Images

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.

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.

Sign above bathroom at Horseshoe Lake announcing CO2 hazard. Notice the ventilation in the bathroom.

Shipwrecks and other artificial structures increase the potential for large invasions of unwanted species into coral reefs, even relatively pristine ones. In this picture, a shipwreck in the remote Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean resulted in the dense colonization of an invasive coral-like species called Rhodactis howesii, pictured here.

Shipwrecks and other artificial structures increase the potential for large invasions of unwanted species into coral reefs, even relatively pristine ones. In this picture, a shipwreck in the remote Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean resulted in the dense colonization of an invasive coral-like species called Rhodactis howesii, pictured here.

The volcanoes from closest to farthest are Mt. Washington, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Jefferson. This picture is taken from Middle Sister looking north in the Cascade Range, Three Sisters Wilderness Area, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon.

Home surrounded by floodwater from Wild Rice River. Photo taken from bridge at 174th Ave and 124th St southwest of Horace, ND.

USGS personnel at work using acoustic doppler on bridge over Wild Rice River. Photo taken at 174th Ave and 124th St southwest of Horace, ND.

Floodwater at Wild Rice River. Photo taken from bridge at 174th Ave and 124th St southwest of Horace, ND.

Acoustic doppler used to record measurements on Wild Rice River during 2010 flood. Photo taken from bridge at 174th Ave and 124th St southwest of Horace, ND.

Acoustic doppler used to record measurements on Wild Rice River during 2010 flood. Photo taken from bridge at 174th Ave and 124th St southwest of Horace, ND.

A cathedral in the central square of Chillán, Chile replaces the ancient cathedral that collapsed during the strong earthquake of 1939. This modern structure was constructed with earthquake resistance as the primary consideration. The only damage caused by the M 8.8 earthquake on Feb. 27, 2010 was broken windows.

A masonry building in the downtown part of Concepcion, Chile partially collapsed as a result of the M 8.8 earthquake on Feb. 27, 2010. Most modern buildings in Concepcion were undamaged during the earthquake due to the city's adoption of adequate building standards. However, many masonry buildings such as this one were heavily damaged.

These offices buildings in Concepcion, Chile were built to be tsunami-ready. They are elevated some 10 meters (32 feet) above the ground surface, such that a tsunami inundation would pass below without causing damage.

This masonry office building in the downtown area of Concepcion, Chile collapsed as a result of the M 8.8 earthquake on Feb. 27, 2010. The construction of this building predates the establishment of strict building codes in Chile, put in place following the devastating earthquake of 1960.

Mount Adams, aerial view from the south. The A.G. Aiken Lava Bed lava flow is seen in the lower center of the photo, which erupted since the last glaciation.

Mount Adams from the southwest near Trout Lake, Washington. Foreground surface is a 300 year old lahar deposit that originated from high on the flank of the volcano, which deposited house-sized block.

High resolution satellite imagery showed the landscape and building damages before and after the magnitude-7 earthquake hit Haiti in the beginning of 2010. This image was taken before the earthquake.

Employee uses a Flowtracker to measure cross-sectional profile of a rivulet draining a mangrove forest.

Another large chunk of the rim collapsed into the Halema'uma'u lava lake.

Dr. David Shelly is a research seismologist with the USGS.