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Images related to natural hazards.

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This photograph looks north, and shows the position of the leading ...
This photograph looks north, and shows the position of the leading ...
This photograph looks north, and shows the position of the leading ...
This photograph looks north, and shows the position of the leading ...

This photograph looks north, and shows the position of the leading tip of the flow relative to Highway 130. The brown swaths cut through the forest are fire breaks, and the large brown area at the left side of the image is a recent burn scar.

This photograph looks north, and shows the position of the leading tip of the flow relative to Highway 130. The brown swaths cut through the forest are fire breaks, and the large brown area at the left side of the image is a recent burn scar.

Monitoring lava flows with boots on the ground and eyes in the sky...
Monitoring lava flows with boots on the ground and eyes in the sky
Monitoring lava flows with boots on the ground and eyes in the sky
Monitoring lava flows with boots on the ground and eyes in the sky

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick uses a handheld GPS receiver to map the boundary of an active lobe of the June 27th lava flow near Pāhoa on the Island of Hawai‘i. USGS photo.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick uses a handheld GPS receiver to map the boundary of an active lobe of the June 27th lava flow near Pāhoa on the Island of Hawai‘i. USGS photo.

Sluggish activity at leading tip of the flow...
Sluggish activity at leading tip of the flow
Sluggish activity at leading tip of the flow
Sluggish activity at leading tip of the flow

The leading tip of the most distal active portion of the June 27th lava flow remains active, but consists of small, sluggish breakouts that have not advanced a significant distance during the past two days. The leading tip of the flow remains approximately 600 meters (0.4 miles) from Highway 130.

The leading tip of the most distal active portion of the June 27th lava flow remains active, but consists of small, sluggish breakouts that have not advanced a significant distance during the past two days. The leading tip of the flow remains approximately 600 meters (0.4 miles) from Highway 130.

Map of area around front of Kīlauea's East Rift Zone lava flow...
Map of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Map of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Map of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow

This large-scale map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow.

This large-scale map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow.

Satellites are now an essential tool for tracking lava flows...
Satellites are now an essential tool for tracking lava flows
Satellites are now an essential tool for tracking lava flows
Satellites are now an essential tool for tracking lava flows

This satellite image was captured on Sunday, January 4, 2015, by the Advanced Land Imager instrument onboard NASA's Earth Observing 1 satellite. Bright red pixels depict areas of high temperature and indicate active lava. White areas are clouds. The yellow outline is the flow margin as mapped on Tuesday, December 30.

This satellite image was captured on Sunday, January 4, 2015, by the Advanced Land Imager instrument onboard NASA's Earth Observing 1 satellite. Bright red pixels depict areas of high temperature and indicate active lava. White areas are clouds. The yellow outline is the flow margin as mapped on Tuesday, December 30.

River mixes with ocean water at beach, sand is piled high in foreground, with seagulls, and brightly colored apartments in back.
Capitola State Beach waterfront area
Capitola State Beach waterfront area
Capitola State Beach waterfront area

Knowing how much sand is removed and returned by big storm events can help show how waterfronts, like this one in Capitola, change with time.

Man walks along the sandy edge of a river with very colorfully painted apartments in background.
Capitola State Beach mapping
Capitola State Beach mapping
Capitola State Beach mapping

Reflectors are placed throughout a lidar scan area to help reference where the lidar points are in space. Andrew Stevens, USGS, surveys Capitola Beach, walks past a reflector mounted on a tall, yellow tripod in front of the light blue building.

Reflectors are placed throughout a lidar scan area to help reference where the lidar points are in space. Andrew Stevens, USGS, surveys Capitola Beach, walks past a reflector mounted on a tall, yellow tripod in front of the light blue building.

Man holds a piece of cylindrical steel attached to a handle and thick chain, on the stern of a moving boat.
Pipe dredge for collecting seabed sediment
Pipe dredge for collecting seabed sediment
Pipe dredge for collecting seabed sediment

USGS geologist Bruce Richmond prepares to deploy a pipe dredge that will be dragged along the seabed to collect sediment.

Large-scale map of Kīlauea's East Rift Zone lava flow...
Large-scale map of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Large-scale map of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Large-scale map of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow

This large-scale map shows the distal part of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow in relation to nearby Puna communities. The area of the flow in the morning on January 9 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as determined from our overflight acquired in the morning on January 13 is shown in red.

This large-scale map shows the distal part of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow in relation to nearby Puna communities. The area of the flow in the morning on January 9 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as determined from our overflight acquired in the morning on January 13 is shown in red.

