Multimedia Gallery

During a Kīlauea summit monitoring field shift on the evening of June 2, HVO geologists observed no eruptive activity or any major changes at the Halema‘uma‘u crater lava lake. No incandescence was visible anywhere on the lake surface or around the vents. Degassing from the west vent was minimal, with most outgassing now observed coming from a location along the the crater

The USGS Active Groundwater Level Network includes about 20,000 wells that have been measured by the USGS or USGS cooperators at least once within the past 13 months. The animation shows a daily snapshot of water-level statistics in the network for May 2021.

Refer to the 

Looking across the back deck/stern of the R/V Robert Gordon Sproul. The wire going through the block in the A-frame leads to the CHIRP sonar fish towed in the water. Oil platforms are shown in the distance.

Inlet geomorphic environments with sediment transport pathways indicated by black arrows.

The Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware is the site of a $40 million tidal marsh restoration project—one of the largest restoration projects ever in the eastern U.S. With this project, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aims to restore 4,000 acres of highly damaged tidal marsh and barrier beaches to improve the ability of the marshes to withstand future storms

In the Mississippi River Birdfoot Delta, there is intense vegetation loss in marshes farthest away from the river, as indicated by high values of UVVR (shown in pink). In the past, these marshes were naturally replenished by the Mississippi River sediment supply, but human activities have disrupted this natural process—causing these sediments to instead go straight down

Within the busy boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, is Jamaica Bay—a complex urban ecosystem almost the size of Manhattan that consists of salt marsh islands, various waterways, meadowlands and two freshwater ponds. This ecosystem is a true natural treasure to New York, providing protection from storms, a haven for migratory and resident bird and fish species,

Everglades National Park in South Florida is the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in North America, consisting of about 1.5 million acres of mangrove forests and other coastal wetlands. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that thrive amidst the harsh growing conditions of the coast. Like other coastal wetlands, the mangroves in the Everglades stabilize the coastline,

Ocean engineer Gerry Hatcher, of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC), sits at a desk on board the USGS boat Sallenger. He and a team of scientists from PCMSC and sister team St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center are near Eastern Dry

Simplified cartoon showing differences between patterns of earthquakes expected for a swarm driven by a magma-filled crack (left) versus one driven by pressurized water in a fault (right).

Annotated MKcam image, taken on May 29, 2021. The new MKcam is positioned on Mauna Kea with a south view of Mauna Loa summit and Northeast Rift Zone. The MKcam view also includes features on the East Rift Zone and summit of Kīlauea, including Kānenuiohamo, Maunaulu, and the Halema‘uma‘u plume. Kūlani, a cone on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa, is also visible in the

Phragmites australis seedlings in the GLSC (Ann Arbor, Michigan) greenhouse, planted over the course of two days in late May 2021. These seedlings will be used to test cutting strategies in management techniques. 

View looking to the east of the western part of the now inactive lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, taken on May 28th. The west vent area is at the bottom. The glowing vent area in the photo taken in the evening on May 24th is visible in the bottom right, with a white rim at the top of the now inactive vent. Part of the main island is visible in

This close-up view of the now-inactive western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured on Thursday, May 27, 2021. HVO scientists did not observe any incandescent lava or other signs of eruptive activity during a one-hour visit to the crater rim. The fissure complex was measured to be about 20 m (66 ft) tall at the time; small rockslides have been

Kīlauea Volcano is no longer erupting. Lava supply to the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake has ceased and sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased to near pre-eruption background levels. Yesterday, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) lowered the Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level for ground based hazards from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW. This

A wide view of the now inactive lava lake and west vent from the western rim of Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea summit. The lava lake is entirely crusted over with no red, glowing lava at the surface. Diffuse volcanic gas plumes are still being emitted from the west vent and northern lake margin. This photo was taken in an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains

An overview of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea Volcano’s summit, taken on May 25. Kīlauea’s summit collapse in 2018 deepened Halema‘uma‘u crater by over 500 meters (1640 feet). The eruption that began the evening of December 20, 2020, has filled approximately 229 m (751 ft) of the base of Halema‘uma‘u crater, which is more than the height of the Space

Though no active surface lava was observed within Halema‘uma‘u on May 25, Kīlauea summit continues to emit volcanic gases. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate, measured on May 23, remains slightly elevated at 100 tonnes per day. This photo, taken from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, shows an area near the north wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater that has been visibly

During an eruption monitoring shift on May 25, HVO field crews did not observe any active surface lava or incandescent areas within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. Since the eruption began on December 20, 2020, over 40 million cubic meters (over 10 billion gallons) of lava has been erupted. This volume is approximately 16 times the volume of the Great

A zoomed-in view of the western lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea summit, where two locations of faint incandescence are visible beneath the surface crust (upper right). Eruptive activity has decreased significantly in the past few weeks and the once active lava surface has cooled and crusted over. USGS photo taken by B. Carr at dusk on May 24, 2021.

A zoomed-in view of the western vent within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, with a weak glow visible at dusk on Monday, May 24. USGS photo taken by B. Carr from the western rim of Halema‘uma‘u.

