Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Images
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.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
USGS hydrologic technician collecting a water-quality sample
USGS hydrologic technician collecting a water-quality sampleU.S. Geological Survey student hydrologic technician Mike Michelotti collects a water-qaulity sample from the Coeur d'Alene River at Rose Lake, Idaho. USGS streamgage 12413810 can be seen in the background. The sample was collected as part of ongoing water-quality monitoring that the USGS conducts in the Coeur d'Alene River basin on behalf of the U.S.
USGS hydrologic technician collecting a water-quality sample
USGS hydrologic technician collecting a water-quality sampleU.S. Geological Survey student hydrologic technician Mike Michelotti collects a water-qaulity sample from the Coeur d'Alene River at Rose Lake, Idaho. USGS streamgage 12413810 can be seen in the background. The sample was collected as part of ongoing water-quality monitoring that the USGS conducts in the Coeur d'Alene River basin on behalf of the U.S.
Vista of Buda, Eagle Ford, and Austin Formations, Terrell County
Vista of Buda, Eagle Ford, and Austin Formations, Terrell CountyOne charge of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Energy Resources Science Center is conducting field work to
better understand the distribution of hydrocarbon source rocks as input to USGS oil and gas
assessments. This 2015 image is a view to the south-southeast of rocks exposed along an unnamed
Vista of Buda, Eagle Ford, and Austin Formations, Terrell County
Vista of Buda, Eagle Ford, and Austin Formations, Terrell CountyOne charge of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Energy Resources Science Center is conducting field work to
better understand the distribution of hydrocarbon source rocks as input to USGS oil and gas
assessments. This 2015 image is a view to the south-southeast of rocks exposed along an unnamed
Cracks in Highway; orange paint was used to outline the cracks
Cracks in Highway; orange paint was used to outline the cracksCracks in Highway 130; orange paint was used to outline the cracks. The road remained closed for much of the day on 5/7/18.
Cracks in Highway; orange paint was used to outline the cracks
Cracks in Highway; orange paint was used to outline the cracksCracks in Highway 130; orange paint was used to outline the cracks. The road remained closed for much of the day on 5/7/18.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia several years after the 2011 fire. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia several years after the 2011 fire. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Rafters enjoy the floating down the Illinois River in northeast Okalahoma.
Rafters enjoy the floating down the Illinois River in northeast Okalahoma.
Loading ocean bottom seismometers for deployment in the Gulf of Alaska
Loading ocean bottom seismometers for deployment in the Gulf of AlaskaOcean bottom seismometers being loaded onto the R/V Sikuliaq to be deployed on the sea floor in the Gulf of Alaska.
Loading ocean bottom seismometers for deployment in the Gulf of Alaska
Loading ocean bottom seismometers for deployment in the Gulf of AlaskaOcean bottom seismometers being loaded onto the R/V Sikuliaq to be deployed on the sea floor in the Gulf of Alaska.
An in-progress piping plover nest on Parramore Island, Virginia -- females typically lay 3 to 4 eggs in a nest over the course of a week. Both the male and female will take turns incubating eggs when the final egg is laid. This nest was established in new overwash habitat created by storms during the winter of 2017-2018.
An in-progress piping plover nest on Parramore Island, Virginia -- females typically lay 3 to 4 eggs in a nest over the course of a week. Both the male and female will take turns incubating eggs when the final egg is laid. This nest was established in new overwash habitat created by storms during the winter of 2017-2018.
A lava flow moves on Makamae Street in Leilani Estates.
A lava flow moves on Makamae Street in Leilani Estates.A lava flow moves on Makamae Street in Leilani Estates at 09:32 am local time, on May 6, 2018.
A lava flow moves on Makamae Street in Leilani Estates.
A lava flow moves on Makamae Street in Leilani Estates.A lava flow moves on Makamae Street in Leilani Estates at 09:32 am local time, on May 6, 2018.
This map shows the locations, mapped by USGS-HVO scientists, of eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 6:00 a.m. HST today (May 6).
This map shows the locations, mapped by USGS-HVO scientists, of eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 6:00 a.m. HST today (May 6).
Steepest descent paths and eruptive fissures, Kīlauea ERZ, May 6
Steepest descent paths and eruptive fissures, Kīlauea ERZ, May 6This map shows the locations of eruptive fissures on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 6:00 a.m. HST today (May 6). The blue lines are paths of steepest descent that identify likely paths of a lava flow, if and when lava moves downhill from an erupting vent.
