Multimedia Gallery

A USGS scientist calibrates two MultiGas instruments to prepare for mapping volcanic gasses on the floor of Kīlauea caldera. With the MultiGas strapped to metal backpack frames, the scientists traverse across the caldera floor to collect gas data which will be compared to the last survey. These instruments measure the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂),

Muddy Creek near Dad streamgage, zero flow

HVO geologists measure the depth to the water table at the Keller Well, located south of Halema‘uma‘u crater. The Keller Well is a borehole drilled in 1973 to a depth of 4,140 ft (1,262 m) that has been used to monitor the hydrology of the summit region of Kīlauea volcano. Photo taken on July 27, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. HST. USGS photo by J.M. Chang.

An HVO geologist conducts maintenance on the S1cam web camera located along the southern rim of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. This webcam has been recording images of the recent eruption and lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u from an area within Hawai‘i Volcanoes

An HVO scientist samples the gas around a crack identified as emitting elevated levels of carbon dioxide (a volcanic gas) on the down-dropped block within Kīlauea caldera. The sample will later be analyzed to determine its complete chemical composition. This work was conducted within a closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, with park permission. Scientists wore

HVO scientists walk transects along the down-dropped portion of Kīlauea caldera floor as part of a gas survey conducted on July 22. The multigas instruments carried on the scientists' backs measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), water vapor (H₂O), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) via an inlet hose oriented

On July 22, HVO scientists surveyed the floor of the down-dropped block within Kīlauea caldera for ​diffuse volcanic gas emissions. This particular part of the caldera floor subsided during Kīlauea's collapse events in 2018. The caldera-wide ongoing gas survey will be compared to gas surveys done in the area prior to the 2018 collapse events and will reveal any changes in

This wide-angle aerial view looks southeast over Kīlauea's summit caldera, with the recently active lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u visible in the lower right. On the left side of the photo, the large cliffs formed during the 2018 collapses are visible. Kīlauea Iki can be seen in the upper left. USGS photo by M. Patrick, taken on July 22, 2021.

This aerial photo of the inactive lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured during a routine helicopter overflight by HVO geologists on Thursday, July 22, 2021. Here, the lava lake is viewed from the northeast, with the oldest parts of the lake surface—the first to crust over—visible on the near side, and the most recently active areas in the far

An HVO geologist conducts a routine high-precision survey of the inactive lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. Mist moving across the caldera on the morning of July 22 produced a rainbow over the lake. No significant changes have occurred in Halema‘uma‘u in recent weeks. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Celebrating Page Valentine's 5000th sample collected on Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Page Valentine, USGS Research Geologist, collects his 5000th sample on Stellwagen Bank National

Page Valentine, USGS Research Geologist, collects his 5000th sample on Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.  Page has been mapping the geologic substrates of Stellwagen Bank and 

A sailboat is removed from the Great Salt Lake Marina due to low lake levels. 

USGS hydrologic technician Travis Gibson confirms Great Salt Lake water levels at the SaltAire gauge.

This close-up view of the western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured on Friday, July 16, 2021. HVO scientists were making a routine observational visit to the crater rim; no changes to the inactive lava lake were detected. For scale, the top of the fissure complex was measured to be standing approximately 20 m (66 ft) above the surrounding

Scanning electron microscope image of elongate amphiboles, some of which are asbestiform, collected from attic insulation from Libby, Montana. 

Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon (Yaquina Bay) for Cascadia Project OBS Deployment Leg

An acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) on the Natchaug River near Chaplin, CT (USGS station 01120790).

High flow event at Mount Hope River near Warrenville, CT (USGS station 01121000).

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist uses a laser rangefinder to survey points across the solidified lava lake surface in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. No significant changes in lake surface elevation have been observed in recent weeks. USGS photo by M. Patrick taken on July 9, 2021.

Little Snake River near Dixon low streamflow

Low Flows at Little Snake River near Dixon streamgage

Decreasing water levels in the southern arm of the Great Salt Lake expose microbialite communities that are normally underwater.  

