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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.
Inverted funnel connected to thermoplastic tubing used to collect gas from a hot spring pool near Lassen Peak, California.
Inverted funnel connected to thermoplastic tubing used to collect gas from a hot spring pool near Lassen Peak, California.
Inland fish are found in city waterways as in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Inland fish are found in city waterways as in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hook Pond, East Hampton, New York
Hook Pond, East Hampton, New York
The small computer, or “micro-controller,” at the bottom of this photo controls the operation of two video cameras mounted on the 10-story Dream Inn hotel in Santa Cruz, California.
The small computer, or “micro-controller,” at the bottom of this photo controls the operation of two video cameras mounted on the 10-story Dream Inn hotel in Santa Cruz, California.
USGS research geologist Jamey Jones collects multiple samples of rocks exposed in a glacial stream valley near Lake Clark.
USGS research geologist Jamey Jones collects multiple samples of rocks exposed in a glacial stream valley near Lake Clark.
This is the first of two microscopic images of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa. In both images, the cyanobacteria have been exposed to a green stain.
Image 1: Microcystis aeruginosa in freshwater. The green stain doesn’t enter the cells, which show up in red.
This is the first of two microscopic images of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa. In both images, the cyanobacteria have been exposed to a green stain.
Image 1: Microcystis aeruginosa in freshwater. The green stain doesn’t enter the cells, which show up in red.
This is the second of two microscopic images of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa. In both images, the cyanobacteria have been exposed to a green stain.
This is the second of two microscopic images of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa. In both images, the cyanobacteria have been exposed to a green stain.
USGS ecologists Molly McCormick (left) and Katie Laushman (right) conducting a seeding experiment that is a part of RAMPS, a new USGS-led initiative to improve restoration outcomes in
USGS ecologists Molly McCormick (left) and Katie Laushman (right) conducting a seeding experiment that is a part of RAMPS, a new USGS-led initiative to improve restoration outcomes in
USGS research geologists Richard Lease (left) and Jamey Jones (right) take notes and collect samples of fine-grained metamorphic rock hosted as an inclusion in coarser-grained granodiorite.
USGS research geologists Richard Lease (left) and Jamey Jones (right) take notes and collect samples of fine-grained metamorphic rock hosted as an inclusion in coarser-grained granodiorite.
USGS research geologists Jamey Jones (left) and Richard Lease (right) make observations of rock units revealed by the glacier below.
USGS research geologists Jamey Jones (left) and Richard Lease (right) make observations of rock units revealed by the glacier below.
USGS studies the behavior and health of juvenile endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers within in-lake mesocosms in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon.
USGS studies the behavior and health of juvenile endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers within in-lake mesocosms in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon.
Young skunk with an ear tag ID. The USGS is studying the movement patterns of skunks and raccoons in Suisun Marsh, CA to learn how they use different landscape features, like levee roads, to navigate to waterfowl nests.
Young skunk with an ear tag ID. The USGS is studying the movement patterns of skunks and raccoons in Suisun Marsh, CA to learn how they use different landscape features, like levee roads, to navigate to waterfowl nests.
Drone’s-eye views of the toe of the Mud Creek landslide, from videos shot by Shawn Harrison on July 12, 2017
Drone’s-eye views of the toe of the Mud Creek landslide, from videos shot by Shawn Harrison on July 12, 2017
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts at a repeat fire site in Wrangells-St. Elias National Park, AK
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts at a repeat fire site in Wrangells-St. Elias National Park, AK
Around July 10–12, 2017, in the middle of the long, dark Antarctic winter, a rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf broke through the last few miles of ice to the Weddell Sea and formed a new iceberg. The NOAA National Ice Center has given the Delaware-sized iceberg the designation A-68.
Around July 10–12, 2017, in the middle of the long, dark Antarctic winter, a rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf broke through the last few miles of ice to the Weddell Sea and formed a new iceberg. The NOAA National Ice Center has given the Delaware-sized iceberg the designation A-68.
Toni Lyn Morelli (left) and Mary Ratnaswamy (right); White Mountain National Forest, NH; trapping red squirrels
Toni Lyn Morelli (left) and Mary Ratnaswamy (right); White Mountain National Forest, NH; trapping red squirrels
Chad Reese and Chuck Parrett of the Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center measure channel width for a small stream near Helena, Montana. Streams of this size are often measured using an instrument called a flume designed to constrain all flow to an artificial channel with a known mathematical relationship between water level and streamflow.
Chad Reese and Chuck Parrett of the Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center measure channel width for a small stream near Helena, Montana. Streams of this size are often measured using an instrument called a flume designed to constrain all flow to an artificial channel with a known mathematical relationship between water level and streamflow.
Taken 7/11/2017 in Suisun City. The California Waterfowl Association hosts a "Youth Hunter Camp" for children at the Grizzly Ranch in Suisun City, CA. Here, a USGS employee and a child look through a tube at an egg to observe its contents.
Taken 7/11/2017 in Suisun City. The California Waterfowl Association hosts a "Youth Hunter Camp" for children at the Grizzly Ranch in Suisun City, CA. Here, a USGS employee and a child look through a tube at an egg to observe its contents.
Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney shows kids how to measure the vegetation surrounding waterfowl nests. Density and height of vegetation can influence the survival of waterfowl eggs and chicks and affect their risk of falling prey to ravens, skunks, and other predators.
Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney shows kids how to measure the vegetation surrounding waterfowl nests. Density and height of vegetation can influence the survival of waterfowl eggs and chicks and affect their risk of falling prey to ravens, skunks, and other predators.
Preliminary seafloor bathymetry (shown in colors) collected by the USGS research vessel Parke Snavely on July 11, 2017. Relative depths shown in color, superimposed on a shaded-relief map from the June 26 USGS air-photo survey. Note white data gap next to the shore where water was too shallow for the Snavely to map.
Preliminary seafloor bathymetry (shown in colors) collected by the USGS research vessel Parke Snavely on July 11, 2017. Relative depths shown in color, superimposed on a shaded-relief map from the June 26 USGS air-photo survey. Note white data gap next to the shore where water was too shallow for the Snavely to map.
School Branch at Brownsburg IN - flooding July 2017
School Branch at Brownsburg IN - flooding July 2017