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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.
Low fountaining continues at the western fissure, supplying lava to the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The vent has formed a spatter cone around the fountaining, with lava spilling into an open channel that plunges into the lake.
Low fountaining continues at the western fissure, supplying lava to the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The vent has formed a spatter cone around the fountaining, with lava spilling into an open channel that plunges into the lake.
Drilling through ice on the Green River.
Drilling through ice on the Green River.
Mudpot located in the Mud Volcano thermal area of Yellowstone National Park. This type of thermal feature indicates an acid-sulfate system.
Mudpot located in the Mud Volcano thermal area of Yellowstone National Park. This type of thermal feature indicates an acid-sulfate system.
Steam vents along the Yellowstone River near Mud Volcano thermal area, Yellowstone National Park.
Steam vents along the Yellowstone River near Mud Volcano thermal area, Yellowstone National Park.
Structure 77 (S-77) on the Caloosahatchee River at Moore Haven, Florida.
Structure 77 (S-77) on the Caloosahatchee River at Moore Haven, Florida.
Hydrologic Technician Alan Cressler holding a bottle containing a sediment sample. Photo taken on the Caloosahatchee River below Structure 77, Moore Haven, Florida.
Hydrologic Technician Alan Cressler holding a bottle containing a sediment sample. Photo taken on the Caloosahatchee River below Structure 77, Moore Haven, Florida.
Hydrologic Technician Alan Cressler loading a bottle into a DH-95 water-quality sampler. Photo taken on the Caloosahatchee River below Structure 77, Moore Haven, Florida
Hydrologic Technician Alan Cressler loading a bottle into a DH-95 water-quality sampler. Photo taken on the Caloosahatchee River below Structure 77, Moore Haven, Florida
The west vent in Halemaʻumaʻu erupting and building a spatter cone complex, with lava cascades feeding a growing lava lake at Kīlauea summit. USGS photograph from January 11, 2021, by B. Carr.
The west vent in Halemaʻumaʻu erupting and building a spatter cone complex, with lava cascades feeding a growing lava lake at Kīlauea summit. USGS photograph from January 11, 2021, by B. Carr.
Around sunset on Saturday (January 9, 2021), a break in the rain allowed HVO scientists to visit and monitor the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. The west vent is still actively effusing lava, but outflow into the lava lake is increasingly sluggish, as evidenced by slow-moving crustal plates near the once-vigorous vent outlet.
Around sunset on Saturday (January 9, 2021), a break in the rain allowed HVO scientists to visit and monitor the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. The west vent is still actively effusing lava, but outflow into the lava lake is increasingly sluggish, as evidenced by slow-moving crustal plates near the once-vigorous vent outlet.
The arrival of nightfall at Halema‘uma‘u on January 9, 2021, provided a clearer view of ongoing eruptive activity for USGS scientists monitoring the eruption this Saturday evening.
The arrival of nightfall at Halema‘uma‘u on January 9, 2021, provided a clearer view of ongoing eruptive activity for USGS scientists monitoring the eruption this Saturday evening.
This animated GIF was created from a clip within the original video showing crustal overturning at Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii. The original video was at 20x the speed of the event, and this animation 4x faster.
This animated GIF was created from a clip within the original video showing crustal overturning at Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii. The original video was at 20x the speed of the event, and this animation 4x faster.
This animated GIF was created from a clip within the original video showing crustal overturning at Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii. The original video was at 20x the speed of the event, and this animation 4x faster.
This animated GIF was created from a clip within the original video showing crustal overturning at Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii. The original video was at 20x the speed of the event, and this animation 4x faster.
Kīlauea’s summit lava lake, in Halema‘uma‘u, just after sunset on January 8, 2021. This view is to the north, from the south rim of the crater. HVO scientists continue to monitor the eruption within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons. USGS image by N. Deligne.
Kīlauea’s summit lava lake, in Halema‘uma‘u, just after sunset on January 8, 2021. This view is to the north, from the south rim of the crater. HVO scientists continue to monitor the eruption within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons. USGS image by N. Deligne.
Irrigated land-use in the Adelaida Area of San Luis Obisbo County, CA for 1984, 1996, 2004, 2014, and 2016. Numbers indicate acres and percent of total acres.
Irrigated land-use in the Adelaida Area of San Luis Obisbo County, CA for 1984, 1996, 2004, 2014, and 2016. Numbers indicate acres and percent of total acres.
Islands have been observed in Kīlauea lava lakes for more than 100 years—some move and some are moored. These two photographs of Halemaʻumaʻu crater from 1917 (top) and 2021 (bottom) show islands floating in lava lakes.
Islands have been observed in Kīlauea lava lakes for more than 100 years—some move and some are moored. These two photographs of Halemaʻumaʻu crater from 1917 (top) and 2021 (bottom) show islands floating in lava lakes.
This photo, taken during an overflight of Kīlauea's summit this morning (January 7, 2021), shows the southeast margin of Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. The photo shows the boundary between the active portion of the lava lake (left) and the subtle levee around the lake perimeter that allows the lake to be slightly perched.
This photo, taken during an overflight of Kīlauea's summit this morning (January 7, 2021), shows the southeast margin of Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. The photo shows the boundary between the active portion of the lava lake (left) and the subtle levee around the lake perimeter that allows the lake to be slightly perched.
During an overflight of Kīlauea summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists captured this image of the growing lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu. Sunny weather allowed for clear views of Mauna Loa, to the west. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
During an overflight of Kīlauea summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists captured this image of the growing lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu. Sunny weather allowed for clear views of Mauna Loa, to the west. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Aerial image of the active west vent area and the largest island in Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. During the overflight of Kīlauea's summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists noted that the dome fountain, which had been persistent near the base of the west vent area, had subsided and was no longer present. USGS photo by K.
Aerial image of the active west vent area and the largest island in Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. During the overflight of Kīlauea's summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists noted that the dome fountain, which had been persistent near the base of the west vent area, had subsided and was no longer present. USGS photo by K.
This thermal image, looking northwest, shows the distribution of activity on the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. The lake is slightly perched and surrounded along its perimeter by a lower ledge of cooler lava. The western fissure, in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater, is visible in the upper left portion of the image, just above the lake.
This thermal image, looking northwest, shows the distribution of activity on the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. The lake is slightly perched and surrounded along its perimeter by a lower ledge of cooler lava. The western fissure, in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater, is visible in the upper left portion of the image, just above the lake.
View to the northwest from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater showing the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. The active western fissure is visible above the lake, producing minor spatter and a gas plume from vents at the top.
View to the northwest from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater showing the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. The active western fissure is visible above the lake, producing minor spatter and a gas plume from vents at the top.
An HVO geologist takes Kīlauea summit eruption lake-level, spatter-cone, and dome-fountain measurements with a laser rangefinder. The top of the dome fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu was up to 5 meters (16 ft) above the lake surface. The lake elevation suggests a maximum lava lake depth of approximately 193 m (211 yd).
An HVO geologist takes Kīlauea summit eruption lake-level, spatter-cone, and dome-fountain measurements with a laser rangefinder. The top of the dome fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu was up to 5 meters (16 ft) above the lake surface. The lake elevation suggests a maximum lava lake depth of approximately 193 m (211 yd).