Multimedia Gallery
Images Carousel
Images
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.
March 29, 2021—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map showing lava lake
This map of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea shows 20 m (66 ft) contour lines (dark gray) that mark locations of equal elevation above sea level (asl). The map shows that the lava lake has filled 224 m (735 ft) of the crater, to an elevation of 741 m (2431 ft) asl since the eruption began on December 20, 2020. Contour lines highlighted in green, purple, and blue mark
...March 26, 2021—Kīlauea summit eruption thermal map
A helicopter overflight on March 26, 2021, at approximately 8 a.m. HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Active surface lava is largely limited to the western side of the lake; the eastern portion of the lake has stagnated and is dominated by cooling, solidified crust.
...Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 26, 2021
An aerial view of the western portion of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The west vent (upper-right) continues to erupt lava into the perched active portion of the lava lake. The main island, which remains trapped in place by the solidified lava crust surrounding it, is visible at the bottom of the photo. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither
...Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on March 26
During today’s HVO helicopter overflight of the Kīlauea summit eruption, no major changes were observed. As the west vent continues to erupt lava into the active lava lake, volcanic gas emissions remain elevated, with a visible plume rising from the western vent (upper-right). The most recent SO2 emission rates were recorded on March 22 at about 950 t/d. USGS
...Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 26, 2021
A telephoto view of the west vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater taken during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight of Kīlauea summit. The west vent continues to supply lava into the active western portion of the lava lake from two adjacent inlets at its base (center-left). A pile of rubble, from a partial collapse of the cone several weeks ago, remains on the
...A comparison of perched lava lake and lava channel levees—Kīlauea
This figure shows a comparison of ongoing activity in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, with a 2007 lava channel on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. On the left, a photo shows the levee that is containing the active perched lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u. The levee is formed in part from rafted pieces of surface crust that are pushed onto the levee by the lake circulation, with
...Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 26, 2021
A close-up aerial view of the southern active lava lake margin within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit. The formation of the levee containing the “perched” active lava lake (center to upper-right) is partially due to crustal plates from the active lake surface being pushed onto the rim of the lava lake. See the magnified image of the levee (lower-left) for a more
...West vent cones in the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption
Morning light illuminates the active west vent spatter cones from the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption at Kīlauea Volcano's summit on Friday, March 26, 2021. Several of the cones were actively degassing but no spatter or lava flows were observed. USGS Photo by K. Lynn.
Upstream view of the Columbia River flowing through the Hanford reach
The Columbia River flowing through the Hanford reach of the arid Columbia River basin, eastern Washington. This reach is one of the few undammed segments of the Columbia River within the United States. Photograph taken from the White Bluffs, composed of sediment deposited in late Miocene and Pliocene Lake Ringold which occupied the Pasco Basin.
March 24, 2021 view of the Kīlauea summit lava lake and west vent
A wide view of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea summit, taken on March 24, 2021 at 12:48 p.m. HST. A gas plume rises from the west vent (center-left), which continues to erupt lava into the active western portion of the lava lake (light gray in color). The center and eastern lava lake surface is covered by a darker, stagnant crust. USGS photo taken by D
...Water Quality of San Francisco Bay Phytoplankton Net
USGS scientist sampling phytoplankton with a net in San Francisco Bay.
View of lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u—Kīlauea—March 23, 2021
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava is limited to the western (bottom) portion of the lake between the main island and the western fissure complex. In this view looking east, a 4 meter (13 feet) diameter skylight is visible at the top of the northeastern-most spatter cone (left). USGS photo by N. Deligne on
...Jin-Si Over Conducting Elevation Survey
Jin-Si Over conducting an elevation survey at Head of the Meadow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.
Repeat photo of Grinnell Glacier (1910, 2007)
Boulder Glacier in 1910 (Elrod photo, GNP Archives) and in 2007 (Fagre/Pederson photo, USGS). Matching the intersection of the peaks in the background helps the repeat photographer locate the photo point. USGS Public domain
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers in 1914 and 2009
Blackfoot & Jackson Glaciers: 8/1/1914 EC Stebinger, USGS Photographic Library – 9/3/2009 L McKeon, USGS
Since the historic photo was taken, Blackfoot Glacier has retreated and fragmented into two separate glaciers, Blackfoot (foreground) and Jackson (distant) Glaciers.
