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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.
Night view of Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake from April 24, 2018, while lava from the lake overflow was spreading westward (to the right in the picture) from the Overlook Vent. USGS photo from the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Jaggar Overlook
Night view of Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake from April 24, 2018, while lava from the lake overflow was spreading westward (to the right in the picture) from the Overlook Vent. USGS photo from the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Jaggar Overlook
Vigorous overflows from Kīlauea's summit lava lake covered a large portion of the floor of Halema‘uma‘u this morning. In this video, the view starts from the north and heads south, showing the north and east sides of Halema‘uma‘u crater.
Vigorous overflows from Kīlauea's summit lava lake covered a large portion of the floor of Halema‘uma‘u this morning. In this video, the view starts from the north and heads south, showing the north and east sides of Halema‘uma‘u crater.
Conceptual diagram showing impact of sea-level rise and wave-driven flooding on atoll-island groundwater. (A) Current sea level. (B) Future sea level. Sea-level rise will allow for greater wave heights (H) and wave-driven runup (R), resulting in frequent overwash that will contaminate the atoll island’s freshwater lens. Note: Heights are exaggerated.
Conceptual diagram showing impact of sea-level rise and wave-driven flooding on atoll-island groundwater. (A) Current sea level. (B) Future sea level. Sea-level rise will allow for greater wave heights (H) and wave-driven runup (R), resulting in frequent overwash that will contaminate the atoll island’s freshwater lens. Note: Heights are exaggerated.
Steve Suttles (USGS) uses a radio to determine if an Acoustic Backscatter sensor (white circle) is still operating at the end of the deployment.
Steve Suttles (USGS) uses a radio to determine if an Acoustic Backscatter sensor (white circle) is still operating at the end of the deployment.
Did you know that changes in the amount of water in aquifers cause small changes in Earth’s gravitational field? When the amount of groundwater in an aquifer changes, either by recharge or by discharge to surface water or wells, the gravitational acceleration at the land surface also changes.
Did you know that changes in the amount of water in aquifers cause small changes in Earth’s gravitational field? When the amount of groundwater in an aquifer changes, either by recharge or by discharge to surface water or wells, the gravitational acceleration at the land surface also changes.
A group of second-graders from the Garretson School District in Garretson, South Dakota pose for a photo at the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center near Sioux Falls, SD.
A group of second-graders from the Garretson School District in Garretson, South Dakota pose for a photo at the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center near Sioux Falls, SD.
USGS Hydrologic Technician Dan Thomas preparing to measure discharge using an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) with a manned boat on the Red River at Oslo, MN (streamgage 05083500) on April 25, 2018. The ADCP measures water currents with sound, using a principle of sound waves called the Doppler effect.
USGS Hydrologic Technician Dan Thomas preparing to measure discharge using an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) with a manned boat on the Red River at Oslo, MN (streamgage 05083500) on April 25, 2018. The ADCP measures water currents with sound, using a principle of sound waves called the Doppler effect.
USGS Denver Federal Center Building 25 Entrance
USGS Denver Federal Center Building 25 Entrance
Aerial view of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater (approximately 220 m or 720 ft wide) from April 23, 2018, following weeks of steady inflation and uplift of crater floor. View is to the southeast with lava flows of the Episode 61g flow field in the distance behind Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō .
Aerial view of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater (approximately 220 m or 720 ft wide) from April 23, 2018, following weeks of steady inflation and uplift of crater floor. View is to the southeast with lava flows of the Episode 61g flow field in the distance behind Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō .
Flooding Milk River nr Harlem streamgage, 06154100
Measuring flood flow at Milk River near Harlem, MT
Ohio River at Olmsted IL - equipment damage
Streamflow measurement at Milk River near Harlem, Montana
Streamflow measurement at Milk River near Harlem, Montana
Beginning around midnight on Saturday, April 21, Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake rose high enough that lava briefly spilled onto the floor of Halema‘uma‘u. Since then, additional overflows occurred in four pulses on April 22-23. The largest one occurred during the fourth pulse, which started at 6:30 a.m.
Beginning around midnight on Saturday, April 21, Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake rose high enough that lava briefly spilled onto the floor of Halema‘uma‘u. Since then, additional overflows occurred in four pulses on April 22-23. The largest one occurred during the fourth pulse, which started at 6:30 a.m.
USGS streamgage station 13295000, Valley Creek at Stanley, Idaho
USGS streamgage station 13295000, Valley Creek at Stanley, Idaho
Longleaf pine stand near Tall Timbers Research Station, Florida. Longleaf forests such as these are dependent on frequent, low-intensity fires to maintain habitat structure and function.
Longleaf pine stand near Tall Timbers Research Station, Florida. Longleaf forests such as these are dependent on frequent, low-intensity fires to maintain habitat structure and function.
A group tours the fossil preparation area in the Paleontology Research Laboratory as part of
the campus tour of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
A group tours the fossil preparation area in the Paleontology Research Laboratory as part of
the campus tour of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Photo of silver capsules containing reference water used for the calibration of stable hydrogen and oxygen measurements. This reference material is intended for calibration of stable hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) measurements of unknown water or hydrogen- or oxygen-bearing substances with a TC/EA (thermal conversion/elemental analyzer)
Photo of silver capsules containing reference water used for the calibration of stable hydrogen and oxygen measurements. This reference material is intended for calibration of stable hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) measurements of unknown water or hydrogen- or oxygen-bearing substances with a TC/EA (thermal conversion/elemental analyzer)
Reston stable isotope lab RSIL Reference Hair
Reston stable isotope lab RSIL Reference Hair
Reston stable isotope lab RSIL Reference Oil
Reston stable isotope lab RSIL Reference Powder
Reston stable isotope lab RSIL Reference Powder