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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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Graphs showing trends in mean annual atmospheric precipitation and air temperature in the Lower Colorado River Basin, 1896-2019
Mean atmospheric precipitation and air temperature in the Lower Colorado River Basin, 1896-2019
Mean atmospheric precipitation and air temperature in the Lower Colorado River Basin, 1896-2019
Mean atmospheric precipitation and air temperature in the Lower Colorado River Basin, 1896-2019

Graphs showing mean annual precipitation and air temperature trends in the Lower Colorado River Basin, 1896-2019, published in: Tillman, F.D., Gangopadhyay, S., and Pruitt, T., 2020, Trends in recent historical and projected climate data for the Colorado River Basin and potential effects on groundwater availability: U.S.

Graphs showing mean annual precipitation and air temperature trends in the Lower Colorado River Basin, 1896-2019, published in: Tillman, F.D., Gangopadhyay, S., and Pruitt, T., 2020, Trends in recent historical and projected climate data for the Colorado River Basin and potential effects on groundwater availability: U.S.

Underside of Bell Jet Helicopter with thermal infrared and true-color image sensors and JN and M.D.
Underside of Bell Jet Helicopter with thermal infrared and true-color image sensors and JN and M.D.
Underside of Bell Jet Helicopter with thermal infrared and true-color image sensors and JN and M.D.
An orange stream flowing into a larger blue river.
Orange staining in a side channel of the Nakolikurok Creek
Orange staining in a side channel of the Nakolikurok Creek
Orange staining in a side channel of the Nakolikurok Creek

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Brown grass clumps surrounded by green grass.
Emergence of acidic waters from a seep in the Agashashok River Watershed
Emergence of acidic waters from a seep in the Agashashok River Watershed
Emergence of acidic waters from a seep in the Agashashok River Watershed

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

A person standing behind a pale orange river.
An orange tributary of the Igning River, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska
An orange tributary of the Igning River, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska
An orange tributary of the Igning River, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Water use during processing of copper ore
Diagram of water flow through a copper ore flotation plant and unlined tailings storage facility
Diagram of water flow through a copper ore flotation plant and unlined tailings storage facility
Diagram of water flow through a copper ore flotation plant and unlined tailings storage facility

Schematic diagram of water flow through a conventional copper-ore flotation plant and unlined tailings storage facility illustrating water losses (in italics), reclamation of process water, and addition of makeup water.

The Selenium Bioaccumulation and Contaminant Research Laboratory's Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry setup.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Equipment
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Equipment
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Equipment

The Selenium Bioaccumulation and Contaminant Research Laboratory's Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) set up for low mass, low concentration selenium analyses of most matrixes using hydride generation-isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HG-ID-ICP-MS).

The Selenium Bioaccumulation and Contaminant Research Laboratory's Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) set up for low mass, low concentration selenium analyses of most matrixes using hydride generation-isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HG-ID-ICP-MS).

Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside
View of nose of Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside
View of nose of Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside
View of nose of Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside

Profile view of a Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside of the nose. These sensors are used in airborne thermal infrared surveys for remotely sensing land/water surface temperature.

Two people in a boat and one of the people sitting and holding water sampling equiptment.
USGS staff collecting water quality samples on the Yukon River at Eagle
USGS staff collecting water quality samples on the Yukon River at Eagle
USGS staff collecting water quality samples on the Yukon River at Eagle

USGS staff sample the Yukon River for cyanide after a heap leach failure occurred upstream at the Eagle Gold Mine in the Yukon, Canada.

Grey fish with large dorsal fin laying on sand.
Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arctus) caught in the Nakolikuruk River near an orange tributary, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arctus) caught in the Nakolikuruk River near an orange tributary, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arctus) caught in the Nakolikuruk River near an orange tributary, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

A man in a blue jacket standing in front of a river.
Surveying for "rusting rivers" in the Nakolikurok Creek watershed, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
Surveying for "rusting rivers" in the Nakolikurok Creek watershed, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
Surveying for "rusting rivers" in the Nakolikurok Creek watershed, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

A blue creek running down a hillside into an orange river.
A seep emanates from a hillslope in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed, blackening vegetation and staining the streambanks orange
A seep emanates from a hillslope in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed, blackening vegetation and staining the streambanks orange
A seep emanates from a hillslope in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed, blackening vegetation and staining the streambanks orange

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange-stained rock along a creek bed.
Researchers following orange staining up the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek
Researchers following orange staining up the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek
Researchers following orange staining up the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Two people walking up an orange creek bed.
Researchers walking to a site to sample rusting in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed
Researchers walking to a site to sample rusting in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed
Researchers walking to a site to sample rusting in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange stream with brown mountain in background.
Orange staining and blackened vegetation where a seep emerges from a debris fan
Orange staining and blackened vegetation where a seep emerges from a debris fan
Orange staining and blackened vegetation where a seep emerges from a debris fan

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange stained rock along a creek.
Orange staining in the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek
Orange staining in the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek
Orange staining in the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Person walking through green grass next to an orange creek.
A scientist walks uphill towards the source of an orange seep
A scientist walks uphill towards the source of an orange seep
A scientist walks uphill towards the source of an orange seep

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Two people walking across and orange seep.
Two scientists investigating the source of an orange seep
Two scientists investigating the source of an orange seep
Two scientists investigating the source of an orange seep

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Exterior of a building and front parking lot with blue sky in the background
New USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
New USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
New USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The new Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) on the University of Alabama Campus at Tuscaloosa, AL. The new facility is a national USGS capability that includes:

Two people sampling water from an orange creek.
Two scientists sample the orange water of a seep in the Kelly River Watershed, Alaska
Two scientists sample the orange water of a seep in the Kelly River Watershed, Alaska
Two scientists sample the orange water of a seep in the Kelly River Watershed, Alaska

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

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