).
broader: geologic processes
related: foliation (geologic)
related: glaciology
related: snow and ice cover
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

heat flow (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: Energy transferred by a difference in temperature through the surface of the earth.
alternative label: geothermics
alternative label: heatflow (earth)
broader: geologic processes
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrothermal processes
type: Concept
scope note: Natural phenomena relating to heated water generated by igneous activity.
broader: geologic processes
related: hydrogeology
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

isostasy
type: Concept
scope note: Condition of equilibrium or buoyancy of the earth's crust above the mantle.
broader: geologic processes
related: geophysics
related: glaciology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetic storms
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: geomagnetic storms
broader: geologic processes
related: hazards
related: magnetic field (earth)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

metamorphism (geological)
type: Concept
scope note: Process by which rocks are altered in composition and texture by extreme heat, high pressure, or the action of chemicals.
broader: geologic processes
narrower: alteration
related: geochemistry
related: geology
related: geophysics
related: metamorphic rocks
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

alteration
type: Concept
scope note: Local changes in the mineralogy of a rock body due to low-grade metamorphism, weathering, or both. May indicate underlying mineral deposits.
broader: metamorphism (geological)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sedimentation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: alluvial sedimentation
alternative label: deposition (sediment)
alternative label: dust deposition
broader: geologic processes
related: atmospheric deposition (chemical & particulate)
related: sedimentary rocks
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sediment transport
type: Concept
scope note: Transport of solid particles of unconsolidated rock and mineral fragments, chemical precipitates, or biological materials.
alternative label: alluvial transport
alternative label: bedload
alternative label: bed load
alternative label: density flow
alternative label: dust transport
alternative label: estuarine sediment transport
alternative label: littoral drift
alternative label: longshore drift
alternative label: marine sediment transport
alternative label: suspended load
alternative label: turbidity flow
broader: geologic processes
related: hydrology
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

slope processes
type: Concept
scope note: The down slope movement of earth material under the influence of gravity.
alternative label: mass wasting
alternative label: soil creep
broader: geologic processes
narrower: landslides
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

landslides
type: Concept
scope note: Downslope movement of rock, soil, or artificial fill under the influences of gravity.
alternative label: avalanches
alternative label: debris avalanches
alternative label: debris flows
alternative label: earth flows
alternative label: landslide maps
alternative label: landslide preparedness
alternative label: mudslides
alternative label: rockfalls
alternative label: slides (land)
alternative label: slumps
broader: slope processes
narrower: lahars
related: geomorphology
related: ground failure
related: hazards
related: landslide susceptibility assessment
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lahars
type: Concept
scope note: Downslope flow of ash and rock debris resulting from volcanic activity.
broader: landslides
related: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soil formation
type: Concept
scope note: Geological, geochemical, and ecological processes that work together to produce soils.
alternative label: pedogenesis
broader: geologic processes
related: ecological processes
related: geochemical processes
related: soil horizons
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

subsidence
type: Concept
scope note: Settling, compaction, or caving in of land caused by subsurface mining, ground-water withdrawal, or pumping of oil and gas.
alternative label: land subsidence
alternative label: land subsidence maps
broader: geologic processes
related: geomorphology
related: human impacts
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tectonic processes
type: Concept
scope note: The structural forces affecting the deformation, uplift, and movement of the earth's crust.
alternative label: continental drift
alternative label: dynamic geology
alternative label: paleotectonic maps
alternative label: plate tectonics
alternative label: subduction
alternative label: tectonic maps
alternative label: tectonics
alternative label: wilson cycle
broader: geologic processes
narrower: neotectonic processes
related: earthquakes
related: earth structure
related: folding (geologic)
related: foliation (geologic)
related: fracture (geologic)
related: lineation (geologic)
related: seismology
related: structural geology
related: tectonophysics
related: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

neotectonic processes
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: neotectonics
broader: tectonic processes
related: earthquake probabilities
related: structural geology
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

uplift
type: Concept
scope note: Local or regional rise in the elevation of the land surface, usually due to tectonic or volcanic processes.
broader: geologic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

volcanic activity
type: Concept
scope note: Episodes during which gases, ash, and lava (molten rock) escape from vents in the earth's crust, accompanied by minor tremors.
alternative label: eruption
alternative label: lava flows
alternative label: pyroclastic flows
alternative label: volcanic tremors
alternative label: volcanism
alternative label: volcano monitoring
broader: geologic processes
narrower: volcanic gas emission
related: aviation safety
related: earthquakes
related: hazards
related: lahars
related: tectonic processes
related: volcanic eruption prediction
related: volcanology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

volcanic gas emission
type: Concept
scope note: Emission of gases from fumaroles and volcanoes.
alternative label: fumarolic activity
broader: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrocarbon reservoir processes
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: biological and physical processes
related: carbon sequestration
related: economic geology
related: fluid migration
related: hydrogeology
related: permeability
related: porosity
related: thermal maturation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrologic processes
type: Concept
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: floods
narrower: groundwater and surface-water interaction
narrower: groundwater flow
narrower: percolation
narrower: runoff
narrower: saltwater intrusion
narrower: scour
narrower: streamflow
narrower: water circulation
narrower: water cycle
related: precipitation (atmospheric)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

floods
type: Concept
scope note: Relatively high water that overflows the natural or artificial banks of a stream or coastal area that submerges land not normally below water level.
alternative label: bankfull stage
alternative label: flood preparedness
broader: hydrologic processes
narrower: storm surge
related: controlled flooding
related: hazards
related: hydrology
related: surface water (non-marine)
related: watershed management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

storm surge
type: Concept
scope note: Coastal high water level caused by wind from storms.
broader: floods
related: coastal processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

groundwater and surface-water interaction
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: aquifer-surface water interaction
alternative label: ground-water/surface-water interaction
alternative label: groundwater/surface water interaction
alternative label: hyporheic zone processes
alternative label: surface water/groundwater interaction
alternative label: surface-water/ground-water interaction
broader: hydrologic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

groundwater flow
type: Concept
scope note: Movement of subsurface water in the saturated zone from areas of recharge to areas of discharge.
alternative label: ground-water flow
alternative label: groundwater flow modeling
alternative label: groundwater movement
broader: hydrologic processes
related: fluid migration
related: groundwater
related: hydrogeology
related: reaction transport
related: water cycle
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

percolation
type: Concept
scope note: The movement of water through fractures or interstices of a rock or soil.
alternative label: infiltration (water)
broader: hydrologic processes
related: permeability
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

runoff
type: Concept
scope note: Flow of water over land surfaces (including paved surfaces), typically from precipitation.
alternative label: stormwater runoff
alternative label: urban runoff
broader: hydrologic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

saltwater intrusion
type: Concept
scope note: Infusion of saline waters in an aquifer or body of surface water.
alternative label: salt-water intrusion
broader: hydrologic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

scour
type: Concept
scope note: Erosion of sediment in a stream bed, often occurring at manmade structures such as bridge supports.
alternative label: bridge scour
broader: hydrologic processes
related: erosion
related: hazards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

streamflow
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: flood stage
alternative label: fluvial processes
alternative label: gage height
alternative label: stream current
alternative label: stream flow
alternative label: streamflow data
alternative label: streamflow modeling
alternative label: stream stage
broader: hydrologic processes
narrower: stream discharge
narrower: turbidity
related: hydrology
related: stream-gage measurement
related: surface-water level
related: surface water (non-marine)
related: water circulation
related: watershed management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

stream discharge
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: river discharge
alternative label: stream discharge monitoring
broader: streamflow
related: hydrology
related: river systems
related: surface water (non-marine)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

turbidity
type: Concept
scope note: Cloudiness in the water column, caused by the presence of suspended and dissolved matter such as clay, silt, organic matter, or plankton.
alternative label: turbulence
broader: streamflow
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water circulation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: circulation (water)
alternative label: lake circulation
broader: hydrologic processes
related: atmospheric circulation
related: hydrology
related: ocean circulation
related: streamflow
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water cycle
type: Concept
scope note: Interchange of water among land, oceans, and atmosphere.
alternative label: hydrologic cycle
alternative label: recharge
broader: hydrologic processes
related: evaporation
related: groundwater flow
related: precipitation (atmospheric)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

impact cratering
type: Concept
scope note: Impact of extraterrestrial objects such as asteroids, comets, and meteorites on Earth.
alternative label: asteroid impact
alternative label: bolide impact
alternative label: comet impact
alternative label: meteor impact
broader: biological and physical processes
related: hazards
related: planetary bodies
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean processes
type: Concept
scope note: Recurrent natural changes that are physical, biological, or chemical, actively affecting the seas and oceans.
alternative label: marine sediment transport
alternative label: ocean hazards
alternative label: oceans
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: ocean circulation
narrower: ocean currents
narrower: ocean waves
narrower: tides (oceanic)
related: marine geophysics
related: ocean acidification
related: ocean-atmosphere interaction
related: ocean characteristics
related: ocean sciences
related: surface water (non-marine)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean circulation
type: Concept
scope note: Movement of large masses of water within an ocean.
alternative label: circulation (ocean)
broader: ocean processes
related: climatology
related: ocean currents
related: ocean sciences
related: tides (oceanic)
related: water circulation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean currents
type: Concept
scope note: Recurrent strong flows of seawater generated by wind or variations in water density along a given path.
alternative label: ocean current measurement
broader: ocean processes
related: meteorology
related: ocean circulation
related: ocean sciences
related: tides (oceanic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean waves
type: Concept
scope note: A periodic movement of seawater caused by wind, tide, and currents.
alternative label: ocean wave measurement
alternative label: water waves
broader: ocean processes
narrower: tsunamis
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tsunamis
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: tidal waves
alternative label: tsunami preparedness
broader: ocean waves
related: earthquakes
related: geologic processes
related: hazards
related: ocean sciences
related: seismology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tides (oceanic)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: ocean tides
broader: ocean processes
related: ocean circulation
related: ocean currents
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

physiological processes
type: Concept
scope note: Characteristics and processes of individual organisms that are not the direct result of their interaction with other organisms or with the environment.
broader: biological and physical processes
narrower: bioenergetics
narrower: bioluminescence
narrower: organism growth and development
narrower: osmosis
narrower: photosynthesis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bioenergetics
type: Concept
scope note: Processes by which a living organism acquires, produces, utilizes, or transforms energy.
alternative label: aerobic scope
alternative label: Citric acid cycle
alternative label: energy metabolism
alternative label: Gluconeogenesis
alternative label: Glycogenesis
alternative label: Ketosis
broader: physiological processes
related: biochemistry
related: cell biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bioluminescence
type: Concept
scope note: Emission of light by organisms.
broader: physiological processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

organism growth and development
type: Concept
scope note: Changes that living things undergo as they progress from inception as a single cell to adult forms.
alternative label: ontogeny
broader: physiological processes
narrower: anatomical deformities
narrower: metamorphosis
related: developmental biology
related: molecular biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

anatomical deformities
type: Concept
scope note: Physical malformation of organisms typically resulting from exposure to contaminants, disease, or adverse environmental conditions.
broader: organism growth and development
related: wildlife disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

metamorphosis
type: Concept
scope note: Transformation in animals, such as amphibians and insects, from one developmental stage to another.
alternative label: metamorphism (biological)
broader: organism growth and development
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

osmosis
type: Concept
scope note: Transfer of substances through biological membranes.
broader: physiological processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

photosynthesis
type: Concept
scope note: Conversion of sunlight, water, and nutrients into energy by plants.
broader: physiological processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

contamination and pollution
type: Concept
scope note: Introduction of harmful substances into the environment by human action or natural processes.
alternative label: air pollution
alternative label: effluent
alternative label: natural contaminants
alternative label: outfall
alternative label: pollution
alternative label: soil pollution
alternative label: water pollution
broader: topics
narrower: industrial pollution
narrower: microplastic contamination
narrower: nonpoint-source pollution
narrower: pesticide and herbicide contamination
narrower: PFAS
narrower: pharmaceutical contamination
narrower: toxic radionuclide contamination
narrower: toxic trace element contamination
related: ecotoxicology
related: hazards
related: human impacts
related: waste treatment and disposal
related: water quality
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

industrial pollution
type: Concept
scope note: Introduction of harmful substances into the environment by manufacturing, power generation, mining, or material processing.
alternative label: oil spills
alternative label: PCBs
alternative label: polychlorinated biphenyls
broader: contamination and pollution
narrower: mine drainage
narrower: produced water
related: abandoned mines and quarries
related: coal ash
related: PFAS
related: slag
related: solid industrial waste material
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mine drainage
type: Concept
scope note: Introduction of harmful substances into the environment from mines and tailings.
broader: industrial pollution
related: acid-base accounting
related: acid neutralizing potential
related: mining hazards
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

produced water
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: co-produced water
broader: industrial pollution
related: water resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

microplastic contamination
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: microplastic pollution
alternative label: plastic microbeads
broader: contamination and pollution
related: bioaccumulation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nonpoint-source pollution
type: Concept
scope note: Contamination of the environment from sources spread widely across an area, not from a small number of identifiable locations.
broader: contamination and pollution
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

pesticide and herbicide contamination
type: Concept
scope note: 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).
alternative label: biocide contamination
alternative label: degradation products (chemical)
alternative label: herbicide contamination
alternative label: insecticide contamination
broader: contamination and pollution
related: biochemistry
related: ecology
related: ecotoxicology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

