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a brown outhouse-like structure sits beneath a bridge over the Wabash River
Super streamgage on the Wabash River near New Harmony, IN.
Super streamgage on the Wabash River near New Harmony, IN.
Super streamgage on the Wabash River near New Harmony, IN.

A super streamgage sits inside the brown structure underneath the bridge over the Wabash River linking Indiana and Illinois. The closest town is New Harmony, IN. 

Open pit rare earth element mine at Mountain Pass, California. Stepped sides of the pit and access for mining vehicles shown.
Mountain Pass REE mine in California
Mountain Pass REE mine in California
Mountain Pass REE mine in California

Open pit rare earth element mine at Mountain Pass, California. Stepped sides of the pit and access for mining vehicles are shown.

Image shows a helicopter towing a hoop with mountains in the background
Airborne Geophysical Survey Helicopter in Nevada
Airborne Geophysical Survey Helicopter in Nevada
Airborne Geophysical Survey Helicopter in Nevada

A low-flying helicopter towing a geophysical device collects scientific data on groundwater and geology. Information collected during these surveys can help with studying critical mineral resources, natural hazards and groundwater potential.

Image shows a cow standing in the foreground with a helicopter towing geophysical data collecting equipment with mountains
Airborne Geophysical Survey Helicopter with Cow
Airborne Geophysical Survey Helicopter with Cow
Airborne Geophysical Survey Helicopter with Cow

A helicopter rigged with an airborne geophysical survey collecting equipment. Information collected during these surveys can help with studying critical mineral resources, natural hazards and groundwater potential. A cow is here too.

A helicopter rigged with an airborne geophysical survey collecting equipment. Information collected during these surveys can help with studying critical mineral resources, natural hazards and groundwater potential. A cow is here too.

A screenshot of a USGS flood maping tool that shows a portion of the Lake Ontario shoreline in New York.
USGS Flood Inundation Mapper of Lake Ontario's New York shoreline
USGS Flood Inundation Mapper of Lake Ontario's New York shoreline
USGS Flood Inundation Mapper of Lake Ontario's New York shoreline

Screenshot of the USGS Flood Inundation Mapper shows the Lake Ontario shoreline at Braddock Heights. USGS image. 

carbon rainbow
Carbon Rainbow
Carbon Rainbow
Carbon Rainbow

COLORS OF THE CARBON RAINBOW

Not All Carbon is the Same

Scientists use color to classify carbon at different points in the carbon cycle based on carbon function, characteristics, and location. This creates a more descriptive framework than traditional "organic" and "inorganic" labels.

COLORS OF THE CARBON RAINBOW

Not All Carbon is the Same

Scientists use color to classify carbon at different points in the carbon cycle based on carbon function, characteristics, and location. This creates a more descriptive framework than traditional "organic" and "inorganic" labels.

Drought Infographic
It's All Linked to Climate Change
It's All Linked to Climate Change
It's All Linked to Climate Change

Climate change interacts with droughts in many ways. Some regions are experiencing warmer, drier conditions than they have in the past, leading to less rainfall (meteorological drought) or snowpack (snow drought). Over time, this can cause water sources like lakes, streams, and underground aquifers to dry up (hydrological drought).

Climate change interacts with droughts in many ways. Some regions are experiencing warmer, drier conditions than they have in the past, leading to less rainfall (meteorological drought) or snowpack (snow drought). Over time, this can cause water sources like lakes, streams, and underground aquifers to dry up (hydrological drought).

Image shows a topographic map of Horseshoe Bend, part of the Grand Canyon in Arizona
Horseshoe Bend Topographic Map from topoBuilder
Horseshoe Bend Topographic Map from topoBuilder
Horseshoe Bend Topographic Map from topoBuilder

A topographic map of Horseshoe Bend, part of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, made with topoBuilder. Custom topographic maps like this one can be made using topoBuilder.