View the full collection at
...Boulder Glacier in 1910 and 2007
Boulder Glacier: circa 1910 M Elrod, Glacier National Park Archives - 8/24/2007 D Fagre & G Pederson, USGS
Aerial analysis showed that by 1998 Boulder Glacier’s area was less than 0.1 km2, too small
...Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers in 1910 and 2016
Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS
During the timespan between photos, Upper Grinnell Lake formed as Grinnell Glacier melted. Gem Glacier, the small glacier in the saddle along the crest of the peaks, has lost some height (volume) despite retaining a similar area. Salamander Glacier, along the
...Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 22, 2021
This photo shows the northern portion of the active lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Like the southern portion of the lake, this northern zone is also contained by steep, well-defined levees. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 22, 2021
This photo shows the levee that bounds the southern margin of the active lake in Halema‘uma‘u. The levee is formed, in part, by numerous small crustal plates pushed over the rim. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 22, 2021
This photo shows one of the islands near the inlet in the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Over the past two weeks, the island has tilted 90 degrees, producing the vertical layering visible here. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 22, 2021
Crustal foundering—less-dense liquid lava overriding and sinking thin surface crust—is common in the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, large sections of the crust are foundering, resurfacing the lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 22, 2021
A close up of the inlet where lava from the western fissure feeds into the lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The inlet is formed from two adjacent lava streams. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 22, 2021
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava is limited to the western portion of the lake, and is impounded by steep, well-defined levees. USGS photo by M. Patrick on March 22, 2021.
Photograph & photomicrographs from exotic duck with avian tuberculosis
Photographs and photomicrographs from an exotic duck. (A) Grossly, the spleen is enlarged, firm, and yellow (arrow). Throughout the liver are multifocal to coalescing firm tan nodules (arrowheads). (B) The liver contains multifocal granulomas (asterisk). H&E stain. (C) Hepatic granulomas are characterized by a rim of epithelioid macrophages (arrow) surrounding
...Kintla Glacier in 1901 and 2019
Grinnell, Gem & Salamander Glaciers: 8/9/1910 M Elrod, U of M Library – 9/27/2016 L McKeon, USGS
View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library
GLSC Diver Collects Cladophora Samples in Lake Michigan
Emily Wimmer (GLSC, Ann Arbor, Michigan) collects Cladophora growing at 6m depth in Lake Michigan.
March 18, 2021—West vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea summit
On March 18, 2021, morning light illuminated the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Small collapses of the cone have accumulated into a loose pile of rubble (left) on the stagnant crust at its base—adjacent to the active lava lake (lower-right). USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Halema‘uma‘u Eruption Activity on 18 March 2021
On Thursday, March 18, lava continued to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Two lava inlets near the base of the west vent (center) supply lava into the lava lake. This photo was taken around 7:15 a.m. HST from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater, in an area within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public
...Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 17, 2021
On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2021, a rainbow was observed adjacent to the active lava lake at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. This photo was taken around 11:00 a.m. HST from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater. In the nearly three months since the eruption started on December 20, 2020, the active surface of the lava lake has risen to approximately 222 m (728 ft). USGS
...Utah Gauge Celebrates 100 Years of Monitoring Streamflow
A U.S. Geological Survey streamgage near Hunstville, Utah is celebrating 100 years of monitoring streamflow on the south fork of the Ogden River. The streamgage has been monitoring water levels and flow since March 21, 1921, making it one of 25 centennial gauges in Utah.
Utah Gauge Celebrates 100 Years of Monitoring Streamflow
A U.S. Geological Survey streamgage near Hunstville, Utah is celebrating 100 years of monitoring streamflow on the south fork of the Ogden River. The streamgage has been monitoring water levels and flow since March 21, 1921, making it one of 25 centennial gauges in Utah.