PFAS
type: Concept
scope note: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemical compounds that are an emerging contaminant.
alternative label: perfluorinated alkylated substances
alternative label: perfluorinated chemicals
alternative label: perfluorochemicals
alternative label: PFCs
broader: contamination and pollution
related: industrial pollution
related: water quality
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

pharmaceutical contamination
type: Concept
scope note: Unintentional release of pharmaceutical compounds into the environment; work focuses on the effects of these compounds on organisms and water resources.
broader: contamination and pollution
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

toxic radionuclide contamination
type: Concept
scope note: Introduction into the environment of unstable isotopes of elements that undergo radioactive decay, emitting radiation that is harmful to organisms.
broader: contamination and pollution
related: ecotoxicology
related: environmental health (human)
related: radon
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

toxic trace element contamination
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: contamination and pollution
narrower: mercury contamination
related: ecotoxicology
related: environmental health (human)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mercury contamination
type: Concept
scope note: Biological disturbances caused by mercury compounds that have entered the environment.
broader: toxic trace element contamination
related: biochemistry
related: ecology
related: ecotoxicology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

culture and demographics
type: Concept
scope note: Information on human behavior, ways of living and thinking, and characteristics of human populations.
alternative label: demographics
alternative label: socioeconomics
broader: topics
narrower: administrative and political boundaries
narrower: business and economics
narrower: cadastral and legal land descriptions
narrower: geographic names
narrower: laws and regulations
narrower: population (human)
narrower: transportation
related: geography
related: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

administrative and political boundaries
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: borders
alternative label: geographic boundaries
alternative label: governmental units
alternative label: political boundaries
broader: culture and demographics
narrower: protected areas
related: cadastral and legal land descriptions
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

protected areas
type: Concept
scope note: Terrestrial and marine areas that are designated and managed for the preservation of biological diversity or other natural, recreational, or cultural uses.
broader: administrative and political boundaries
related: natural resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

business and economics
type: Concept
scope note: The activities and processes associated with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
alternative label: commerce
alternative label: economics
broader: culture and demographics
narrower: materials flow (commodities)
narrower: recycling
narrower: resource supply and demand
related: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

materials flow (commodities)
type: Concept
scope note: Industrial and commercial processes by which material resources are extracted, used or consumed, and disposed or recycled.
broader: business and economics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

recycling
type: Concept
scope note: Physical processes by which previously-used materials are converted from scrap and waste to reusable forms.
broader: business and economics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

resource supply and demand
type: Concept
scope note: Statistics indicating the commercial interests in material resources, typically mineral commodities, energy, or forest or fishery resources.
broader: business and economics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

cadastral and legal land descriptions
type: Concept
scope note: Records in official registers showing extent, boundaries, and ownerships of land for administration and taxation.
alternative label: cadastral maps
alternative label: land partitioning systems
alternative label: legal land descriptions
broader: culture and demographics
related: administrative and political boundaries
related: geography
related: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geographic names
type: Concept
scope note: Names by which cultural and geographic features are known. Generally to be used for collections of names stored in gazetteers.
broader: culture and demographics
related: gazetteers
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

laws and regulations
type: Concept
scope note: Legal statements of the government regarding actions people or corporations might undertake.
alternative label: legal processes
alternative label: legislation
alternative label: statutes
broader: culture and demographics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

population (human)
type: Concept
scope note: Geographic distribution and temporal trends of human habitation in specific areas
broader: culture and demographics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

transportation
type: Concept
scope note: Movement of people or materials from one place to another for economic, political, or recreational purposes.
alternative label: air transportation
alternative label: aviation
alternative label: ground transportation
broader: culture and demographics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earth characteristics
type: Concept
scope note: The measurable, definable properties and features of the earth.
broader: topics
narrower: atmospheric properties
narrower: earth material properties
narrower: earth structure
narrower: geologic history
narrower: geologic structure
narrower: gravitational field (earth)
narrower: lakebed characteristics
narrower: land surface characteristics
narrower: magnetic field (earth)
narrower: ocean characteristics
narrower: rocks and deposits
narrower: snow and ice cover
narrower: stratigraphic sections
narrower: topography
related: earth sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atmospheric properties
type: Concept
scope note: Characteristics of the mass of gases surrounding the earth such as composition, temperature, pressure, and humidity.
alternative label: atmosphere properties
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: air temperature
narrower: atmospheric composition
related: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: atmospheric sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

air temperature
type: Concept
alternative label: temperature (air)
broader: atmospheric properties
related: atmospheric sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

atmospheric composition
type: Concept
scope note: Components of the mass of gases that surrounds a planet. The earth's atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and small portions of other gases.
alternative label: air pollution
broader: atmospheric properties
narrower: greenhouse gases
narrower: ozone layer
related: atmospheric sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

greenhouse gases
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: atmospheric composition
related: atmospheric sciences
related: climate change
related: greenhouse effect
related: ozone layer
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ozone layer
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: ozonesphere
broader: atmospheric composition
related: atmospheric sciences
related: greenhouse gases
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earth material properties
type: Concept
scope note: Physical characteristics of rocks and unconsolidated earth materials such as soils and sediments.
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: acid neutralizing potential
narrower: bulk density
narrower: electromagnetic reflectance and emissivity
narrower: magnetism
narrower: permeability
narrower: porosity
narrower: radioactivity
narrower: resistivity
narrower: soil moisture
narrower: soil temperature
related: thermal maturation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

acid neutralizing potential
type: Concept
scope note: Geochemical capacity of earth materials to affect the pH of waters flowing through them.
alternative label: acid neutralizing capacity
alternative label: neutralization potential
broader: earth material properties
related: acid-base accounting
related: mine drainage
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bulk density
type: Concept
scope note: Overall density of an unconsolidated earth material.
broader: earth material properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

electromagnetic reflectance and emissivity
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: infrared reflectance
alternative label: laboratory reflectance
alternative label: laboratory spectra
alternative label: spectral radiance
alternative label: spectral reflectance
broader: earth material properties
related: infrared imaging
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetism
type: Concept
scope note: Strength and orientation of the permanent magnetic field in a given sample of an earth material
broader: earth material properties
narrower: magnetic susceptibility
narrower: remanent magnetism
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetic susceptibility
type: Concept
scope note: Degree to which a rock type or other earth material can acquire and retain the orientation and intensity of an applied magnetic field.
broader: magnetism
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

remanent magnetism
type: Concept
scope note: Magnetic characteristic of rocks and deposits reflective of the earth's magnetic field at the time of the deposit's formation.
alternative label: natural remanent magnetism
broader: magnetism
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

permeability
type: Concept
scope note: The ability of fluids to pass through an earth material, typically depending on the connectedness of pore space in the material.
alternative label: soil permeability
broader: earth material properties
related: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
related: percolation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

porosity
type: Concept
scope note: The proportion of open space in a rock or unconsolidated material.
alternative label: interstices
alternative label: soil porosity
broader: earth material properties
related: hydrocarbon reservoir processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

radioactivity
type: Concept
scope note: Release of subatomic particles from earth materials. Generally the energy of these particles is used to determine the chemical elements present.
alternative label: gamma ray emission
broader: earth material properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

resistivity
type: Concept
scope note: Electrical resistance of materials, often measured in boreholes.
broader: earth material properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soil moisture
type: Concept
scope note: Water content of soil and other near-surface unconsolidated earth material
broader: earth material properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soil temperature
type: Concept
scope note: Temperature and temperature gradients in soil and other near-surface unconsolidated earth materials
broader: earth material properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earth structure
type: Concept
scope note: Major interior structural features of the planet earth.
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: core (earth)
narrower: crust (earth)
narrower: mantle (earth)
related: geologic structure
related: structural geology
related: tectonic processes
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

core (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: The superdense center of the earth composed of two layers: a liquid outer layer and a solid inner core of metallic iron-nickel alloy.
broader: earth structure
narrower: inner core (earth)
narrower: outer core (earth)
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

inner core (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: core (earth)
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

outer core (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: Outer zone of the earth's core between the mantle and the inner core.
broader: core (earth)
related: geophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

crust (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: The outermost layer of the earth which is relatively thin, of lower density than the core, and rocky.
broader: earth structure
narrower: lithosphere
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lithosphere
type: Concept
scope note: The solid outer zone of the earth comprising the crust and the upper layer of the mantle.
broader: crust (earth)
narrower: continental lithosphere
narrower: oceanic lithosphere
related: mantle (earth)
related: rocks and deposits
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

continental lithosphere
type: Concept
scope note: The earth's hard, outermost shell comprised of the crust and the upper part of the mantle.
alternative label: craton
broader: lithosphere
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oceanic lithosphere
type: Concept
scope note: The solid outer zone of the earth, covered by seawater, and comprised of the crust and the upper layer of the mantle.
broader: lithosphere
related: ocean characteristics
related: sea-floor characteristics
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mantle (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: earth structure
narrower: asthenosphere
related: geophysics
related: lithosphere
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

asthenosphere
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: mantle (earth)
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic history
type: Concept
scope note: Record (and inferred reconstruction) of the origin and development of the earth since its formation.
alternative label: chronostratigraphy
alternative label: geohistory
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: earth history
related: biostratigraphy
related: geology
related: lithostratigraphy
related: paleontology
related: paleoseismology
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

earth history
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: geologic history
related: geochemistry
related: geology
related: tectonophysics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic structure
type: Concept
scope note: General position of rocks in an area, and geometrical relationships among rocks.
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: foliation (geologic)
narrower: lineation (geologic)
narrower: structure contours
related: deformation (geologic)
related: earth structure
related: geologic maps
related: inverse modeling
related: stratigraphic sections
related: structural geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

foliation (geologic)
type: Concept
scope note: The property of rocks or glaciers splitting into thin layers or plates due to the orientation of crystals and dynamic movement.
broader: geologic structure
related: glaciation
related: structural geology
related: tectonic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lineation (geologic)
type: Concept
scope note: Linear topographic feature on the earth's surface or in rocks.
alternative label: lineaments
broader: geologic structure
related: structural geology
related: tectonic processes
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

structure contours
type: Concept
scope note: Gridding and contouring lines drawn on geologic maps to depict boundaries of structural features.
alternative label: depth-to maps
broader: geologic structure
related: structural geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gravitational field (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: gravity
alternative label: gravity anomaly maps
alternative label: gravity field
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: bouguer anomaly
narrower: free-air anomaly
narrower: gravity gradient
narrower: isostatic anomaly
related: geophysics
related: inverse modeling
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bouguer anomaly
type: Concept
scope note: Gravity anomaly corrected to remove the effects of topography using knowledge of the terrain in the area surrounding the measurement station.
broader: gravitational field (earth)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

free-air anomaly
type: Concept
scope note: Gravity anomaly corrected for elevation of the location at which the measurements were made.
broader: gravitational field (earth)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gravity gradient
type: Concept
scope note: Lateral variation of the three-dimensional vector components of gravity, typically measured using airborne sensors.
alternative label: gravity gradiometry
broader: gravitational field (earth)
related: geophysics
related: remote sensing
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