Movement of a lesser scaup infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza
Movement of a Lesser Scaup Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Movement of a Lesser Scaup Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Movement of a Lesser Scaup Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

USGS map showing the movement of a lesser scaup infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (red line) compared to four lesser scaup not infected (maroon, yellow, blue and black lines). Movement was recorded January 23 to 26, 2022. The black dot identifies where the birds were captured and released in Maryland.

USGS map showing the movement of a lesser scaup infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (red line) compared to four lesser scaup not infected (maroon, yellow, blue and black lines). Movement was recorded January 23 to 26, 2022. The black dot identifies where the birds were captured and released in Maryland.

Scientist examines sediment layers with pegs marking parts of the layers
Jeff Pigati collecting pollen at White Sands site
Jeff Pigati collecting pollen at White Sands site
Jeff Pigati collecting pollen at White Sands site

USGS scientist Jeff Pigati collects pollen for radiocarbon dating at the site where human footprints were found in order to estimate the age of the footprints. Pollen also provides a picture of what kind of vegetation existed at the time that the footprints were made.

USGS scientist Jeff Pigati collects pollen for radiocarbon dating at the site where human footprints were found in order to estimate the age of the footprints. Pollen also provides a picture of what kind of vegetation existed at the time that the footprints were made.

Cartoon GIF cross-section of river sediments filling the bottom of Lake Powell
River sediments filling the bottom of Lake Powell
River sediments filling the bottom of Lake Powell
River sediments filling the bottom of Lake Powell

Cartoon GIF cross-section of river sediments filling the bottom of Lake Powell from pre-Glen Canyon dam to today.

Male and female bighorn sheep
Male and female bighorn sheep
Male and female bighorn sheep
Male and female bighorn sheep

Male (ram - left) and female (ewe) bighorn sheep outside of Yellowstone National Park. 

Photo of Western States OCAP Chief
Miel Corbett
Miel Corbett
Miel Corbett

Miel Corbett, Chief of Western States Office of Communications and Publishing. Leads public affairs team and activities in the Western United States. 

Miel Corbett, Chief of Western States Office of Communications and Publishing. Leads public affairs team and activities in the Western United States. 

This image shows damage to a road from the summer 2021 debris flow in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado.
Damage from 2021 Glenwood Canyon Debris Flow
Damage from 2021 Glenwood Canyon Debris Flow
Damage from 2021 Glenwood Canyon Debris Flow

The Grizzly Creek Fire initiated in August 2020, and widespread destructive debris flow activity followed the during the summer of 2021. This image shows damage from the summer 2021 debris flow in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. 

The Grizzly Creek Fire initiated in August 2020, and widespread destructive debris flow activity followed the during the summer of 2021. This image shows damage from the summer 2021 debris flow in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. 

Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado

Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. In the summer of 2021, travelers in Colorado's Glenwood Canyon were safely evacuated before massive mounds of mud and rocks buried highways and destroyed bridges, thanks to a debris flow warning system developed in part by the USGS.

Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. In the summer of 2021, travelers in Colorado's Glenwood Canyon were safely evacuated before massive mounds of mud and rocks buried highways and destroyed bridges, thanks to a debris flow warning system developed in part by the USGS.

golden eagle in flight
Golden Eagle soaring near a wind turbine tower in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California
Golden Eagle soaring near a wind turbine tower in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California
Golden Eagle soaring near a wind turbine tower in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California

Targeted monitoring of Golden Eagle populations is an integral component of effective management, serving as a guide for deciding the appropriate course of management action, evaluating the effectiveness of such actions, and providing options to better achieve management goals.

Image shows an aerial spore trap, which is a tall piece of metal with a collector, there are trees and gras in back ground
aerial spore trap
aerial spore trap
aerial spore trap

USGS scientists designed a low-cost, easy-to-build method of sampling the air for eDNA. Photo by Kylle Roy, USGS

USGS scientists designed a low-cost, easy-to-build method of sampling the air for eDNA. Photo by Kylle Roy, USGS

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