Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
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.
USGS larval sampling boats wait out a fast approaching thunderstorm before deploying nets in the Upper Missouri River to collect drifting pallid sturgeon free embryos.
USGS larval sampling boats wait out a fast approaching thunderstorm before deploying nets in the Upper Missouri River to collect drifting pallid sturgeon free embryos.
Sunset view, looking east, at Turks Head campsite, Green River, Mile 21.
Sunset view, looking east, at Turks Head campsite, Green River, Mile 21.
Sunset view, looking west, at Turks Head campsite, Green River, Mile 21.
Sunset view, looking west, at Turks Head campsite, Green River, Mile 21.
Our media or film crew, Ben Kraushaar and Cody Perry, floating by the Organ Rock Shale in their boat filled with A/V equipment.
Our media or film crew, Ben Kraushaar and Cody Perry, floating by the Organ Rock Shale in their boat filled with A/V equipment.
Vegetation grows abundantly on a once-flooded region of the Santa Ynez River. Located 5 ft adjacent from this picture is the actual flowing region of the stream. It is impressive to see the abrupt change in vegetation near stream environments.
Vegetation grows abundantly on a once-flooded region of the Santa Ynez River. Located 5 ft adjacent from this picture is the actual flowing region of the stream. It is impressive to see the abrupt change in vegetation near stream environments.
Central Arctic Herd - caribou crossing a road within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska. The photo was taken during the summer mosquito harassment period.
Central Arctic Herd - caribou crossing a road within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska. The photo was taken during the summer mosquito harassment period.
Central Arctic Herd caribou within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska. The photo was taken during the summer mosquito harassment period.
Central Arctic Herd caribou within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska. The photo was taken during the summer mosquito harassment period.
House destroyed by Palu earthquake-induced liquefaction. Note standing water which indicates a nearly surface-level water table that contributed to the widespread liquefaction.
House destroyed by Palu earthquake-induced liquefaction. Note standing water which indicates a nearly surface-level water table that contributed to the widespread liquefaction.
Conifers, incluing ponderosa pines, can be seen along the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Conifers, incluing ponderosa pines, can be seen along the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
What is a meniscus?
A meniscus is a curve in the surface of a molecular substance (water, of course) when it touches another material. With water, you can think of it as when water sticks to the inside of a glass.
Why a meniscus occurs
What is a meniscus?
A meniscus is a curve in the surface of a molecular substance (water, of course) when it touches another material. With water, you can think of it as when water sticks to the inside of a glass.
Why a meniscus occurs
Caribou with calves from the Central Arctic Herd in the Kuparuk Oil Field, Alaska.
Caribou with calves from the Central Arctic Herd in the Kuparuk Oil Field, Alaska.
It seems to defy the laws of physics, but a paper clip made of steel can indeed float on the water surface. The high surface tension helps the paper clip - with much higher density - float on the water.
It seems to defy the laws of physics, but a paper clip made of steel can indeed float on the water surface. The high surface tension helps the paper clip - with much higher density - float on the water.
Each summer, interns join USGS offices around the Nation in support of our water studies.
Each summer, interns join USGS offices around the Nation in support of our water studies.
Data locations for Ice Island Arctic Ocean Heat Flow Studies
Data locations for Ice Island Arctic Ocean Heat Flow Studies
Different portions of the ponds have different colors, presumably reflecting different amounts or varying chemistry of dissolved particles in the water.
Different portions of the ponds have different colors, presumably reflecting different amounts or varying chemistry of dissolved particles in the water.
Three SCREE hikers traversing a thin hiking trail to the saddle that separates the two arms of the Green River that defines the Bowknot Bend at Mile 63.
Three SCREE hikers traversing a thin hiking trail to the saddle that separates the two arms of the Green River that defines the Bowknot Bend at Mile 63.
Sections of a zircon crystal, only 100 micrometers across, showing stages of the crystal's growth. Upper panel shows the outer surface of the crystal, which is 131,000 years old based on 238U-230Th dating. This is when the crystal stopped growing. Lower panel shows the interior of the same zircon crystal.
Sections of a zircon crystal, only 100 micrometers across, showing stages of the crystal's growth. Upper panel shows the outer surface of the crystal, which is 131,000 years old based on 238U-230Th dating. This is when the crystal stopped growing. Lower panel shows the interior of the same zircon crystal.
Schematic diagram of Yellowstone's current magmatic system. A silicic crystal-mush (gray region with white crystals) is thought to underlie the caldera at a depth of ~5 km to 15 km, with more mafic basalt (in black) underneath.
Schematic diagram of Yellowstone's current magmatic system. A silicic crystal-mush (gray region with white crystals) is thought to underlie the caldera at a depth of ~5 km to 15 km, with more mafic basalt (in black) underneath.
Taken from the saddle, a panoramic view of the Bowknot Bend of the Green River. The Bowknot Bend is 7 river miles around. Erosion will eventually shorten the river course considerably.
Taken from the saddle, a panoramic view of the Bowknot Bend of the Green River. The Bowknot Bend is 7 river miles around. Erosion will eventually shorten the river course considerably.
The California Aqueduct flowing near Huron, CA in the San Joaquin Valley. This spot is near one of several USGS land subsidence monitoring stations in the San Joaquin Valley.
The California Aqueduct flowing near Huron, CA in the San Joaquin Valley. This spot is near one of several USGS land subsidence monitoring stations in the San Joaquin Valley.
On behalf of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Carolyn Donlin, Chief of the USGS Menlo Park Publishing Service Center, accepted an award from the National Association of Government Communicators recognizing HVO's weekly "Volcano Watch" articles as excellent communication products.
On behalf of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Carolyn Donlin, Chief of the USGS Menlo Park Publishing Service Center, accepted an award from the National Association of Government Communicators recognizing HVO's weekly "Volcano Watch" articles as excellent communication products.