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USGS Water Year Summary
May 22, 2012 | USGS

The Streamflow of 2010 — Water Year Summary is a collection of maps, graphs and data that summarize stream flow during the October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010 water year.

North American Carbon Storage Atlas
May 16, 2012 | North American Carbon Storage Atlas

“The CO2 geological storage information in this Atlas was developed to provide a high-level overview of CO2 geological storage potential across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The location and areal extent of promising geological storage formations and the CO2 resource estimates presented in this Atlas are intended to be used as an initial assessment of potential geological storage opportunities.” Quote from the Atlas introduction.

Uranium Drilling was Up in 2011
May 15, 2012 | Energy Information Administration

United States uranium exploration drilling was 5,441 holes covering 3.3 million feet in 2011. Development drilling was 5,156 holes and 3.0 million feet. Combined, total uranium drilling was 10,597 holes covering 6.3 million feet, 47 percent more holes than in 2010.

Rare Earth Trade Policies
May 8, 2012 | Rare Earth Investing News

“In March, the US, European Union, and Japan formally requested that the World Trade Organization (WTO) launch an investigation into China’s rare earth export policy.” Quoted from the Rare Earth Investing News.

91% of 2011 Uranium Consumption was Imported
May 3, 2012 | Energy Information Administration

Civilian nuclear power plant owners in the United States purchased 55 million pounds U3O8e in 2011 at an average price of $55.64 per pound U3O8e. Foreign-origin uranium accounted for 91% of the purchases and was sourced mainly from Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Brazil, China, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, South Africa, and Ukraine. Prices were up sharply.

Supermoon on Saturday
May 2, 2012 | Christian Science Monitor

On Saturday the distance between the Moon and the Earth will be at a minimum at about 11:35 PM as the Moon makes its elliptical orbit around the earth. The moon will appear bigger and brighter than normal.

Exporting Natural Gas as LNG
April 24, 2012 | Geology.com

Just a few years ago terminals to import liquefied natural gas were being built on the eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States. Now, these terminals are idle or operating at fractional capacity. Some companies are interested in converting them into LNG export facilities.

Should the United States Become a Natural Gas Exporter?
April 23, 2012 | Christian Science Monitor

The United States has an new abundance of natural gas – so much that prices have fallen dramatically. However, natural gas prices in other parts of the world are still relatively high. Should the United States respond by exporting natural gas? What would happen to prices and supplies if enormous quantities of natural gas were exported?

Related: What is LNG?

March Temperature Anomalies
April 17, 2012 | NASA Earth Observatory

The map above shows global temperature anomalies for March 2012. [...] For the month, the eastern two-thirds of the United States, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, saw temperatures [...] approaching as much as 10 degrees Celisius above normal (deepest reds on the map). Temperatures were similarly extreme in the Arctic Ocean around Svalbard, the Barents Sea, and the Kara Sea. Far eastern Siberia, Alaska, and northwestern North America were significantly colder, while much of Europe and western Russia were warmer than normal.

Record Natural Gas Production from the Lower 48
April 2, 2012 | FoxBusiness.com

Natural gas production in the Lower 48 states set a new monthly record in January at a rate of 72.85 billion cubic feet a day.

US Crude Oil Imports
March 30, 2012 | Energy Information Administration

The United States imports approximately 69% of its crude oil from five countries: Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Nigeria.

Radium in Groundwater
March 26, 2012 | USGS

“A USGS study found that groundwater in aquifers on the East Coast and in the Central United States has the highest risk of contamination from radium. [...] Radium is naturally occurring, so human activity is not the sole source of the problem.” Quoted from the USGS press release.

Impact of Natural Gas Exports on the US Energy Economy
March 15, 2012 | Washington Post

A Washington Post article explores the impact of natural gas exports on the United States energy economy. Some fear that they will increase the price of gas in US markets and increase the use of hydraulic fracturing.

The USA as a Net Energy Exporter
March 9, 2012 | Energy Information Administration

U.S. petroleum product exports exceeded imports in 2011 for first time in over six decades. [...] The increase in foreign purchases of distillate fuel contributed the most to the United States becoming a net exporter of petroleum products. Quoted from the Energy Information Administration report.

Hydroelectric Power in the United States
March 9, 2012 | Energy Information Administration

“The importance of hydropower as a source of electricity generation varies by geographic region. While hydropower accounted for 6% of total U.S. electricity generation in 2010, it provided over half of the electricity in the Pacific Northwest.” Quote from the Energy Information Administration article.

