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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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View from the sky of a tropical coastline and a beach with ocean water so clear the coral reef can be seen.
Tres Palmas, Rincon, Puerto Rico
Tres Palmas, Rincon, Puerto Rico
Tres Palmas, Rincon, Puerto Rico

Photograph collected from a UAS flown over the beach at Tres Palmas in Rincón, Puerto Rico.

USGS scientist laying a yellow cable in a desert landscape
Collecting Geophysical Data, Fort Irwin National Training Center
Collecting Geophysical Data, Fort Irwin National Training Center
Collecting Geophysical Data, Fort Irwin National Training Center

USGS Hydrologist, Krishangi Groover, lays wire in preparation for geophysical data collection at the U.S.

Eruption of Steamboat Geyser on July 18, 2019
Eruption of Steamboat Geyser on July 18, 2019
Eruption of Steamboat Geyser on July 18, 2019
Eruption of Steamboat Geyser on July 18, 2019

Steamboat Geyser erupts in the golden light of sunrise on July 18th, 2019. The water-dominated part of a Steamboat eruption usually lasts anywhere from 3 to 90 minutes. Afterwards, a steam-dominated phase continues for many hours.

Steamboat Geyser erupts in the golden light of sunrise on July 18th, 2019. The water-dominated part of a Steamboat eruption usually lasts anywhere from 3 to 90 minutes. Afterwards, a steam-dominated phase continues for many hours.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Halema‘uma‘u water pond on August 17
Halema‘uma‘u water pond on August 17
Halema‘uma‘u water pond on August 17

The pond within Halema‘uma‘u has notably widened and deepened since August 15, as shown in these two photos taken on August 17 (right) and August 15 (left). Note the changes in the neck between the two ends of the pond. USGS photos by D. Swanson.

The pond within Halema‘uma‘u has notably widened and deepened since August 15, as shown in these two photos taken on August 17 (right) and August 15 (left). Note the changes in the neck between the two ends of the pond. USGS photos by D. Swanson.

residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to escape
residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to esc
residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to esc
residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to esc

Although Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption is over, residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to escape from ground cracks and vents in the lower Puna area near Highway 130 as molten rock underground cools.

Although Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption is over, residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to escape from ground cracks and vents in the lower Puna area near Highway 130 as molten rock underground cools.

large seine on a creek with trees on shoreline
Schoharie Creek during a fish community survey
Schoharie Creek during a fish community survey
Schoharie Creek during a fish community survey

A blocking seine prevents fish from moving in or out of a study reach on the Schoharie Creek during a fish community survey conducted on July 18th by Scott George, Barry Baldigo, and technicians from the New York Water Science Center. Photo by Scott George

A blocking seine prevents fish from moving in or out of a study reach on the Schoharie Creek during a fish community survey conducted on July 18th by Scott George, Barry Baldigo, and technicians from the New York Water Science Center. Photo by Scott George

a colorful sunrise over a calm ocean
Sunrise in Melbourne, FL
Sunrise in Melbourne, FL
Sunrise in Melbourne, FL

A colorful sunrise appears over the horizon of a calm ocean offshore of Melbourne, Florida. USGS Scientist RC Mickey collects data for location and elevation of sea turtle crawls and associated beach profiles this stretch of coastline.

A colorful sunrise appears over the horizon of a calm ocean offshore of Melbourne, Florida. USGS Scientist RC Mickey collects data for location and elevation of sea turtle crawls and associated beach profiles this stretch of coastline.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Area of ponded water continues to enlarge in Halema‘uma‘u
Area of ponded water continues to enlarge in Halema‘uma‘u
Area of ponded water continues to enlarge in Halema‘uma‘u

The water level continues to slowly rise in Halema‘uma‘u, drowning many of the small rocks that were exposed in the center of the pond. Ripples across the water surface were also evident today.

The water level continues to slowly rise in Halema‘uma‘u, drowning many of the small rocks that were exposed in the center of the pond. Ripples across the water surface were also evident today.

A woman prepares to cut into a dead tree with a hatchet
Beginning a 'tree autopsy' in the Sierra Nevada
Beginning a 'tree autopsy' in the Sierra Nevada
Beginning a 'tree autopsy' in the Sierra Nevada

This is Teodora Rautu. She is a Biological Science Technician on the field crew for USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project. The tree she is getting read to cut into has recently died.

This is Teodora Rautu. She is a Biological Science Technician on the field crew for USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project. The tree she is getting read to cut into has recently died.

Two women work together to measure the base of an enormous tree
It takes two to measure this Giant Sequoia
It takes two to measure this Giant Sequoia
It takes two to measure this Giant Sequoia

Teodora Rautu and Eva Lopez, Biological Science Technicians on the field crew for the USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project, work together to measure the diameter of a Giant Sequoia.

