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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.
The new eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit is depositing tephra downwind of the erupting vents. Tephra is a term that describes products of an eruption that travel through the air before being deposited.
The new eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit is depositing tephra downwind of the erupting vents. Tephra is a term that describes products of an eruption that travel through the air before being deposited.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists collect tephra samples from the recent eruption within Halema'uma'u, at Kīlauea summit. Geochemical analyses of these eruption products will provide information about magma storage prior to the eruption. USGS image by K. Lynn.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists collect tephra samples from the recent eruption within Halema'uma'u, at Kīlauea summit. Geochemical analyses of these eruption products will provide information about magma storage prior to the eruption. USGS image by K. Lynn.
At approximately 4:43 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021, another vent opened on the west wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. This telephoto image shows the vent area and lava fountain through volcanic gas. USGS image.
At approximately 4:43 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021, another vent opened on the west wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. This telephoto image shows the vent area and lava fountain through volcanic gas. USGS image.
An eruption began within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, on September 29, 2021. Vigorous lava fountains formed in the middle part of the lava lake that was active in Halemaʻumaʻu crater from December 2020 until May 2021.
An eruption began within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, on September 29, 2021. Vigorous lava fountains formed in the middle part of the lava lake that was active in Halemaʻumaʻu crater from December 2020 until May 2021.
The ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema'uma'u crater continues to feed low lava fountains in the center of the lava lake (pictured) and along the western wall of Halema'uma'u. This telephoto image is looking east at the center of the rising lava lake.
The ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema'uma'u crater continues to feed low lava fountains in the center of the lava lake (pictured) and along the western wall of Halema'uma'u. This telephoto image is looking east at the center of the rising lava lake.
A telephoto image of one of the low lava fountains near the center of the growing Halema'uma'u lava lake. The ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is confined within Halema'uma'u, with numerous lava fountains producing lava and volcanic gases.
A telephoto image of one of the low lava fountains near the center of the growing Halema'uma'u lava lake. The ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is confined within Halema'uma'u, with numerous lava fountains producing lava and volcanic gases.
This timelapse image sequence shows the opening sequence of the new eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The first few moments are shown on a loop several times to highlight the visible uplift of the crater floor, just before the appearance of new fissures.
This timelapse image sequence shows the opening sequence of the new eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The first few moments are shown on a loop several times to highlight the visible uplift of the crater floor, just before the appearance of new fissures.
Complex aquifer system simulated in the Los Angeles Coastal Plain, California.
Complex aquifer system simulated in the Los Angeles Coastal Plain, California.
Landsat 9 is the latest in a prestigious line of satellites that have been watching our planet for nearly 50 years. They have monitored changes on land and made that information freely available to users around the world.
Landsat 9 is the latest in a prestigious line of satellites that have been watching our planet for nearly 50 years. They have monitored changes on land and made that information freely available to users around the world.
A view looking north into Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit, on September 24, 2021, seen during a brief clear spell between passing rain clouds. There has been no significant change in the surface elevation of the solidified crust of the lava lake since the eruption paused in late May 2021.
A view looking north into Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit, on September 24, 2021, seen during a brief clear spell between passing rain clouds. There has been no significant change in the surface elevation of the solidified crust of the lava lake since the eruption paused in late May 2021.
Photographs from red crossbills (Loxia curvirostra; A, C) and American goldfinches (Spinus tristis; B, D) from Montana, U.S.A. (A) A large yellow/tan plaque (asterisk) is present on the mucosal surface of the crop. (B) White seed-like plaques (arrow) are present on the mucosal surface of the crop.
Photographs from red crossbills (Loxia curvirostra; A, C) and American goldfinches (Spinus tristis; B, D) from Montana, U.S.A. (A) A large yellow/tan plaque (asterisk) is present on the mucosal surface of the crop. (B) White seed-like plaques (arrow) are present on the mucosal surface of the crop.
Five tule white-fronted geese flying over Summer Lake Wildlife Area, the primary stopover site for this species on its fall migration.
Five tule white-fronted geese flying over Summer Lake Wildlife Area, the primary stopover site for this species on its fall migration.
Six tule white-fronted geese flying over Summer Lake Wildlife Area, the primary stopover site for this species on its fall migration.
Six tule white-fronted geese flying over Summer Lake Wildlife Area, the primary stopover site for this species on its fall migration.
Tule white-fronted geese get ready to land at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon. The geese turn upside down and sideways to drop altitude quickly to land, a behavior known as "whiffling" or "maple leafing."
Tule white-fronted geese get ready to land at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon. The geese turn upside down and sideways to drop altitude quickly to land, a behavior known as "whiffling" or "maple leafing."
Five tule white-fronted geese take off from Summer Lake Wildlife Area, the primary stopover site for this species on its fall migration.
Five tule white-fronted geese take off from Summer Lake Wildlife Area, the primary stopover site for this species on its fall migration.
Two high-resolution, digital cameras were mounted on towers overlooking the beach, dunes, and instrument arrays in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on September 18, 2021, as part of the DUring Nea
Two high-resolution, digital cameras were mounted on towers overlooking the beach, dunes, and instrument arrays in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on September 18, 2021, as part of the DUring Nea
Researchers from the USGS and North Carolina Universites set up their equipment on installed poles stretching from the dune to the surf zone.
Researchers from the USGS and North Carolina Universites set up their equipment on installed poles stretching from the dune to the surf zone.
an Image from a video recording taken during a spatial mapping boat trip of about 50 miles on the Hudson River from New Hamburg to Yonkers, NY, passing through the Hudson Highlands, West Point, and the Tappan Zee.
an Image from a video recording taken during a spatial mapping boat trip of about 50 miles on the Hudson River from New Hamburg to Yonkers, NY, passing through the Hudson Highlands, West Point, and the Tappan Zee.
To install instruments offshore professional divers were hired to work alongside USGS personnel. Here, long segments of pipe are jetted into the seafloor to which instruments will be attached to measure offshore oceanographic conditions.
To install instruments offshore professional divers were hired to work alongside USGS personnel. Here, long segments of pipe are jetted into the seafloor to which instruments will be attached to measure offshore oceanographic conditions.
USGS personnel install signs on the beach warning and informing beach goers of the DUNEX experiment
USGS personnel install signs on the beach warning and informing beach goers of the DUNEX experiment
USGS researcher Jenna Brown takes a measurement with a real time kinematic GPS receiver, this will give her an accurate position and height of the aluminum pole beneath it, which will have mutliple instruments attached to it to measure water flow and elevation changes.
USGS researcher Jenna Brown takes a measurement with a real time kinematic GPS receiver, this will give her an accurate position and height of the aluminum pole beneath it, which will have mutliple instruments attached to it to measure water flow and elevation changes.