$2 Billion in Marine Treasure?
March 5, 2012 | The Sydney Morning Herald

Marine treasure hunters claim to have located the SS Port Nicholson, a Britsh ship that was torpedoed by a German submarine in 1942. It was carrying over $2 billion in precious metals and industrial diamonds.

Growth in Wind and Biomass Energy
February 29, 2012 | Energy Information Administration

The Energy Information Administration forecasts that United States non-hydro renewable power generation growth over the next 25 years will be led by gains in wind and biomass.

Oil and Natural Gas in the Arctic
February 13, 2012 |

The area above the Arctic Circle is underlain by sedimentary basins and continental shelves that hold enormous oil and natural gas resources. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic contains approximately 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered conventional oil resources and about 30 percent of its undiscovered conventional natural gas resources.

Carbon Dioxide in U.S. Rivers and Streams
February 10, 2012 | USGS

“Rivers and streams in the United States are releasing substantially more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously thought. These findings could change the way scientists model the movement of carbon between land, water, and the atmosphere.” Quoted from the USGS press release.

Lower Natural Gas Prices Expected
February 7, 2012 | Calgary Hearld

Analysts are expecting natural gas prices to continue falling during 2012 as overproduction and slow adoption of the fuel in the transportation and electricity generation industries continues.

Shale Gas Increases 17X
January 20, 2012 | Energy Information Administration

Since 2000, shale gas production in the United States has increased 17-fold and now comprises about 30 percent of total United States dry production.

Oil India Wants an Eagle Ford Shale Stake
January 19, 2012 | Reuters.com

An article on Reuters.com reports that Oil India Limited, a public oil and gas company under the control of the Government of India, is interested in buying a stake in the Eagle Ford Shale in the United States as well as stakes in natural gas shales in other countries.

United States shales are in demand worldwide.

Law of the Sea Website
January 9, 2012 | US. Department of State

The U.S. Department of State has a new website that provides information on the “Law of the Sea Convention”. The Law of the Sea will govern the use of Earth’s oceans and define Territorial Seas and Exclusive Economic Zones that will be controlled by various countries.

Seismic-Hazard Maps for the Conterminous United States
January 3, 2012 | USGS

USGS has released .pdf files of the “Seismic-Hazard Maps for the Conterminous United States, 2008″. “These maps are intended to summarize the available quantitative information about seismic ground motion hazard for the conterminous United States from geologic and geophysical source.” Quote from the USGS publication release.

Image by USDOE
2011 Critical Mineral Strategy
December 29, 2011 | United States Department of Energy

The United States Department of Energy has published their 2011 Critical Mineral Strategy. It explains how supply concerns for a variety of minerals threaten energy security in the United States.

The United States as a Major Exporter of Natural Gas
December 13, 2011 | NASDAQ

A growing abundance of domestic natural gas and higher gas prices in other countries place the United States in a position to become a major exporter of liquified natural gas. An article on NASDAQ.com explores a number of events that could prevent that from occurring.

LNG Exports from the United States
December 7, 2011 | MarketWatch

An article on the MarketWatch website reviews how the United States has rapidly shifted from an importer of natural gas to an aggressive exporter.

Import Reliance on Critical Minerals
December 4, 2011 | American Geosciences Institute

The American Geosciences Institute has an interesting article on critical minerals that outlines what makes a mineral “critical” and how the sudden loss of these resources could impact both the U.S. and global economy.

The United States has a 100% import reliance on the minerals listed at right.

US Oil and Gas Production at an All Time High?
November 18, 2011 | Fuel Fix

Some people believe that oil and natural gas production in the United States on an energy equivalent basis could reach an all time high – surpassing record levels set in the early 1970′s.

Should US Natural Gas Be Exported?
November 17, 2011 | Reuters

Some people believe that the current abundance of natural gas in the United States creates an opportunity to export to locations where gas prices are higher. Others believe that the gas should be kept in the United States to reduce our energy dependance.

Wall Maps of US States
November 16, 2011 | Geology.com Store

Raven Maps are beautiful examples of shaded-relief wall maps that display the elevation of a state in vibrant colors. These large maps look great in a classroom, den or office. Use one to mark the locations of your work or company.

Should the US Ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty?
November 8, 2011 | Wall Street Journal

The Law of the Sea Treaty is an agreement that allocates the seafloor resources under the Arctic Ocean. A debate in the Wall Street Journal has arguments in favor and against.

Related article: Who Owns the Arctic?

