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Images
Strong shaking during the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake caused the second story of the Alameda County Courthouse in San Leandro to collapse (photo courtesy of the Bancroft Library, University of California). The inset photo shows the courthouse before the quake
Strong shaking during the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake caused the second story of the Alameda County Courthouse in San Leandro to collapse (photo courtesy of the Bancroft Library, University of California). The inset photo shows the courthouse before the quake
Series of aerial views from the copper-gold area near Herat. Dark red iron stains hint that other minerals might be found.
Series of aerial views from the copper-gold area near Herat. Dark red iron stains hint that other minerals might be found.
Photograph showing natural iron-rich acidic spring flowing into Cement Creek near Silverton, Colorado. Similar natural springs contribute water to Cement Creek and other tributaries of the upper Animas River.
Photograph showing natural iron-rich acidic spring flowing into Cement Creek near Silverton, Colorado. Similar natural springs contribute water to Cement Creek and other tributaries of the upper Animas River.
Brown pelicans and gulls float and fly along a coastline.
Brown pelicans and gulls float and fly along a coastline.
Immature adult, and nymph state box elder bugs gather on the ground in a residential garden under a silver maple tree.
Immature adult, and nymph state box elder bugs gather on the ground in a residential garden under a silver maple tree.
California's hotter drought has already killed millions of trees, particularly in low-elevation forests.
California's hotter drought has already killed millions of trees, particularly in low-elevation forests.
USGS biologists assess the health of a sugar pine, one of tens of thousands of individual trees whose fates have been tracked annually throughout the drought in California.
USGS biologists assess the health of a sugar pine, one of tens of thousands of individual trees whose fates have been tracked annually throughout the drought in California.
USGS researcher Rebecca Lazarus prepares to take a blood sample from an osprey fledgling in a nest on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Delaware Bay in 2015. Lazarus and colleagues did similar sampling of 48 chicks on Chesapeake Bay in 2011-2013.
USGS researcher Rebecca Lazarus prepares to take a blood sample from an osprey fledgling in a nest on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Delaware Bay in 2015. Lazarus and colleagues did similar sampling of 48 chicks on Chesapeake Bay in 2011-2013.
Pedernales River at Hamilton Pool Crossing after September 1952 flood. Trees destroyed by flood of September 11, 1952. Discharge of Pedernales River near Spicewood, TX (USGS station 08154000) was 452,000 cfs.
Pedernales River at Hamilton Pool Crossing after September 1952 flood. Trees destroyed by flood of September 11, 1952. Discharge of Pedernales River near Spicewood, TX (USGS station 08154000) was 452,000 cfs.
3-minute exposure of Parkfield Cafe (and shake table) entrance at night.
3-minute exposure of Parkfield Cafe (and shake table) entrance at night.
Artist D.V. Rogers stomps on one of the geophones surrounding the shake table to trigger it.
Artist D.V. Rogers stomps on one of the geophones surrounding the shake table to trigger it.
Full view of the ground with the San Andreas fault running through the middle of the image. A 30 foot steam offset from the 1857 earthquake can be seen near the right edge of the image.
Full view of the ground with the San Andreas fault running through the middle of the image. A 30 foot steam offset from the 1857 earthquake can be seen near the right edge of the image.
Photo showing the kite that is suspending the camera over the San Andreas Fault.
Photo showing the kite that is suspending the camera over the San Andreas Fault.
Arizona saquaro will be one of the species looked at by USA-NPN volunteers.
Arizona saquaro will be one of the species looked at by USA-NPN volunteers.
California poppies.
Steve Nagel collects data from a weather station in the Shenandoah National Park.
Steve Nagel collects data from a weather station in the Shenandoah National Park.
Little blue herons are a species recorded in the historical bird phenology cards.
Little blue herons are a species recorded in the historical bird phenology cards.
In an unearthly series of events, the USGS has created man-made moon dirt, or regolith, to help NASA prepare for upcoming moon explorations. Four tons of the simulant is expected to be made by this summer of 2009 and turned over to the scientific community involved in lunar exploration.
In an unearthly series of events, the USGS has created man-made moon dirt, or regolith, to help NASA prepare for upcoming moon explorations. Four tons of the simulant is expected to be made by this summer of 2009 and turned over to the scientific community involved in lunar exploration.
The plasma torch melter in Boulder, Colorado exists nowhere else in the world. The mixed and ground rock on the left in a 1-ton bag is fed into the melter to be made into glass.
__________
The plasma torch melter in Boulder, Colorado exists nowhere else in the world. The mixed and ground rock on the left in a 1-ton bag is fed into the melter to be made into glass.
__________
When firing, the Zybek melter plasma torches must be viewed wearing long sleeves and a welding mask to avoid potential burns from the 37,000 degree Fahrenheit blaze.
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When firing, the Zybek melter plasma torches must be viewed wearing long sleeves and a welding mask to avoid potential burns from the 37,000 degree Fahrenheit blaze.
__________
While the susceptibility of endangered akiapolaau honeycreepers to avian malaria is unknown, it is likely very high given their current restriction to the highest elevation forests on the island of Hawaii.
While the susceptibility of endangered akiapolaau honeycreepers to avian malaria is unknown, it is likely very high given their current restriction to the highest elevation forests on the island of Hawaii.