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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.
Halema‘uma‘u eruptive activity — April 14, 2021
A close-up view of the western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Island of Hawai‘i. Lava continues to enter the lava lake from a wide inlet near the base of the western vent (fuming at center right). Crustal foundering is common on the active lava lake surface (center bottom), located on the western side of the crater. This photograph was taken
...Colvin Creek - Reston, Virginia
A view of Colvin Creek during sunset Reston, Virginia
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—April 13, 2021
A close up view of the inlet at the western margin of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The lava stream was covered in a thin, flexible crust and was moving at a very slow velocity. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on April 13, 2021.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—April 13, 2021
This view from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u shows the perched lava lake, supplied by lava from the western fissure (upper right portion of photo). The levee surrounding the active lava lake is up to about 5 m (16 ft) high. USGS photo by M. Patrick on April 13, 2021.
Halema‘uma‘u eruptive activity on April 9, 2021
On Friday afternoon, April 9, lava entered the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake from two sources near the base of the west vent (degassing on left side of the image). This photo was taken around 4:00 p.m. HST from the western rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit. The lava source closer to the west vent emerged approximately one hour before this photo was taken. USGS Photo
...Halema‘uma‘u eruptive activity on April 9, 2021
On Friday, lava erupting from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater emerged from a source closer to the vents base (center), a few feet away from the submerged effusive inlet that has been feeding the lava lake for several weeks (lower right). This photo was taken from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater, in an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to
...Halema‘uma‘u eruptive activity on April 9, 2021
Lava continues to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. This photo of the vent and active western portion of the lava lake was taken around 3:00 p.m. HST from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater. USGS photo taken by K. Lynn on April 9, 2021.
April 8, 2021 — Kīlauea
The crusted-over southern shoreline of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit has accumulated talus (rubble) blocks on the surface since it solidified in February. On April 8, 2021, HVO field geologists noted steaming east of the talus (above the rubble in the photo) that was producing hazy viewing conditions. USGS photo by C. Parcheta.
Active lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater on April 7, 2021
A zoomed in view of the active lava lake and western vent, taken from the west rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea summit. The active lava lake remains perched a few meters (yards) higher than the surrounding solidified lava crust. A few small rafted islands (darker in color) are visible within the active western lava lake. The bluish-white gas plume marks the location
...Kīlauea summit lava lake on April 7, 2021
View of the Kīlauea summit lava lake from the west rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater on April 7, 2021. Lava continues to erupt from the west vent, where a diffuse gas plume is visible in the lower left. The active west part of the lava lake (lower center) is a lighter gray color, compared to the darker appearance of the solidified surface crust to the east. This photo was taken
...April 5, 2021 — Kīlauea
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active, as seen in this view looking north. Active surface lava is limited to the western (left) portion of the lake between the main island and the western fissure complex. The blueish tinge to the plume from the western fissure complex (left) is due to sulfur dioxide (SO2). USGS photo
...Kīlauea summit eruption — April 2, 2021
A telephoto image from the ongoing eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava continues to enter the lava lake through an inlet near the base of the west vent cone (right). An incandescent opening near the top of the cone (upper center), ejected occasional bursts of spatter. Crustal foundering of a section of the lava lake surface crust (lower
...Kīlauea summit eruption — April 2, 2021
A telephoto view of the eastern Halema‘uma‘u crater wall and portion of the crusted-over lava lake at Kīlauea summit. In this photo, molten lava from below the surface crust has squeezed up between the lava crust and the crater wall as an “ooze-out.” USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on April 2, 2021.
Kīlauea summit eruption — April 2, 2021
A wide view of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The western vent and perched lava lake remain active in the western portion of the crater (left). Sulfur dioxide emission rates remain elevated, with the most recent measurement being 1,200 tonnes per day on April 1. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on April 2, 2021.
Vent in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit - April 2, 2021
Telephoto image of the western cone complex of the current eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit. In the center, a horseshoe-shaped spatter rampart is partially filled in by a more recent spatter cone. The cone has an incandescent opening that spatter is occasionally erupted from. Behind the main cone (to the right in the image) is another spatter cone, darker in
...Woods Hole Sediment Analysis Lab's Rigaku Miniflex 600
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Analysis Laboratory's Rigaku Miniflex 600 (USGS laboratory equipment number WH-SED-Rigaku-Miniflex1).
Woods Hole Sediment Analysis Lab's Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Analysis Laboratory's Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3 (USGS laboratory equipment number WH-SED-BeckmanCoulter-Multisizer1).
Woods Hole Sed Lab's Horiba LA-960 laser defraction unit
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Analysis Laboratory's Horiba LA-960 laser diffraction unit with slurry sampler (USGS laboratory equipment number WH-SED-Horiba-LA9601).
Woods Hole Sed Lab's collection of sieves.
Photograph of cabinets in the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Analysis Laboratory contaning the lab's collection of sieves.
March 31, 2021 - Photo of Halema‘uma‘u western fissure
This March 31, 2021, photo shows a close-up view of the active western fissure of Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawai‘i. Near the bottom of the photo, orange incandescence can be seen from two circular vents of the spatter cones. The orange area above the vents is where lava is entering the lava lake, and the orange area in upper right side of the photo
...High Tech Beach Day
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center technicians programming remote field camera installations on Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore.
