Images

USGS hydrologists and hydrologic technicians test a new method for collecting water from the Millstone River in Blackwells Mills, New Jersey. The new method helps measure microplastics concentrations using representative cross-section sampling. In the background, USGS staff maneuver a stainless-steel pump and tubing at pre-determined points along the river.

In June 2022, Mendenhall Fellow Sabine Loos (Research Civil Engineer in the Geological Hazards Science Center) presented a seminar to USGS's Earthquake Science Center at Moffett Field, CA, where Max Schneider (Research Statistician) works as a Mendenhall Fellow.

Map showing helicopter survey area and near Granby, Colo. Surveys will not occur directly above populated areas. Black circle indicates study area.

Bruce Bernard (left) and Scott McBride (right) obtain water and sediment samples at Egmont Key which is about 1 mile west of the mouth of Tampa Bay in the Gulf of America. Samples were collected June 14, 2010 prior to the possible occurrence of oil contamination from the Deepwater Horizon's oil well.

A simple esker that was recently exposed near the ice margin in Iceland. 

Lauren Edgar, a research geologist with the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, uses a hand lens to identify minerals in a sample from a complex esker in Iceland. 

Lauren Edgar, a research geologist with the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, setting up a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (ground-based LiDAR) to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system. The Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is visible in the background.

Researchers from the USGS, NASA, and NAU gather around a small simple esker and ephemeral lake deposits.  The team used sedimentology, geochemistry, and remote sensing to characterize these features on Earth before comparing them to Mars.

Survey area for low-flying helicopter soon to be visible in six Montana counties, including Helena, the Elkhorn Mountains, Bull Mountain and the Tobacco Root Mountains.

Evan Gohring, USGS Hydrologic Technician. A photo shows USGS scientist Evan Gohring smiling at the camera. Evan is wearing a T-shirt with the USGS logo on it. He is also wearing a ballcap and Evan is standing in front of a stand of aspen trees and a field of snow.

Dr. Andy Creighton, USGS Hydrologist. This graphic shows a quote from Andy’s narrative. It reads: “This is my first permanent government position, now I get to ski and do alpine hydrogeophysics - talk about a dream job!“ Yellow quotation marks bookend her quote.

Mark Bauer, USGS Geographer. A photo shows USGS scientist Mark Bauer smiling at the camera. Mark is kneeling and holding the USGS drone with both hands. Mark wears a ballcap and an orange vest over his green USGS T-shirt. Behind Mark is a field of brown grass and a leaf-less tree sits in the background.

In this photo, a group of 20 scientists pose for the camera. The group is dressed in winter gear and stands in front of Berthoud Pass, Colorado. The pass and the ground are covered in snow. Berthoud Pass has a few patches of dark green trees.

In order to get accurate measurements, the Snow to Flow scientists collect several kinds of data using a few different tools. Evan and the team dig snowpits and collect snow depth, snow density, and weather data. They also place sensors across the snowpack to help the drones collect accurate data.

In the snowpit, Evan collects snow depth, snow density, and weather data at Berthoud Pass, CO.

Two photos are arranged side by side. In the first photo, the photographer stands at the bottom of the snowpit. We can see how deep the snowpit is – about the length of a ski from tip to tail. There is a shelf dug into the side of the pit that holds science gear.

Mark communicates with the ground team (including Evan and Andy) to let them know that the USGS UAS is starting its flight over the snowpack.

Victoria Scholl, USGS Physical Scientist. This graphic shows a quote from Victoria’s narrative. It reads: “My background is in imaging science: the capture, processing, display, and analysis of imagery.“ Yellow quotation marks bookend her quote.

Mark checks the spatial data downloaded from the drone to make sure that the first UAS flight accurately collected snowpack data.

The ground penetration radar is set up on a sled, ready to be pulled behind a skier. The sled is covered in blue canvas. The radar is a combination of yellow and black computer gear and a neon green foot-long sensor. Yellow crates and skis dot the background of the image.

Evan and the team dug a snowpit to collect snowpack data at Berthoud Pass, CO.