isostatic anomaly
type: Concept
scope note: Gravity anomaly corrected for the effects of low-density rocks underlying mountains.
broader: gravitational field (earth)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lakebed characteristics
type: Concept
scope note: Characteristics of the bottom of inland bodies of water.
alternative label: lake-bed characteristics
alternative label: lake-bottom characteristics
alternative label: lake-floor characteristics
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: lakebed acoustic reflectivity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lakebed acoustic reflectivity
type: Concept
scope note: Acoustic energy received by a sonar system, providing a measure of the roughness of the lakebed.
alternative label: backscatter (lakebed)
broader: lakebed characteristics
related: interferometric sonar
related: multibeam sonar
related: sidescan sonar
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

land surface characteristics
type: Concept
scope note: Features and attributes of earth's land surface.
alternative label: landscape
alternative label: physiography
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: karst
related: geography
related: geomorphology
related: sea-floor characteristics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

karst
type: Concept
scope note: Landscape characterized by dissolution features in carbonate or evaporite terranes, often containing caves and sinkholes.
alternative label: karstic
alternative label: karst topography
broader: land surface characteristics
related: sinkhole formation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnetic field (earth)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: geomagnetic field
alternative label: geomagnetics
alternative label: geomagnetism
alternative label: magnetic anomaly maps
alternative label: magnetic field
alternative label: magnetosphere
broader: earth characteristics
related: geophysics
related: inverse modeling
related: magnetic storms
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean characteristics
type: Concept
scope note: The attributes and process of seas and oceans.
alternative label: ocean mixed-layer depth
alternative label: ocean monitoring
alternative label: oceans
alternative label: ocean surface characteristics
alternative label: sea surface reflectance
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: ocean salinity
narrower: ocean temperature
narrower: sea-floor characteristics
narrower: sea-level change
related: AVHRR
related: marine chemistry
related: marine geophysics
related: oceanic lithosphere
related: ocean processes
related: ocean sciences
related: sea ice concentration
related: surface water (non-marine)
related: water column reflectivity
related: water resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean salinity
type: Concept
scope note: Measure of the percentage of dissolved salts in seawater.
broader: ocean characteristics
related: marine chemistry
related: ocean sciences
related: salinity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ocean temperature
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: temperature (ocean)
broader: ocean characteristics
narrower: sea surface temperature
related: atmospheric sciences
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sea surface temperature
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: sea-surface temperature
alternative label: sst
alternative label: temperature (sea surface)
broader: ocean temperature
related: AVHRR
related: environmental proxies
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sea-floor characteristics
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: ocean bottom characteristics
alternative label: sea floor characteristics
alternative label: seafloor characteristics
broader: ocean characteristics
narrower: sea-floor acoustic reflectivity
related: bathymetry
related: interferometric sonar
related: land surface characteristics
related: marine geology
related: multibeam sonar
related: oceanic lithosphere
related: ocean sciences
related: sidescan sonar
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sea-floor acoustic reflectivity
type: Concept
scope note: Acoustic energy received by a sonar system, providing a measure of the roughness of the sea floor.
alternative label: backscatter (sea floor)
alternative label: sea-floor acoustic backscatter
broader: sea-floor characteristics
related: interferometric sonar
related: multibeam sonar
related: sidescan sonar
related: water column reflectivity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sea-level change
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: sea level change
alternative label: sea level rise
alternative label: sea-level rise
broader: ocean characteristics
related: climatology
related: effects of climate change
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rocks and deposits
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: crystals
alternative label: lithologic maps
alternative label: lithology
alternative label: rock composition
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: fossils
narrower: igneous rocks
narrower: metamorphic rocks
narrower: mineral deposits
narrower: permafrost
narrower: petroleum
narrower: sedimentary rocks
narrower: unconsolidated deposits
related: building stone resources
related: lithosphere
related: meteorites
related: petrography
related: petrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fossils
type: Concept
scope note: Recognizable remains such as bones, shells, leaves, burrows, impressions, or tracks of past life on the earth.
alternative label: index fossils
alternative label: microfossils
broader: rocks and deposits
narrower: ichnofossils
related: biostratigraphy
related: micropaleontology
related: paleontology
related: trilobites
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ichnofossils
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: trace fossils
broader: fossils
related: biostratigraphy
related: paleontology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

igneous rocks
type: Concept
scope note: Rocks formed from melted rock that has cooled and solidified.
broader: rocks and deposits
narrower: plutonic rocks
narrower: volcanic rocks
related: petrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

plutonic rocks
type: Concept
scope note: Rocks formed at considerable depth by crystallization of magma and/or by chemical alteration. They are characteristically medium- to coarse-grained, of granitoid texture.
alternative label: intrusive rocks
alternative label: magma
broader: igneous rocks
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

volcanic rocks
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: lava
alternative label: pyroclastic
alternative label: tuff
alternative label: volcanic ash
broader: igneous rocks
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

metamorphic rocks
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: rocks and deposits
related: metamorphism (geological)
related: petrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mineral deposits
type: Concept
scope note: Deposits in which particular minerals are concentrated, typically noticed and studied if the minerals have economic value.
alternative label: ore deposits
broader: rocks and deposits
related: coal resources
related: mineral resources
related: ore formation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

permafrost
type: Concept
scope note: Rocks and deposits in which the interstitial waters remain perennially frozen.
broader: rocks and deposits
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

petroleum
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: oil spills
broader: rocks and deposits
related: natural gas resources
related: oil resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sedimentary rocks
type: Concept
scope note: Rocks formed by the consolidation of loose, uncemented pieces of sediments.
broader: rocks and deposits
narrower: bedforms
related: petrology
related: sedimentation
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bedforms
type: Concept
scope note: Fluctuations from horizontal layers in sediments or sedimentary rocks made by flow on the beds of alluvial channels.
alternative label: bed forms
broader: sedimentary rocks
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

unconsolidated deposits
type: Concept
scope note: Loosely bound sediments such as sand, gravel, and silt which tend to accumulate in low areas or valleys.
alternative label: alluvium
alternative label: eolian sediments
alternative label: loess
alternative label: sediment geochemistry
alternative label: sediments
alternative label: surficial deposits
broader: rocks and deposits
narrower: clay deposits
narrower: gravel deposits
narrower: mine waste
narrower: sand deposits
narrower: soil horizons
narrower: solid industrial waste material
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

clay deposits
type: Concept
scope note: Fine-grained sedimentary soil deposits, containing hydrated silicas of aluminum, that are plastic and sticky when wet and harden when heated.
broader: unconsolidated deposits
related: economic geology
related: nonmetallic mineral resources
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gravel deposits
type: Concept
scope note: Alluvial accumulations of small unconsolidated rock fragments, such as pebbles and cobbles, used in construction as fill, ground cover, or aggregate for concrete.
broader: unconsolidated deposits
related: economic geology
related: nonmetallic mineral resources
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mine waste
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: mine spoil
alternative label: mine tailings
alternative label: tailing piles
broader: unconsolidated deposits
related: waste treatment and disposal
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sand deposits
type: Concept
scope note: Deposits of loose particles of rock or mineral (sediment) that range in size from 0.0625-2.0 millimeters in diameter.
broader: unconsolidated deposits
related: economic geology
related: nonmetallic mineral resources
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soil horizons
type: Concept
scope note: Layers in soil defined by physical, chemical, biological, or mineralogical properties which vary with depth.
alternative label: A horizon
alternative label: B horizon
alternative label: C horizon
broader: unconsolidated deposits
related: biological soil crusts
related: soil formation
related: soil sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

solid industrial waste material
type: Concept
scope note: Waste solid materials produced by industrial processing of earth materials, not simply material extracted in the search for ores.
broader: unconsolidated deposits
narrower: coal ash
narrower: slag
related: industrial pollution
related: waste treatment and disposal
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coal ash
type: Concept
scope note: Solid waste material remaining from the burning of coal.
alternative label: coal fly ash
broader: solid industrial waste material
related: industrial pollution
related: waste treatment and disposal
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

slag
type: Concept
scope note: Solid waste material produced by the industrial processing of ore materials.
broader: solid industrial waste material
related: industrial pollution
related: waste treatment and disposal
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

snow and ice cover
type: Concept
scope note: Accumulation of snow or ice blanketing land surfaces.
alternative label: cryosphere
alternative label: glaciers
alternative label: ice
alternative label: ice core sampling
alternative label: snowpack
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: sea ice concentration
related: atmospheric and climatic processes
related: glaciation
related: glaciology
related: SSM/I
related: surface water (non-marine)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sea ice concentration
type: Concept
scope note: Proportion of ocean area in a given region that contains or is covered by floating ice.
alternative label: sea-ice concentration
alternative label: sea ice cover
broader: snow and ice cover
related: ocean characteristics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

stratigraphic sections
type: Concept
scope note: Vertical arrangement in layers of rock units whose sequence is used to study the geological history of the strata.
alternative label: geologic sections
alternative label: geologic units
alternative label: sections (geologic)
alternative label: sections (stratigraphic)
alternative label: strata
alternative label: stratum
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: bedrock geologic units
narrower: geologic contacts
narrower: stratigraphic thickness
narrower: surficial geologic units
related: geologic structure
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bedrock geologic units
type: Concept
scope note: Units of consolidated (solid) rock that underlie soils or other unconsolidated materials.
alternative label: basement maps
alternative label: geologic formations
broader: stratigraphic sections
related: geologic maps
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic contacts
type: Concept
scope note: Junctions of two different rock formations varying by type or age of rock, including faults, unconformities, and bedding planes.
alternative label: contacts (geologic)
broader: stratigraphic sections
narrower: unconformities
related: geologic maps
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

unconformities
type: Concept
scope note: The contact between older rocks and younger sedimentary rocks where erosion had removed some of the older rocks before the younger rocks were deposited.
broader: geologic contacts
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

stratigraphic thickness
type: Concept
scope note: Thickness of earth material layers or groups of such layers, often portrayed as isopachs (contours) or gridded data.
alternative label: isopach
alternative label: isopach maps
alternative label: sediment thickness
alternative label: stratigraphic thickness maps
broader: stratigraphic sections
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

surficial geologic units
type: Concept
scope note: Rock units on the earth's surface.
alternative label: surficial geologic maps
broader: stratigraphic sections
related: geologic maps
related: stratigraphy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

topography
type: Concept
scope note: Configuration of the land surface and sea floor.
alternative label: elevation and relief
broader: earth characteristics
narrower: bathymetry
related: geography
related: geomorphology
related: geospatial datasets
related: lidar
related: topographic maps
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bathymetry
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: bathymetry data
alternative label: sea floor topography
alternative label: underwater contours
broader: topography
related: geomorphology
related: interferometric sonar
related: limnology
related: multibeam sonar
related: ocean sciences
related: sea-floor characteristics
related: single-beam echo sounder
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

effects of climate change
type: Concept
scope note: Characteristics and behaviors of organisms and earth systems that are modified as a result of changes in global, regional, or local climate.
alternative label: climate change effects
alternative label: climate effects
alternative label: global change
broader: topics
related: atmospheric sciences
related: climate change
related: ecology
related: ocean acidification
related: ocean sciences
related: sea-level change
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

elements
type: Concept
scope note: Chemical elements and element groups
broader: topics
narrower: chemical element groups
narrower: chemical elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

chemical element groups
type: Concept
scope note: Groups shown at <http://periodic.lanl.gov/>
broader: elements
narrower: actinide series elements
narrower: alkali metal elements
narrower: alkaline earth elements
narrower: halogen elements
narrower: lanthanide series elements
narrower: metal elements
narrower: noble gas elements
narrower: nonmetal elements
narrower: platinum-group elements
narrower: rare earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

actinide series elements
type: Concept
broader: chemical element groups
related: actinium
related: americium
related: berkelium
related: californium
related: curium
related: einsteinium
related: fermium
related: lawrencium
related: mendelevium
related: neptunium
related: nobelium
related: plutonium
related: protactinium
related: thorium
related: uranium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

alkali metal elements
type: Concept
broader: chemical element groups
related: cesium
related: francium
related: hydrogen
related: lithium
related: potassium
related: rubidium
related: sodium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

alkaline earth elements
type: Concept
broader: chemical element groups
related: barium
related: beryllium
related: calcium
related: magnesium
related: radium
related: strontium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

