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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.

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Riparian habitat in Baja California, MX
Riparian Habitat with Mist Net
Riparian Habitat with Mist Net
Riparian Habitat with Mist Net

Riparian habitat and a very fine-mesh "mist net" in Baja California, Mexico. Mist netting efforts are part of an ongoing study that examines migratory behaviors of the endangered Least Bell's Vireo.

Riparian habitat and a very fine-mesh "mist net" in Baja California, Mexico. Mist netting efforts are part of an ongoing study that examines migratory behaviors of the endangered Least Bell's Vireo.

Palm trees in riparian habitat
Riparian Habitat with Palms
Riparian Habitat with Palms
Riparian Habitat with Palms

Riparian habitat with palms in Baja California, Mexico.

USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico
USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico
USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico
USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico

Mexican scientist and USGS partner examines a flicker captured in Baja California, Mexico.

WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls
WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls
WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls
WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls

USGS ecologist Suellen Lynn calls endangered Least Bell's Vireos to a fine mesh net using recorded territorial calls.

USGS researcher holds an endangered least Bell's vireo
WERC Researcher Holding Least Bell's Vireo
WERC Researcher Holding Least Bell's Vireo
WERC Researcher Holding Least Bell's Vireo

USGS researcher holds an endangered least Bell’s vireo marked with a brightly-colored ID tag. The USGS is learning about the threats that these birds face in different parts of their range and are providing the science needed to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and international efforts to recover least Bell’s vireo populations. 

USGS researcher holds an endangered least Bell’s vireo marked with a brightly-colored ID tag. The USGS is learning about the threats that these birds face in different parts of their range and are providing the science needed to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and international efforts to recover least Bell’s vireo populations. 

Comparison maps indicating short or long times available for earthquake shaking arrival times
Earthquake Alerts: Early and Often? Or Possibly Late?
Earthquake Alerts: Early and Often? Or Possibly Late?
Earthquake Alerts: Early and Often? Or Possibly Late?

The choice when issuing earthquake warnings is to: 1) issue alerts for weak shaking and potentially provide long warning times, but risk sending alerts for the many events that do not go on to produce damaging ground shaking, or 2) issue alerts only when ground shaking is expected to be damaging, with the tradeoff that the alert will be sent much later, reducing

The choice when issuing earthquake warnings is to: 1) issue alerts for weak shaking and potentially provide long warning times, but risk sending alerts for the many events that do not go on to produce damaging ground shaking, or 2) issue alerts only when ground shaking is expected to be damaging, with the tradeoff that the alert will be sent much later, reducing

Adjustment of tension in infiltrometer to measure post-fire recovery.
Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins measuring post-fire infiltration
Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins measuring post-fire infiltration
Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins measuring post-fire infiltration

Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins adjusting tension in infiltrometer to evaluate post-fire recovery conditions in the Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA following the October 2017 Tubbs Fire to better understand how landscapes heal after wildfire. 

Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins adjusting tension in infiltrometer to evaluate post-fire recovery conditions in the Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA following the October 2017 Tubbs Fire to better understand how landscapes heal after wildfire. 

Two men stand in a grassland beneath a sky filled with fluffy cumulus clouds and a blue sky.
Standing in the field with managers
Standing in the field with managers
Standing in the field with managers

Touring public lands, guided by the people who manage the lands, is a important to RAMPS. On these tours we get to meet the passionate people, understand their challenges and aspirations, and help make steps towards innovative science-based solutions.

Touring public lands, guided by the people who manage the lands, is a important to RAMPS. On these tours we get to meet the passionate people, understand their challenges and aspirations, and help make steps towards innovative science-based solutions.

Three land managers stand in a sagebrush ecosystem.
Standing in the field with public land managers
Standing in the field with public land managers
Standing in the field with public land managers

RAMPS works with public land managers to better understand the challenges they face, so that the decision frameworks and tools they create are relevant. Learn more at RAMPS.

RAMPS works with public land managers to better understand the challenges they face, so that the decision frameworks and tools they create are relevant. Learn more at RAMPS.