Teodora Rautu and Eva Lopez, Biological Science Technicians on the field crew for the USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project, work together to measure the diameter of a Giant Sequoia.

A woman wraps a measuring tape around a very large tree in the forest
Measuring a Giant sequoia in the Sierra Nevada
Measuring a Giant sequoia in the Sierra Nevada
Measuring a Giant sequoia in the Sierra Nevada

This is Teodora Rautu. She is a Biological Science Technician on the field crew for USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project.  She is measuring the diameter of a Giant Sequoia.

This is Teodora Rautu. She is a Biological Science Technician on the field crew for USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project.  She is measuring the diameter of a Giant Sequoia.

A woman wraps a tape measure around a tree in the forest
Measuring a red fir tree in the Sierra Nevada
Measuring a red fir tree in the Sierra Nevada
Measuring a red fir tree in the Sierra Nevada

This is Teodora Rautu. She is a Biological Science Technician on the field crew for USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project.  She is measuring the diameter of a red fir and trying to navigate the tape through the branches.

This is Teodora Rautu. She is a Biological Science Technician on the field crew for USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Sierra Nevada Forest Dynamics project.  She is measuring the diameter of a red fir and trying to navigate the tape through the branches.

Meteorological Weather and Real-Time Groundwater Site Inspection
Meteorological Weather and Real-Time Groundwater Site Inspection
Meteorological Weather and Real-Time Groundwater Site Inspection
Meteorological Weather and Real-Time Groundwater Site Inspection

Shown in this photo is Hydrologic Technician Sam Banas performing a routine site inspection of this meteorological weather and real-time groundwater well station.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Telephoto view of sulfur deposits at one of the several fumaroles on the north w
Telephoto view of sulfur deposits at one of the several fumaroles on the north w
Telephoto view of sulfur deposits at one of the several fumaroles on the north w

Telephoto view of sulfur deposits at one of the several fumaroles on the north wall of Halema‘uma‘u. USGS photo by D. Swanson, 08-14-2019.

Please click on image for full description and image details.
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence: July 4, 2019–July 16, 2019
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence: July 4, 2019–July 16, 2019
2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence: July 4, 2019–July 16, 2019

3,557 earthquakes recorded since July 4, 2019 above Magnitude 2

M6.4 12km W of Searles Valley, CA
2019-07-04 17:33:49 (UTC)
51,000+ responses via Did You Feel It?

M7.1 18km W of Searles Valley, CA
2019-07-06 03:19:53 (UTC)
42,000+ responses via Did You Feel It?

3,557 earthquakes recorded since July 4, 2019 above Magnitude 2

M6.4 12km W of Searles Valley, CA
2019-07-04 17:33:49 (UTC)
51,000+ responses via Did You Feel It?

M7.1 18km W of Searles Valley, CA
2019-07-06 03:19:53 (UTC)
42,000+ responses via Did You Feel It?

Aerial photo of estuary
Aerial photo of estuary
Aerial photo of estuary
Aerial photo of estuary

Aerial view of a gas flux tower in Great Barnstable Marsh in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

Two researchers boat into a lake to collect samples
Are mountain lakes on a trajectory of increasing eutrophication?
Are mountain lakes on a trajectory of increasing eutrophication?
Are mountain lakes on a trajectory of increasing eutrophication?

Amanda Jayo, USGS NAGT Intern, and Caitlin Charlton, Colorado State University graduate student, setting forth to collect chlorophyll from The Loch, Rocky Mountain National Park. This summer research in Loch Vale Watershed’s long-term ecological research and monitoring watershed, is gathering field data to validate remote sensing of mountain lake productivity.

Amanda Jayo, USGS NAGT Intern, and Caitlin Charlton, Colorado State University graduate student, setting forth to collect chlorophyll from The Loch, Rocky Mountain National Park. This summer research in Loch Vale Watershed’s long-term ecological research and monitoring watershed, is gathering field data to validate remote sensing of mountain lake productivity.

Carousel image of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Panoramic views of tidal marsh at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge under an overcast sky.

USGS hydrologist preparing a water sample for DNA analysis.
DNA analysis of water samples can indicate sources of pollution.
DNA analysis of water samples can indicate sources of pollution.
DNA analysis of water samples can indicate sources of pollution.

Anna McKee of the SAWSC, Norcross, GA, prepares DNA from water samples to test for bacteria that indicate sources of fecal contamination. Understanding the sources of contamination can help target mitigation and outreach efforts.

Anna McKee of the SAWSC, Norcross, GA, prepares DNA from water samples to test for bacteria that indicate sources of fecal contamination. Understanding the sources of contamination can help target mitigation and outreach efforts.

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