A closer look at the leading edge of the north-northeast advancing ...
leading edge of the north-NE advancing lobe that was active about 2...
leading edge of the north-NE advancing lobe that was active about 2...
leading edge of the north-NE advancing lobe that was active about 2...

A closer look at the leading edge of the north-northeast advancing lobe that was active about 2 km (1.2 miles) upslope of the stalled flow tip. This lobe has crossed a fire break, and a small brush fire was active along the flow margin.

A closer look at the leading edge of the north-northeast advancing lobe that was active about 2 km (1.2 miles) upslope of the stalled flow tip. This lobe has crossed a fire break, and a small brush fire was active along the flow margin.

This close-up view of an inactive portion of the flow margin shows ...
This close-up inactive portion of the flow margin shows the irregul...
This close-up inactive portion of the flow margin shows the irregul...
This close-up inactive portion of the flow margin shows the irregul...

This close-up view of an inactive portion of the flow margin shows the irregular surface relief created from pāhoehoe flow inflation.

Satellite image of area around front of Kīlauea's East Rift Zone la...
Image of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Image of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Image of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow

This large-scale map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow. The area of the flow on January 9 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as determined from our overflight in the morning on January 13 is shown in red.

This large-scale map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow. The area of the flow on January 9 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as determined from our overflight in the morning on January 13 is shown in red.

Active breakouts persist upslope of stalled flow tip...
Active breakouts persist upslope of stalled flow tip
Active breakouts persist upslope of stalled flow tip
Active breakouts persist upslope of stalled flow tip

The leading tip of the flow near Pahoa Marketplace remains stalled, but active breakouts persist a short distance upslope. Breakouts were active about 500 meters (0.3 miles) upslope of the stalled tip, and a portion of this activity on the north margin triggered a small brush fire.

The leading tip of the flow near Pahoa Marketplace remains stalled, but active breakouts persist a short distance upslope. Breakouts were active about 500 meters (0.3 miles) upslope of the stalled tip, and a portion of this activity on the north margin triggered a small brush fire.

A view of the leading edge of the flow, looking downslope towards P...
leading edge of the flow, looking downslope towards Pahoa Marketpla...
leading edge of the flow, looking downslope towards Pahoa Marketpla...
leading edge of the flow, looking downslope towards Pahoa Marketpla...

A view of the leading edge of the flow, looking downslope towards Pahoa Marketplace and Highway 130. The brush fire was triggered along the edge of a small north-northeast advancing lobe that was active about 700 meters (0.4 miles) upslope of the stalled flow tip.

A view of the leading edge of the flow, looking downslope towards Pahoa Marketplace and Highway 130. The brush fire was triggered along the edge of a small north-northeast advancing lobe that was active about 700 meters (0.4 miles) upslope of the stalled flow tip.

Winds from the south provided a fairly clear view in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crat...
Winds from the south provided a fairly clear view in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. At...
Winds from the south provided a fairly clear view in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. At...
Winds from the south provided a fairly clear view in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. At...

Winds from the south provided a fairly clear view in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. At the right side of the photograph, a thick fume source is situated on the northeast rim of the crater.

This comparison of a normal photograph and a thermal image shows th...
This comparison of a normal photograph and a thermal image shows th...
This comparison of a normal photograph and a thermal image shows th...
This comparison of a normal photograph and a thermal image shows th...

This comparison of a normal photograph and a thermal image shows the position of active breakouts relative to the stalled flow tip. In the thermal image, active breakouts are visible as white and yellow areas.

This comparison of a normal photograph and a thermal image shows the position of active breakouts relative to the stalled flow tip. In the thermal image, active breakouts are visible as white and yellow areas.

Satellite image of area around front of Kīlauea's East Rift Zone la...
Image of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Image of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Image of area around front of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow

This large-scale map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow.

This large-scale map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow.

Large-scale map of Kīlauea's East Rift Zone lava flow...
Large-scale map of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Large-scale map of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow
Large-scale map of Kīlauea's ERZ lava flow

This large-scale map shows the distal part of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow in relation to nearby Puna communities. The area of the flow in the afternoon on January 6 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as determined from satellite imagery acquired in the morning on January 9 is shown in red.

This large-scale map shows the distal part of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow in relation to nearby Puna communities. The area of the flow in the afternoon on January 6 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as determined from satellite imagery acquired in the morning on January 9 is shown in red.

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