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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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View looking downhill towards the ocean and heavy equipment is driving around on dirt roads.
Earth movers on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017
Earth movers on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017
Earth movers on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017

View of the huge landslide at Mud Creek on the Big Sur coast, October 12, 2017. USGS is studying the landslide, collecting data and imagery that can be used to monitor changes. USGS provides the data to Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, whose heavy equipment and earth movers are shown here.

View of the huge landslide at Mud Creek on the Big Sur coast, October 12, 2017. USGS is studying the landslide, collecting data and imagery that can be used to monitor changes. USGS provides the data to Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, whose heavy equipment and earth movers are shown here.

Wayne Baldwin, USGS, deploys a sound velocity profiler off the R/V Stephens in Lake Powell, UT-AZ.
Deploying equipment from small boat
Deploying equipment from small boat
Deploying equipment from small boat

Wayne Baldwin, USGS, deploys a sound velocity profiler off the stern of the R/V Stephens in Lake Powell, UT-AZ as part of a collaborative program with the Utah Water Science Center to map the depth and sediments within Lake Powell, UT-AZ.

Wayne Baldwin, USGS, deploys a sound velocity profiler off the stern of the R/V Stephens in Lake Powell, UT-AZ as part of a collaborative program with the Utah Water Science Center to map the depth and sediments within Lake Powell, UT-AZ.

Scientist preparing samples in a laboratory
USGS Scientist Preparing Samples in a Laboratory
USGS Scientist Preparing Samples in a Laboratory
USGS Scientist Preparing Samples in a Laboratory

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist preparing samples for analysis of protein levels to normalize results from oxidative stress bioassays.

Satellite image that shows the fires in California wine country.
Wildfires Devastate California Wine Country
Wildfires Devastate California Wine Country
Wildfires Devastate California Wine Country

Residents had little warning when wildfires that ignited late Sunday night, October 8, 2017, were fanned by wind gusts of 50 miles per hour and blasted across California's wine country. More than 100,000 acres have burned as of October 11, with less than 6 percent of the fires contained.

Residents had little warning when wildfires that ignited late Sunday night, October 8, 2017, were fanned by wind gusts of 50 miles per hour and blasted across California's wine country. More than 100,000 acres have burned as of October 11, with less than 6 percent of the fires contained.

A boat sits along a dock on Paradox Lake. The autumn colored trees are reflected in the placid lake.
Autumn colors reflected on Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains
Autumn colors reflected on Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains
Autumn colors reflected on Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains

The Northeast Bedrock Mapping Project consists of scientists conducting geologic mapping and scientific research of complexly deformed crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks in the Northeastern United States. Current mapping activities are focused in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York.

The Northeast Bedrock Mapping Project consists of scientists conducting geologic mapping and scientific research of complexly deformed crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks in the Northeastern United States. Current mapping activities are focused in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York.

Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes
Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes
Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes
Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes

Rainbow trout are native only to the western United States but are stocked widely throughout the country to increase fishing opportunities for anglers. Competitive interactions have been shown to be condition specific (for example, water temperature) and, thus, may only occur seasonally or under certain environmental conditions.

Rainbow trout are native only to the western United States but are stocked widely throughout the country to increase fishing opportunities for anglers. Competitive interactions have been shown to be condition specific (for example, water temperature) and, thus, may only occur seasonally or under certain environmental conditions.

Phormidium
Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)
Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)
Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)

Microscopic view of blue green algae sample. Some algae produce toxins that threaten the health and safety of living things that come in direct contact. Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)

Microscopic view of blue green algae sample. Some algae produce toxins that threaten the health and safety of living things that come in direct contact. Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)

Erosion forecast map for Northern Gulf sandy shorelines
Tropical Storm Nate's Forecasted Effect on Gulf Beaches
Tropical Storm Nate's Forecasted Effect on Gulf Beaches
Tropical Storm Nate's Forecasted Effect on Gulf Beaches

Tropical Storm Nate's predicted effect on Northern Gulf sandy shorelines, based on landfall as a Category 1 hurricane,  is shown at three intensities. Outer band:  Dune erosion. Middle band: Dune overwash. Inner band: Dune inundation, with potential flooding behind the dune. Credit: USGS Coastal Change Hazard Portal.

Tropical Storm Nate's predicted effect on Northern Gulf sandy shorelines, based on landfall as a Category 1 hurricane,  is shown at three intensities. Outer band:  Dune erosion. Middle band: Dune overwash. Inner band: Dune inundation, with potential flooding behind the dune. Credit: USGS Coastal Change Hazard Portal.

Modeling Kīlauea Volcano a Century Ago...
Modeling Kīlauea a Century Ago
Modeling Kīlauea a Century Ago
Modeling Kīlauea a Century Ago

This view of Halema‘uma‘u as it appeared in the 1917 relief model by George Carroll Curtis shows fine details around the crater, including the first road for automobiles, which ended near the crater rim. The light-colored circular feature around Halema‘uma‘u is a nearly continuous escarpment along which subsidence occurred. Photo by Burr A. Church.

This view of Halema‘uma‘u as it appeared in the 1917 relief model by George Carroll Curtis shows fine details around the crater, including the first road for automobiles, which ended near the crater rim. The light-colored circular feature around Halema‘uma‘u is a nearly continuous escarpment along which subsidence occurred. Photo by Burr A. Church.

Modeling Kīlauea Volcano a Century Ago...
Modeling Kīlauea a Century Ago
Modeling Kīlauea a Century Ago
Modeling Kīlauea a Century Ago

The 1917 Curtis relief model of Kīlauea Volcano's summit shows many well-known geologic features, including the summit caldera (large depression), Halema‘uma‘u (crater within the caldera), Kīlauea Iki (crater at far right), and elaborate drainage patterns (foreground). Photo by Burr A. Church.

The 1917 Curtis relief model of Kīlauea Volcano's summit shows many well-known geologic features, including the summit caldera (large depression), Halema‘uma‘u (crater within the caldera), Kīlauea Iki (crater at far right), and elaborate drainage patterns (foreground). Photo by Burr A. Church.

Effects of fire on desert tortoise habitat
Effects of fire on desert tortoise habitat
Effects of fire on desert tortoise habitat
Effects of fire on desert tortoise habitat

This old male tortoise was experimentally translocated to a site that had been previously burned in wildfire to understand how tortoise grow and survive in habitat that is disturbed by fires.

This old male tortoise was experimentally translocated to a site that had been previously burned in wildfire to understand how tortoise grow and survive in habitat that is disturbed by fires.

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