(A) to expand and strengthen the geological environment monitoring network
USGS emphasizes that the geological environment monitoring network is the cornerstone of scientific research, and the monitoring data generated is crucial for solving major strategic problems.
In order to observe hydrological factors, the water resources monitoring network has been expanded and strengthened in three ways. On the basis of existing monitoring stations, design and build a national backbone network composed of unified monitoring stations for surface water, groundwater and water quality funded by the federal government, and cooperate with and supplement the monitoring station networks operated by States, counties and other federal agencies. Equip key monitoring stations with more advanced monitoring equipment, increase the types of monitoring elements and data parameters, and realize real-time transmission, such as meteorological data, water quality chemical data, physical hydrological data (water temperature, water flow speed, suspended sediment, etc.). ). Cooperate with NOAA, state and county emergency management departments and other users to expand the monitoring network according to their needs to meet the needs of more users. For example, for climate change research, design and establish a climate-responsive groundwater monitoring network (Figure 2-5)[59].
Figure 2-5 U.S. Geological Survey Climate Response Groundwater Monitoring Network
(According to [59])
For the observation of disaster elements, five measures have been taken to expand and strengthen the monitoring network of geological disasters such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes. Strengthen and upgrade the existing monitoring network to ensure that the existing monitoring stations can continuously generate reliable monitoring data. Improve the application level of monitoring information, realize real-time monitoring of key monitoring stations (24h×7d), and coordinate multi-sensor monitoring of innovative target disaster bodies (such as landslides, volcanoes and earthquake faults). ), and expand the communication channels with other monitoring networks. Make full use of advanced monitoring technology, expand and improve the monitoring scope and capacity, including expanding the acquisition and use of geophysical survey data and remote sensing data, developing portable, intelligent and low-cost disaster monitoring instruments, and promoting the coordinated development of instrument research and development, data acquisition, data transmission, data management and data processing technology. Improve the level of on-site data collection during and after the disaster, and timely obtain the data that can be collected in a short time at the disaster site, such as water marks, volcanic ash, building damage, landslide trajectory, etc. Compile a catalogue of disasters in geological history and human history, including ancient floods, ancient landslides, ancient earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
(2) Establish a three-dimensional geological framework model of the earth's surface.
Solve major scientific problems such as water resources, natural disasters, environmental sanitation and climate change. First of all, we need to understand the geological bodies on the earth's surface on which hydrological processes, disaster processes, ecological processes and biogeochemical processes depend. USGS believes that the geological information on the earth's surface must be combined with the deep geological, geophysical and geochemical information in order to accurately describe the geological body on the earth's surface.
For water resources research, the goal is to establish 3D/4D hydrogeological framework models with different scales. The three-dimensional hydrogeological framework model should couple the volume and depth variables on the basis of the 2D model. The upper limit of vertical range is the surface of crust or lithosphere, and the lower limit is the bottom of deep aquifer. Hydrogeological properties (porosity, fluid saturation, permeability, etc. The corresponding geological framework may change with time. In this case, it is necessary to establish a 4D hydrogeological framework model. For example, in the process of shale gas development or CO2 sequestration, deep rock fracture caused by water pressure or CO2 sequestration will inevitably affect the depth of deep groundwater circulation, so it is necessary to use the 4D hydrogeological framework model for research and simulation.
For the study of geological disasters, the goal is to establish the earth's surface framework, including geological, hydrological and ecological frameworks. In view of coastal erosion, earthquake, tsunami, volcano and other disasters, we will strengthen basic work such as bedrock geological mapping, land and seabed topographic mapping. In order to describe the three-dimensional structure of the earth, it is necessary to expand the coverage of aeromagnetic and gravity surveys. In order to speed up the study of disaster process, it is necessary to strengthen the investigation of vegetation, soil, engineering geological properties of surface geological bodies, land use and other surface coverings.
Recognizing that the geological framework model is its core vitality, USGS put forward the grand vision of the earth's surface framework in its core scientific system strategy: organizing data, methods and models into corresponding time-space frameworks to form a modular whole, providing all-round support for resource management, environmental protection and disaster prevention and reduction (Figure 2–6).
Figure 2-6 Vision of USGS Earth Surface Framework
(According to [58])
(3) Strengthen the research and prediction of water resources in the changing environment.
