Post on 27-Oct-2021
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
EROS Land Cover U.S. Geological Survey
Jack H. Medlin
Regional Specialist
Office of the Director, International Programs
October 2018
jmedlin@usgs.gov
+1 703 648 6062
Global issues for society and the environment
Competition for, natural threats to, natural resources
Natural hazards – floods, earthquakes, landslides
Effects of wildlife disease on human health
Availability of water for people and ecosystems
Effects of climate change on resources, ecosystems, human health
_______________
An urgent need for authoritative science information
The Role of Science in Government
US Department of the Interior
139 Years of Science at USGS
USGS established by the Organic Act of March 3, 1879, which mandated "the classification of the public lands and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain."
Clarence King First USGS Director, 1879 -1881
Gerald FitzGerald Chief Alaskan Topographer, 1938-42
Ecosystems
USGS Science Structure
Energy and Minerals
Climate and Land-Use Change
Environmental Health
Natural Hazards
Water
Core Science Systems
Science Quality and Integrity
USGS Institutional Strengths
Florence Bascomb, geologist, first woman hired by USGS, 1896
Monitoring glacial retreat in Glacier National Park
A national program of topographic mapping since 1884
Invasive species studies
Traditional publications, professional
presentations
Models
National, long-term databases
. Integrated information
. Some in near real-time
. Publicly accessible
Decision support tools
Science conducted in partnership
21st Century Science Delivery
A Global Perspective of Earth Science
The USGS has a significant role to play in contributing information and knowledge to address Earth science issues arising in and beyond U.S. national boundaries. National Academy of Sciences, 2012.
USGS International Programs
Review of SLR Models
Wetland Persistence study
Why are some marshes stable? How will marshes respond to future sea level rise?
Oak Island, NC Bayou Chitique, LA
Repeatedly identified as threatened by Accelerations in SLR
Persist for 1000s of years in stratigraphic record
Coastal Marine Geology Program – providing
marine geologic mapping, research and expertise
Natural Hazards – Earthquakes; Volcanos; Landslides;
Coastal & Marine Geology
Water - Water Quality; Water Availability & Use;
Groundwater & Streamflow Information; Research; Water
Institutes
Climate & Land Use Change - Land Change Science; Land
Remote Sensing; Land Carbon; R&D; Climate & Wildlife
Science Centers
Ecosystems - Invasive Species; Landscape Science;
Fisheries; Wildlife; Status & Trends; Cooperative Research
Units
Core Science Systems - Geologic Mapping; National
Geospatial Program; Science Synthesis, Analysis and
Research
Environmental Health - Toxic Substances Hydrology;
Contaminant Biology
Energy & Mineral Resources – Energy; Minerals
Collaboration with USGS
Exchanges of scientists with access to USGS
research laboratories – PhDs & Post-Docs
Leveraging/sharing expertise and building on
existing programs
Funding through USAID, State Department,
Department of Defense, World Bank, NATO
Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges
Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security,
our health, our environment, and our quality of life
than it has ever been.
President Obama At the National Academy of Sciences
April 27, 2009
Examples of USGS Activities in Asia-Pacific Region
Lower Mekong region----Biodiversity, water, geology, climate change
Volcano Hazards
Climate Change
Seismic Networks
Landsat 8 Cooperation
Biodiversity
Paleo seismology
Energy Resources Assessment (conventional and unconventional)
Mineral Resources Assessment
Environmental Health
Water Resources (surface, ground, water quality)
Mineral Commodity Data Exchange
Museum (Vietnam)
Pacific Islands (biodiversity, water, coastal, climate change)
Coastal Zone/Wetlands
Critical Zone
Land Use/Land Cover
Bio Carbon Sequestration
Invasive Species
Migratory Birds
MOUs and Protocols with East
and Southeast Asia Countries
Japan-----3
Korea-----2
China-----6
Vietnam-----2
Thailand-----2
Indonesia-----1
Myanmar-----1
Australia-----2
New Zealand-----2
Thank You
Questions?