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2022 Polar Bear Research Masterplan

Scientists continue to study how a warming Arctic will affect polar bear populations. The new 2022 Polar Bear Research Council Masterplan identifies how polar bears in zoos can help fill knowledge gaps that benefit wild populations.

Scientists continue to study how a warming Arctic will affect polar bear populations. The new 2022 Polar Bear Research Council Masterplan identifies how polar bears in zoos can help fill knowledge gaps that benefit wild populations.

Do droughts affect groundwater quality? Do droughts affect groundwater quality?
PubTalk-02/2022 - Do Droughts Affect Groundwater Quality? A California Story
color photo of Lola Fatoyinbo with the graphic for the USGS EROS podcast "Eyes on Earth"
Eyes on Earth - Tracking Mangroves by Satellite thumbnail
Eyes on Earth - Tracking Mangroves by Satellite thumbnail
Eyes on Earth Episode 68 - Tracking Mangroves by Satellite
Eyes on Earth Episode 68 - Tracking Mangroves by Satellite
color photo of Lola Fatoyinbo with the graphic for the USGS EROS podcast "Eyes on Earth"
Eyes on Earth - Tracking Mangroves by Satellite thumbnail
Eyes on Earth - Tracking Mangroves by Satellite thumbnail
Eyes on Earth Episode 68 - Tracking Mangroves by Satellite

The sturdy root systems of mangrove forests act as buffer zones along the coastlines of some of the planet’s most vulnerable communities, protecting lives, ecosystems and property from the rigors of hurricanes and tsunamis.

The sturdy root systems of mangrove forests act as buffer zones along the coastlines of some of the planet’s most vulnerable communities, protecting lives, ecosystems and property from the rigors of hurricanes and tsunamis.

Color photograph of lava flow Color photograph of lava flow
February 17, 2022 — Typical activity at the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea
February 17, 2022 — Typical activity at the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea

This video clip shows typical activity at the west vent, in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava upwells in a small pond and then flows into the main lake via a narrow channel.

Image of the Week - Olympic Skiing in Beijing

A satellite image of the mountains that will host Olympic skiing events should display a snowy landscape, right? But the National Alpine Ski Centre and Sliding Centre 45 miles northwest of Beijing, China doesn't get much snowfall. Instead, the steep slopes are lined with manmade snow.

A satellite image of the mountains that will host Olympic skiing events should display a snowy landscape, right? But the National Alpine Ski Centre and Sliding Centre 45 miles northwest of Beijing, China doesn't get much snowfall. Instead, the steep slopes are lined with manmade snow.

thermal image of eruption thermal image of eruption
February 7– 10, 2022 – Kīlauea summit eruption thermal timelapse video
February 7– 10, 2022 – Kīlauea summit eruption thermal timelapse video

Eruptive activity at the summit of Kīlauea, within Halema‘uma‘u crater, has recently been characterized by the eruption waxing and waning over timescales of days. This video, captured from February 7–10, 2022, by the F1cam, a thermal camera located on the west rim of the caldera and looking east, shows the eruption pass through a pause cycle.

Eruptive activity at the summit of Kīlauea, within Halema‘uma‘u crater, has recently been characterized by the eruption waxing and waning over timescales of days. This video, captured from February 7–10, 2022, by the F1cam, a thermal camera located on the west rim of the caldera and looking east, shows the eruption pass through a pause cycle.

Color photograph of lava flow Color photograph of lava flow
Lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u remains active
Lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u remains active

This video, taken on February 10, 2022, shows lava upwelling at the western vent, in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea, before flowing into the lava lake to the east via a narrow channel.

This video, taken on February 10, 2022, shows lava upwelling at the western vent, in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea, before flowing into the lava lake to the east via a narrow channel.

USGS symbol and title text on image of coastal forest landscape and bay USGS symbol and title text on image of coastal forest landscape and bay
Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change
Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.

Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.

color photo of Kerry Cawse-Nicholson with the logo for the USGS EROS podcast Eyes on Earth
EoE - ECOSTRESS and Water Use thumbnail
EoE - ECOSTRESS and Water Use thumbnail
Eyes on Earth Episode 67 - ECOSTRESS and Water Use
Eyes on Earth Episode 67 - ECOSTRESS and Water Use
color photo of Kerry Cawse-Nicholson with the logo for the USGS EROS podcast Eyes on Earth
EoE - ECOSTRESS and Water Use thumbnail
EoE - ECOSTRESS and Water Use thumbnail
Eyes on Earth Episode 67 - ECOSTRESS and Water Use

If you want to know how much rain fell yesterday, you can catch it and measure it. Water vapor? That's not so easy. Which is a problem if you want to know how quickly that rate is returning to the atmosphere. Water vapor is the single largest part of the water budget, but without space-based observations, it would be all but impossible to measure at wide scale.

If you want to know how much rain fell yesterday, you can catch it and measure it. Water vapor? That's not so easy. Which is a problem if you want to know how quickly that rate is returning to the atmosphere. Water vapor is the single largest part of the water budget, but without space-based observations, it would be all but impossible to measure at wide scale.

Image of the Week - Landsat's 10 Millionth Scene

Landsat 7 had the honor of acquiring the satellite program’s 10 millionth scene in November 2021.

The scene captures changes to the Dead Sea, located in Southwest Asia. The Dead Sea is mainly fed by the Jordan River, which enters from the north. However, the water level of the Dead Sea has been falling due to irrigation projects and water use upstream.

Landsat 7 had the honor of acquiring the satellite program’s 10 millionth scene in November 2021.

The scene captures changes to the Dead Sea, located in Southwest Asia. The Dead Sea is mainly fed by the Jordan River, which enters from the north. However, the water level of the Dead Sea has been falling due to irrigation projects and water use upstream.

a person standing on a bluff overlooking the ocean a person standing on a bluff overlooking the ocean
Coastal Change in Arctic Alaska
Coastal Change in Arctic Alaska

The Arctic region is warming faster than anywhere else in the nation. Understanding the rates and causes of coastal change in Alaska is needed to identify and mitigate hazards that might affect people and animals that call Alaska home.

Listen to the audio-described version.

The Arctic region is warming faster than anywhere else in the nation. Understanding the rates and causes of coastal change in Alaska is needed to identify and mitigate hazards that might affect people and animals that call Alaska home.

Listen to the audio-described version.

Color photograph of lava lake Color photograph of lava lake
February 4, 2022 — Kīlauea summit eruption observations
February 4, 2022 — Kīlauea summit eruption observations

A Kīlauea summit eruption monitoring shift on February 4, 2022, provided views of the eruption within Halema‘ma‘u crater. Lava flows from a pond north of the west vent into the lava lake, which exhibits areas of spattering.

A Kīlauea summit eruption monitoring shift on February 4, 2022, provided views of the eruption within Halema‘ma‘u crater. Lava flows from a pond north of the west vent into the lava lake, which exhibits areas of spattering.

color photograph of lava flow color photograph of lava flow
Recent activity at Kīlauea summit - February 1, 2022
Recent activity at Kīlauea summit - February 1, 2022

These video clips show recent activity at the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava upwelling at the western vent flows into the lake, where bubbling is commonly present. In the eastern portion of the crater, a steep spatter cone has produced vigorous spattering and small lava flows.

These video clips show recent activity at the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava upwelling at the western vent flows into the lake, where bubbling is commonly present. In the eastern portion of the crater, a steep spatter cone has produced vigorous spattering and small lava flows.

Deformation and geochemical anomalies near South Sister, Oregon Deformation and geochemical anomalies near South Sister, Oregon
Tracking uplift near Three Sisters volcanoes, using semi-permanent GPS instruments
Tracking uplift near Three Sisters volcanoes, using semi-permanent GPS instruments

USGS geologist Dan Dzurisin is near Sisters, in Central Oregon, to set up portable GPS monitoring equipment to track something that's been going on for 25 years and still goes on today. It’s uplift, a subtle rise in the ground’s surface, in an area west of South Sister volcano.

