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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.

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Wide dark blue river with a flat sandy bank on the left and a raised bank with mixed vegetation on the right
Downstream view of North Canadian River at Britton Rd at Oklahoma City
Downstream view of North Canadian River at Britton Rd at Oklahoma City
On June 8, 2021, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a routine helicopter overflight and fieldwork at the summit of
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021

On June 8, 2021, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a routine helicopter overflight and fieldwork at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, a geophysicist returns to the helicopter after making Global Positioning Systems (GPS) measurements. These surveys measure small changes in the ground surface caused by subsurface magma movement.

On June 8, 2021, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a routine helicopter overflight and fieldwork at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, a geophysicist returns to the helicopter after making Global Positioning Systems (GPS) measurements. These surveys measure small changes in the ground surface caused by subsurface magma movement.

No eruptive activity or major changes were observed during HVO's Kīlauea summit monitoring shift on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021

No eruptive activity or major changes were observed during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kīlauea summit monitoring shift on June 8, 2021. An area near the north wall of Halema‘uma‘u continues to visibly emit gases, though the eruption has paused. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate, measured on June 4, remains slightly elevated at 54 tonnes per day.

No eruptive activity or major changes were observed during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kīlauea summit monitoring shift on June 8, 2021. An area near the north wall of Halema‘uma‘u continues to visibly emit gases, though the eruption has paused. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate, measured on June 4, remains slightly elevated at 54 tonnes per day.

A view of the crusted over lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021

A view of the crusted over lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea summit, taken during a helicopter overflight on June 8, 2021. No incandescence (red lava) has been visible on the solidified lava lake surface for over two weeks. Light degassing continues in a few areas around the margin of the lava lake, mainly along the north crater wall (bottom left).

A view of the crusted over lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea summit, taken during a helicopter overflight on June 8, 2021. No incandescence (red lava) has been visible on the solidified lava lake surface for over two weeks. Light degassing continues in a few areas around the margin of the lava lake, mainly along the north crater wall (bottom left).

Portions of Crater Rim Drive, damaged during the 2018 Kīlauea summit collapse, are visible from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021
Kīlauea summit on June 8, 2021

Portions of Crater Rim Drive, which was damaged during the 2018 Kīlauea summit collapse, are visible from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u. The lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u and the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater are visible in the background. This area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions.

Portions of Crater Rim Drive, which was damaged during the 2018 Kīlauea summit collapse, are visible from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u. The lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u and the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater are visible in the background. This area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions.

Maktablar uchun suv aylanishi - Water Cycle for Schools, Uzbek (JPEG)
Maktablar uchun suv aylanishi - Water Cycle for Schools, Uzbek (JPEG)
Maktablar uchun suv aylanishi - Water Cycle for Schools, Uzbek (JPEG)
Maktablar uchun suv aylanishi - Water Cycle for Schools, Uzbek (JPEG)

AQSh Geologiya xizmati va Birlashgan Millatlar Tashkilotining Oziq-ovqat va qishloq xo'jaligi tashkiloti (FAO) maktablar uchun suv aylanishining sxemasini ishlab chiqdi.

Shahriyor Toshevning tarjimasi Geologiya fanlari universiteti magistranti

AQSh Geologiya xizmati va Birlashgan Millatlar Tashkilotining Oziq-ovqat va qishloq xo'jaligi tashkiloti (FAO) maktablar uchun suv aylanishining sxemasini ishlab chiqdi.

Shahriyor Toshevning tarjimasi Geologiya fanlari universiteti magistranti

Yer suvi qayerda?
Yer suvi qayerda?
Yer suvi qayerda?
Yer suvi qayerda?

332,5 million kub mil suvning 96 foizdan ko'prog'ini sho'r suv bilan ta'minlaydigan dunyoning umumiy suv ta'minoti qanday ekanligiga e'tibor bering. Umumiy chuchuk suvlarning 68 foizdan ko'prog'i muz va muzliklarda yashiringan. Chuchuk suvning yana 30 foizi er ostidadir.

332,5 million kub mil suvning 96 foizdan ko'prog'ini sho'r suv bilan ta'minlaydigan dunyoning umumiy suv ta'minoti qanday ekanligiga e'tibor bering. Umumiy chuchuk suvlarning 68 foizdan ko'prog'i muz va muzliklarda yashiringan. Chuchuk suvning yana 30 foizi er ostidadir.