A view looking north into Halema‘uma‘u on July 2, 2021. Although eruptive activity has paused at the summit of Kīlauea, HVO geologists still monitor the lava lake and summit area regularly. Lava lake surface depths remain the same over the past few weeks. The field crew on July 2 heard two rockfalls originating slightly east (right) of the field of view from the Halema‘uma

Photomicrograph from a raccoon (Procyon lotor) found sick and euthanized in Texas, US.  (A) A cluster of schistosome ova are present in the pancreas. Ova are thin-shelled and are not operculated. Each viable egg contains a miracidium (arrows). The ova are surrounded by infiltrates of eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. H&E stain. (B) Adult schistosomes

High resolution mass spectrometer at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center.   Any display of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

USGS scientist standing near the high resolution mass spectrometer at the UlS. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center. The instrument will be used for analyses of PFAS in plasma and tissue samples. Any display of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Honorable Mention
Jin-Si Over and Jen Cramer from WHCMSC are trained to become new DOI pilots in Rifle, CO

View from the Adirondack Mountains summer 2021

This bird was found in the Washington, D.C. metro region with swollen eyes and crusty discharge, a sign observed on most birds affected by a May/June 2021 mortality event in the area.

Image of a tidally restricted wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod, MA

Blue-tinged gases are seen above the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater in this image taken from the southwest rim on June 25, 2021, at 12:37 p.m. HST. Although eruptive activity has paused at the summit of Kīlauea, sulfur dioxide-rich gases can still be seen emanating from the lava lake, primarily along the northern margin but also at the west vent and along the southern

LSPIV Install on the Hudson River, New York

This image is from a research camera positioned on Mauna Kea. The camera looks south toward the summit and Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa.

USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory Physical Science Technician Brian Meyers installs a data telemetry antenna on a volcano monitoring station at Mount St. Helens. A DOAS scanner is mounted above the flat-panel antenna at the top of the mast. A fiber optic cables transmits the light collected by the DOAS scanner to a spectrometer inside the fiberglass hut. Data is

A view of Halema‘uma‘u on June 11, 2021, at 12:20 p.m. HST. Although eruptive activity has paused at the Kīlauea summit, HVO geologists still monitor the lava lake and summit area regularly. They make observations to note any physical changes in the landscape or visual changes in gas emissions. Field crews also look and listen for rockfalls and measure the depth of the

Bailey's Beach - Newport, Rhode Island

Comparison of Porkchop Geyser in September 1984 (left) and August 1986 (right).  The Geyser entered a period of near-constant eruption in 1985, and the pool disappeared; it exploded on September 5, 1989.

A collage of images taken by UGS-GLSC employees during the 2020 field season.

View downstream from the bridge at USGS site 07241520, North Canadian River at Britton Rd at Oklahoma City, OK

A view of the crusted over lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea summit, taken during a helicopter overflight on June 8, 2021. No incandescence (red lava) has been visible on the solidified lava lake surface for over two weeks. Light degassing continues in a few areas around the margin of the lava lake, mainly along the north crater wall (bottom left). USGS photo taken

On June 8, 2021, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a routine helicopter overflight and fieldwork at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, a geophysicist returns to the helicopter after making Global Positioning Systems (GPS) measurements. These surveys measure small changes in the ground surface caused by subsurface magma movement. This scientist carries a GPS antenna

Portions of Crater Rim Drive, which was damaged during the 2018 Kīlauea summit collapse, are visible from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u. The lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u and the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater are visible in the background. This area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions. With permission from the

No eruptive activity or major changes were observed during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kīlauea summit monitoring shift on June 8, 2021. An area near the north wall of Halema‘uma‘u continues to visibly emit gases, though the eruption has paused. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate, measured on June 4, remains slightly elevated at 54 tonnes per day. USGS

Photo of Mount Hood taken June 7, 2003. The fault-plane solution for the M 3.9 earthquake that occurred on June 5, 2021 is in the lower right corner. 

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Where We Work
Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon (Yaquina Bay) for Cascadia Project OBS Deployment Leg

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Honorable Mention
USGS Natiave Bee Lab, Magicicada cassinii, super rare Blue eyed variant