The goal of water resources science strategy of USGS is to quantitatively study, predict and ensure the safety of fresh water resources in the United States in the future. Around this goal, it is necessary to promote the research on the process mechanism that determines the availability of water resources, including geological framework, climate change and human activities. Using geological historical data and human historical data, this paper studies the influence of climate change on the availability of water resources on multiple time scales, and finds out the response of water resources system to long-term climate change. Through monitoring, mechanism research and model simulation, the interaction between human activities such as agricultural development, urbanization, energy and mineral resources development, waste treatment and water resources system is systematically studied. On this basis, the quantity and quality changes of water resources in different climate, population, land use and management scenarios are predicted. Considering the demand of economy, society and ecosystem for water resources, a quantitative model is established to study and predict the changes of water system and the available amount of water resources under different climate, population, land use and management scenarios. At the same time, the availability of alternative water resources (such as salt water, inferior water and reclaimed water) is studied to predict the potential impact of its development and utilization on the environment.
(D) Strengthen the research on the mechanism of natural disasters.
The study of natural disaster mechanism is the basis of disaster assessment and disaster prevention and mitigation. In order to improve the quality of disaster assessment and the timeliness of early warning, we should vigorously strengthen the study of disaster mechanism. The key points include: promoting the targeted research on the starting process of natural disasters, including the control factors of the starting, duration, type and scale of disaster events, the reflection degree of observation data on the starting process of disasters, and the improvement and perfection of disaster monitoring; Using Quaternary geology, ice core analysis and other means to carry out extreme disaster events research, determine the occurrence mechanism and influencing factors of extreme disasters, and infer the high-risk areas of extreme disasters; Promote the research on vulnerability and risk assessment of natural disasters, including how to transform the research results of the mechanism into vulnerability and risk analysis information, how to assess the environmental, economic and social consequences of disaster events, and how to effectively convey disaster vulnerability and risk information to relevant departments so as to take appropriate actions; Strengthen the study of fluids in the process of disasters, including the role of multiphase fluids in magmatic systems and volcanic processes, underground hydrological processes related to volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides and land subsidence, the role of fault fluids in the epicenter, and the slope flow process of weathered debris flows and pyroclastic flows; Carry out research on the induction and mechanism of various natural disaster chains.
(5) Strengthen the research on the impact of environmental pollutants on environmental health.
According to the US Geological Survey, natural environment, biological environment health and human health are inevitably interrelated and influenced by human activities, ecological processes and geological processes. Under the guidance of this idea, USGS decided to strengthen the research on the impact of environmental pollutants on environmental health. The main strategic actions include: identifying and detecting pollutants that cause environmental health, investigating and monitoring pathogenic pollutants such as organic pollutants, compounds, tellurium, gallium and rare earth elements, and determining thresholds and risks that cause environmental health problems; Systematically investigate the source, occurrence, migration and destination of environmental pollutants, evaluate the threat degree of pollutants to the environment, biology and human health, determine the hygienic standard for human exposure to pollutants, and reduce the impact of pollutants on the environment, biology and human health; Identify the complex effects and coupling effects of human exposure to pollutants, identify environmental diseases and pathogenic factors, and carry out toxicological research on pathogenic pollutants; Carry out research on the possible environmental impact and health threats caused by disasters caused by natural factors and human activities, establish a multidisciplinary rapid assessment mechanism for environmental health risks caused by disasters, and study and propose methods to identify environmental health problems caused by future disasters.
(6) Strengthen the research on the geological process of global change.
In 2008, Congress approved the establishment of the National Center for Climate Change and Wildlife Science (NCCWSC) by the US Geological Survey to undertake the task of studying the impacts of climate change on water, soil and other natural and human resources in the United States. According to the plan and the need of global change research, two aspects of research work focus on environmental geology. On the one hand, it is to carry out global carbon cycle research, including the research and development of geological carbon sink potential assessment methods and geological carbon reserve vulnerability assessment methods, the study of geological, hydrological and geochemical processes of injecting liquid CO2 into oil, natural gas deposits and permeable geological bodies, the regular assessment of national carbon sink potential and carbon reserve vulnerability, the technical research of carbon sink assessment and monitoring methods, the research of carbon reserve process mechanism in soil, sediment and farmland, and the research of carbon flow during water migration and sediment migration. On the other hand, it is necessary to study the impact of sea level rise and climate change on the coastal zone, including the impact process of sea level rise on the coastal zone, the prediction model of coastal zone retreat and land loss caused by sea level rise in different scenarios, and the impact of fresh water discharge, sediment and nutrient inflow on the coastal zone.
