<descriptor thcode="2"><thesaurus thcode="2" name="USGS Thesaurus" scope="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" rights="Public domain" edition="2.0" date="2020-01-09" codetype="number" prefix="topic" uri="https://www2.usgs.gov/science/USGSThesaurus" tblname="term" nonpref="nonpref" relterm="relterm" root_code="1" contact="pschweitzer"><category><term thcode="25" code="29" name="distinct labels" parent="26" scope="Preferred labels (descriptor texts) are distinct within the thesaurus. A concept can be specified either by its unique identifier (code) or by the text of its descriptor."/><term thcode="25" code="16" name="hierarchical" parent="11" scope="Substantive broader-narrower relationships exist among the terms."/><term thcode="25" code="13" name="transitive" parent="12" scope="Narrower terms have an &quot;is a&quot; relationship with their broader terms, and generally can be described as part-of, type-of, or instance-of the broader term."/><term thcode="25" code="21" name="disciplines" parent="2" scope="Broad categories of human inquiry or activity, such as scientific disciplines."/><term thcode="25" code="20" name="methods" parent="2" scope="Actions taken to obtain or analyze information"/><term thcode="25" code="19" name="organizational functions" parent="2" scope="Things that organizations do, typically including various types of programs, projects, and services."/><term thcode="25" code="7" name="temporal" parent="2" scope="Terms indicate periods of time, such as chronostratigraphic units, named historical periods or intervals surrounding known historical events, or seasons."/><term thcode="25" code="5" name="theme" parent="2" scope="Terms indicate domains of human concern, such as scientific discipline, societal problems, or characteristics of earth, space, oceans, and living things."/><term thcode="25" code="29" name="distinct labels" parent="26" scope="Preferred labels (descriptor texts) are distinct within the thesaurus. A concept can be specified either by its unique identifier (code) or by the text of its descriptor."/><term thcode="25" code="16" name="hierarchical" parent="11" scope="Substantive broader-narrower relationships exist among the terms."/><term thcode="25" code="13" name="transitive" parent="12" scope="Narrower terms have an &quot;is a&quot; relationship with their broader terms, and generally can be described as part-of, type-of, or instance-of the broader term."/><term thcode="25" code="21" name="disciplines" parent="2" scope="Broad categories of human inquiry or activity, such as scientific disciplines."/><term thcode="25" code="20" name="methods" parent="2" scope="Actions taken to obtain or analyze information"/><term thcode="25" code="19" name="organizational functions" parent="2" scope="Things that organizations do, typically including various types of programs, projects, and services."/><term thcode="25" code="7" name="temporal" parent="2" scope="Terms indicate periods of time, such as chronostratigraphic units, named historical periods or intervals surrounding known historical events, or seasons."/><term thcode="25" code="5" name="theme" parent="2" scope="Terms indicate domains of human concern, such as scientific discipline, societal problems, or characteristics of earth, space, oceans, and living things."/></category><altlabel><altlabel>USGSThesaurus</altlabel><altlabel>USGSThesaurus</altlabel></altlabel></thesaurus><term thcode="2" code="1174" name="topics" parent="1" scope="Themes, subjects, and concerns for which USGS information resources are relevant."/><bt><term thcode="2" code="1" name="Categories" scope="Thematic terms for categorizing information resources.  This thesaurus is intended to support finding and understanding scientific information."/></bt><nt><term thcode="2" code="24" name="agriculture" parent="1174" scope="The science and business of soil cultivation to raise crops and of animal husbandry to raise domesticated animals."/><term thcode="2" code="101" name="biological and physical processes" parent="1174" scope="All continuing activities, functions, and phenomena associated with organisms and non-living matter."/><term thcode="2" code="769" name="contamination and pollution" parent="1174" scope="Introduction of harmful substances into the environment by human action or natural processes."/><term thcode="2" code="223" name="culture and demographics" parent="1174" scope="Information on human behavior, ways of living and thinking, and characteristics of human populations."/><term thcode="2" code="287" name="earth characteristics" parent="1174" scope="The measurable, definable properties and features of the earth."/><term thcode="2" code="485" name="effects of climate change" parent="1174" scope="Characteristics and behaviors of organisms and earth systems that are modified as a result of changes in global, regional, or local climate."/><term thcode="2" code="1382" name="elements" parent="1174" scope="Chemical elements and element groups"/><term thcode="2" code="531" name="hazards" parent="1174" scope="Potential dangers from both natural processes (e.g., earthquakes, floods, and climate change) and human impacts on the environment."/><term thcode="2" code="533" name="health and disease" parent="1174" scope="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)'."/><term thcode="2" code="548" name="human impacts" parent="1174" scope="The effects, intentional or unintentional, beneficial or harmful, direct or indirect, which human activities have upon the environment and living things."/><term thcode="2" code="587" name="information system design and development" parent="1174" scope="Use for the design and development of information systems.  Do not use for general cases in which information systems are part of the activity."/><term thcode="2" code="594" name="instrument design and development" parent="1174" scope="Includes the design and development of software for a particular instrument."/><term thcode="2" code="628" name="land use and land cover" parent="1174" scope="The vegetation, water, natural surface, and cultural features on the land surface."/><term thcode="2" code="692" name="map coordinate systems" parent="1174" scope="Systems using sets of numbers combined with geometric nets or grids to specific positions on a map or globe."/><term thcode="2" code="774" name="natural resource exploration" parent="1174" scope="Techniques for locating deposits or stocks of useful minerals, water, and other resources using reconnaissance or instrumental methods."/><term thcode="2" code="775" name="natural resource extraction" parent="1174" scope="Removal of natural materials or properties (such as heat) for use."/><term thcode="2" code="777" name="natural resources" parent="1174" scope="Stocks of anything naturally occurring that have a beneficial use for man including economic, nutritional, recreational, aesthetic, and other benefits."/><term thcode="2" code="841" name="organism groupings (non-taxonomic)" parent="1174" scope="Used for categories of living organisms that are not taxonomic and that include species from more than one taxonomic group."/><term thcode="2" code="843" name="organisms" parent="1174" scope="Living individuals that grow, reproduce, and die."/><term thcode="2" code="900" name="planetary bodies" parent="1174" scope="Large celestial masses of rock, metal, or gas orbiting around a star.  Use for extraterrestrial bodies."/><term thcode="2" code="921" name="population and community ecology" parent="1174" scope="Interactions of a single species (population) or an association of different species (community) occupying a particular region, including their biotic and abiotic environments."/><term thcode="2" code="1352" name="recreation" parent="1174" scope="Pursuit of leisure-time activities, typically out of doors."/><term thcode="2" code="1020" name="scientific careers" parent="1174" scope="Professions in which people carry out or support scientific research or monitoring."/><term thcode="2" code="1304" name="water properties" parent="1174" scope="Measurable physical and chemical characteristics of water from different sources."/><term thcode="2" code="1306" name="water quality" parent="1174" scope="The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose."/><term thcode="2" code="1311" name="water supply and demand" parent="1174" scope="The quantities of water resources in an area that are easily available and the amount of water that is needed for all uses."/></nt></descriptor>