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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.
Example of how the same rock type can look very different due to hydrothermal alteration. Left image is of the Lava Creek Tuff, which erupted during the formation of Yellowstone caldera 631,000 years ago, near Tower Junction.
Example of how the same rock type can look very different due to hydrothermal alteration. Left image is of the Lava Creek Tuff, which erupted during the formation of Yellowstone caldera 631,000 years ago, near Tower Junction.
Key forage fish in Alaska (from top to bottom): Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, and juvenile walleye pollock. Cook Inlet, Alaska
Key forage fish in Alaska (from top to bottom): Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, and juvenile walleye pollock. Cook Inlet, Alaska
Photographs from a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) found dead in Arizona, US. (A) The crop (*) is distended primarily with milo. (B) A green coating (arrowheads) is evident on the surface of the milo.
Photographs from a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) found dead in Arizona, US. (A) The crop (*) is distended primarily with milo. (B) A green coating (arrowheads) is evident on the surface of the milo.
USGS scientist Sarah Schoen gets ready to deploy a net in Cook Inlet to collect plankton samples to test for harmful algal bloom toxins.
USGS scientist Sarah Schoen gets ready to deploy a net in Cook Inlet to collect plankton samples to test for harmful algal bloom toxins.
Sierra Keller, Physical Science Technician, and Sharon Mulready, Student Trainee, both of the USGS California Water Science Center's Santa Cruz Field Office, install a solar panel on a rural streamgage station along the Arroyo Seco near Greenfield in Monterey County, California.
Sierra Keller, Physical Science Technician, and Sharon Mulready, Student Trainee, both of the USGS California Water Science Center's Santa Cruz Field Office, install a solar panel on a rural streamgage station along the Arroyo Seco near Greenfield in Monterey County, California.
USGS Biological Science Technician Laney White surveys for Marbled Murrelet off the Central California Coast.
USGS Biological Science Technician Laney White surveys for Marbled Murrelet off the Central California Coast.
Photograph collected from a UAS flown over the beach at Tres Palmas in Rincón, Puerto Rico.
Photograph collected from a UAS flown over the beach at Tres Palmas in Rincón, Puerto Rico.
USGS Hydrologist, Krishangi Groover, lays wire in preparation for geophysical data collection at the U.S.
USGS Hydrologist, Krishangi Groover, lays wire in preparation for geophysical data collection at the U.S.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
San Francisco Bay and the surrounding wetlands and ponds provide important habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.
San Francisco Bay and the surrounding wetlands and ponds provide important habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.
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.
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.
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.
Shown in this photo is Hydrologic Technician Sam Banas performing a routine site inspection of this meteorological weather and real-time groundwater well station.
Shown in this photo is Hydrologic Technician Sam Banas performing a routine site inspection of this meteorological weather and real-time groundwater well station.
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.
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.