(seven) to strengthen the research on the environmental effects of the development and utilization of energy resources and their wastes.
One of the important goals of the US Geological Survey's energy and mineral resources science strategy is to strengthen the understanding of the environmental impact of energy and mineral resources and their waste development and utilization. The main contents include: investigation of carbon sources and sinks in energy and mineral resources development, including CO2 emission in limestone development, CO2 emission in geothermal water development, methane leakage in shale gas development, etc. To carry out research on the process of the influence of the development of mineral resources in closed pit mines and operating mines on the natural landscape; To carry out research on the impact of climate change on the environmental background of mineral resources and the environmental behavior of wastes; To study the characteristics of wastes generated in the production and processing of energy and mineral resources; Carry out research on deep geological disposal of wastes, including groundwater polluted by uranium, high salt water and inferior water produced by oil and gas development, CO2 produced by fossil energy utilization, etc. To carry out environmental geochemical research on new resource development technologies such as shale gas development hydraulic fracturing technology, oil shale field transformation technology and natural gas hydrate development technology; To carry out research on geological and environmental effects during the construction and operation of renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy, hydropower and bioenergy; Develop geological environment models related to resources.
(eight) to establish and improve the rapid response system of geological environment emergencies.
In order to cope with sudden disasters and environmental events, the US Geological Survey plans to continue to improve and strengthen its rapid response system.
Four strategic actions were planned and deployed in response to water-related emergencies. It mainly includes: through the comprehensive analysis of data and information, identify the current and future water-related disaster threats faced by the community, including floods, river bank and coastal erosion, drought, debris flow and debris flow, lahar, dam or dike cracking, etc. Develop and deploy observation systems to identify and track hydrological disasters and formulate action plans during extreme hydrological events; By studying the conditions of conflict caused by water shortage (such as major disasters, water diversion, extreme drought, etc. ), we can provide scientific solutions for the community when conflicts occur; In view of the deterioration of water quality, decision support tools are developed to provide support for managers to deal with sudden water quality problems, such as oil spill, algal blooms and toxic substances polluting water sources.
In view of sudden geological disasters, six strategic actions were planned and deployed. It mainly includes: developing the next generation of disaster detection and response tools, such as volcanic activity detection and early warning system and landslide early warning device; Improve the performance of data acquisition and transmission system, such as improving the reliability and accuracy of monitoring equipment, expanding the network and improving the spatial and temporal density of data; Implement and ensure the uninterrupted operation of key monitoring facilities for 24 hours ×7 days; Improve the application level of scientific skills in disaster events; Improve the level of domestic disaster coordination and response; Strictly evaluate disaster early warning and response products.
(9) Promote the dissemination of scientific data and achievements.
Transferring scientific research data, models and achievements to the society in various forms is an important content of strategic planning in various fields of USGS. The scientific strategy of climate change is put forward: a committee composed of scientists and communication experts will study and form a strategic plan and a short-term plan for information dissemination, upgrade Internet sites, and put forward an action plan to improve the efficiency of information dissemination; Through regular academic seminars, mailing lists, information portals, etc., we will expand internal information communication channels and realize the sharing of data, models, decision support tools, stage results and products. The scientific strategy of natural disasters puts forward: design and produce products according to the needs of existing users and potential users; Using social science and behavioral science methods to guide disaster information release and media selection; Develop educational products and promote interactive disaster education and training; Develop relevant tools and products for users to evaluate disasters themselves. The strategy of water resources science emphasizes the accessibility and friendliness of products. By upgrading the Internet, users can easily obtain needed hydrological information (including data, models and analysis tools) without searching hard, and can also conduct spatial query and location. Based on historical data and real-time data, develop dynamic comprehensive models and visual products, and provide them to scientists, management decision makers and the public in an appropriate form; Develop decision support system to assist resource managers and decision makers to formulate relevant measures.