USGS Storm-Tide Sensor
USGS Storm-Tide Sensor
USGS Storm-Tide Sensor
USGS Storm-Tide Sensor

USGS storm-tide sensor bolted to a cement jetty on the Atlantic Ocean coast at Fire Island, New York. USGS scientists deployed over 50 sensors along the coast of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Delaware to study a Nor'easter that affected the Northeast in March of 2018.

USGS storm-tide sensor bolted to a cement jetty on the Atlantic Ocean coast at Fire Island, New York. USGS scientists deployed over 50 sensors along the coast of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Delaware to study a Nor'easter that affected the Northeast in March of 2018.

Demonstrating a Passive Seismic Tool in Kenya
Equipment preperations
Equipment preperations
Equipment preperations

USGS scientist demonstrates the use of a passive seismic tool used for stratigraphy and bedrock mapping to local water officials. 

USGS scientist demonstrates the use of a passive seismic tool used for stratigraphy and bedrock mapping to local water officials. 

Bedding plane porosity
Bedding plane porosity in fracture at Cow Creek Limestone
Bedding plane porosity in fracture at Cow Creek Limestone
Bedding plane porosity in fracture at Cow Creek Limestone

Bedding plane porosity that developed at the junction between the bedding plane and a fracture within the Cow Creek Limestone (Cow Creek hydrostratigraphic unit) at Hammetts Crossing, Travis County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).

Bedding plane porosity that developed at the junction between the bedding plane and a fracture within the Cow Creek Limestone (Cow Creek hydrostratigraphic unit) at Hammetts Crossing, Travis County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).

Photograph showing the Blanco River Valley, looking north from Little Arkansas Road, Hays County, Texas.
Blanco River Valley
Blanco River Valley
Blanco River Valley

Photograph showing the Blanco River Valley, looking north from Little Arkansas Road, Hays County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418.

Photograph showing the Blanco River Valley, looking north from Little Arkansas Road, Hays County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418.

Conglomerates within the Sycamore Sand at Hammetts Crossing
Conglomerates, Sycamore Sand at Hammetts Crossing, Travis Cty, Texas
Conglomerates, Sycamore Sand at Hammetts Crossing, Travis Cty, Texas
Conglomerates, Sycamore Sand at Hammetts Crossing, Travis Cty, Texas

Conglomerates within the Sycamore Sand at Hammetts Crossing, Travis County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418

Jacobs Well Spring
Jacobs Well Spring, headwaters of Cypress Creek, Wimberley, Tex.
Jacobs Well Spring, headwaters of Cypress Creek, Wimberley, Tex.
Jacobs Well Spring, headwaters of Cypress Creek, Wimberley, Tex.

Jacobs Well Spring, which forms the headwaters of Cypress Creek north of Wimberley, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark,
U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418

Jacobs Well Spring, which forms the headwaters of Cypress Creek north of Wimberley, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark,
U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418

Photograph showing a low water crossing on the Blanco River
Low water crossing on the Blanco River, Hays County, Texas
Low water crossing on the Blanco River, Hays County, Texas
Low water crossing on the Blanco River, Hays County, Texas

Photograph showing a low water crossing on the Blanco River, looking south from Little Arkansas Road, Hays County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418.

Photograph showing a low water crossing on the Blanco River, looking south from Little Arkansas Road, Hays County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418.

Pink Sand Dunes in Utah
Pink Dune
Pink Dune
Pink Dune

This is a photo of a pink sand dune in Utah.

This is a photo of a pink sand dune in Utah.

Photograph showing swimming hole on Cypress Creek
Swimming hole on Cypress Creek in Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley
Swimming hole on Cypress Creek in Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley
Swimming hole on Cypress Creek in Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley

Photograph showing swimming hole on Cypress Creek in Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley, Hays County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418.

Photograph showing swimming hole on Cypress Creek in Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley, Hays County, Texas (photograph by Allan K. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, February 27, 2018).
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3418, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3418.

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