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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.
Desert paintbrush stands out against the yellows and browns of the desert by way of its bright red and fiery coloring. Desert paintbrush is a hemiparasite, and takes some of its water and nutrients from the roots of nearby plants. However, unlike full parasites, desert paintbrush can still photosynthesize to obtain some of its nutrients if needed.
Desert paintbrush stands out against the yellows and browns of the desert by way of its bright red and fiery coloring. Desert paintbrush is a hemiparasite, and takes some of its water and nutrients from the roots of nearby plants. However, unlike full parasites, desert paintbrush can still photosynthesize to obtain some of its nutrients if needed.
View of lake at Fernhill Natural Treatment Wetlands.
View of lake at Fernhill Natural Treatment Wetlands.
View looking downstream from just below the boat launch at Flaming Gorge Dam.
View looking downstream from just below the boat launch at Flaming Gorge Dam.
View looking upstream at Flaming Gorge Dam from the boat launch area
View looking upstream at Flaming Gorge Dam from the boat launch area
Areas on Kīlauea that will be covered by a helicopter lidar survey in June 2019. Red lines enclose areas over which the survey helicopter will fly at 396 m (1,300 ft) above ground level. Green lines enclose areas over which the helicopter will fly at 151 m (500 ft) above ground level.
Areas on Kīlauea that will be covered by a helicopter lidar survey in June 2019. Red lines enclose areas over which the survey helicopter will fly at 396 m (1,300 ft) above ground level. Green lines enclose areas over which the helicopter will fly at 151 m (500 ft) above ground level.
This photo demonstrates one of the challenges of down-river boating in the Colorado River system.
This photo demonstrates one of the challenges of down-river boating in the Colorado River system.
Portaging boat around Flaming Gorge Dam
Day 5 scenic view of Sheep Canyon
Day 5 scenic view of Sheep Canyon
Yellow Warbler in Grass along Green River
Day 4 first sighting of Flaming Gorge, Utah
Day 4 first sighting of Flaming Gorge, Utah
Day 4 first sigting of Flaming Gorge, Utah
Day 4 first sigting of Flaming Gorge, Utah
Panorama photo of a rock formation as SCREE enters Flaming Gorge (May 27th, 2019).
Panorama photo of a rock formation as SCREE enters Flaming Gorge (May 27th, 2019).
Day 5 wet photo of Flaming Gorge Dam
Day 5 wet photo of Flaming Gorge Dam
Overlooking SCREE's fourth camp, on the shore of Flaming Gorge Reservoir just above the Flaming Gorge Dam. The five SCREE boats as well as University of Wyoming's research vessel can be seen beached on a narrow band of sand and rocks just below a steep forested hillside. (May 27th, 2019.)
Overlooking SCREE's fourth camp, on the shore of Flaming Gorge Reservoir just above the Flaming Gorge Dam. The five SCREE boats as well as University of Wyoming's research vessel can be seen beached on a narrow band of sand and rocks just below a steep forested hillside. (May 27th, 2019.)
Day 4 USGS Rusty Sherman and Janis LeMaster
Day 4 rafts at campground
On the expedition, USGS scientists are tasked with collecting sediment samples from the beaches where we camp. The goal of the study is to examine the presence of microplastics along the river. There are strict protocols on the condition of the sediment we collect, so sometimes we have to travel far from camp in order to find suitable sediment.
On the expedition, USGS scientists are tasked with collecting sediment samples from the beaches where we camp. The goal of the study is to examine the presence of microplastics along the river. There are strict protocols on the condition of the sediment we collect, so sometimes we have to travel far from camp in order to find suitable sediment.
Bike path skirting cobbled beaches of Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Bike path skirting cobbled beaches of Falmouth, Massachusetts.