Phosphorite rock formed on the seafloor in Southern California.
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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.
Phosphorite rock formed on the seafloor in Southern California.
Capitol Hill lawmakers requested an informational briefing on the documented impacts of climate change on inland fish and fisheries.
Capitol Hill lawmakers requested an informational briefing on the documented impacts of climate change on inland fish and fisheries.
2016 Interns Rachel and Pat use a chainsaw to sample the fire history from a ponderosa pine stump. This is one of over 300 samples they will collect this year in an effort to create a reconstruction of the fire history of the Jemez Mountains.
2016 Interns Rachel and Pat use a chainsaw to sample the fire history from a ponderosa pine stump. This is one of over 300 samples they will collect this year in an effort to create a reconstruction of the fire history of the Jemez Mountains.
USGS hydrologists Irene Fisher and Michael Como sample water quality on Long Island.
USGS hydrologists Irene Fisher and Michael Como sample water quality on Long Island.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
Spruce grouse on Mt. Washington, White Mountain National Forest, NH
Spruce grouse on Mt. Washington, White Mountain National Forest, NH
Developing pallid sturgeon embryo.
Developing pallid sturgeon embryo.
Macro photo of a developing pallid sturgeon embryo. Developing embryo appears light gray
Macro photo of a developing pallid sturgeon embryo. Developing embryo appears light gray
USGS scientists preparing for filming with BBC/PBS documentary crew making "The Great Yellowstone Thaw"
USGS scientists preparing for filming with BBC/PBS documentary crew making "The Great Yellowstone Thaw"
USGS scientist Joseph Levitt secured the new buoy, equipped to monitor water quality, at Weirs Beach on Lake Winnepesaukee, New Hampshire in June 2016. Photo: Sanborn Ward, USGS
USGS scientist Joseph Levitt secured the new buoy, equipped to monitor water quality, at Weirs Beach on Lake Winnepesaukee, New Hampshire in June 2016. Photo: Sanborn Ward, USGS
A massive wildfire on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia has consumed nearly 600,000 acres of boreal forest and tundra since late May 2016.
A massive wildfire on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia has consumed nearly 600,000 acres of boreal forest and tundra since late May 2016.
The map on sheet 7 shows “potential” marine benthic habitats in the Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, representing a substrate type, geomorphology, seafloor process, or any other attribute that may provide a habitat for a specific species or assemblage of organisms.
The map on sheet 7 shows “potential” marine benthic habitats in the Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, representing a substrate type, geomorphology, seafloor process, or any other attribute that may provide a habitat for a specific species or assemblage of organisms.
Scientists Andrew Ramey, Bjorn Olsen, and Jonas Bonnedahl (L to R) setting a trap for gulls at the Soldotna landfill in June 2016.
Scientists Andrew Ramey, Bjorn Olsen, and Jonas Bonnedahl (L to R) setting a trap for gulls at the Soldotna landfill in June 2016.
In June, USGS scientists deployed a new high tech buoy that will help determine when the water is safe for swimming at popular Weirs Beach on New Hampshire's Lake Winnepesaukee. Photo: Richard Kiah, USGS.
In June, USGS scientists deployed a new high tech buoy that will help determine when the water is safe for swimming at popular Weirs Beach on New Hampshire's Lake Winnepesaukee. Photo: Richard Kiah, USGS.
The USGS monitors water quality at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan.
The USGS monitors water quality at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan.
The USGS monitors water quality at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan.
The USGS monitors water quality at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan.
USGS research vessel with Teledyne Odom Hydrographic ES3PT–M integrated multibeam echo sounder and motion sensor submerged on the port side, and Trimble SPS461 GPS receivers mounted on each side of vessel.
USGS research vessel with Teledyne Odom Hydrographic ES3PT–M integrated multibeam echo sounder and motion sensor submerged on the port side, and Trimble SPS461 GPS receivers mounted on each side of vessel.
A savannah south of Kaffrine in central Senegal, photographed in 2010 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan had previously photographed the scene in 1994.
A savannah south of Kaffrine in central Senegal, photographed in 2010 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan had previously photographed the scene in 1994.
Did you know that most streams in the United States have groundwater flowing into them at least part of the time? Contribution of groundwater to total streamflow varies widely among streams but can have a significant affect on water quality and (or) volume.
Did you know that most streams in the United States have groundwater flowing into them at least part of the time? Contribution of groundwater to total streamflow varies widely among streams but can have a significant affect on water quality and (or) volume.
A corn farm in northeast Iowa. A new USGS report shows that drought periods followed by rainfall caused nitrate levels to increase to the highest ever measured in some Midwest streams during a 2013 study.
A corn farm in northeast Iowa. A new USGS report shows that drought periods followed by rainfall caused nitrate levels to increase to the highest ever measured in some Midwest streams during a 2013 study.