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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.
Looking downstream from U.S. Highway 62 bridge at the widespread flooding and backwater conditions on the Arkansas River near Muskogee, Oklahoma, May 31, 2019.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1090
Looking downstream from U.S. Highway 62 bridge at the widespread flooding and backwater conditions on the Arkansas River near Muskogee, Oklahoma, May 31, 2019.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1090
Members of USGS Team B and paper Powell sharing a moment at the end of their 4-day river journey at the Gates of Lodore
Members of USGS Team B and paper Powell sharing a moment at the end of their 4-day river journey at the Gates of Lodore
Day 2 Rusty looking towards Firehole public use area
Day 2 Rusty looking towards Firehole public use area
View towards town of Green River from scenic overlook
View towards town of Green River from scenic overlook
Day 5 SCREE Bailey Edward taking wet photo
The yellow raft of SCREE expedition leader, Tom Minckley, floating through calm waters of Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado. The far bank in the midground of the photo are the exposed sediments of the pre-dam floodplain of the Green River. The layers of rock in the background are the exposed layers of the red Uinta Mountain Group quartzite.
The yellow raft of SCREE expedition leader, Tom Minckley, floating through calm waters of Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado. The far bank in the midground of the photo are the exposed sediments of the pre-dam floodplain of the Green River. The layers of rock in the background are the exposed layers of the red Uinta Mountain Group quartzite.
A close-up of the water ponds at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, using a zoom lens on the thermal camera. The smaller hot patches above the main pond show areas of warm water in the smaller ponds.
A close-up of the water ponds at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, using a zoom lens on the thermal camera. The smaller hot patches above the main pond show areas of warm water in the smaller ponds.
Staff from the USGS Great Lakes Science Center gaze at the Mackinac Bridge rising above the mist in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan. The lines they are holding are attached to grappling hooks being used to retrieve acoustic telemetry equipment anchored on the bottom of the straits.
Staff from the USGS Great Lakes Science Center gaze at the Mackinac Bridge rising above the mist in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan. The lines they are holding are attached to grappling hooks being used to retrieve acoustic telemetry equipment anchored on the bottom of the straits.
A group of cliff swallow nests made from mud in the river in Swallow Canyon. Many of the nests have birds in them and can be identified by their yellow beaks sticking out.
A group of cliff swallow nests made from mud in the river in Swallow Canyon. Many of the nests have birds in them and can be identified by their yellow beaks sticking out.
The water level continues to slowly rise at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, resulting in enlargement and merging of the small ponds. Today, the second and third ponds (top of image) observed over the weekend have merged, and are nearly connected to the main pond (bottom of image). For scale, the main pond is about 15 meters (yards) wide.
The water level continues to slowly rise at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, resulting in enlargement and merging of the small ponds. Today, the second and third ponds (top of image) observed over the weekend have merged, and are nearly connected to the main pond (bottom of image). For scale, the main pond is about 15 meters (yards) wide.
Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - 2018 high water mark
Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - 2018 high water mark
Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - flood water in gage house
Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - flood water in gage house
View looking downstream at the red sandstone walls of Swallow Canyon. This small canyon is one of two canyons that divide Browns Park into series of intermittent alluvial-meandering and bedrock canyon segments. Unlike Red Canyon and Lodore Canyon, the slope of Swallow Canyon is not controlled by debris flows, and thus does not have any rapids.
View looking downstream at the red sandstone walls of Swallow Canyon. This small canyon is one of two canyons that divide Browns Park into series of intermittent alluvial-meandering and bedrock canyon segments. Unlike Red Canyon and Lodore Canyon, the slope of Swallow Canyon is not controlled by debris flows, and thus does not have any rapids.
A close-up of a bald eagle hanging out on a cliff along the Green River in swallow canyon
A close-up of a bald eagle hanging out on a cliff along the Green River in swallow canyon
View looking at a shallow side channel of the Green River in Brown's Park, Colorado. The picture is taken looking downstream from the left bank of the river. In the foreground and on the opposite bank are stands of sandbar willow (Salix exigua). Further beyond, are stands of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii).
View looking at a shallow side channel of the Green River in Brown's Park, Colorado. The picture is taken looking downstream from the left bank of the river. In the foreground and on the opposite bank are stands of sandbar willow (Salix exigua). Further beyond, are stands of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii).
Two of the SCREE rafts heading downstream through Swallow Canyon
Two of the SCREE rafts heading downstream through Swallow Canyon
View looking upstream from a raft on the Green River at the downstream end of Swinging Bridge Canyon, near Flynn Bottom. The eastern end of the Unita Mountains lie in the background. A pump station supplying water to the flooded wetlands of Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge can be seen on the right near the edge of water.
View looking upstream from a raft on the Green River at the downstream end of Swinging Bridge Canyon, near Flynn Bottom. The eastern end of the Unita Mountains lie in the background. A pump station supplying water to the flooded wetlands of Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge can be seen on the right near the edge of water.
A great examples of the crossbeds in the Uinta Formation, a quarzite dating back to the PreCambrian, on a beautiful sunny morning with mist hanging above the river as the sun rises.
A great examples of the crossbeds in the Uinta Formation, a quarzite dating back to the PreCambrian, on a beautiful sunny morning with mist hanging above the river as the sun rises.
USGS Scientists taking sediment core USGS Scientists taking sediment core at Six Gill Slough restored marsh.
USGS Scientists taking sediment core USGS Scientists taking sediment core at Six Gill Slough restored marsh.
Andrena spp. seemingly getting a piggyback ride from a bumblebee (Bombus spp.). Researcher was holding the flower on private land in Macon County.
Andrena spp. seemingly getting a piggyback ride from a bumblebee (Bombus spp.). Researcher was holding the flower on private land in Macon County.