halogen elements
type: Concept
broader: chemical element groups
related: astatine
related: bromine
related: chlorine
related: fluorine
related: iodine
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lanthanide series elements
type: Concept
alternative label: lanthanoid elements
broader: chemical element groups
related: cerium
related: dysprosium
related: erbium
related: europium
related: gadolinium
related: holmium
related: lanthanum
related: lutetium
related: neodymium
related: praseodymium
related: promethium
related: rare earth elements
related: samarium
related: terbium
related: thulium
related: ytterbium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

metal elements
type: Concept
broader: chemical element groups
related: aluminum
related: antimony
related: bismuth
related: bohrium
related: cadmium
related: chromium
related: cobalt
related: copper
related: darmstadtium
related: dubnium
related: gallium
related: germanium
related: gold
related: hafnium
related: hassium
related: indium
related: iridium
related: iron
related: lead
related: manganese
related: meitnerium
related: mercury
related: molybdenum
related: nickel
related: niobium
related: osmium
related: palladium
related: platinum
related: polonium
related: rhenium
related: rhodium
related: ruthenium
related: rutherfordium
related: scandium
related: seaborgium
related: silver
related: tantalum
related: technetium
related: thallium
related: tin
related: titanium
related: tungsten
related: ununnilium
related: ununnubium
related: ununnunium
related: vanadium
related: yttrium
related: zinc
related: zirconium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

noble gas elements
type: Concept
alternative label: inert gases
broader: chemical element groups
related: argon
related: helium
related: krypton
related: neon
related: radon
related: xenon
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nonmetal elements
type: Concept
broader: chemical element groups
related: arsenic
related: boron
related: carbon
related: nitrogen
related: oxygen
related: phosphorus
related: selenium
related: silicon
related: sulfur
related: tellurium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

platinum-group elements
type: Concept
scope note: A group of chemically similar metal elements that tend to occur in the same types of mineral deposits.
alternative label: PGE
alternative label: PGM
alternative label: platinum-group metals
broader: chemical element groups
related: iridium
related: osmium
related: palladium
related: platinum
related: rhodium
related: ruthenium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rare earth elements
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: chemical element groups
related: lanthanide series elements
related: scandium
related: yttrium
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

chemical elements
type: Concept
scope note: Chemical substances distinguished by atomic number. http://periodic.lanl.gov/
broader: elements
narrower: actinium
narrower: aluminum
narrower: americium
narrower: antimony
narrower: argon
narrower: arsenic
narrower: astatine
narrower: barium
narrower: berkelium
narrower: beryllium
narrower: bismuth
narrower: bohrium
narrower: boron
narrower: bromine
narrower: cadmium
narrower: calcium
narrower: californium
narrower: carbon
narrower: cerium
narrower: cesium
narrower: chlorine
narrower: chromium
narrower: cobalt
narrower: copper
narrower: curium
narrower: darmstadtium
narrower: dubnium
narrower: dysprosium
narrower: einsteinium
narrower: erbium
narrower: europium
narrower: fermium
narrower: fluorine
narrower: francium
narrower: gadolinium
narrower: gallium
narrower: germanium
narrower: gold
narrower: hafnium
narrower: hassium
narrower: helium
narrower: holmium
narrower: hydrogen
narrower: indium
narrower: iodine
narrower: iridium
narrower: iron
narrower: krypton
narrower: lanthanum
narrower: lawrencium
narrower: lead
narrower: lithium
narrower: lutetium
narrower: magnesium
narrower: manganese
narrower: meitnerium
narrower: mendelevium
narrower: mercury
narrower: molybdenum
narrower: neodymium
narrower: neon
narrower: neptunium
narrower: nickel
narrower: niobium
narrower: nitrogen
narrower: nobelium
narrower: osmium
narrower: oxygen
narrower: palladium
narrower: phosphorus
narrower: platinum
narrower: plutonium
narrower: polonium
narrower: potassium
narrower: praseodymium
narrower: promethium

actinium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Ac and atomic number 89 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/89.shtml>
alternative label: Ac
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aluminum
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Al and atomic number 13 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/13.shtml>
alternative label: Al
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

americium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Am and atomic number 95 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/95.shtml>
alternative label: Am
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

antimony
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Sb and atomic number 51 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/51.shtml>
alternative label: Sb
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

argon
type: Concept
scope note: Noble gas element with symbol Ar and atomic number 18 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/18.shtml>
alternative label: Ar
broader: chemical elements
related: noble gas elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

arsenic
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol As and atomic number 33 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/33.shtml>
alternative label: As
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

astatine
type: Concept
scope note: Halogen element with symbol At and atomic number 85 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/85.shtml>
alternative label: At
broader: chemical elements
related: halogen elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

barium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkaline earth element with symbol Ba and atomic number 56 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/56.shtml>
alternative label: Ba
broader: chemical elements
related: alkaline earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

berkelium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Bk and atomic number 97 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/97.shtml>
alternative label: Bk
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

beryllium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkaline earth element with symbol Be and atomic number 4 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/4.shtml>
alternative label: Be
broader: chemical elements
related: alkaline earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bismuth
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Bi and atomic number 83 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/83.shtml>
alternative label: Bi
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bohrium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Bh and atomic number 107 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/107.shtml>
alternative label: Bh
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

boron
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol B and atomic number 5 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/5.shtml>
alternative label: B
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bromine
type: Concept
scope note: Halogen element with symbol Br and atomic number 35 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/35.shtml>
alternative label: Br
broader: chemical elements
related: halogen elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

cadmium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Cd and atomic number 48 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/48.shtml>
alternative label: Cd
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

calcium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkaline earth element with symbol Ca and atomic number 20 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/20.shtml>
alternative label: Ca
broader: chemical elements
related: alkaline earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

californium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Cf and atomic number 98 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/98.shtml>
alternative label: Cf
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carbon
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol C and atomic number 6 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/6.shtml>
alternative label: C
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

cerium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Ce and atomic number 58 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/58.shtml>
alternative label: Ce
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

cesium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkali metal element with symbol Cs and atomic number 55 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/55.shtml>
alternative label: Cs
broader: chemical elements
related: alkali metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

chlorine
type: Concept
scope note: Halogen element with symbol Cl and atomic number 17 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/17.shtml>
alternative label: Cl
broader: chemical elements
related: halogen elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

chromium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Cr and atomic number 24 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/24.shtml>
alternative label: Cr
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

cobalt
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Co and atomic number 27 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/27.shtml>
alternative label: Co
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

copper
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Cu and atomic number 29 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/29.shtml>
alternative label: Cu
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

curium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Cm and atomic number 96 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/96.shtml>
alternative label: Cm
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

darmstadtium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Ds and atomic number 110 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/110.shtml>
alternative label: Ds
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dubnium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Db and atomic number 105 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/105.shtml>
alternative label: Db
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dysprosium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Dy and atomic number 66 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/66.shtml>
alternative label: Dy
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

einsteinium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Es and atomic number 99 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/99.shtml>
alternative label: Es
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

erbium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Er and atomic number 68 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/68.shtml>
alternative label: Er
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

europium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Eu and atomic number 63 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/63.shtml>
alternative label: Eu
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fermium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Fm and atomic number 100 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/100.shtml>
alternative label: Fm
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fluorine
type: Concept
scope note: Halogen element with symbol F and atomic number 9 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/9.shtml>
alternative label: F
broader: chemical elements
related: halogen elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

francium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkali metal element with symbol Fr and atomic number 87 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/87.shtml>
alternative label: Fr
broader: chemical elements
related: alkali metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gadolinium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Gd and atomic number 64 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/64.shtml>
alternative label: Gd
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gallium
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Ga and atomic number 31 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/31.shtml>
alternative label: Ga
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

germanium
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Ge and atomic number 32 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/32.shtml>
alternative label: Ge
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gold
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Au and atomic number 79 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/79.shtml>
alternative label: Au
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hafnium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Hf and atomic number 72 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/72.shtml>
alternative label: Hf
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hassium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Hs and atomic number 108 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/108.shtml>
alternative label: Hs
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

helium
type: Concept
scope note: Noble gas element with symbol He and atomic number 2 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/2.shtml>
alternative label: He
broader: chemical elements
related: noble gas elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

holmium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Ho and atomic number 67 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/67.shtml>
alternative label: Ho
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydrogen
type: Concept
scope note: Alkali metal element with symbol H and atomic number 1 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/1.shtml>
alternative label: H
broader: chemical elements
related: alkali metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

indium
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol In and atomic number 49 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/49.shtml>
alternative label: In
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

iodine
type: Concept
scope note: Halogen element with symbol I and atomic number 53 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/53.shtml>
alternative label: I
broader: chemical elements
related: halogen elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

iridium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Ir and atomic number 77 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/77.shtml>
alternative label: Ir
alternative label: irridium
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: platinum-group elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

iron
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/26.shtml>
alternative label: Fe
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

krypton
type: Concept
scope note: Noble gas element with symbol Kr and atomic number 36 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/36.shtml>
alternative label: Kr
broader: chemical elements
related: noble gas elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lanthanum
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol La and atomic number 57 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/57.shtml>
alternative label: La
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lawrencium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Lr and atomic number 103 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/103.shtml>
alternative label: Lr
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lead
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/82.shtml>
alternative label: Pb
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lithium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkali metal element with symbol Li and atomic number 3 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/3.shtml>
alternative label: Li
broader: chemical elements
related: alkali metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lutetium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Lu and atomic number 71 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/71.shtml>
alternative label: Lu
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

magnesium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkaline earth element with symbol Mg and atomic number 12 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/12.shtml>
alternative label: Mg
broader: chemical elements
related: alkaline earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

manganese
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Mn and atomic number 25 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/25.shtml>
alternative label: Mn
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

meitnerium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Mt and atomic number 109 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/109.shtml>
alternative label: Mt
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mendelevium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Md and atomic number 101 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/101.shtml>
alternative label: Md
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mercury
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/80.shtml>
alternative label: Hg
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

molybdenum
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Mo and atomic number 42 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/42.shtml>
alternative label: Mo
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

neodymium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Nd and atomic number 60 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/60.shtml>
alternative label: Nd
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

neon
type: Concept
scope note: Noble gas element with symbol Ne and atomic number 10 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/10.shtml>
alternative label: Ne
broader: chemical elements
related: noble gas elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

neptunium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Np and atomic number 93 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/93.shtml>
alternative label: Np
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nickel
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Ni and atomic number 28 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/28.shtml>
alternative label: Ni
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

niobium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Nb and atomic number 41 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/41.shtml>
alternative label: columbium
alternative label: Nb
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nitrogen
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol N and atomic number 7 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/7.shtml>
alternative label: N
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nobelium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol No and atomic number 102 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/102.shtml>
alternative label: No
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

osmium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Os and atomic number 76 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/76.shtml>
alternative label: Os
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: platinum-group elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oxygen
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol O and atomic number 8 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/8.shtml>
alternative label: O
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

palladium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Pd and atomic number 46 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/46.shtml>
alternative label: Pd
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: platinum-group elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

phosphorus
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol P and atomic number 15 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/15.shtml>
alternative label: P
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

platinum
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Pt and atomic number 78 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/78.shtml>
alternative label: Pt
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: platinum-group elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

plutonium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Pu and atomic number 94 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/94.shtml>
alternative label: Pu
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

polonium
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Po and atomic number 84 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/84.shtml>
alternative label: Po
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

potassium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkali metal element with symbol K and atomic number 19 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/19.shtml>
alternative label: K
broader: chemical elements
related: alkali metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

praseodymium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Pr and atomic number 59 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/59.shtml>
alternative label: Pr
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

promethium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Pm and atomic number 61 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/61.shtml>
alternative label: Pm
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

protactinium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Pa and atomic number 91 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/91.shtml>
alternative label: Pa
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

radium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkaline earth element with symbol Ra and atomic number 88 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/88.shtml>
alternative label: Ra
broader: chemical elements
related: alkaline earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

