Images

Hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen under specific circumstances, occurs naturally in groundwater in the Mojave Desert. However, concentrations of hexavalent chromium increased in California’s Hinkley Valley beginning in 1952 when the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) discharged it into unlined ponds.

A view of the Boulder Mountains from US-12 west of Helena. These mountains lie at the north end of the Boulder Batholith.

A Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) compressor station in Hinkley, California. Although hexavalent chromium occurs naturally in groundwater in the Mojave Desert, concentrations increased in Hinkley Valley beginning in 1952 when the PG&E discharged it into unlined ponds. From there, hexavalent chromium entered the aquifer.

Lidar point cloud image taken above of the Hoover Dam in Nevada. Image was created by Jason Stoker.

Recipient of the 2024 Pecora Individual Award Jack A. Kaye, PhD. This photo was added to Drupal for use in related feature story.

Although most economic loss is concentrated along the west coast, the distribution of relative earthquake risk, as measured by the Annualized Earthquake Loss Ratio (AELR), is spread throughout the country and it reinforces the fact that earthquakes are a national problem.

Map showing distribution of average annualized earthquake loss by region. The high concentration of loss in California and the West Coast is consistent with that region’s high seismic hazard, significant population, and building exposure. 

Children play with 12’x12′ interactive floor puzzle of the Navajo Nation, created from Landsat satellite imagery by Earth observation education partner, AmericaView  during the Nihima Nahasdzáán−The Art of Mother Earth Gallery Event.

Mail in deceased butterflies, moths, and skippers and help United States Geological Survey(USGS) scientists establish a Lepidoptera Research Collection (LRC). Specimens will help USGS scientists identify contaminants and environmental factors which may be contributing to the decline of insect populations.

Airborne lidar point cloud image of downtown Chicago, Illinois skyline. Image created by Jason Stoker.

This map of the United States and its territories shows geographic extent of planned, existing, and in-progress 3DEP data acquisition projects.

USGS scientist collects water-quality samples at the Pinyon Plain mine in Arizona. 

At the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival, children had the opportunity to create origami sea creatures and learn fun facts about various species that live in coastal and marine environments. For more than 10 years, the St.

Preliminary surface fault rupture map of the Kahramanmaraş (Türkiye) Earthquake Sequence. Red lines are simplified ground ruptures based on radar images. Blue lines are detailed surface ruptures mapped from high-res satellite imagery. Background colors are ground movement estimated from radar.

USGS map identifying the percent probability for any location in New Hampshire to have groundwater with radon concentrations greater than the state government’s standard of 2,000 picocuries per liter for drinking water.

A graphic created for the 2023 National Invasive Species Awareness Week social media campaign

A typical survey airplane. The magnetic sensor is placed in an extension on the back of the airplane to reduce the impact of the airplane’s own magnetic field. 

This map from the Mineral Commodity Summaries 2023 shows the value of nonfuel minerals produced by each state in 2022. The Mineral Commodity Summaries are issued annually by the USGS National Minerals Information Center and are the earliest comprehensive source of the previous year’s worldwide mineral industry data. USGS image.

This map shows the airborne geophysical survey area and planned flight paths across the Illinois River Basin in Illinois and northwest Indiana. Surveys will not occur directly above populated areas. Planned flight lines and survey progress can be found online. 

(USGS map) 

Sharon Mulready, USGS Hydrologic Technician, recording the high-water mark on gage 11161000 San Lorenzo River Santa Cruz. The stream is filled with a tremendous amount of sediment moved by the storm on December 31st, 2022.

The large HTHH volcanic explosion created fast low-frequency pressure waves that penetrated about 3.1 miles/5 kilometers into the shallow crust (shown in yellow). Wind and small explosions (shown in blue) create shorter pressure waves that only penetrate down about 328 feet/100 meters.