Steepest descent paths and eruptive fissures, Kīlauea ERZ, May 6
Steepest descent paths and eruptive fissures, Kīlauea ERZ, May 6This map shows the locations of eruptive fissures on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 6:00 a.m. HST today (May 6). The blue lines are paths of steepest descent that identify likely paths of a lava flow, if and when lava moves downhill from an erupting vent.
eruption in Leilani Estates in the lower Puna District
eruption in Leilani Estates in the lower Puna DistrictAn intrusion of magma into Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone resulted in an eruption in Leilani Estates in the lower Puna District on the Island of Hawai‘i. The first four fissures to erupt in the subdivision are shown here on May 4, emitting copious amounts of hazardous sulfur dioxide gas.
eruption in Leilani Estates in the lower Puna District
eruption in Leilani Estates in the lower Puna DistrictAn intrusion of magma into Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone resulted in an eruption in Leilani Estates in the lower Puna District on the Island of Hawai‘i. The first four fissures to erupt in the subdivision are shown here on May 4, emitting copious amounts of hazardous sulfur dioxide gas.
This map shows the locations, mapped by USGS-HVO scientists, of eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 10:00 a.m. HST today (May 5).
This map shows the locations, mapped by USGS-HVO scientists, of eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 10:00 a.m. HST today (May 5).
Map of steepest descent paths in area of eruptive fissures, Kīlauea
Map of steepest descent paths in area of eruptive fissures, KīlaueaThis map shows the locations of eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 10:00 a.m. HST today (May 5). The blue lines are paths of steepest descent that identify likely paths of a lava flow, if and when lava moves downhill from an erupting vent.
Map of steepest descent paths in area of eruptive fissures, Kīlauea
Map of steepest descent paths in area of eruptive fissures, KīlaueaThis map shows the locations of eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 10:00 a.m. HST today (May 5). The blue lines are paths of steepest descent that identify likely paths of a lava flow, if and when lava moves downhill from an erupting vent.
Pictured are members of the Wildfire Research (WiRe) Team, a nonprofit organization that works with wildfire practitioners to help communities adapt to wildfires. (Public domain.)
Pictured are members of the Wildfire Research (WiRe) Team, a nonprofit organization that works with wildfire practitioners to help communities adapt to wildfires. (Public domain.)
With each large earthquake, ground shaking causes additional collapse within the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater, sending a plume of reddish-brown ash skyward. The size and vigor of a plume depends on the size of the earthquake and subsequent collapse. This roiling ash plume followed the magnitude-6.9 earthquake on May 4.
With each large earthquake, ground shaking causes additional collapse within the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater, sending a plume of reddish-brown ash skyward. The size and vigor of a plume depends on the size of the earthquake and subsequent collapse. This roiling ash plume followed the magnitude-6.9 earthquake on May 4.
This map shows the locations, mapped by USGS-HVO scientists, of the three eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 8:00 a.m. HST today (May 4). The fissures are jetting copious amounts of sulfur dioxide gas, which should be avoided.
This map shows the locations, mapped by USGS-HVO scientists, of the three eruptive fissures in the order that they occurred in the Leilani Estates Subdivision as of 8:00 a.m. HST today (May 4). The fissures are jetting copious amounts of sulfur dioxide gas, which should be avoided.
lava lake level began to drop in concert with summit deflation
lava lake level began to drop in concert with summit deflationKīlauea's summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u did not initially respond to the volcano's East Rift Zone activity (collapse of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor and magmatic intrusion into the rift zone) on April 30. But on May 2, the lava lake level began to drop in concert with summit deflation, suggesting that magma was moving from the summit into the East Rift Zone.
lava lake level began to drop in concert with summit deflation
lava lake level began to drop in concert with summit deflationKīlauea's summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u did not initially respond to the volcano's East Rift Zone activity (collapse of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor and magmatic intrusion into the rift zone) on April 30. But on May 2, the lava lake level began to drop in concert with summit deflation, suggesting that magma was moving from the summit into the East Rift Zone.
The start of fissure 3 during Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption
The start of fissure 3 during Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruptionThe start of fissure 3 during Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption. Lava erupting to the surface cut across Kaupili Street around 7:00 a.m. on May 4, 2018.
The start of fissure 3 during Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption
The start of fissure 3 during Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruptionThe start of fissure 3 during Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption. Lava erupting to the surface cut across Kaupili Street around 7:00 a.m. on May 4, 2018.