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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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Schematic model showing a cross section of Old Faithful's plumbing system
Schematic model showing a cross section of Old Faithful's plumbing
Schematic model showing a cross section of Old Faithful's plumbing
Schematic model showing a cross section of Old Faithful's plumbing

Schematic model showing a cross section of Old Faithful's plumbing system as determined from seismic studies. The red circles (t0-t3) show the location of the tremor source over time, and how the tremor source migrates upward prior to an Old Faithful eruption. Times between red circles are based on a 93-minute eruption interval.

Schematic model showing a cross section of Old Faithful's plumbing system as determined from seismic studies. The red circles (t0-t3) show the location of the tremor source over time, and how the tremor source migrates upward prior to an Old Faithful eruption. Times between red circles are based on a 93-minute eruption interval.

Releasing a Lake Sturgeon
Seneca River Lake Sturgeon Release
Seneca River Lake Sturgeon Release
Seneca River Lake Sturgeon Release

A 59 lb., 64 in. female lake sturgeon is released into the Seneca River after telemetry tagging. Pictured GLSC (Cortland, New York) personnel are Grant Scholten, Marc Chalupnicki, and Caleb Konrad.

A 59 lb., 64 in. female lake sturgeon is released into the Seneca River after telemetry tagging. Pictured GLSC (Cortland, New York) personnel are Grant Scholten, Marc Chalupnicki, and Caleb Konrad.

Image shows a crack in the road with a pen for scale
Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178

A fault offset on California State Route 178 with a pen for scale. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Image shows a side view of a roadway with a large crack in it
Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178

California State Route 178, showing cracks due to fault offsets following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

The SCREE boats are tied off at a rock ledge camp along the Colorado River at Mile 178.
Ledge Camp at Mile 178 of the Colorado River
Ledge Camp at Mile 178 of the Colorado River
Ledge Camp at Mile 178 of the Colorado River

The SCREE boats are tied off at a rock ledge camp along the Colorado River at Mile 178.

Image shows people in the distance measuring cracks in the roadway
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178

Measurement of fault offset being done by USGS scientist Ken Hudnut, using the offset of a painted road stripe. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Measurement of fault offset being done by USGS scientist Ken Hudnut, using the offset of a painted road stripe. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Image shows hands and a tape measure around a crack in the roadway
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178

Measuring a fault offset on California State Route 178. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Image shows a woman measuring a crack in the roadway
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178

Janis Hernandez (California Geological Survey) measures 18 centimeters of offset across one strand of the fault rupture zone. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Janis Hernandez (California Geological Survey) measures 18 centimeters of offset across one strand of the fault rupture zone. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Image shows people and trucks in the distance, measuring cracks in the roadway
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178
Measuring Earthquake Damage on California Hwy. 178

Measurement of fault offset being done by USGS scientist Ken Hudnut, using the offset of a painted road stripe on California State Route 178. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Measurement of fault offset being done by USGS scientist Ken Hudnut, using the offset of a painted road stripe on California State Route 178. This measurement was conducted following the Magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Searles Valley on July 4, 2019.

Paper Powell is posed in the bow of a boat relaxing upon calm waters and in the morning shade within the canyon.
Paper Powell enjoying calm waters after Cataract Canyon
Paper Powell enjoying calm waters after Cataract Canyon
Paper Powell enjoying calm waters after Cataract Canyon

Paper Powell is posed in the bow of a boat relaxing upon calm waters and in the morning shade within the canyon.

Image shows a crack in the ground with a truck in the background
Surface Rupture from Fault
Surface Rupture from Fault
Surface Rupture from Fault

On July 4, 2019, a Magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Searles Valley, CA. This photo provides likely evidence that the fault that hosted the earthquake ruptured to the ground surface.

On July 4, 2019, a Magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Searles Valley, CA. This photo provides likely evidence that the fault that hosted the earthquake ruptured to the ground surface.

Image shows a crack in the ground with a tape measure over it
Surface Rupture from Fault
Surface Rupture from Fault
Surface Rupture from Fault

On July 4, 2019, a Magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Searles Valley, CA. This photo provides likely evidence that the fault that hosted the earthquake ruptured to the ground surface.

On July 4, 2019, a Magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Searles Valley, CA. This photo provides likely evidence that the fault that hosted the earthquake ruptured to the ground surface.

A brook floater filter feeding as it is anchored into the sediment of a stream bottom.
Brook floater mussel
Brook floater mussel
Brook floater mussel

A brook floater filter feeding as it is anchored into the sediment of a stream bottom. Habitat loss is a long-recognized problem for many endangered species, and the brook floater is no exception. In-stream alterations that change flow and alter sediment loads can affect downstream locations where freshwater mussels live.

A brook floater filter feeding as it is anchored into the sediment of a stream bottom. Habitat loss is a long-recognized problem for many endangered species, and the brook floater is no exception. In-stream alterations that change flow and alter sediment loads can affect downstream locations where freshwater mussels live.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Comparison of recent photos of water in Halema‘uma‘u
Comparison of recent photos of water in Halema‘uma‘u
Comparison of recent photos of water in Halema‘uma‘u

These four images show the change in the area and level of water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u spanning August 9 to 13. Rocks in the center of the pond and near the shoreline help show the change in the waterline.

These four images show the change in the area and level of water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u spanning August 9 to 13. Rocks in the center of the pond and near the shoreline help show the change in the waterline.

The SCREE team gathered around John Weisheit overlooking Rapid 15
John Weisheit scouts Rapid 15 to the SCREE team
John Weisheit scouts Rapid 15 to the SCREE team
John Weisheit scouts Rapid 15 to the SCREE team

The SCREE team gathered around John Weisheit overlooking Rapid 15. John Weisheit is a river guide who has made over 400 trips through Cataract Canyon. He is describing to the SCREE team the line to take through the forthcoming sets of rapids.

The SCREE team gathered around John Weisheit overlooking Rapid 15. John Weisheit is a river guide who has made over 400 trips through Cataract Canyon. He is describing to the SCREE team the line to take through the forthcoming sets of rapids.

Taku Range, Juneau Icefield, Alaska
Taku Range, Juneau Icefield, Alaska
Taku Range, Juneau Icefield, Alaska
Taku Range, Juneau Icefield, Alaska

Image of the Taku towers, among the Taku Range at Taku Glacier during the summer of 2019

Image of the Taku towers, among the Taku Range at Taku Glacier during the summer of 2019

Tess & Rick at Cataract Canyon "Danger" sign
Tess & Rick at Cataract Canyon "Danger" sign
Tess & Rick at Cataract Canyon "Danger" sign
Tess & Rick at Cataract Canyon "Danger" sign

Tess Harden and Rick Moscati (the USGS participants for this river segment) pose for a "selfie" in front of the "Danger" sign preceeding Cataract Canyon.

Tess Harden and Rick Moscati (the USGS participants for this river segment) pose for a "selfie" in front of the "Danger" sign preceeding Cataract Canyon.

hawaii forest
Hawai'ian forest at Hawai'i in Volcanoes National Park.
Hawai'ian forest at Hawai'i in Volcanoes National Park.
Hawai'ian forest at Hawai'i in Volcanoes National Park.

Photograph of a Hawai'ian forest near the youngest site along the Hawai'ian Long Substrate Age Gradient used in this study. This forest is on the big island of Hawai'i in Volcanoes National Park.

Photograph of a Hawai'ian forest near the youngest site along the Hawai'ian Long Substrate Age Gradient used in this study. This forest is on the big island of Hawai'i in Volcanoes National Park.

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