United States Geothermal Map
November 1, 2011 | Southern Methodist University.

Southern Methodist University shares their new geothermal resources map of the United States that was funded by a grant from Google.com.

Debris from Japan’s Tsunami Moves Across the Pacific
October 27, 2011 | Syracuse

An article on the Syracuse.com website explains how about 20 million tons of floating debris from Japan’s March 11th earthquake and tsunami is moving across the Pacific and is expected to wash ashore on the Hawaiian Islands and the US west coast.

NASA Landsat Image
Streams Saturated with Carbon
October 26, 2011 | National Science Foundation

Researchers have found that streams in the United States contain significant amounts of carbon and that streams play a more important role in the carbon cycle than previously believed.

EIA Annual Energy Review
October 20, 2011 | Energy Information Administration

The Energy Information Administration has published its Annual Energy Review, a document loaded with statistics about United States energy production, consumption, sources and economics.

Oil Exploration in the Arctic
October 19, 2011 | FuelFix.com

An article on the FuelFix.com website describes some of the current activity, ideas and plans related to oil exploration on the Arctic continental shelves.

Satellite Image: Sediment and Algae in the Great Lakes
October 13, 2011 | Earth Observatory

“The brilliant streaks of blue and green that color the Great Lakes in this image are a contradiction.” Quoted from the Earth Observatory image release.

Fall Foliage Map – Dates of Normal Peak Color
October 11, 2011 | Weather Channel

The Weather Channel has a map that is contoured to show the normal dates of peak leaf color across the United States.

Natural Gas Price Extremes
October 10, 2011 | Energy Information Administration

“Global natural gas prices vary considerably from one region to another. Since the beginning of 2010, North American prices have been relatively low, Asian prices relatively high, and northwest European prices in between.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration article.

How Dependent is the United States on Foreign Oil?
October 8, 2011 | Energy Information Administration

“The United States imported about 49% of the petroleum,1 which includes crude oil and refined petroleum products, that we consumed during 2010. About half of these imports came from the Western Hemisphere.

Our dependence on foreign petroleum has declined since peaking in 2005.” Quote from the Energy Information Administration website.

Record North American Oil Production by 2016?
September 29, 2011 | Houston Chronicle

An article in the Houston Chronicle points to the rapidly rising rates of oil production in the United States and Canada. If current trends continue North America could be producing record amounts of oil by 2016.

EDMAP: Training Geologic Mappers
September 27, 2011 | USGS

“EDMAP is an interactive and meaningful program for university students to gain experience and knowledge in geologic mapping while contributing to national efforts to map the geology of the United States.” Quoted from the USGS fact sheet.

Landslide videos from India, USA and China
September 27, 2011 | The Landslide Blog

Dave Petley of the Landslide Blog has posted some videos of landslides that happened in the past week in India, USA and China.

Building Codes and Multiple Natural Hazards
September 16, 2011 | National Institute of Standards and Technology

“As large parts of the nation recover from nature’s one-two punch—an earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene—building researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology warn that a double whammy of seismic and wind hazards can increase the risk of structural damage to as much as twice the level implied in building codes.” Quoted from the National Institute of Standards and Technology news release.

Human Influences on Wildfires
September 16, 2011 | National Science Foundation

“Fires have continuously occurred on Earth for at least the last 400 million years. But since the 1970s, the frequency of wildfires has increased at least four-fold, and the total size of burn areas has increased at least six-fold in the western United States alone.” Quoted from the National Science Foundation press release.

Sea-Level Rise, Subsidence, and Wetland Loss
September 14, 2011 | USGS on YouTube

“This video describes causes of wetland loss in the Mississippi River Delta. Rapid land subsidence due to sediment compaction and dewatering increases the rate of submergence in this deltaic system.” Quoted from the USGS video release.

Summer of 2011 Challenges Heat Records
September 13, 2011 | CNN

In almost every part of the United States the summer of 2011 was one of the hottest on record.

Historical Map Collection Now Online
September 13, 2011 | USGS

“Nearly 90,000 high resolution scans of the more than 200,000 historical USGS topographic maps, some dating as far back as 1884, are now available online. The Historical Topographic Map Collection includes published U.S. maps of all scales and editions.” Quoted from the USGS news release.

Climate Impact of Fugitive Natural Gas?
September 11, 2011 | Los Angeles Times

An article in the Los Angeles times points to small amounts of natural gas that are lost during drilling and production and asks: What is the climate impact?

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