USGS geologist Dan Dzurisin is near Sisters, in Central Oregon, to set up portable GPS monitoring equipment to track something that's been going on for 25 years and still goes on today. It’s uplift, a subtle rise in the ground’s surface, in an area west of South Sister volcano.

Color photograph of scientist adjusting instrument Color photograph of scientist adjusting instrument
January 28, 2022 — Kīlauea summit UAS missions
January 28, 2022 — Kīlauea summit UAS missions

On January 28, the USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) missions at the summit of Kīlauea, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

On January 28, the USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) missions at the summit of Kīlauea, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Color photograph of lava lake Color photograph of lava lake
27 January 2022 – Kīlauea summit eruption
27 January 2022 – Kīlauea summit eruption

HVO field crews participated in an overflight and ground work at the summit of Kīlauea on January 27. This video compilation contains footage taken from the air and ground.

HVO field crews participated in an overflight and ground work at the summit of Kīlauea on January 27. This video compilation contains footage taken from the air and ground.

Screenshot of video showing the title and a person talking. Screenshot of video showing the title and a person talking.
PubTalk-01/2022: Species Here, Species There, Species, Species Everywhere - Why do Species live where they do?
PubTalk-01/2022: Species Here, Species There, Species, Species Everywhere - Why do Species live where they do?

Species Here, Species There, Species, Species Everywhere - Why do Species live where they do?

By Thomas Edwards, USGS Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (Retired)

Professor Emeritus, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University

north pacific marine heatwave north pacific marine heatwave
North Pacific Marine Heatwave
North Pacific Marine Heatwave

In the winter of 2015, the public noticed thousands of dead seabirds washing ashore across the western coast of the United States and Canada. The USGS linked this massive seabird die-off to the North Pacific Marine Heatwave. A marine heatwave occurs when sea surface temperatures are above normal for an extended period of time.

In the winter of 2015, the public noticed thousands of dead seabirds washing ashore across the western coast of the United States and Canada. The USGS linked this massive seabird die-off to the North Pacific Marine Heatwave. A marine heatwave occurs when sea surface temperatures are above normal for an extended period of time.

Color thumbnail for Eyes on Earth Episode 66 - Mapping Exotic Annual Grasses
Eyes on Earth - Exotic Annual Grasses thumbnail
Eyes on Earth - Exotic Annual Grasses thumbnail
Eyes on Earth Episode 66 – Exotic Annual Grasses
Eyes on Earth Episode 66 – Exotic Annual Grasses
Color thumbnail for Eyes on Earth Episode 66 - Mapping Exotic Annual Grasses
Eyes on Earth - Exotic Annual Grasses thumbnail
Eyes on Earth - Exotic Annual Grasses thumbnail
Eyes on Earth Episode 66 – Exotic Annual Grasses

The rangelands of the western United States are changing more quickly than many other parts of the lower 48. Miles upon miles of the area or semi-arid landscapes in states like Idaho, Montana and Nevada are now carpeted by fire fueling invasive grasses. Cheatgrass is the most prevalent, which is troublesome for several reasons.

The rangelands of the western United States are changing more quickly than many other parts of the lower 48. Miles upon miles of the area or semi-arid landscapes in states like Idaho, Montana and Nevada are now carpeted by fire fueling invasive grasses. Cheatgrass is the most prevalent, which is troublesome for several reasons.

Scientist levels surveying instrument on lava flow Scientist levels surveying instrument on lava flow
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Deformation Update — Deformation at Hawai‘i’s volcanoes during 2021: The start of a new chapter
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Deformation Update — Deformation at Hawai‘i’s volcanoes during 2021: The start of a new chapter

2021 was an interesting year for deformation at both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. At Kīlauea, 2021 provided a glimpse of what the future might hold as the system recovers from the large collapses that accompanied the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption.

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