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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.
View looking at a shallow side channel of the Green River in Brown's Park, Colorado. The picture is taken looking downstream from the left bank of the river. In the foreground and on the opposite bank are stands of sandbar willow (Salix exigua). Further beyond, are stands of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii).
View looking at a shallow side channel of the Green River in Brown's Park, Colorado. The picture is taken looking downstream from the left bank of the river. In the foreground and on the opposite bank are stands of sandbar willow (Salix exigua). Further beyond, are stands of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii).
Two of the SCREE rafts heading downstream through Swallow Canyon
Two of the SCREE rafts heading downstream through Swallow Canyon
View looking upstream from a raft on the Green River at the downstream end of Swinging Bridge Canyon, near Flynn Bottom. The eastern end of the Unita Mountains lie in the background. A pump station supplying water to the flooded wetlands of Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge can be seen on the right near the edge of water.
View looking upstream from a raft on the Green River at the downstream end of Swinging Bridge Canyon, near Flynn Bottom. The eastern end of the Unita Mountains lie in the background. A pump station supplying water to the flooded wetlands of Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge can be seen on the right near the edge of water.
A great examples of the crossbeds in the Uinta Formation, a quarzite dating back to the PreCambrian, on a beautiful sunny morning with mist hanging above the river as the sun rises.
A great examples of the crossbeds in the Uinta Formation, a quarzite dating back to the PreCambrian, on a beautiful sunny morning with mist hanging above the river as the sun rises.
USGS Scientists taking sediment core USGS Scientists taking sediment core at Six Gill Slough restored marsh.
USGS Scientists taking sediment core USGS Scientists taking sediment core at Six Gill Slough restored marsh.
Andrena spp. seemingly getting a piggyback ride from a bumblebee (Bombus spp.). Researcher was holding the flower on private land in Macon County.
Andrena spp. seemingly getting a piggyback ride from a bumblebee (Bombus spp.). Researcher was holding the flower on private land in Macon County.
Fruits of Her Labor: the flower on the left has been pollinated and the fruit is developing, but the flower on the right is still being pollinated, highlighting the importance of bees to humanity's food resources.
Fruits of Her Labor: the flower on the left has been pollinated and the fruit is developing, but the flower on the right is still being pollinated, highlighting the importance of bees to humanity's food resources.
The center of the composite flower looks like a "landing zone" and has evolved to guide pollinators to its nectar/pollen.
The center of the composite flower looks like a "landing zone" and has evolved to guide pollinators to its nectar/pollen.
UV light trap set up at dusk along the river's edge to collect and inventory riparian insect populations
UV light trap set up at dusk along the river's edge to collect and inventory riparian insect populations
The photo shows the SCREE Powell 150 expdition camp at Big Pine Campground in Red Canyon of the Green River, Utah. The large green tarp was set up to keep the kitchen area and campers dry. Two very large ponderosa pines are in the center of camp, and surely were witness to the 1869 Powell expedition.
The photo shows the SCREE Powell 150 expdition camp at Big Pine Campground in Red Canyon of the Green River, Utah. The large green tarp was set up to keep the kitchen area and campers dry. Two very large ponderosa pines are in the center of camp, and surely were witness to the 1869 Powell expedition.
SCREE raft preparing to navigate under Taylor Flats Bridge which poses a potential hazard depending on water flow levels from Flaming Gorge Dam
SCREE raft preparing to navigate under Taylor Flats Bridge which poses a potential hazard depending on water flow levels from Flaming Gorge Dam
A flock of pelicans in the water in Brown's Park.
A flock of pelicans in the water in Brown's Park.
Open grassy landscape and distant mountains of Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area as seen from the Green River
Open grassy landscape and distant mountains of Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area as seen from the Green River
View downstream of SCREE raft entering Swallow Canyon
View downstream of SCREE raft entering Swallow Canyon
Brillant sunset at Little Swallow Campsite on the Green River
Brillant sunset at Little Swallow Campsite on the Green River
Samantha Stanton (Great Lakes Commission, GLSC Volunteer) demonstrates the monitoring protocol to training attendees on May 29, 2019, near Centerville, Michigan.
Samantha Stanton (Great Lakes Commission, GLSC Volunteer) demonstrates the monitoring protocol to training attendees on May 29, 2019, near Centerville, Michigan.
A gadwall duck with GPS transmitter in flight.
This photo displays the contrast between the clear, sediment-starved waters released from a large dam, and the murky, sediment-rich waters of natural tributaries. The tributary is just one of many that gradually re-supply the river with sediment.
This photo displays the contrast between the clear, sediment-starved waters released from a large dam, and the murky, sediment-rich waters of natural tributaries. The tributary is just one of many that gradually re-supply the river with sediment.
This photo demonstrates the typical set up of the so-called 'bat-and-bug' citizen science data collection platform used on the SCREE - Powell 150 expedition. The UV light attracts bugs to the pool of ethanol, where they land and are preserved for identification, while the touchpad device has an untrasonic microphone to collect bat calls.
This photo demonstrates the typical set up of the so-called 'bat-and-bug' citizen science data collection platform used on the SCREE - Powell 150 expedition. The UV light attracts bugs to the pool of ethanol, where they land and are preserved for identification, while the touchpad device has an untrasonic microphone to collect bat calls.
View downriver of Powell Expedition boats on the Green River in Red Canyon on a cold, rainy day.
View downriver of Powell Expedition boats on the Green River in Red Canyon on a cold, rainy day.
Boatmen's sleeping quarters at Big Pine in Red Canyon on the Green River
Boatmen's sleeping quarters at Big Pine in Red Canyon on the Green River