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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.
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.
USGS Research Scientist Scott Miehls sets traps on bottom of the Black Mallard River, 2019
USGS Research Scientist Scott Miehls sets traps on bottom of the Black Mallard River, 2019
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - high flow measurement
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - high flow measurement
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - adcp high water measurement
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - adcp high water measurement
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - USGS staff making bridge measurement
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - USGS staff making bridge measurement
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - view from bridge
Yellow Creek near Oak Grove, IN - view from bridge
A slightly closer view of the water in the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u taken with a telephoto lens during HVO's overflight today (August 1, 2019). USGS photo by S. Conway, 08/01/2019.
A slightly closer view of the water in the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u taken with a telephoto lens during HVO's overflight today (August 1, 2019). USGS photo by S. Conway, 08/01/2019.
Eagle Creek at Zionsville, IN - low flow
Eagle Creek at Zionsville, IN - low flow
Eagle Creek at Zionsville, IN downstream of gage
In the aftermath of the 2018 Carr Fire, northern California, sediment has eroded from burned hillslopes and accumulated in some areas of Whiskeytown Lake. A recent sediment deposit is shown here in the Whiskey Creek section of the lake.
In the aftermath of the 2018 Carr Fire, northern California, sediment has eroded from burned hillslopes and accumulated in some areas of Whiskeytown Lake. A recent sediment deposit is shown here in the Whiskey Creek section of the lake.
Zooming in even closer, an HVO scientist captured this image of the water on the floor of the crater during today's overflight. For more information, please read "Water or no water: that is (or was) the question"—HVO's Aug.
Zooming in even closer, an HVO scientist captured this image of the water on the floor of the crater during today's overflight. For more information, please read "Water or no water: that is (or was) the question"—HVO's Aug.
Aerial photo taken by drone of the Androscoggin river, Maine
Aerial photo taken by drone of the Androscoggin river, Maine
Photographs of Cistern Spring showing the draining behavior that occurs after major water eruptions of Steamboat Geyser. Left: about 2.5 hours after the onset of a major Steamboat eruption. Right: about 19.5 hours after that eruption.
Photographs of Cistern Spring showing the draining behavior that occurs after major water eruptions of Steamboat Geyser. Left: about 2.5 hours after the onset of a major Steamboat eruption. Right: about 19.5 hours after that eruption.
The sensor mounted on the drone is called the Qcam and is a Doppler radar sensor providing velocity from a hovering position above the river. USGS hydrologic technician (left) aboard a USGS John Boat mounted with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler observes the Qcam conducting a measurement.
The sensor mounted on the drone is called the Qcam and is a Doppler radar sensor providing velocity from a hovering position above the river. USGS hydrologic technician (left) aboard a USGS John Boat mounted with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler observes the Qcam conducting a measurement.
Kīlauea Volcano’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption was monitored around the clock by field crews of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and other USGS scientists for three months, starting with the first fissure that erupted in Leilani Estates on May 3, 2018.
Kīlauea Volcano’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption was monitored around the clock by field crews of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and other USGS scientists for three months, starting with the first fissure that erupted in Leilani Estates on May 3, 2018.
(Left) Frank Engel of the hydrologic remote sensing branch prepares the DJI Mavic Pro quadcopter , while Sean Andrews and Jeff Kinsey of the New England WSC observe. The Mavic was used for Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV).
(Left) Frank Engel of the hydrologic remote sensing branch prepares the DJI Mavic Pro quadcopter , while Sean Andrews and Jeff Kinsey of the New England WSC observe. The Mavic was used for Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV).
USGS hydrographers collect tens of thousands of streamflow measurements every year. In-water work by personnel is one of the most dangerous aspects of USGS hydrologic studies, especially during high-flow conditions. In May 2019, USGS continued testing of a light-weight, self-contained ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system that can be mounted on a small drone.
USGS hydrographers collect tens of thousands of streamflow measurements every year. In-water work by personnel is one of the most dangerous aspects of USGS hydrologic studies, especially during high-flow conditions. In May 2019, USGS continued testing of a light-weight, self-contained ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system that can be mounted on a small drone.
The USGS, in cooperative research and development with GuidelineGEO, tested an 80 GHz self contained ground penetrating radar unit on a DJI Matrice 600 hexcopter (left). This platform was tested for flight performance and for measurement of river channel cross-sectional area as well as river water depth and river width.
The USGS, in cooperative research and development with GuidelineGEO, tested an 80 GHz self contained ground penetrating radar unit on a DJI Matrice 600 hexcopter (left). This platform was tested for flight performance and for measurement of river channel cross-sectional area as well as river water depth and river width.
(Above) New England Water Science Center and Virginia - West Virginia Water Science Center personnel collected measurements use GPS surveying equipment and ADCP to collect ground-truth data and quality assure non-contact data (above left Tom and Andy Massey; above right Andy Massey and Jeff Kinsey; lower left Russ Lotspeich on shore and Jeff Kinsey and Sean Andrews
(Above) New England Water Science Center and Virginia - West Virginia Water Science Center personnel collected measurements use GPS surveying equipment and ADCP to collect ground-truth data and quality assure non-contact data (above left Tom and Andy Massey; above right Andy Massey and Jeff Kinsey; lower left Russ Lotspeich on shore and Jeff Kinsey and Sean Andrews
NER May 2019 Where We Work
Brachiopods in the Devonian Mahantango Formation examined by Mercer Parker under the hand lens
NER May 2019 Where We Work
Brachiopods in the Devonian Mahantango Formation examined by Mercer Parker under the hand lens
Cisco being prepared for surgical implantation of an acoustic transmitter at the USGS Ann Arbor aquatic research laboratory
Cisco being prepared for surgical implantation of an acoustic transmitter at the USGS Ann Arbor aquatic research laboratory