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Browse images from a wide range of science topics covered by USGS. All items in this gallery are considered public domain unless otherwise noted.
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Family group (adult female and cub-of-the-year) photographed in September of 2015 departing the bowhead whale bone pile near the community of Kaktovik, AK.
Family group (adult female and cub-of-the-year) photographed in September of 2015 departing the bowhead whale bone pile near the community of Kaktovik, AK.
Female and cub polar bear on land near Kaktovik, Alaska
Female and cub polar bear on land near Kaktovik, Alaska
Calving of Snow River Glacier in early September 2015, resulted in icebergs floating in Snow River Lake.
Calving of Snow River Glacier in early September 2015, resulted in icebergs floating in Snow River Lake.
A view of the R/V Alaskan Gyre with a glacier in the background in Harriman Fjord in Prince William Sound, Alaska
A view of the R/V Alaskan Gyre with a glacier in the background in Harriman Fjord in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Helicopter landing to pick up field personnel after a day of geologic mapping and sampling in the Fortymile region north of Tok, Alaska.
Helicopter landing to pick up field personnel after a day of geologic mapping and sampling in the Fortymile region north of Tok, Alaska.
A high alpine tributary of the Agashashok River.
A high alpine tributary of the Agashashok River.
A mother caribou and her offspring, east of Chicken, Alaska (on the Yukon-Alaska border).
A mother caribou and her offspring, east of Chicken, Alaska (on the Yukon-Alaska border).
USGS scientist examining outcrops of strongly deformed and metamorphosed rock along Divide Mountain in the Yukon-Tanana upland of eastern Alaska
USGS scientist examining outcrops of strongly deformed and metamorphosed rock along Divide Mountain in the Yukon-Tanana upland of eastern Alaska
Half-meter-thick quartz veins cut across outcrops of granitic gneiss on Divide Mountain along the Alaska-Yukon border, August 2015
Half-meter-thick quartz veins cut across outcrops of granitic gneiss on Divide Mountain along the Alaska-Yukon border, August 2015
Sediment core showing sandy tsunami deposits over soil from an upland environment on Sitkalidak Island, Alaska.
Sediment core showing sandy tsunami deposits over soil from an upland environment on Sitkalidak Island, Alaska.
Rob Wilson pipetting PCR products into an acrylamide gel; after electrophoresis he'll be able to visualize fragment size differences within and among individuals.
Rob Wilson pipetting PCR products into an acrylamide gel; after electrophoresis he'll be able to visualize fragment size differences within and among individuals.
Dolly Varden in a minnow trap in the Agashashok River drainage. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.
Dolly Varden in a minnow trap in the Agashashok River drainage. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.
Chris Zimmerman removing otoliths from sockeye salmon carcasses on the shoreline of Salmon Lake. Otoliths are used to read age of a fish and other chemical signatures over time.
Chris Zimmerman removing otoliths from sockeye salmon carcasses on the shoreline of Salmon Lake. Otoliths are used to read age of a fish and other chemical signatures over time.
Soil pit exposing tsunami deposits on Sitkalidak Island, Alaska.
Soil pit exposing tsunami deposits on Sitkalidak Island, Alaska.
Ryan collects water chemistry samples during a subsurface tracer experiment while Matt observes.
Ryan collects water chemistry samples during a subsurface tracer experiment while Matt observes.
Matt and Josh Koch preparing for a subsurface tracer test on the West Twin Creek hillslope.
Matt and Josh Koch preparing for a subsurface tracer test on the West Twin Creek hillslope.
A Common Murre swimming in the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A Common Murre swimming in the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK lead to increased erosion and sedimentation of coastal waterways
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK lead to increased erosion and sedimentation of coastal waterways
USGS scientist Beth Burton and helicopter pilot Drew Rose install geophysical equipment northwest of Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
USGS scientist Beth Burton and helicopter pilot Drew Rose install geophysical equipment northwest of Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
A scientist and the helicopter pilot work together to install geophysical instrumentation in a remote region west of the Neacola Mountains, south-central Alaska. An array of cables were buried in shallow trenches for up to 48 hours to measure the electrical conductivity of the bedrock at that location.
A scientist and the helicopter pilot work together to install geophysical instrumentation in a remote region west of the Neacola Mountains, south-central Alaska. An array of cables were buried in shallow trenches for up to 48 hours to measure the electrical conductivity of the bedrock at that location.