Cleaning and inspecting water height reference staff at streamgage
USGS hydrologist Adam Birken cleans and inspects the water height reference staff at the USGS streamgage site on the South Fork of the Ogden River near Hunstville, Utah. This streamgage has been monitoring water levels and flow since March 21, 1921, making it one of 25 centennial gauges in Utah.
USGS hydrologist conducts equipment maintenance at streamgage
USGS hydrologist Adam Birken conducts equipment maintenance at the USGS streamgage on the South Fork of the Ogden River near Hunstville, Utah. This streamgage has been monitoring water levels and flow since March 21, 1921, making it one of 25 centennial gauges in Utah.
Chart recorder similar to one installed inside a centennial streamgage
This is a chart recorder similar to the one installed inside the USGS streamgage on the South Fork of the Ogden River in 1921.
Measuring streamflow on the Ogden River near Hunstville, Utah
USGS hydrologist Adam Birken prepares to measure streamflow on the South Fork of the Ogden River near Hunstville, Utah. This streamgage has been monitoring water levels and flow since March 21, 1921, making it one of 25 centennial gauges in Utah.
U.S. regions in the tropical-to-temperate transition
A map showing North America's tropical-to-temperate transition zone. Red, orange, and yellow depict the more tropical zones, and blues depict the more temperate zones, based on to the coldest recorded temperature for each area between 1980 and 2009. Photos show some cold-sensitive plants and animals with northern range limits governed by winter cold temperature extremes.
...Seismic view of Steamboat Geyser and Cistern Spring
Outline of the Steamboat and Cistern plumbing systems. The structure, color-coded by depth, delineates the observed seismically active area during eruption cycles of Steamboat Geyser. The solid star, solid square, and open triangles denote Steamboat Geyser, Cistern Spring, and seismic station locations on the surface, respectively.
Outline of the Steamboat and Cistern plumbing systems from seismicity
Outline of the Steamboat and Cistern plumbing systems, with two viewing angles. The structure, color-coded by depth, delineates the observed seismically active area during eruption cycles of Steamboat Geyser. The solid star, solid square, and open triangles denote Steamboat Geyser, Cistern Spring, and seismic station locations on the surface, respectively.
Aerial photo of Cold River in Maine
Photo Contest Winner | March 2021 | Where We Work
Aerial photo of Cold River in Maine
R/V Peterson Underway in San Francisco Bay
The Research Vessel Peterson Underway in San Francisco Bay.
View of lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u - Kīlauea, March 15, 2021
View of the lava lake from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, looking north. The western (left) portion of the lava lake remains active, with small scale crustal foundering events. Lava enters the lake at two sources approximately 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 ft) apart at the base of the western vent spatter cone. The western active lava lake has been
...Subtropical snook gather at a warm Florida springhead in winter
Winter temperature extremes control the distributions of subtropical fishes. Common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), aggregate at a spring in northern Florida during winter. Snook are warm saltwater game fish, common in Florida, that have been moving further northward as extreme cold spells become less frequent and less intense.
Metals and Minerals in Medical Implants
Metals and minerals are vital components of medical devices that allow millions of people to enjoy healthy lifestyles. Devices implanted into the human body can replace, support, or enhance an existing body part. Other devices can diagnose, monitor, or treat clinical conditions, both saving lives and improving people’s quality of life. There are a wide variety of medical
...Agassiz Glacier in 1913 and 2007
Agassiz Glacier: 8/5/1913 WC Alden, USGS Photographic Library - 8/24/2007, D Fagre, USGS
View the full collection at USGS Photographic Library
March 12, 2021—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map
This map of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea shows 20 m (66 ft) contour lines (dark gray) that mark locations of equal elevation above sea level (asl). The map shows that the lava lake has filled 221 m (725 ft) of the crater, to an elevation of 737 m (2418 ft) asl since the eruption began on December 20, 2020. Contour lines highlighted in green, purple, and blue mark
...