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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.
View to northeast from southwestern Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. In foreground, red-weathering rocks are Hue Shale (oil-prone source rock with is present throughout 1002 Area) and dark gray rocks are Kemik Sandstone (lateral equivalent to Thomson sandstone, main reservoir in Pt. Thomson field).
View to northeast from southwestern Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. In foreground, red-weathering rocks are Hue Shale (oil-prone source rock with is present throughout 1002 Area) and dark gray rocks are Kemik Sandstone (lateral equivalent to Thomson sandstone, main reservoir in Pt. Thomson field).
View to the southeast from near the Canning River Delta. Visible in foreground are permafrost polygons cut by caribou trails.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
View to the southeast from near the Canning River Delta. Visible in foreground are permafrost polygons cut by caribou trails.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Well head of Sourdough oil discovery on Alaska state lease less than one mile west of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area showing minimal disturbance of permafrost polygons.
Well head of Sourdough oil discovery on Alaska state lease less than one mile west of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area showing minimal disturbance of permafrost polygons.
A well at a restored prairie on Lake Agassiz beach ridge, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
A well at a restored prairie on Lake Agassiz beach ridge, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Northward view in western Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. North sloping, tundra-covered surface is typical of coastal plain.
Northward view in western Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. North sloping, tundra-covered surface is typical of coastal plain.
View to northeast from western Sadlerochit Mountains near the Tamayariak River. This gently rolling topography is typical of the southern coastal plain.
View to northeast from western Sadlerochit Mountains near the Tamayariak River. This gently rolling topography is typical of the southern coastal plain.
Ephemeral wetlands at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Ephemeral wetlands at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | June 2019 | People
Will Dougherty carrying snapping turtle
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | June 2019 | People
Will Dougherty carrying snapping turtle
This is remote capture image of a Yosemite toad seen crossing beneath "toad road" structure built atop a forest road in the Sierra National Forest. Reseachers are exploring tools, such as this elevated road structure, or "toad road," to reduce vehicle strikes to this threatened species.
This is remote capture image of a Yosemite toad seen crossing beneath "toad road" structure built atop a forest road in the Sierra National Forest. Reseachers are exploring tools, such as this elevated road structure, or "toad road," to reduce vehicle strikes to this threatened species.
Young moose near Benoit, Minnesota, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Young moose near Benoit, Minnesota, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Earl Alstrom and Carol Hasburgh taking water quality samples near St. Mary’s, Alaska.
Earl Alstrom and Carol Hasburgh taking water quality samples near St. Mary’s, Alaska.
Photo Contest Winner | Nov. 2019 | Where We Work
Cattaraugus Creek near Springville, NY
Photo Contest Winner | Nov. 2019 | Where We Work
Cattaraugus Creek near Springville, NY
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | Sept 2019 | USGS at Work
Crawfish groundwater measurement
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | Sept 2019 | USGS at Work
Crawfish groundwater measurement
Northern Pintail Drake at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Northern Pintail Drake at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
A closer view of the braided section of the Fissure 8 channel, with Highway 132 cutting across both branches. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.
A closer view of the braided section of the Fissure 8 channel, with Highway 132 cutting across both branches. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.
Building 1 formerly housed many different USGS groups, including the Western Coastal and Marine Geology team, but slowly has been leased out to other federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Veterans Affairs (VA). At the right is the Menlo Survey Federal Credit Union.
Building 1 formerly housed many different USGS groups, including the Western Coastal and Marine Geology team, but slowly has been leased out to other federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Veterans Affairs (VA). At the right is the Menlo Survey Federal Credit Union.
This photo looks north along the broad Fissure 8 channel. At its widest section, the Fissure 8 channel is about 430 meters (1400 feet wide). In the upper right section of the photo, Highway 132 can be seen cutting through the braided section of the channel. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.
This photo looks north along the broad Fissure 8 channel. At its widest section, the Fissure 8 channel is about 430 meters (1400 feet wide). In the upper right section of the photo, Highway 132 can be seen cutting through the braided section of the channel. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.
Building 3 on the USGS Western Region campus in Menlo Park, California.
Building 3 on the USGS Western Region campus in Menlo Park, California.
"Earthquake camp" of the Hayden expedition in 1871, located on the north shore of Yellowstone Lake near Steamboat Point. Photo by William H. Jackson, courtesy Yellowstone National Park (https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/history/jacksonphotos/Image…).
"Earthquake camp" of the Hayden expedition in 1871, located on the north shore of Yellowstone Lake near Steamboat Point. Photo by William H. Jackson, courtesy Yellowstone National Park (https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/history/jacksonphotos/Image…).
Dan Dzurisin, of the Cascades Volcano Observatory, conducting a leveling survey at Newberry Volcano, Oregon, in 2002.
Dan Dzurisin, of the Cascades Volcano Observatory, conducting a leveling survey at Newberry Volcano, Oregon, in 2002.
Flock of northern pintail flying at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Flock of northern pintail flying at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