radon
type: Concept
scope note: Noble gas element with symbol Rn and atomic number 86 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/86.shtml>
alternative label: Rn
broader: chemical elements
related: noble gas elements
related: toxic radionuclide contamination
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rhenium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Re and atomic number 75 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/75.shtml>
alternative label: Re
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rhodium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Rh and atomic number 45 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/45.shtml>
alternative label: Rh
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: platinum-group elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rubidium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkali metal element with symbol Rb and atomic number 37 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/37.shtml>
alternative label: Rb
broader: chemical elements
related: alkali metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ruthenium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Ru and atomic number 44 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/44.shtml>
alternative label: Ru
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: platinum-group elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

rutherfordium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Rf and atomic number 104 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/104.shtml>
alternative label: Rf
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

samarium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Sm and atomic number 62 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/62.shtml>
alternative label: Sm
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

scandium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Sc and atomic number 21 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/21.shtml>
alternative label: Sc
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: rare earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

seaborgium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Sg and atomic number 106 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/106.shtml>
alternative label: Sg
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

selenium
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol Se and atomic number 34 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/34.shtml>
alternative label: Se
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

silicon
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol si and atomic number 14 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/14.shtml>
alternative label: Si
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

silver
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Ag and atomic number 47 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/47.shtml>
alternative label: Ag
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sodium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkali metal element with symbol Na and atomic number 11 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/11.shtml>
alternative label: Na
broader: chemical elements
related: alkali metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

strontium
type: Concept
scope note: Alkaline earth element with symbol Sr and atomic number 38 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/38.shtml>
alternative label: Sr
broader: chemical elements
related: alkaline earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sulfur
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol S and atomic number 16 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/16.shtml>
alternative label: S
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tantalum
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Ta and atomic number 73 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/73.shtml>
alternative label: Ta
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

technetium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Tc and atomic number 43 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/43.shtml>
alternative label: Tc
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tellurium
type: Concept
scope note: Nonmetal element with symbol Te and atomic number 52 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/52.shtml>
alternative label: Te
broader: chemical elements
related: nonmetal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

terbium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Tb and atomic number 65 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/65.shtml>
alternative label: Tb
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

thallium
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Tl and atomic number 81 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/81.shtml>
alternative label: Tl
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

thorium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol Th and atomic number 90 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/90.shtml>
alternative label: Th
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

thulium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Tm and atomic number 69 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/69.shtml>
alternative label: Tm
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tin
type: Concept
scope note: Metalloid element with symbol Sn and atomic number 50 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/50.shtml>
alternative label: Sn
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

titanium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Ti and atomic number 22 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/22.shtml>
alternative label: Ti
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tungsten
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol W and atomic number 74 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/74.shtml>
alternative label: W
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ununnilium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Uuu and atomic number 111 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/111.shtml>
alternative label: Uuu
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ununnubium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Uub and atomic number 113 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/113.shtml>
alternative label: Uub
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ununnunium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Uun and atomic number 112 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/112.shtml>
alternative label: Uun
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

uranium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (actinide series) element with symbol U and atomic number 92 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/92.shtml>
alternative label: U
broader: chemical elements
related: actinide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vanadium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol V and atomic number 23 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/23.shtml>
alternative label: V
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

xenon
type: Concept
scope note: Noble gas element with symbol Xe and atomic number 54 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/54.shtml>
alternative label: Xe
broader: chemical elements
related: noble gas elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ytterbium
type: Concept
scope note: Rare earth (lanthanide series) element with symbol Yb and atomic number 70 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/70.shtml>
alternative label: Yb
broader: chemical elements
related: lanthanide series elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

yttrium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Y and atomic number 39 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/39.shtml>
alternative label: Y
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
related: rare earth elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

zinc
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Zn and atomic number 30 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/30.shtml>
alternative label: Zn
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

zirconium
type: Concept
scope note: Metal element with symbol Zr and atomic number 40 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/40.shtml>
alternative label: Zr
broader: chemical elements
related: metal elements
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

field monitoring stations
type: Concept
scope note: Locations where USGS scientists or their collaborators make measurements of natural phenomena.
alternative label: benchmarks
alternative label: field stations
alternative label: seismic monitoring stations
alternative label: stream gaging stations
broader: topics
related: field inventory and monitoring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hazards
type: Concept
scope note: Potential dangers from both natural processes (e.g., earthquakes, floods, and climate change) and human impacts on the environment.
alternative label: catastrophes
alternative label: coastal hazards
alternative label: disasters
alternative label: earthquake hazards
alternative label: emergency management resources
alternative label: environmental hazards
alternative label: geologic hazards
alternative label: harmful algal blooms
alternative label: ocean hazards
broader: topics
related: algal blooms
related: contamination and pollution
related: desertification
related: droughts
related: earthquakes
related: ecotoxicology
related: fires
related: floods
related: human impacts
related: impact cratering
related: landslides
related: liquefaction
related: magnetic storms
related: mining hazards
related: scour
related: social sciences
related: storms
related: tsunamis
related: volcanic activity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

health and disease
type: Concept
scope note: 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)'.
alternative label: disease
alternative label: nutrition
broader: topics
narrower: disease vectors
narrower: environmental health (human)
narrower: wildlife disease
narrower: zoonotic diseases
related: bacteriology
related: endocrinology
related: histology
related: immunology
related: life sciences
related: parasitology
related: pathology
related: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

disease vectors
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms, such as insects, that transmit pathogens from one host to another.
broader: health and disease
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

environmental health (human)
type: Concept
scope note: Effects of the environment on human health.
alternative label: disease (human)
alternative label: health (human)
alternative label: human disease
alternative label: human health
broader: health and disease
narrower: human environmental safety
related: human impacts
related: social sciences
related: toxic radionuclide contamination
related: toxic trace element contamination
related: virology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

human environmental safety
type: Concept
scope note: Monitoring and managing potentially harmful factors in the environment for human safety.
alternative label: safety issues (human)
broader: environmental health (human)
related: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wildlife disease
type: Concept
scope note: Includes viral, bacterial, and fungal infections as well as exposure of organisms to dangerous chemicals or toxic substances.
broader: health and disease
narrower: avian influenza
narrower: chronic wasting disease
narrower: white-nose syndrome
related: anatomical deformities
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

avian influenza
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: avian flu
alternative label: bird flu
alternative label: H5N1
alternative label: HPAI
broader: wildlife disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

chronic wasting disease
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: CWD
broader: wildlife disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

white-nose syndrome
type: Concept
scope note: Disease affecting hibernating bats caused by a white fungus infecting the skin of the muzzle, ears, and wings
alternative label: WNS
broader: wildlife disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

zoonotic diseases
type: Concept
scope note: Diseases of animals that can be communicated to humans
alternative label: zoonoses
alternative label: zoonosis
broader: health and disease
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

human impacts
type: Concept
scope note: The effects, intentional or unintentional, beneficial or harmful, direct or indirect, which human activities have upon the environment and living things.
broader: topics
narrower: abandoned mines and quarries
narrower: deforestation
narrower: dredging
narrower: land use change
narrower: mining hazards
narrower: overfishing
narrower: overgrazing
narrower: waste treatment and disposal
related: acid deposition
related: contamination and pollution
related: ecology
related: ecotoxicology
related: environmental health (human)
related: fires
related: hazards
related: invasive species
related: social sciences
related: subsidence
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

abandoned mines and quarries
type: Concept
scope note: Mines and quarries that have been abandoned and may expose harmful chemicals to the environment.
broader: human impacts
related: industrial pollution
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

deforestation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: human impacts
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dredging
type: Concept
scope note: Removal of sediments from water bodies to aid navigation or to transfer material to another location.
broader: human impacts
related: beach nourishment
related: hydraulic engineering
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

land use change
type: Concept
scope note: Effect of changing land use patterns on ecological systems.
alternative label: urbanization
broader: human impacts
narrower: habitat fragmentation
related: desertification
related: ecology
related: geography
related: land use and land cover
related: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

habitat fragmentation
type: Concept
scope note: Disruption of once-continuous natural habitats by human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, resource extraction, and the construction of roads, railways, fences, and pipelines.
broader: land use change
related: habitat alteration and disturbance
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mining hazards
type: Concept
scope note: Dangerous conditions which result from the extraction of naturally occurring mineral deposits. Includes tunnel collapses, fires, and explosions.
broader: human impacts
related: engineering sciences
related: hazards
related: mine drainage
related: social sciences
related: waste treatment and disposal
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

overfishing
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: over-fishing
broader: human impacts
related: fishery resources
related: ichthyology
related: social sciences
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

overgrazing
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: over-grazing
broader: human impacts
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

waste treatment and disposal
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: nuclear waste repositories
alternative label: radioactive waste repositories
alternative label: sewage disposal
alternative label: waste repositories
alternative label: waste treatment
alternative label: wastewater treatment
broader: human impacts
related: coal ash
related: contamination and pollution
related: ecology
related: mine waste
related: mining hazards
related: slag
related: social sciences
related: solid industrial waste material
related: wastewater discharge
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

information system design and development
type: Concept
scope note: Use for the design and development of information systems. Do not use for general cases in which information systems are part of the activity.
broader: topics
narrower: geographic information systems
narrower: metadata development
related: information sciences
related: information system administration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geographic information systems
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: geographic information systems (GIS)
alternative label: GIS
broader: information system design and development
related: decision support methods
related: geography
related: geolocation measurement
related: geospatial datasets
related: GPS measurement
related: information sciences
related: map coordinate systems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

metadata development
type: Concept
scope note: Use for the development of metadata schemes and applications. Do not use for general cases where metadata are part of the activities.
broader: information system design and development
related: information sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

instrument design and development
type: Concept
scope note: Includes the design and development of software for a particular instrument.
alternative label: tool development
broader: topics
related: engineering sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

land use and land cover
type: Concept
scope note: The vegetation, water, natural surface, and cultural features on the land surface.
broader: topics
related: land use change
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

map coordinate systems
type: Concept
scope note: Systems using sets of numbers combined with geometric nets or grids to specific positions on a map or globe.
alternative label: coordinate systems
alternative label: geographic coordinate systems
alternative label: grid coordinate systems
alternative label: horizontal datums
alternative label: map projections
alternative label: vertical datums
broader: topics
related: cartography
related: geographic information systems
related: geography
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

natural resource exploration
type: Concept
scope note: Techniques for locating deposits or stocks of useful minerals, water, and other resources using reconnaissance or instrumental methods.
alternative label: dowsing
alternative label: exploration
alternative label: exploration seismology
alternative label: prospecting
alternative label: seismic exploration
broader: topics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

natural resource extraction
type: Concept
scope note: Removal of natural materials or properties (such as heat) for use.
alternative label: resource extraction
broader: topics
narrower: enhanced oil recovery
narrower: hydraulic fracturing
narrower: mining and quarrying
narrower: placer deposit mining
narrower: well drilling
related: beach nourishment
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

enhanced oil recovery
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: EOR
alternative label: tertiary oil recovery
broader: natural resource extraction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

hydraulic fracturing
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: fracking
alternative label: hydrofracking
broader: natural resource extraction
related: fluid migration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mining and quarrying
type: Concept
scope note: Extracting mineral deposits from a pit, tunnel, or excavation.
alternative label: quarrying
broader: natural resource extraction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

placer deposit mining
type: Concept
scope note: Extraction of minerals, typically metal ores, from unconsolidated surficial materials such as stream sediments.
broader: natural resource extraction
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

well drilling
type: Concept
scope note: The process of artificial excavation for the purpose of withdrawing water, oil, or gas from underground.
broader: natural resource extraction
related: drilling and coring
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

natural resources
type: Concept
scope note: Stocks of anything naturally occurring that have a beneficial use for man including economic, nutritional, recreational, aesthetic, and other benefits.
broader: topics
narrower: energy resources
narrower: fishery resources
narrower: forest resources
narrower: mineral resources
narrower: soil resources
narrower: water resources
related: earth sciences
related: life sciences
related: natural resource management
related: protected areas
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

energy resources
type: Concept
scope note: Natural resources that are used for heat and power generation, including oil, natural gas, coal, and geothermal energy.
alternative label: energy sources
alternative label: fossil fuels
broader: natural resources
narrower: coal resources
narrower: energy storage
narrower: geothermal resources
narrower: natural gas resources
narrower: oil resources
narrower: wind energy
related: assessment units
related: economic geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coal resources
type: Concept
scope note: Fuel resources such as anthracite, lignite, bituminous coal, or coke, consisting largely of carbonaceous material and formed from fossilized plants.
alternative label: anthracite resources
alternative label: bituminous coal resources
alternative label: lignite resources
alternative label: subbituminous coal resources
broader: energy resources
related: coalbed methane resources
related: economic geology
related: mineral deposits
related: thermal maturation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