Chinle Creek, USGS
Photo of Chinle Creek, USGS
GEMSC supply distribution day
Photo Contest Winner | March 2021 | USGS at Work
GEMSC supply distribution day
USGS employees on boat
Photo Contest Winner | March 2021 | People
USGS employees on boat
Flatrock River at St. Paul, IN
Photo Contest Winner | March 2021 | Honorable Mention
03363500 Flatrock River at St. Paul, IN; established 1930
USGS staffer Kent Smith installing a CSG on the Genesee River
Kent Smith Installing a crest stage gage (CSG) on the Genesee River. (Credit: John Wernly, USGS NY WSC Public domain.)
Seafloor tripod equipped with oceanographic equipment
Seafloor tripod equipped with oceanographic equipment to be deployed offshore of Sandwich, MA , March 2021
March 30, 2021 — Kīlauea
The western fissure remains active, supplying lava to the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. This photo shows a close-up of the inlet where lava enters the lake. The motion of the lava stream has been slow but continuous. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
March 30, 2021 — Kīlauea
This photo shows Halema‘uma‘u Crater from the western caldera rim, looking east. Active surface lava is limited to the western portion of the lake, and can be seen as the silvery surface just below the center of the image. The eastern portion of the lake is solidified at the surface, and is visible just above the center. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
March 30, 2021 — Kīlauea
This photo was taken from the western caldera rim, and looks down up on the western fissure supplying lava into the lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Incandescence is visible in a small vent opening in the lower left portion of the image. In the upper right, the lava stream at the lake inlet slowly flows eastward. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
March 30, 2021 — Kīlauea
This photo shows a close-up of the inlet where lava enters the lake in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. A lava crust forms around the source of the lava stream, and occasionally fractures and is carried away by the current. Here, this sequence is beginning with a crack developing in the crust. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
March 29, 2021 — Kīlauea
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. The active surface lava lake, shown in this photo, is limited to the western portion of the lake between the western fissure complex (center left) and the main island (right). In this view looking to the northwest, the main effusion source of lava into the lake is visible as a saw-tooth line at
...March 27, 2021 — Kīlauea
The lava lake remains active in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The surface area of the active lava lake has slowly decreased over the past several months, with the active surface lava now limited to a portion of the west side of lake. The lake remains perched several meters (yards) above its surroundings, bound by a steep levee on most sides. USGS photo by
...March 27, 2021 — Kīlauea
A close up of the inlet where lava from the western fissure feeds into the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The lava stream was sluggish, with the movement barely perceptible with the naked eye. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 26, 2021
An aerial view of the western portion of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The west vent (upper-right) continues to erupt lava into the perched active portion of the lava lake. The main island, which remains trapped in place by the solidified lava crust surrounding it, is visible at the bottom of the photo. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither
...Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on March 26
During today’s HVO helicopter overflight of the Kīlauea summit eruption, no major changes were observed. As the west vent continues to erupt lava into the active lava lake, volcanic gas emissions remain elevated, with a visible plume rising from the western vent (upper-right). The most recent SO2 emission rates were recorded on March 22 at about 950 t/d. USGS
...Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 26, 2021
A telephoto view of the west vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater taken during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight of Kīlauea summit. The west vent continues to supply lava into the active western portion of the lava lake from two adjacent inlets at its base (center-left). A pile of rubble, from a partial collapse of the cone several weeks ago, remains on the
...A comparison of perched lava lake and lava channel levees—Kīlauea
This figure shows a comparison of ongoing activity in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, with a 2007 lava channel on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. On the left, a photo shows the levee that is containing the active perched lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u. The levee is formed in part from rafted pieces of surface crust that are pushed onto the levee by the lake circulation, with
...Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 26, 2021
A close-up aerial view of the southern active lava lake margin within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit. The formation of the levee containing the “perched” active lava lake (center to upper-right) is partially due to crustal plates from the active lake surface being pushed onto the rim of the lava lake. See the magnified image of the levee (lower-left) for a more
...West vent cones in the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption
Morning light illuminates the active west vent spatter cones from the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption at Kīlauea Volcano's summit on Friday, March 26, 2021. Several of the cones were actively degassing but no spatter or lava flows were observed. USGS Photo by K. Lynn.
Upstream view of the Columbia River flowing through the Hanford reach
The Columbia River flowing through the Hanford reach of the arid Columbia River basin, eastern Washington. This reach is one of the few undammed segments of the Columbia River within the United States. Photograph taken from the White Bluffs, composed of sediment deposited in late Miocene and Pliocene Lake Ringold which occupied the Pasco Basin.
March 24, 2021 view of the Kīlauea summit lava lake and west vent
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. USGS photo taken by D
...Water Quality of San Francisco Bay Phytoplankton Net
USGS scientist sampling phytoplankton with a net in San Francisco Bay.
View of lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u—Kīlauea—March 23, 2021
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. Deligne on
...Jin-Si Over Conducting Elevation Survey
Jin-Si Over conducting an elevation survey at Head of the Meadow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.
Repeat photo of Grinnell Glacier (1910, 2007)
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
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers in 1914 and 2009
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.
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