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Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.
A wide view of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea summit, taken on March 24, 2021 at 12:48 p.m. HST. A gas plume rises from the west vent (center-left), which continues to erupt lava into the active western portion of the lava lake (light gray in color). The center and eastern lava lake surface is covered by a darker, stagnant crust.
A wide view of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea summit, taken on March 24, 2021 at 12:48 p.m. HST. A gas plume rises from the west vent (center-left), which continues to erupt lava into the active western portion of the lava lake (light gray in color). The center and eastern lava lake surface is covered by a darker, stagnant crust.
Looking upstream (east) at USGS streamgage 08227510 North Crestone Creek at Baca NWR near Crestone, CO; USGS hydrologist is servicing the streamgage.
Looking upstream (east) at USGS streamgage 08227510 North Crestone Creek at Baca NWR near Crestone, CO; USGS hydrologist is servicing the streamgage.
Looking upstream (east) at USGS streamgage 08227510 North Crestone Creek at Baca NWR near Crestone, CO; non-contact radar suspended above the creek with USGS hydrologist servicing the streamgage on the bank on the left.
Looking upstream (east) at USGS streamgage 08227510 North Crestone Creek at Baca NWR near Crestone, CO; non-contact radar suspended above the creek with USGS hydrologist servicing the streamgage on the bank on the left.
Jin-Si Over conducting an elevation survey at Head of the Meadow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.
Jin-Si Over conducting an elevation survey at Head of the Meadow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava is limited to the western (bottom) portion of the lake between the main island and the western fissure complex. In this view looking east, a 4 meter (13 feet) diameter skylight is visible at the top of the northeastern-most spatter cone (left). USGS photo by N.
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava is limited to the western (bottom) portion of the lake between the main island and the western fissure complex. In this view looking east, a 4 meter (13 feet) diameter skylight is visible at the top of the northeastern-most spatter cone (left). USGS photo by N.
USGS scientist sampling phytoplankton with a net in San Francisco Bay.
USGS scientist sampling phytoplankton with a net in San Francisco Bay.
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers: 8/1/1914 EC Stebinger, USGS Photographic Library – 9/3/2009 L McKeon, USGS
Since the historic photo was taken, Blackfoot Glacier has retreated and fragmented into two separate glaciers, Blackfoot (foreground) and Jackson (distant) Glaciers.
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers: 8/1/1914 EC Stebinger, USGS Photographic Library – 9/3/2009 L McKeon, USGS
Since the historic photo was taken, Blackfoot Glacier has retreated and fragmented into two separate glaciers, Blackfoot (foreground) and Jackson (distant) Glaciers.
Boulder Glacier: circa 1910 M Elrod, Glacier National Park Archives - 8/24/2007 D Fagre & G Pederson, USGS
Boulder Glacier: circa 1910 M Elrod, Glacier National Park Archives - 8/24/2007 D Fagre & G Pederson, USGS
Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS
Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava is limited to the western portion of the lake, and is impounded by steep, well-defined levees. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava is limited to the western portion of the lake, and is impounded by steep, well-defined levees. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
A close up of the inlet where lava from the western fissure feeds into the lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The inlet is formed from two adjacent lava streams. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A close up of the inlet where lava from the western fissure feeds into the lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The inlet is formed from two adjacent lava streams. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
This photo shows the northern portion of the active lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Like the southern portion of the lake, this northern zone is also contained by steep, well-defined levees. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
This photo shows the northern portion of the active lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Like the southern portion of the lake, this northern zone is also contained by steep, well-defined levees. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Crustal foundering—less-dense liquid lava overriding and sinking thin surface crust—is common in the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, large sections of the crust are foundering, resurfacing the lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Crustal foundering—less-dense liquid lava overriding and sinking thin surface crust—is common in the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, large sections of the crust are foundering, resurfacing the lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
This photo shows one of the islands near the inlet in the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Over the past two weeks, the island has tilted 90 degrees, producing the vertical layering visible here. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
This photo shows one of the islands near the inlet in the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Over the past two weeks, the island has tilted 90 degrees, producing the vertical layering visible here. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
This photo shows the levee that bounds the southern margin of the active lake in Halema‘uma‘u. The levee is formed, in part, by numerous small crustal plates pushed over the rim. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
This photo shows the levee that bounds the southern margin of the active lake in Halema‘uma‘u. The levee is formed, in part, by numerous small crustal plates pushed over the rim. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Boulder Glacier in 1910 (Elrod photo, GNP Archives) and in 2007 (Fagre/Pederson photo, USGS). Matching the intersection of the peaks in the background helps the repeat photographer locate the photo point. USGS Public domain
Boulder Glacier in 1910 (Elrod photo, GNP Archives) and in 2007 (Fagre/Pederson photo, USGS). Matching the intersection of the peaks in the background helps the repeat photographer locate the photo point. USGS Public domain
Photographs and photomicrographs from an exotic duck. (A) Grossly, the spleen is enlarged, firm, and yellow (arrow). Throughout the liver are multifocal to coalescing firm tan nodules (arrowheads). (B) The liver contains multifocal granulomas (asterisk). H&E stain.
Photographs and photomicrographs from an exotic duck. (A) Grossly, the spleen is enlarged, firm, and yellow (arrow). Throughout the liver are multifocal to coalescing firm tan nodules (arrowheads). (B) The liver contains multifocal granulomas (asterisk). H&E stain.
Emily Wimmer (GLSC, Ann Arbor, Michigan) collects Cladophora growing at 6m depth in Lake Michigan.
Emily Wimmer (GLSC, Ann Arbor, Michigan) collects Cladophora growing at 6m depth in Lake Michigan.
Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS
View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library
Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS
View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library
On Thursday, March 18, lava continued to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Two lava inlets near the base of the west vent (center) supply lava into the lava lake. This photo was taken around 7:15 a.m.
On Thursday, March 18, lava continued to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Two lava inlets near the base of the west vent (center) supply lava into the lava lake. This photo was taken around 7:15 a.m.
On March 18, 2021, morning light illuminated the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Small collapses of the cone have accumulated into a loose pile of rubble (left) on the stagnant crust at its base—adjacent to the active lava lake (lower-right). USGS photo by K. Lynn.
On March 18, 2021, morning light illuminated the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Small collapses of the cone have accumulated into a loose pile of rubble (left) on the stagnant crust at its base—adjacent to the active lava lake (lower-right). USGS photo by K. Lynn.