energy storage
type: Concept
scope note: Methods and technologies for holding energy to be recovered at a later time.
alternative label: battery storage
alternative label: mechanical energy storage
alternative label: pumped storage hydroelectricity
broader: energy resources
narrower: geologic energy storage
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geologic energy storage
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: aquifer thermal energy storage
alternative label: compressed air storage
alternative label: geothermal energy storage
alternative label: reservoir thermal energy storage
alternative label: underground natural gas storage
broader: energy storage
related: carbon sequestration
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

geothermal resources
type: Concept
scope note: Energy resources related to the earth's internal heat, commonly applied to springs or vents discharging hot water or steam.
broader: energy resources
related: hydrogeology
related: volcanology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

natural gas resources
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: petroleum resources (gas)
broader: energy resources
narrower: coalbed methane resources
narrower: gas hydrate resources
related: economic geology
related: petroleum
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coalbed methane resources
type: Concept
scope note: Resources of methane-rich gas generated and stored in coalbeds.
alternative label: coal bed methane resources
alternative label: methane resources (coalbed)
broader: natural gas resources
related: coal resources
related: economic geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gas hydrate resources
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: methane hydrate resources
broader: natural gas resources
related: economic geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oil resources
type: Concept
scope note: Deposits (pools) of highly valuable liquid hydrocarbons or fossil fuels.
alternative label: petroleum resources (oil)
broader: energy resources
narrower: oil sand resources
narrower: oil shale resources
related: economic geology
related: petroleum
related: thermal maturation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oil sand resources
type: Concept
scope note: Deposits of sandstone or unconsolidated sand containing bitumen that can be extracted as an oil resource.
alternative label: tar sand resources
broader: oil resources
related: economic geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oil shale resources
type: Concept
scope note: Deposits of finely grained sedimentary rock containing kerogen that can be distilled to produce liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons.
broader: oil resources
related: economic geology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wind energy
type: Concept
scope note: Use of prevailing wind as a source of energy to drive turbines or other machinery.
broader: energy resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fishery resources
type: Concept
scope note: The stock of anadromous, marine, and freshwater fish in fishing areas of commercial, subsistence, and recreational value.
broader: natural resources
narrower: commercial fishery resources
narrower: inland fishery resources
narrower: marine fishery resources
narrower: recreational fishery resources
narrower: subsistence fishery resources
related: aquaculture
related: aquatic biology
related: ichthyology
related: marine biology
related: overfishing
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

commercial fishery resources
type: Concept
scope note: Stocks of fish and other seafood used for marketing purposes.
broader: fishery resources
related: aquaculture
related: aquatic biology
related: ichthyology
related: marine biology
related: marine fishery resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

inland fishery resources
type: Concept
scope note: Stocks of fish available to be taken in lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, and other inland bodies of water.
broader: fishery resources
related: aquatic biology
related: ichthyology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

marine fishery resources
type: Concept
scope note: The stock of fisheries located in seas and oceans.
alternative label: coastal fisheries
alternative label: coastal fishing
alternative label: deep sea fisheries
alternative label: deep sea fishing
alternative label: reef fisheries
alternative label: reef fishing
broader: fishery resources
narrower: whaling
related: aquatic biology
related: commercial fishery resources
related: ichthyology
related: marine biology
related: reef ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

whaling
type: Concept
scope note: Taking whales from the ocean for marketing or subsistence purposes.
broader: marine fishery resources
related: marine biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

recreational fishery resources
type: Concept
scope note: The stock of fish and other seafood resources in areas used for recreational fishing.
alternative label: recreational fishing
alternative label: sport fishing
broader: fishery resources
related: aquatic biology
related: ichthyology
related: marine biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

subsistence fishery resources
type: Concept
scope note: The stock of fish taken and eaten by local populations rather than marketed.
broader: fishery resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

forest resources
type: Concept
scope note: Trees and associated vegetation available for human use. Use for timber and other forest resources with economic value.
alternative label: forestry
broader: natural resources
related: botany
related: ecology
related: forest ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mineral resources
type: Concept
scope note: Natural occurrences of useful inorganic elements or compounds.
broader: natural resources
narrower: critical minerals
narrower: metallic mineral resources
narrower: nonmetallic mineral resources
related: assessment units
related: economic geology
related: mineral deposits
related: mineralogy
related: ore formation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

critical minerals
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: critical mineral resources
broader: mineral resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

metallic mineral resources
type: Concept
scope note: Resources from which ductile, malleable, opaque,and reflective metals that are also good heat and electricity conductors can be extracted.
alternative label: metallic ores
alternative label: ore deposits (metallic)
broader: mineral resources
related: economic geology
related: mineralogy
related: nonmetallic mineral resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nonmetallic mineral resources
type: Concept
scope note: Useful mineral deposits that are not metals. Includes materials used for construction, decoration, fuel, and industrial purposes.
alternative label: industrial mineral resources
alternative label: industrial minerals
broader: mineral resources
narrower: barite
narrower: building stone resources
narrower: fluorite
narrower: gem resources
narrower: graphite
related: clay deposits
related: economic geology
related: gravel deposits
related: metallic mineral resources
related: sand deposits
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

barite
type: Concept
scope note: Mineral commodity barium sulfate used in many applications where a high-density non-metallic subsance is needed, such as drilling mud and medical technology.
broader: nonmetallic mineral resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

building stone resources
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: crushed stone
alternative label: dimension stone
broader: nonmetallic mineral resources
related: economic geology
related: rocks and deposits
related: sedimentology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fluorite
type: Concept
scope note: Mineral comodity calcium fluoride used in industrial applications and to produce hydrofluoric acid.
alternative label: fluorspar
broader: nonmetallic mineral resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gem resources
type: Concept
scope note: Deposits of rare minerals prized for their color, durability, sparkle, and clarity when cut and polished and used as ornaments or jewelry.
broader: nonmetallic mineral resources
related: economic geology
related: mineralogy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

graphite
type: Concept
scope note: Mineral commodity composed of carbon arranged in sheet structures used in many ways, most recently in battery technology.
broader: nonmetallic mineral resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

soil resources
type: Concept
scope note: Natural resources of unconsolidated fragmented rock, humus, and mineral matter that cover the surface of the earth.
alternative label: soil pollution
broader: natural resources
narrower: biological soil crusts
related: economic geology
related: soil chemistry
related: soil sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biological soil crusts
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: biocrusts
alternative label: cryptobiotic soil crusts
alternative label: cryptogamic soil crusts
alternative label: microbiotic soil crusts
broader: soil resources
related: community ecology
related: soil horizons
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water resources
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: hydrosphere
alternative label: water pollution
broader: natural resources
narrower: groundwater
narrower: surface water (non-marine)
related: hydrogeology
related: hydrology
related: limnology
related: ocean characteristics
related: produced water
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

groundwater
type: Concept
scope note: All water that exists beneath the land surface, but more commonly applied to water in fully saturated soils and geologic formations.
alternative label: freshwater (ground)
alternative label: ground water
alternative label: ground-water
alternative label: water subsurface
broader: water resources
narrower: groundwater level
related: freshwater ecosystems
related: groundwater flow
related: groundwater quality
related: hydrogeology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

groundwater level
type: Concept
scope note: Depth in a well or aquifer at which groundwater occurs.
alternative label: aquifer level
alternative label: ground-water level
alternative label: potentiometric surface
alternative label: water table
broader: groundwater
narrower: unsaturated zone
related: surface-water level
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

unsaturated zone
type: Concept
scope note: The portion of the subsurface above the ground water table.
alternative label: vadose zone
broader: groundwater level
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

surface water (non-marine)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: freshwater (surface)
broader: water resources
narrower: river systems
narrower: surface-water level
related: floods
related: freshwater ecosystems
related: hydrology
related: limnology
related: ocean characteristics
related: ocean processes
related: snow and ice cover
related: stream discharge
related: streamflow
related: surface water quality
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

river systems
type: Concept
scope note: Long water courses including main streams and tributaries.
alternative label: river ecosystems
broader: surface water (non-marine)
narrower: river reaches
related: hydrology
related: stream discharge
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

river reaches
type: Concept
scope note: Continuous parts of streams between two specified points.
alternative label: reaches (hydraulic)
alternative label: reaches (streams)
broader: river systems
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

surface-water level
type: Concept
scope note: Height of the water surface in a lake, reservoir, or wetland. For water levels in flowing streams, refer to streamflow.
broader: surface water (non-marine)
related: groundwater level
related: streamflow
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
type: Concept
scope note: Used for categories of living organisms that are not taxonomic and that include species from more than one taxonomic group.
broader: topics
narrower: benthos
narrower: biota
narrower: consumers (organisms)
narrower: decomposers
narrower: endangered species
narrower: game species
narrower: genetically engineered organisms
narrower: keystone species
narrower: macroinvertebrates
narrower: microbes
narrower: migratory species
narrower: native species
narrower: nekton
narrower: nonindigenous species
narrower: nuisance species
narrower: parasites
narrower: plankton
narrower: pollinators
narrower: producers (organisms)
narrower: shellfish
narrower: vegetation
narrower: wildlife
related: life sciences
related: organisms
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

benthos
type: Concept
scope note: Animals that live on the bottom of water bodies.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biota
type: Concept
scope note: All living organisms in an area.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

consumers (organisms)
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms unable to produce food from nonliving matter and dependent on ingesting other animals, plants, or particulate organic matter.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
narrower: carnivores
narrower: herbivores
narrower: omnivores
related: ecology
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

carnivores
type: Concept
scope note: Flesh-eating animals.
alternative label: predators
broader: consumers (organisms)
related: ecology
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

herbivores
type: Concept
scope note: Animals that eat chiefly plants or their products, such as seeds, nectar, and fruit.
broader: consumers (organisms)
related: ecology
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

omnivores
type: Concept
scope note: Animals that eat both plant and animal materials.
broader: consumers (organisms)
related: ecology
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

decomposers
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: biogeochemical cycling
related: ecology
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

endangered species
type: Concept
scope note: Plant or animal species reduced to such low numbers of individuals that they are at risk of becoming extinct.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: biodiversity
related: ecological competition
related: ecology
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

game species
type: Concept
scope note: Species of wild animals that are hunted for food or sport.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: vertebrate zoology
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

genetically engineered organisms
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: genetically modified organisms
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

keystone species
type: Concept
scope note: Species whose abundance and ecological role has a dramatic effect on the other species in an ecosystem.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

macroinvertebrates
type: Concept
scope note: Invertebrate animals large enough to be studied without a microscope.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: aquatic biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

microbes
type: Concept
scope note: Microscopic, typically one-celled organisms.
alternative label: microorganisms
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

migratory species
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: anadromous fish
alternative label: diadromous fish
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: animal behavior
related: aquatic biology
related: biogeography
related: ecology
related: marine biology
related: migration (organisms)
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

native species
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms originating in the area where they live.
alternative label: indigenous species
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
narrower: endemic species
related: biodiversity
related: ecology
related: life sciences
related: nonindigenous species
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

endemic species
type: Concept
scope note: Plant and animals species native to and confined to specific geographic areas.
broader: native species
related: biodiversity
related: ecology
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nekton
type: Concept
scope note: Free-swimming aquatic organisms able to move without depending on waves, currents, and tides.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nonindigenous species
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms accidentally or intentionally introduced into areas where they did not previously originate or live.
alternative label: alien species
alternative label: exotic species
alternative label: foreign species
alternative label: introduced species
alternative label: non-indigenous species
alternative label: non-native species
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
narrower: invasive species
related: biodiversity
related: ecology
related: life sciences
related: native species
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

invasive species
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: biological invasions
alternative label: invader species
broader: nonindigenous species
related: biodiversity
related: ecology
related: human impacts
related: life sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nuisance species
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms whose presence or behavior has undesirable effects on human activities.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

parasites
type: Concept
scope note: Symbiotic organisms that are detrimental to the host.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