Magicicada cassinii, super rare Blue eyed variant
Magicicada cassinii, super rare Blue eyed variant
Magicicada cassinii, super rare Blue eyed variant
Magicicada cassinii, super rare Blue eyed variant

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Honorable Mention
USGS Natiave Bee Lab, Magicicada cassinii, super rare Blue eyed variant

Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon
Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon
Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon
Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Where We Work
Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon (Yaquina Bay) for Cascadia Project OBS Deployment Leg

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Where We Work
Marcus G. Langseth departs Newport, Oregon (Yaquina Bay) for Cascadia Project OBS Deployment Leg

A close-up Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) photo of the inactive western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u
UAS photo of the inactive western fissure — Halema‘uma‘u, June 3, 2021
UAS photo of the inactive western fissure — Halema‘uma‘u, June 3, 2021
UAS photo of the inactive western fissure — Halema‘uma‘u, June 3, 2021

This close-up Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) photo of the inactive western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u was captured on Thursday, June 3, 2021, at the summit of Kīlauea. The recent pause in the eruption has allowed the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) UAS pilots to safely photograph the eruptive features from new angles.

This close-up Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) photo of the inactive western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u was captured on Thursday, June 3, 2021, at the summit of Kīlauea. The recent pause in the eruption has allowed the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) UAS pilots to safely photograph the eruptive features from new angles.

Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) photo, looking straight down into the inactive western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u
UAS view into inactive western fissure — Halema‘uma‘u, June 3, 2021
UAS view into inactive western fissure — Halema‘uma‘u, June 3, 2021
UAS view into inactive western fissure — Halema‘uma‘u, June 3, 2021

This Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) photo, looking straight down into the inactive western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea, was captured on Thursday, June 3, 2021. One of the objectives of the UAS mission was to get a close-up look into the fissure to see if any incandescent lava was still visible.

This Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) photo, looking straight down into the inactive western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea, was captured on Thursday, June 3, 2021. One of the objectives of the UAS mission was to get a close-up look into the fissure to see if any incandescent lava was still visible.

A woman stands in front of a table full of grasses in a greenhouse.
Drought experiments shed light on plant responses to climate change.
Drought experiments shed light on plant responses to climate change.
Drought experiments shed light on plant responses to climate change.

Greenhouse study comparing plant performance during drought will help land managers choose plant species for restoring degraded lands. To find out more, follow the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program of the Southwest, housed at the Southwest Biolobigical Science Center. www.ugs.gov/sbsc/ramps

Greenhouse study comparing plant performance during drought will help land managers choose plant species for restoring degraded lands. To find out more, follow the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program of the Southwest, housed at the Southwest Biolobigical Science Center. www.ugs.gov/sbsc/ramps

Color photograph of lava lake
Halema‘uma‘u crater at dusk on June 2
Halema‘uma‘u crater at dusk on June 2
Halema‘uma‘u crater at dusk on June 2

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.

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.

view of mountains with green leafed trees in valley under blue sky with clouds
Adirondack Mountain view
Adirondack Mountain view
Adirondack Mountain view

View from the Adirondack Mountains summer 2021

Jin-Si Over and Jen Cramer
Jin-Si Over and Jen Cramer trained to be new DOI pilots in Rifle, CO
Jin-Si Over and Jen Cramer trained to be new DOI pilots in Rifle, CO
Jin-Si Over and Jen Cramer trained to be new DOI pilots in Rifle, CO

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Honorable Mention
Jin-Si Over and Jen Cramer from WHCMSC are trained to become new DOI pilots in Rifle, CO

An amphibious vessel call a LARC (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo) at the USACE Field Research Facility
USACE LARC used for DUNEX field work
USACE LARC used for DUNEX field work
USACE LARC used for DUNEX field work

USGS Research Geologist Jennifer Miselis will conduct shoreface geophysical surveys at the USACE Field Research Facility during DUNEX aboard the LARC, which is shown here being set up for the survey.

USGS DUNEX geophysical survey underway off of a USACE amphibious vessel in Duck, North Carolina
USGS DUNEX Survey underway off of a USACE amphibious vessel
USGS DUNEX Survey underway off of a USACE amphibious vessel
USGS DUNEX Survey underway off of a USACE amphibious vessel

A geophysical instrument (chirp) is towed in the water (yellow instrument) from a floating sled to acquire information about the geology below the seafloor in Duck, NC as part of DUNEX. The USACE Field Research Facility can be seen in the background in the upper left corner.

A geophysical instrument (chirp) is towed in the water (yellow instrument) from a floating sled to acquire information about the geology below the seafloor in Duck, NC as part of DUNEX. The USACE Field Research Facility can be seen in the background in the upper left corner.

Cartoon showing differences between magma- and water-driven earthquake swarms
Cartoon showing differences between magma- and water-driven swarms
Cartoon showing differences between magma- and water-driven swarms
Cartoon showing differences between magma- and water-driven swarms

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).

Color photograph of volcano profile
Annotated Mauna Loa MKcam image
Annotated Mauna Loa MKcam image
Annotated Mauna Loa MKcam image

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.

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.

Phragmites plants growing in a greenhouse
Phragmites seedlings for Control Experiments
Phragmites seedlings for Control Experiments
Phragmites seedlings for Control Experiments

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. 

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. 

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