On the evening of May 24, no active surface lava was observed within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Small spots of incandescent lava were visible beneath cracks in the lake surface crust (center) and at the west vent (left). This photo was taken from the western rim of Halema‘uma‘u, in an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed

GRAND CALUMET RIVER AT SOHL AV AT HAMMOND

GRAND CALUMET LAGOON AT MARQUETTE PARK

In the background is the Research Vessel (R/V) Robert Gordon Sproul, operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). Science crew shown from left to right: Alicia Balster-Gee (USGS Geophysicist), Jamie Conrad (USGS Research Geologist, co-chief scientist), Rachel Marcuson (USGS Engineering Technician), Jared Kluesner (USGS Research Geophysicist, chief scientist),

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | USGS at Work
Ashley Ryan and Jeff Kvech using ADCP for recon of lower Anacostia River, 20210520

USGS scientists Gregory D'Agostino and Katherine Wares collecting soil and worms at a site on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, that was contaminated by PFAS from fire-fighting foam.  

Oceanographer RC Mickey in front of a USGS UTV (utility task vehicle) carrying GPS equipment. He is collecting GPS data for location and elevation of sea turtle crawls and associated beach profiles along Jupiter Beach and Juno Beach, FL. Collected data is used in cooperative project with FWC, FWS, USGS, and USFSP aimed at understanding sea turtle nesting behavior in

The Region 1, May 2021 "USGS at Work" Winner (by Aaron Stephens)

A close-up view of the northeastern rim of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, at the summit of Kīlauea. This area of the lava lake has been degassing persistently for the past few months. Several large boulders, which fell from the crater walls, are visible near the perimeter of the northern lava lake crust (center). The top of the inactive northern vent cone is visible in the

A close-up view of the western fissure vent complex and gas plume within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Gas emissions remain slightly elevated, with the most recent measurements on May 18 at 100 tonnes per day. The lava inlet from the base of the west vent, which no longer appears to be active, is visible on the right. USGS photo from the southern rim of Halema‘

No active surface lava was visible within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, during a field visit yesterday morning. F1cam thermal images from yesterday afternoon show hot surface crust, but no active lava. F1cam thermal images from the morning of May 21 showed at least one small resurfacing event. This image was taken within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Map and plot showing earthquakes at 20-40 km (12-25 miles) depth beneath the Island of Hawai‘i over the past week. Most of the earthquakes at this depth were clustered beneath the southern edge of the island near the town of Pāhala (blue dots).  USGS graphic.

Active surface lava in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, is now limited to a small lava pond near the western fissure. Normally the lava pond is covered in a stationary crust, as shown by the image on the left. Occasionally, the pond abruptly resurfaces with fluid lava, with foundering of crustal plates and abundant bubbling, shown by the image on the right. The

Invertebrate being collected at a site on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, that was contaminated by PFAS from fire-fighting foam used at the site. 

A UTV (utility task vehicle) parked in front of a beach scarp used to collect data that is used in cooperation with FWC, FWS, USGS, and USFSP to understand sea turtle nesting behavior in response to beach renourishment with the goal of advising engineers on how to develop more turtle friendly nourishment designs.

A groin at Seven Mile Island, New Jersey traps sand and contributes to widening of the barrier beach. This illustrates how human modification and wave processes shape the beach. In May 2021, Andrew Farmer, Chelsea Stalk, and Emily Wei conducted a multibeam bathymetry survey offshore of Seven Mile Island, along the southern coast of New Jersey. A similar bathymetry survey

This comparison of thermal images taken from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, show the diminishing area of active lava on the surface over the past month. Today, active lava was limited to a small pond, about 20 meters (yards) long, near the western fissure. USGS images by M. Patrick.

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Surveying at USGS 04273996 W BR AUSABLE R TRIB 1 ABV ST HW 86 NR LK PLACID NY (Credit: Isabella Lucia, USGS NY WSC, Public domain.)

This close-up view of the of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake at the summit of Kīlauea was captured on Tuesday, May 18. During an approximately one-hour visit to the crater rim, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists' only observation of active lava was the crustal foundering event captured here, which lasted approximately five minutes. All that remains of the active lava

Learn About Water!

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have teamed up to create a water-cycle diagram for schools and kids. It is available in over 30 languages and also in an interactive

Scituate Reservoir on Plainfield Pike, Scituate, RI.

Photo taken on the eastern side of the reservoir, facing northwest. 

Photographs from a raccoon (Procyon lotor) from Arizona, US.  (A) Large tan nematodes (arrowheads) are present within the subcutaneous tissue and muscle fascia in the distal right forelimb. (B) Closer view of the distal right forelimb showing the large tan nematodes (arrowheads).

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist inspects the thermal camera at the summit of Mauna Loa on May 15, 2021.

On May 15, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists did a routine hike to the summit of Mauna Loa and inspected summit monitoring equipment. Clear weather provided good views across the floor of Moku‘āweoweo, Mauna Loa's summit caldera, and nothing unusual was observed.

Science crew from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center work on deployment of seismic streamer on deck of R/V Robert Gordon Sproul. Green cable is the hydrophone streamer and a "bird" is being attached to control depth in the water. Left to Right: Travis Alongi, Daniel Kennedy, Alicia Balster-Gee, Jared

The Menindee Lakes in the Far West of New South Wales, Australia, are seen in this Landsat 8 Collection 2 image from May 14, 2021, and is shown as a natural color composite using the red, green, and blue bands (Bands 4,3,2).

Located along the Darling-Baaka River, the series of naturally occurring shallow, ephemeral lakes were modified with regulating structures for