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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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Three SCREE hikers traversing a thin hiking trail
Hiking up to the Bowknot Bend
Hiking up to the Bowknot Bend
Hiking up to the Bowknot Bend

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.

magnification of a zircon crystal that was analyzed for age dating of Yellowstone lava
magnified zircon crystal showing crystal growth age dating Yellowstone
magnified zircon crystal showing crystal growth age dating Yellowstone
magnified zircon crystal showing crystal growth age dating Yellowstone

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.
Schematic diagram of Yellowstone's current magmatic system.
Schematic diagram of Yellowstone's current magmatic system.
Schematic diagram of Yellowstone's current magmatic system.

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
The Bowknot Bend
The Bowknot Bend
The Bowknot Bend

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.

red and white round buoys strung across the blue water of the California Aqueduct
California Aqueduct, San Joaquin Valley
California Aqueduct, San Joaquin Valley
California Aqueduct, 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.

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.

Color photograph of Carolyn Donlin accepting Volcano Watch award
Carolyn Donlin accepting Volcano Watch award
Carolyn Donlin accepting Volcano Watch award
Carolyn Donlin accepting Volcano Watch award

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.

Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis of foothill yellow-legged frog
Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow
Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow
Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow

USGS technicians collect water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) presence at historically occupied sites throughout Oregon. These data are important for assessing the species' status and conservation needs. 

USGS technicians collect water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) presence at historically occupied sites throughout Oregon. These data are important for assessing the species' status and conservation needs. 

This image shows brown layered sedimentary rocks and the brown-colored Colorado River.
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

This image from a viewpoint at Dead Horse State Park in Utah shows horizontal Mesozoic sedimentary rocks characteristic of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River can be seen from this vantage point and this state park is located between Canyonlands National Park to the southwest and Arches National Park to the northeast.

This image from a viewpoint at Dead Horse State Park in Utah shows horizontal Mesozoic sedimentary rocks characteristic of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River can be seen from this vantage point and this state park is located between Canyonlands National Park to the southwest and Arches National Park to the northeast.

Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River

At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.

At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.

Songbird showing colorful bands on its legs, held by a human hand
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands

Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands in 2019 on the upper San Luis Rey River. The bird was originally banded as a nestling by USGS biologist Scarlett Howell on the upper San Luis Rey River in July 2017.

Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands in 2019 on the upper San Luis Rey River. The bird was originally banded as a nestling by USGS biologist Scarlett Howell on the upper San Luis Rey River in July 2017.

A view from in my tent looking out at the rocks
Morning view at Trin-Alcove Bend
Morning view at Trin-Alcove Bend
Morning view at Trin-Alcove Bend

This was the morning view from my tent at our camp (Mile 90) at Trin-Alcove Bend.

This was the morning view from my tent at our camp (Mile 90) at Trin-Alcove Bend.

OH K-12 teachers Learning About Watersheds
Teaching the Teachers in Ohio
Teaching the Teachers in Ohio
Teaching the Teachers in Ohio

USGS worked with regional partners to provide Ohio K-12 teachers educational resources to teach about watersheds in their classrooms. 

USGS worked with regional partners to provide Ohio K-12 teachers educational resources to teach about watersheds in their classrooms. 

Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser
Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser
Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser
Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser

Details of Crystal Geyser can be found at https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/geosights/crystal-geyser/ Photo shows tufa deposits at the geyser deposited by disolved calcium carbonate.

SCREE boat passing under I-70 at Green River, UT
Passing under I-70 at Green River, UT
Passing under I-70 at Green River, UT
Passing under I-70 at Green River, UT

SCREE film maker, Ben Kraushaar, passes under I-70 at Green River, UT. The next time he will see a bridge over his boat will be 166 river miles away, on the Colorado River, at Hite, UT.

SCREE film maker, Ben Kraushaar, passes under I-70 at Green River, UT. The next time he will see a bridge over his boat will be 166 river miles away, on the Colorado River, at Hite, UT.

Image shows two sea urchins with the ocean in the background
Red Sea Urchins
Red Sea Urchins
Red Sea Urchins

Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.

Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.

This image shows a large sandstone arc and a rain puddle in the foreground.
Delicate Arch after the rain
Delicate Arch after the rain
Delicate Arch after the rain

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. https://www.usgs.gov/nationalparks Photo by Annie Scott, USGS

Bsal Swabbing demonstration
Brome McCreary demonstrates pathogen sampling methods for colleagues
Brome McCreary demonstrates pathogen sampling methods for colleagues
Brome McCreary demonstrates pathogen sampling methods for colleagues

BsalSwabbing - The rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) is a native western species susceptible to the salamander chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), in laboratory studies.

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