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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.

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Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska
Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska
Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska
Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses jousting with their tusks on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses resting in the water, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Pacific walruses resting in the water on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses resting in the water on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Sunset from Steamboat Lake, WY
Sunset from Steamboat Lake, WY
Sunset from Steamboat Lake, WY
Sunset from Steamboat Lake, WY

The USGS and partners study the effects of climate change on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This sunset image was taken from Steamboat Lake, Wind River Indian Reservation, Wind River Range, Wyoming.

The USGS and partners study the effects of climate change on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This sunset image was taken from Steamboat Lake, Wind River Indian Reservation, Wind River Range, Wyoming.

image related to volcanoes. See description
A closer look at the water surface. While most of the surface has a yellow-gree
A closer look at the water surface. While most of the surface has a yellow-gree
A closer look at the water surface. While most of the surface has a yellow-gree

A closer look at the water surface. While most of the surface has a yellow-green color, portions along the shoreline have a blue color and seem to correspond to areas of water upwelling. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Breccia pipes forming within existing fractures along the western shore of Yello
Breccia pipes forming within existing fractures along the western shore of Yello
Breccia pipes forming within existing fractures along the western shore of Yello

Material filling the dissolved voids includes clasts of wall rock as well as beach sediments being washed into the voids. The lower structure on the left is about 0.7 m (2 ft) wide and 1.5 m (5 ft) high. Note the fracture alignment above the void structure on the right.

Material filling the dissolved voids includes clasts of wall rock as well as beach sediments being washed into the voids. The lower structure on the left is about 0.7 m (2 ft) wide and 1.5 m (5 ft) high. Note the fracture alignment above the void structure on the right.

Flooded mangrove forest
Flooded mangove forest in Micronesia
Flooded mangove forest in Micronesia
Flooded mangove forest in Micronesia

Flooded mangrove forest in Micronesia.

The USGS and partners are studying how mangrove forests in the Federated States of Micronesia may respond to sea-level rise over the coming century. Their projections will help Micronesian communities plan for the future.

 

Flooded mangrove forest in Micronesia.

The USGS and partners are studying how mangrove forests in the Federated States of Micronesia may respond to sea-level rise over the coming century. Their projections will help Micronesian communities plan for the future.

 

Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Alaska
Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Group of Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Kayaking on the Potomac River
Kayaking on the Potomac River
Kayaking on the Potomac River
Kayaking on the Potomac River

Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | Sept 2019 | Where We Work
Kayaking on the Potomac River

Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | Sept 2019 | Where We Work
Kayaking on the Potomac River

Mangrove forests, with trees in the background and many aboveground roots in the foreground
Mangrove forest in Micronesia
Mangrove forest in Micronesia
Mangrove forest in Micronesia

Mangrove forest in Micronesia.

The USGS and partners are studying how mangrove forests in the Federated States of Micronesia may respond to sea-level rise over the coming century. Their projections will help Micronesian communities plan for the future.

Mangrove forest in Micronesia.

The USGS and partners are studying how mangrove forests in the Federated States of Micronesia may respond to sea-level rise over the coming century. Their projections will help Micronesian communities plan for the future.

Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Alaska
Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses hauled out on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Pacific walruses hauled out on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses hauled out on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

close up of Pacific walruses resting on the beach, Alaska
Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea
Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea
Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Pacific walruses resting on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Pacific walruses resting on the beach of the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Close up on thick aboveground roots of a mangrove tree
Roots of a mangrove tree
Roots of a mangrove tree
Roots of a mangrove tree

Close-up on roots of a mangrove tree in Micronesia.

The USGS and partners are studying how mangrove forests in the Federated States of Micronesia may respond to sea-level rise over the coming century. Their projections will help Micronesian communities plan for the future.

Close-up on roots of a mangrove tree in Micronesia.

The USGS and partners are studying how mangrove forests in the Federated States of Micronesia may respond to sea-level rise over the coming century. Their projections will help Micronesian communities plan for the future.

Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions resting on shore of the Chukchi Sea
Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions on beach, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions resting on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea, Alaska (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions resting on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea, Alaska (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Close up of solitary walrus calf with skin lesions, Alaska
Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions on shore, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions on shore, Chukchi Sea, Alaska
Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions on shore, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions resting on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea, Alaska (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

Solitary walrus calf with skin lesions resting on the eastern shore of the Chukchi Sea, Alaska (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-7.)

View looks along an Arctic coastal bluff with permafrost and gentle waves and a drainage that has spilled out onto the beach.
Alongshore view of Barter Island bluffs
Alongshore view of Barter Island bluffs
Alongshore view of Barter Island bluffs

Alongshore view of the Barter Island permafrost bluffs, along the north coast of Alaska in the Arctic Ocean.

A person rides an ATV on a beach alongside gigantic chunks of coastal bluff that have fallen onto the beach.
Coastal bluffs collapsed onto the beach
Coastal bluffs collapsed onto the beach
Coastal bluffs collapsed onto the beach

Gigantic chunks of perafrost coastal bluffs tumbled down onto the beach along Barter Island on the North Slope of Alaska. A USGS scientist drives past them, seeking good locations to place instruments and markers that will be used in photographic analysis.

Gigantic chunks of perafrost coastal bluffs tumbled down onto the beach along Barter Island on the North Slope of Alaska. A USGS scientist drives past them, seeking good locations to place instruments and markers that will be used in photographic analysis.

A drainage gully through Arctic tundra with slumped chunks of turf and permafrost.
Drainage gully in coastal bluffs of Barter Island
Drainage gully in coastal bluffs of Barter Island
Drainage gully in coastal bluffs of Barter Island

Along the stretch of coastal bluffs of Barter Island, North Slope of Alaska, a new drainage gully developed between September 2018 and September 2019. USGS scientists have been measuring permafrost degradation, coastal erosion, and flooding hazards on and around Barter Island for the last decade.

Along the stretch of coastal bluffs of Barter Island, North Slope of Alaska, a new drainage gully developed between September 2018 and September 2019. USGS scientists have been measuring permafrost degradation, coastal erosion, and flooding hazards on and around Barter Island for the last decade.

A small device sits on a tripod which rests on a square tarp pinned down on a flat area of grass.
GPS target
GPS target
GPS target

A global positioning system (GPS) sits on a tripod and is used to accurately pinpoint the center of a target that itself is used for photo rectification with aerial photos. 

A global positioning system (GPS) sits on a tripod and is used to accurately pinpoint the center of a target that itself is used for photo rectification with aerial photos. 

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