plankton
type: Concept
scope note: Floating aquatic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) which are often microscopic and drift with the current in lakes, rivers, and oceans.
alternative label: planktonic ecosystems
alternative label: zooplankton
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
narrower: phytoplankton
related: aquatic biology
related: calcareous nannoplankton
related: microbiology
related: phycology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

phytoplankton
type: Concept
scope note: Small, mostly microscopic aquatic plants such as algae and bacteria suspended in water.
broader: plankton
related: calcareous nannoplankton
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

pollinators
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms that aid in the growth and distribution of plants by transferring pollen as a byproduct of their feeding activities.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: ecology
related: entomology
related: ornithology
related: pollination
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

producers (organisms)
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms, chiefly green plants, which use inorganic elements, compounds, and light to produce their food (photosynthesis). They are a source of food for animals.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: botany
related: ecology
related: microbiology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

shellfish
type: Concept
scope note: Aquatic invertebrates with shells, usually mollusks and crustaceans. Includes clams, lobsters, and oysters.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: aquatic biology
related: crustaceans
related: invertebrate zoology
related: mollusks
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vegetation
type: Concept
scope note: Plant life or general plant cover in an area.
alternative label: dendroecology
alternative label: grasses
alternative label: trees
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
narrower: aquatic vegetation
narrower: periphyton
narrower: weeds
related: botany
related: ecology
related: plants (organisms)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aquatic vegetation
type: Concept
scope note: Plants living primarily in or under water.
alternative label: hydrophytes
alternative label: mangroves
alternative label: seagrass
alternative label: seaweeds
broader: vegetation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

periphyton
type: Concept
scope note: A plant assemblage including microbial communities of algae and cyanobacteria living attached to submerged aquatic vegetation.
broader: vegetation
related: algae
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

weeds
type: Concept
scope note: Plants whose presence in an area is undesirable.
broader: vegetation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wildlife
type: Concept
scope note: Undomesticated organisms living in natural settings without dependence on man.
broader: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
related: animals
related: wildlife biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

organisms
type: Concept
scope note: Living individuals that grow, reproduce, and die.
alternative label: biological organisms
broader: topics
narrower: algae
narrower: animals
narrower: archaea
narrower: bacteria
narrower: fungi
narrower: lichens
narrower: plants (organisms)
narrower: protists
narrower: viruses
related: life sciences
related: organism groupings (non-taxonomic)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

algae
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: organisms
narrower: calcareous nannoplankton
narrower: diatoms
narrower: dinoflagellates
related: algal blooms
related: bacteria
related: periphyton
related: phycology
related: protists
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

calcareous nannoplankton
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms of the kingdom Protista that normally produce coccoliths, microscopic structures of calcite (calcium carbonate), during some phase of their life cycle.
alternative label: coccoliths
broader: algae
related: micropaleontology
related: phycology
related: phytoplankton
related: plankton
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

diatoms
type: Concept
scope note: Microscopic, single-celled plants of the class Bacillariophyceae that have siliceous shells called frustules, and which grow in both marine and fresh water.
broader: algae
related: micropaleontology
related: phycology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dinoflagellates
type: Concept
scope note: Single-celled planktonic organisms, chiefly marine, characterized by twirling motion and whip-like flagella with affinities to both plants and animals.
broader: algae
related: micropaleontology
related: phycology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

animals
type: Concept
scope note: 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).
alternative label: fauna
broader: organisms
narrower: invertebrates
narrower: vertebrates
related: wildlife
related: zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

invertebrates
type: Concept
scope note: Animals having no backbone or spinal column, such as insects, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and similar organisms.
broader: animals
narrower: arthropods
narrower: bryozoans and brachiopods
narrower: coelenterates
narrower: conodonts
narrower: echinoderms
narrower: mollusks
narrower: sponges
narrower: tunicates
narrower: worms
related: invertebrate paleontology
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

arthropods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: invertebrates
narrower: arachnids
narrower: crustaceans
narrower: horseshoe crabs
narrower: insects
narrower: trilobites
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

arachnids
type: Concept
scope note: Carnivorous arthropods, chiefly terrestrial, of the class Arachnida including spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks, false scorpions, palpigrades, solifugids, and harvestmen.
alternative label: false scorpions
alternative label: mites
alternative label: spiders
alternative label: ticks
broader: arthropods
related: entomology
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

crustaceans
type: Concept
scope note: Arthropods of class Crustacea, such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp, prawns, or barnacles, with hard shells (exoskeleton) and segmented bodies with pairs of jointed appendages.
broader: arthropods
narrower: ostracodes
related: invertebrate zoology
related: shellfish
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ostracodes
type: Concept
scope note: Small aquatic crustaceans belonging to the subclass Ostracoda, characterized by a bivalve shell.
alternative label: Ostracoda
alternative label: ostracods
broader: crustaceans
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

horseshoe crabs
type: Concept
scope note: Marine arthropods, usually classed as Merostomata, which have a broad crescent (horseshoe-shaped) cephalothorax.
broader: arthropods
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

insects
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: bugs
broader: arthropods
narrower: bees and wasps
narrower: butterflies and moths
related: entomology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bees and wasps
type: Concept
alternative label: bees
alternative label: wasps
broader: insects
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

butterflies and moths
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: lepidoptera
alternative label: moths
broader: insects
related: entomology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

trilobites
type: Concept
scope note: Extinct marine arthropods of the class Trilobita with segmented bodies and jointed appendages found as Paleozoic fossils in many parts of the world.
broader: arthropods
related: fossils
related: invertebrate paleontology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bryozoans and brachiopods
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: brachiopods
alternative label: ectoprocta
broader: invertebrates
related: invertebrate paleontology
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coelenterates
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: corals
alternative label: jellyfish
alternative label: sea anemones
broader: invertebrates
related: invertebrate zoology
related: reef ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

conodonts
type: Concept
scope note: 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).
broader: invertebrates
related: invertebrate paleontology
related: micropaleontology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

echinoderms
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: invertebrates
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mollusks
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: molluscs
broader: invertebrates
related: invertebrate zoology
related: shellfish
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sponges
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: invertebrates
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tunicates
type: Concept
scope note: Marine organisms of the subphylum tunicata of the phylum chordata.
alternative label: sea squirts
alternative label: urochordates
broader: invertebrates
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

worms
type: Concept
scope note: Invertebrate animals of the phyla Annelida, Nematoda, Memertea, or Plathyhelminthes, that have long thin rounded or flat bodies without obvious appendages.
broader: invertebrates
narrower: flatworms
narrower: roundworms
narrower: segmented worms
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

flatworms
type: Concept
scope note: Soft flat worms of the phylum Platyhelminthes, which are often parasitic. Includes tapeworms and flukes.
broader: worms
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

roundworms
type: Concept
scope note: Worms of the phylum Nematoda, often parasitic, such as hookworms and pinworms, having soft cylindrical bodies without segments.
alternative label: nematodes
broader: worms
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

segmented worms
type: Concept
scope note: Worms belonging to the phylum Annelida, with soft bodies divided into segments and distinct heads. Includes leeches, earthworms, and marine worms.
alternative label: annelids
broader: worms
related: invertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vertebrates
type: Concept
scope note: Animals possessing a vertebral column or backbone including birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.
broader: animals
narrower: amphibians
narrower: birds
narrower: fish
narrower: mammals
narrower: reptiles
related: vertebrate paleontology
related: vertebrate zoology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

amphibians
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: vertebrates
related: herpetology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

birds
type: Concept
scope note: Land vertebrates belonging to the class Aves with warm blood, feathers, wings, and reproduction characterized by egg laying.
alternative label: shorebirds
alternative label: water birds
alternative label: waterfowl
broader: vertebrates
related: ornithology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fish
type: Concept
scope note: Cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates with fins for swimming, gills for breathing, and usually scales.
alternative label: anadromous fish
alternative label: diadromous fish
alternative label: fishes
alternative label: fish inventories
broader: vertebrates
related: ichthyology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mammals
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: vertebrates
narrower: bats
narrower: bears
narrower: walruses
related: mammalogy
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bats
type: Concept
scope note: Small flying mammals of the order Chiroptera.
broader: mammals
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bears
type: Concept
scope note: Large wild mammals of the family Ursidae. Includes black and brown (grizzly) bears and polar bears.
alternative label: black bears
alternative label: grizzly bears
alternative label: polar bears
broader: mammals
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

walruses
type: Concept
alternative label: walrus
broader: mammals
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

reptiles
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: vertebrates
narrower: dinosaurs
related: herpetology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dinosaurs
type: Concept
scope note: Extinct reptiles, often gigantic, chiefly terrestrial, carnivorous or herbivorous, that lived during the Mesozoic era.
broader: reptiles
related: vertebrate paleontology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

archaea
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: archaebacteria
broader: organisms
related: microbiology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

bacteria
type: Concept
scope note: Single celled microorganisms, beneficial or pathogenic, without a nuclear membrane.
broader: organisms
related: algae
related: microbiology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

fungi
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: organisms
related: mycology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

lichens
type: Concept
scope note: Plants that are composed of a fungus and an alga growing together symbiotically and often found growing on rocks or tree trunks.
broader: organisms
related: mycology
related: phycology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

plants (organisms)
type: Concept
scope note: Organisms which belong to the plant kingdom. Commonly multicellular, they produce food through photosynthesis.
alternative label: flora
broader: organisms
narrower: nonvascular plants
narrower: vascular plants
related: botany
related: palynology
related: vegetation
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nonvascular plants
type: Concept
scope note: Simple plants which lack conducting tissues known as vascular bundles, a group of specialized cells made up of xylem and phloem.
alternative label: non-vascular plants
broader: plants (organisms)
narrower: liverworts and hornworts
narrower: mosses
related: botany
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

liverworts and hornworts
type: Concept
scope note: Simple green land plants of the phyla Bryophyta with leaves and a stem and always without roots.
broader: nonvascular plants
related: botany
related: mosses
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mosses
type: Concept
scope note: Simple green land plants, member of the phyla Bryophyta, along with liverworts and hornworts. They have leaves and a stem, but always lack roots.
broader: nonvascular plants
related: botany
related: liverworts and hornworts
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

vascular plants
type: Concept
scope note: Plants which have a specialized conductive system. Includes xylem and phloem: club mosses, ferns, cycads, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.
broader: plants (organisms)
narrower: ferns and fern allies
narrower: flowering plants
narrower: gymnosperms
related: botany
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ferns and fern allies
type: Concept
scope note: Spore-bearing, vascular plants having leaves known as fronds.
broader: vascular plants
related: botany
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

flowering plants
type: Concept
scope note: Plants known as angiosperms which periodically produce flowers which have various parts including sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.
broader: vascular plants
related: botany
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

gymnosperms
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: vascular plants
related: botany
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

protists
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: foraminifera
alternative label: protozoans
alternative label: radiolaria
broader: organisms
related: algae
related: environmental proxies
related: microbiology
related: micropaleontology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

viruses
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: organisms
related: virology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

planetary bodies
type: Concept
scope note: Large celestial masses of rock, metal, or gas orbiting around a star. Use for extraterrestrial bodies.
broader: topics
narrower: meteorites
related: impact cratering
related: planetary sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

meteorites
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: bolides
alternative label: chondrites
alternative label: meteors
broader: planetary bodies
related: rocks and deposits
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

population and community ecology
type: Concept
scope note: Interactions of a single species (population) or an association of different species (community) occupying a particular region, including their biotic and abiotic environments.
alternative label: life history
alternative label: population energetics
alternative label: radar ecology
broader: topics
narrower: animal behavior
narrower: biodiversity
narrower: biogeography
narrower: community ecology
narrower: ecosystems
narrower: habitats
narrower: phenology
narrower: population dynamics
narrower: symbiosis
related: biological population management
related: ecological processes
related: ecology
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: natural resource management
related: relative abundance analysis
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

animal behavior
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: population and community ecology
related: ecology
related: ethology
related: migration (organisms)
related: migratory species
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biodiversity
type: Concept
scope note: The variety in form, genetics, and ecological roles of organisms within a specific geographic area.
alternative label: biological diversity
alternative label: diversity (biological)
broader: population and community ecology
narrower: ecosystem diversity
narrower: genetic diversity
narrower: species diversity
related: biogeography
related: ecological competition
related: ecology
related: endangered species
related: endemic species
related: invasive species
related: life sciences
related: native species
related: nonindigenous species
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecosystem diversity
type: Concept
scope note: Measure of the variety of biological communities and habitats important for ecological stability.
broader: biodiversity
narrower: environmental DNA
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

