Images

USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center field crew showing off the new magnetometer, named Magnetron, on fantail of Research Vessel (R/V) Parke Snavely.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist conducts an interview at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano in 2011.

Worldwide distribution of observed and inferred gas hydrates in marine and permafrost-associated settings that have been the subject of drilling programs. The color coding refers to the primary sediment type in each location and therefore designates the likely type of gas hydrate reservoir at each site.

Building damanged by the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Toe of the active Cleveland Corral landslide in 2011, perched above US Highway 50 in distance.  Movement typically only occurs during wet winter and spring months.

Bathymetry of the New England inner shelf and south shore of Martha’s Vineyard with model grids

Map C.  Backscatter intensity and sun-illuminated topography.  Blue= "soft" seabed, Green, orange = "hard" seabed

Stellwagen Bank project research areas in the United States and Canada

Bird's-eye view map of a section of the seafloor off southern California, made with depth data. The map shows a channel wall that has been cut by the San Diego Trough fault and moved about 20 meters. This feature is about 1,000 meters below sea level.

At Kīlauea, when the lava column drops below the water table, groundwater may come into contact with with magma or hot rocks, causing violent steam explosions.

Numerical model grids showing downscaling from larger regional grid (far right) to more refined coastal grid (left). Colors are bathymetry (m).

Cape Hatteras, N.C.

Map of Long Bay, S.C. study area

Impressive columns like these form along the margins of ice-confined lava flows but usually are eroded off the sides due to continued glacial movement after an eruption ceases. Columns are better preserved at the ends of the flows (this photo) where they are protected somewhat from the ice.

A new fissure eruption in September 2011 on the flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on Kīlauea Volcano's east rift zone reminds us of the need to be aware of our ever-changing volcanic environment on Hawai‘i Island. "Volcano Awareness Month" events in January 2012 offer island residents and visitors many opportunities to learn more about Hawai‘i's active volcanoes.

This near-vertical view from the helicopter shows the surface of the lava lake at Halema‘uma‘u.

One of the individual streams of lava cascading over the sea cliff, producing a thick steam plume at the water's edge.

This skylight provided a clear view of the lava stream inside the lava tube on today's overflight, and a swiftly moving current could easily be seen.

This thermal image shows the western portion of the West Ka‘ili‘ili ocean entry, which hosts numerous small entry points. Active breakouts can be seen on the coastal plain along the west margin of the flow field.

View of scattered pāhoehoe lobes and toes on the coastal plain, just inland from the ocean entry.