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See our science through the images below.

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Tree-ring sample from an avalanche path
Tree-ring sample from an avalanche path
Tree-ring sample from an avalanche path
Tree-ring sample from an avalanche path

This tree-ring sample from an avalanche path captures 256 years of data between the years 1777 and 2013. The scars in 1818 and 1974 are examples of mechanical damage caused by an avalanche. The pith is the center of the tree.

This tree-ring sample from an avalanche path captures 256 years of data between the years 1777 and 2013. The scars in 1818 and 1974 are examples of mechanical damage caused by an avalanche. The pith is the center of the tree.

Wetland Ecologist Coloring Page
Wetland Ecologist Coloring Page
Wetland Ecologist Coloring Page
Drinking Water
Water is a shared resource between people and wildlife
Water is a shared resource between people and wildlife
A light-footed Ridgway's rail hides in the marsh
A light-footed Ridgway's rail hides in the marsh
A light-footed Ridgway's rail hides in the marsh
A light-footed Ridgway's rail hides in the marsh

A wild rail approaches a speaker playing mating calls at San Elijo lagoon. The light-footed Ridgway’s rail is a handsome but secretive waterbird that lives on tidal marshland fragments in southern California from Santa Barbara County south to Baja California, Mexico.

A wild rail approaches a speaker playing mating calls at San Elijo lagoon. The light-footed Ridgway’s rail is a handsome but secretive waterbird that lives on tidal marshland fragments in southern California from Santa Barbara County south to Baja California, Mexico.

Scientist installing a swallow nesting box near a pond
Scientist installing a nest box near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Mass.
Scientist installing a nest box near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Mass.
Scientist installing a nest box near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Mass.

Scientist istalling a swallow nest box near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod Massachusetts as part of a study on the fate and effects of PFAS chemicals. 

Shrubs and low-lying vegetation largely hide an eDNA sampler along a Montana stream. Mountains in background.
Mostly hidden eDNA sampler along Montana stream
Mostly hidden eDNA sampler along Montana stream
Mostly hidden eDNA sampler along Montana stream

An environmental DNA (eDNA) sampler discretely placed among the vegetation along a stream on the Flying D Ranch in Montana. 

eDNA sampler hidden among vegetation along a Montana stream. Arrow superimposed on image shows sampler.
Mostly hidden eDNA sampler along Montana stream—arrow shows sampler.
Mostly hidden eDNA sampler along Montana stream—arrow shows sampler.
Mostly hidden eDNA sampler along Montana stream—arrow shows sampler.

An environmental DNA (eDNA) sampler discretely placed among streamside vegetation at the Flying D Ranch in Montana. An arrow is superimposed on the image to point out the eDNA sampler. 

Malacologist coloring page
I Am A...Malacologist Coloring Page
I Am A...Malacologist Coloring Page
I Am A...Malacologist Coloring Page

Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series. This is the sixth video in a series of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers.

Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series. This is the sixth video in a series of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers.

USGS scientists operate drones over a prescribed burn in a field in Kansas.
USGS scientists operate drones with particulate and gas samplers over a prescribed burn in Kansas.
USGS scientists operate drones with particulate and gas samplers over a prescribed burn in Kansas.
USGS scientists operate drones with particulate and gas samplers over a prescribed burn in Kansas.

Joe Adams (USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office) pilots and Keith Grabner (USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center) acts as visual observer as a drone equipped with EPA particulate and gas samplers (right) hovers in the plume of a spring prescribed burn at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas.

Joe Adams (USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office) pilots and Keith Grabner (USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center) acts as visual observer as a drone equipped with EPA particulate and gas samplers (right) hovers in the plume of a spring prescribed burn at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas.

Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers in 1914 and 2009
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers in 1914 and 2009
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers in 1914 and 2009
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers in 1914 and 2009

Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers:  8/1/1914 EC Stebinger, USGS Photographic Library – 9/3/2009 L McKeon, USGS

Since the historic photo was taken, Blackfoot Glacier has retreated and fragmented into two separate glaciers, Blackfoot (foreground) and Jackson (distant) Glaciers. 

Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers:  8/1/1914 EC Stebinger, USGS Photographic Library – 9/3/2009 L McKeon, USGS

Since the historic photo was taken, Blackfoot Glacier has retreated and fragmented into two separate glaciers, Blackfoot (foreground) and Jackson (distant) Glaciers. 

Repeat photo of Grinnell Glacier
Repeat photo of Grinnell Glacier (1910, 2007)
Repeat photo of Grinnell Glacier (1910, 2007)
Repeat photo of Grinnell Glacier (1910, 2007)

Boulder Glacier in 1910 (Elrod photo, GNP Archives) and in 2007 (Fagre/Pederson photo, USGS).  Matching the intersection of the peaks in the background helps the repeat photographer locate the photo point.  USGS Public domain

 

Boulder Glacier in 1910 (Elrod photo, GNP Archives) and in 2007 (Fagre/Pederson photo, USGS).  Matching the intersection of the peaks in the background helps the repeat photographer locate the photo point.  USGS Public domain

 

Kintla Glacier in 1901 and 2019
Kintla Glacier in 1901 and 2019
Kintla Glacier in 1901 and 2019
Kintla Glacier in 1901 and 2019

Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS 

View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library 

Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS 

View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library 

US map with red dots showing estimated arsenic
United States map of modeling results showing the probability of arsenic greater than 5 micrograms per liter. Map of sink and faucet superimposed upon it.
United States map of modeling results showing the probability of arsenic greater than 5 micrograms per liter. Map of sink and faucet superimposed upon it.
United States map of modeling results showing the probability of arsenic greater than 5 micrograms per liter. Map of sink and faucet superimposed upon it.

United States map showing modeling results (red) of the probability of arsenic concentrations greater than 5 micrograms per liter. Map of sink and faucet superimposed upon it.

Map of U.S. mainland showing temperate, transitional and tropical temperature patterns
U.S. regions in the tropical-to-temperate transition
U.S. regions in the tropical-to-temperate transition
U.S. regions in the tropical-to-temperate transition

A map showing North America's tropical-to-temperate transition zone. Red, orange, and yellow depict the more tropical zones, and blues depict the more temperate zones, based on to the coldest recorded temperature for each area between 1980 and 2009.

A map showing North America's tropical-to-temperate transition zone. Red, orange, and yellow depict the more tropical zones, and blues depict the more temperate zones, based on to the coldest recorded temperature for each area between 1980 and 2009.

A school of snook, large subtropical game fish, in a Florida spring
Subtropical snook gather at a warm Florida springhead in winter
Subtropical snook gather at a warm Florida springhead in winter
Subtropical snook gather at a warm Florida springhead in winter

 Winter temperature extremes control the distributions of subtropical fishes. Common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), aggregate at a spring in northern Florida during winter. Snook are warm saltwater game fish, common in Florida, that have been moving further northward as extreme cold spells become less frequent and less intense.

 Winter temperature extremes control the distributions of subtropical fishes. Common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), aggregate at a spring in northern Florida during winter. Snook are warm saltwater game fish, common in Florida, that have been moving further northward as extreme cold spells become less frequent and less intense.

Agassiz Glacier in 1913 and 2007
Agassiz Glacier in 1913 and 2007
Agassiz Glacier in 1913 and 2007
Agassiz Glacier in 1913 and 2007

Agassiz Glacier: 8/5/1913 WC Alden, USGS Photographic Library - 8/24/2007, D Fagre, USGS 

View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library 

Agassiz Glacier: 8/5/1913 WC Alden, USGS Photographic Library - 8/24/2007, D Fagre, USGS 

View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library 

Chaney Glacier 1911 and 2005
Chaney Glacier 1911 and 2005
Chaney Glacier 1911 and 2005
Chaney Glacier 1911 and 2005

Chaney Glacier:  1911, MR Campbell, USGS Photographic Library – 8/19/2005 Karen Milone, USGS 

View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library 

Chaney Glacier:  1911, MR Campbell, USGS Photographic Library – 8/19/2005 Karen Milone, USGS 

View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library 

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