environmental DNA
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: eDNA
broader: ecosystem diversity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

genetic diversity
type: Concept
scope note: Measure of the variety of genes within a population pool in a given area.
alternative label: conservation genetics
broader: biodiversity
narrower: genotype
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

genotype
type: Concept
scope note: Genetic characteristics of an individual organism.
broader: genetic diversity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

species diversity
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: biodiversity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

biogeography
type: Concept
scope note: The study of the geographic distributions of plants and animals.
alternative label: animal distribution
alternative label: distribution of animals
alternative label: distribution of plants
alternative label: distribution of species
alternative label: flyways
alternative label: plant distribution
alternative label: species distribution
alternative label: species distribution maps
alternative label: species geographic range
broader: population and community ecology
related: biodiversity
related: ecology
related: ecosystem monitoring
related: migration (organisms)
related: migratory species
related: population dynamics
related: wildlife population management
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

community ecology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the relationships of species that interact in a common area.
broader: population and community ecology
related: biological soil crusts
related: ecological competition
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: The interacting populations of plants, animals, and microorganisms occupying a certain area, and their relationship to the environment.
alternative label: biosphere
alternative label: clines
alternative label: ecoclines
alternative label: ecotones
broader: population and community ecology
narrower: aquatic ecosystems
narrower: terrestrial ecosystems
narrower: wetland ecosystems
related: ecology
related: ecosystem functions
related: ecosystem services valuation
related: habitats
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aquatic ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Communities of interdependent organisms living primarily in or on water.
alternative label: planktonic ecosystems
broader: ecosystems
narrower: benthic ecosystems
narrower: estuarine ecosystems
narrower: freshwater ecosystems
narrower: marine ecosystems
related: aquatic biology
related: coastal ecosystems
related: ecology
related: limnology
related: marine biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

benthic ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biologic communities and habitats at the bottom of lakes, streams, or oceans.
broader: aquatic ecosystems
related: aquatic biology
related: ecology
related: limnology
related: marine biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

estuarine ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: estuarine ecosystem functions
broader: aquatic ecosystems
related: aquatic biology
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

freshwater ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities and habitats that exist in lakes, rivers, ponds, and other bodies of water that are not salty.
alternative label: lake ecosystems
alternative label: pond ecosystems
alternative label: river ecosystems
alternative label: spring ecosystems
alternative label: stream ecosystems
broader: aquatic ecosystems
related: aquatic biology
related: ecology
related: groundwater
related: limnology
related: surface water (non-marine)
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

marine ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities composed of plants and animals living primarily in or on seawater.
broader: aquatic ecosystems
narrower: reef ecosystems
related: aquatic biology
related: ecology
related: marine biology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

reef ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities formed by the skeletons of calcareous seawater organisms, usually corals.
alternative label: coral reef ecosystems
broader: marine ecosystems
related: coelenterates
related: ecology
related: marine biology
related: marine fishery resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

terrestrial ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Communities of living organisms in a specific geographical location which exist primarily on land and not in water.
alternative label: rangeland ecosystems
broader: ecosystems
narrower: coastal ecosystems
narrower: desert ecosystems
narrower: forest ecosystems
narrower: grassland ecosystems
narrower: island ecosystems
narrower: shrubland ecosystems
narrower: tundra ecosystems
related: ecology
related: state and transition modeling
related: wetland ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

coastal ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities and habitats within the narrow zones of land between the margin of oceans or seas and large landmasses.
alternative label: littoral ecosystems
broader: terrestrial ecosystems
related: aquatic ecosystems
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

desert ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities and habitats in arid areas with little precipitation, sparse, highly adapted vegetation, and extreme temperatures.
broader: terrestrial ecosystems
related: desertification
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

forest ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities and habitats in geographic areas with dense growths of trees and associated vegetation.
alternative label: arboreal ecosystems
alternative label: coniferous forests ecosystems
alternative label: deciduous forest ecosystems
alternative label: mixed forest ecosystems
alternative label: taiga ecosystems
broader: terrestrial ecosystems
related: ecology
related: forest resources
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

grassland ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities and habitats with ground cover of grasses and other herbaceous plants, but few trees. Examples include prairies, meadows, and savannas.
alternative label: mixed grass ecosystems
alternative label: plains ecosystems
alternative label: prairie ecosystems
alternative label: short grass ecosystems
alternative label: tall grass ecosystems
broader: terrestrial ecosystems
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

island ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Communities of living organisms on islands.
alternative label: insular ecology
broader: terrestrial ecosystems
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

shrubland ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological land communities and habitats with sparse, low-growing vegetation.
alternative label: scrubland ecosystems
broader: terrestrial ecosystems
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

tundra ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: Biological communities and habitats located in the treeless plains of Arctic regions where the subsoil is permanently frozen.
broader: terrestrial ecosystems
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wetland ecosystems
type: Concept
scope note: 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>.
alternative label: marsh ecosystems
alternative label: marshland ecosystems
alternative label: riparian ecosystems
broader: ecosystems
related: aquatic biology
related: ecology
related: terrestrial ecosystems
related: wetland functions
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

habitats
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: population and community ecology
related: ecosystems
related: habitat suitability indices
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

phenology
type: Concept
scope note: Study of the response of organisms to seasonal or interannual changes in the environment.
broader: population and community ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

population dynamics
type: Concept
scope note: Changes in the size, composition, or structure of aggregates of single or multiple species in a specific area over time.
broader: population and community ecology
related: algal blooms
related: biogeography
related: ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

symbiosis
type: Concept
scope note: An intimate, prolonged association between two or more organisms of different species that may or may not benefit each member.
alternative label: commensalism
alternative label: mutualism
alternative label: parasitism
broader: population and community ecology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

recreation
type: Concept
scope note: Pursuit of leisure-time activities, typically out of doors.
alternative label: biking
alternative label: bird watching
alternative label: boating
alternative label: camping
alternative label: canoeing
alternative label: caving
alternative label: climbing
alternative label: fishing (recreational)
alternative label: hiking
alternative label: hunting
alternative label: kayaking
broader: topics
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

scientific careers
type: Concept
scope note: Professions in which people carry out or support scientific research or monitoring.
alternative label: careers in science
alternative label: scientists-at-work photographs
broader: topics
related: earth sciences
related: engineering sciences
related: information sciences
related: life sciences
related: planetary sciences
related: social sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water properties
type: Concept
scope note: Measurable physical and chemical characteristics of water from different sources.
broader: topics
narrower: dissolved gases
narrower: dissolved metals
narrower: dissolved organic compounds
narrower: nutrient content (water)
narrower: oxygen content (water)
narrower: salinity
narrower: sound velocity
narrower: suspended material (water)
narrower: water column reflectivity
narrower: water hardness
narrower: water pH
narrower: water temperature
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
related: water quality
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dissolved gases
type: Concept
scope note: Gases such as ammonia, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide in solution measured in a water sample.
broader: water properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dissolved metals
type: Concept
scope note: Metal elements in solution, of concern in studies of hazards such as mine drainage and of water resource usability.
broader: water properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

dissolved organic compounds
type: Concept
scope note: Organic compounds present in water, typically as anthropogenic contaminants including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and herbicides.
broader: water properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

nutrient content (water)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: nitrogen content
alternative label: phosphorus content
broader: water properties
related: hydrology
related: nutrient cycling
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

oxygen content (water)
type: Concept
scope note: Measurement of the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water, which is an important indicator of the condition of a water body.
alternative label: anoxia
alternative label: dissolved oxygen
alternative label: hypoxia
broader: water properties
related: eutrophication
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

salinity
type: Concept
scope note: Measure of the concentration of salts dissolved in a solution.
alternative label: chloride concentration
broader: water properties
related: hydrology
related: ocean salinity
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

sound velocity
type: Concept
scope note: Estimates of the velocity of sound in water, indexed by depth at a specific location, usually calculated from other water properties.
alternative label: sound velocity profiles
broader: water properties
related: interferometric sonar
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

suspended material (water)
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: suspended sediment concentration
alternative label: suspended-sediment concentration
broader: water properties
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water column reflectivity
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: backscatter (water column)
alternative label: water column acoustic reflectivity
alternative label: water column optical reflectivity
broader: water properties
related: ocean characteristics
related: sea-floor acoustic reflectivity
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water hardness
type: Concept
scope note: Indicator of the concentration of alkaline salts in water, mainly calcium and magnesium, as a measure of water quality.
alternative label: hardness (water)
broader: water properties
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water pH
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: pH (water)
broader: water properties
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water temperature
type: Concept
scope note: The degrees of heat of water from a given source at a specific time.
alternative label: temperature (water)
broader: water properties
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water quality
type: Concept
scope note: The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose.
alternative label: dissolved constituents
alternative label: dissolved contaminants
alternative label: water-quality
alternative label: water-quality data
broader: topics
narrower: groundwater quality
narrower: marine water quality
narrower: surface water quality
related: aquatic biology
related: contamination and pollution
related: drinking water use
related: hydrology
related: PFAS
related: water chemistry
related: water properties
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

groundwater quality
type: Concept
scope note: Fitness of subsurface water for use based on its composition and properties.
alternative label: ground-water quality
broader: water quality
related: groundwater
related: hydrology
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

marine water quality
type: Concept
scope note: Observed intrinsic characteristics of marine waters affecting their ability to support life or facilitate biological processes such as waste decomposition.
alternative label: ocean water quality
broader: water quality
related: hydrology
related: marine chemistry
related: ocean sciences
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

surface water quality
type: Concept
scope note: Chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water in lakes, rivers, or streams related to its fitness for use.
broader: water quality
related: hydrology
related: limnology
related: surface water (non-marine)
related: water chemistry
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water supply and demand
type: Concept
scope note: The quantities of water resources in an area that are easily available and the amount of water that is needed for all uses.
alternative label: water demand
broader: topics
narrower: wastewater discharge
narrower: water budget
narrower: water use
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

wastewater discharge
type: Concept
scope note: Water that is returned or reused after release from a wastewater treatment plant.
alternative label: gray water
alternative label: grey water
alternative label: treated sewage
alternative label: treated wastewater
alternative label: wastewater
broader: water supply and demand
related: hydraulic engineering
related: hydrology
related: waste treatment and disposal
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water budget
type: Concept
scope note: An accounting of the inflow, outflow, and storage changes of water in a hydrologic unit.
alternative label: water balance
broader: water supply and demand
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

water use
type: Concept
scope note: Water withdrawal for a specific purpose, such as domestic use, irrigation, or industrial processing.
alternative label: consumptive use (water)
alternative label: drawdown
alternative label: water utilities
broader: water supply and demand
narrower: aquaculture water use
narrower: domestic well water use
narrower: industrial water use
narrower: irrigation
narrower: mining water use
narrower: power generation water use
narrower: public supply water use
related: hydraulic engineering
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

aquaculture water use
type: Concept
scope note: Use of water to raise aquatic organisms, typically for food, restoration, conservation, or sport.
alternative label: fish farming
broader: water use
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

domestic well water use
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: residential well water use
alternative label: self-supplied water use
broader: water use
narrower: drinking water use
related: hydraulic engineering
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

drinking water use
type: Concept
alternative label: drinking water
alternative label: potable water
broader: domestic well water use
related: water quality
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

industrial water use
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
broader: water use
related: hydraulic engineering
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

irrigation
type: Concept
scope note: 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.
alternative label: flood irrigation
alternative label: microirrigation
alternative label: spray irrigation
broader: water use
related: hydraulic engineering
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

mining water use
type: Concept
scope note: Water use for the extraction of naturally occurring mineral deposits by mining or quarrying.
broader: water use
related: hydraulic engineering
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

power generation water use
type: Concept
scope note: Use of water in the process of producing electric energy by transforming other forms of energy.
alternative label: hydroelectric power generation water use
alternative label: thermoelectric power generation water use
broader: water use
related: hydraulic engineering
related: hydrology
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus

public supply water use
type: Concept
scope note: Provision of water by local governments or private companies for residential, commercial, and light industrial use.
broader: water use
in scheme: USGS Thesaurus