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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.
Preparing the Partenavia aircraft to leave Oxnard Airport for a survey.
The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.
Preparing the Partenavia aircraft to leave Oxnard Airport for a survey.
The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.
Telephoto zoom of the largest sulfur deposit forming on the NE talus wall in Halema‘uma‘u. The view is from the
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's K3cam. Images can be viewed on HVO's website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/webcam.html?webcam=K3cam.
Telephoto zoom of the largest sulfur deposit forming on the NE talus wall in Halema‘uma‘u. The view is from the
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's K3cam. Images can be viewed on HVO's website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/webcam.html?webcam=K3cam.
USGS field biologist Andrea Mott displays a recently marked Lesser Snow Goose.
USGS field biologist Andrea Mott displays a recently marked Lesser Snow Goose.
Biological Technician Laura (Laney) White and Research Biologist, Josh Adams install a newly modified camera mount for in flight testing. This mount tilts forward and back to minimize glare and improve image quality.
Biological Technician Laura (Laney) White and Research Biologist, Josh Adams install a newly modified camera mount for in flight testing. This mount tilts forward and back to minimize glare and improve image quality.
USGS unmanned aerial system (drone) pilot collecting aerial imagery and ground control points for the Coastal Resource Evaulation for Management Applications (CREMA) project on Dauphin Island, Alabama
USGS unmanned aerial system (drone) pilot collecting aerial imagery and ground control points for the Coastal Resource Evaulation for Management Applications (CREMA) project on Dauphin Island, Alabama
Groundwater science doesn't take a winter vacation! In this photo, USGS hdyrologic technician Jeremiah Pomerleau has snowshoed to a USGS groundwater monitoring site in Eustis, Maine. USGS scientists visit USGS groundwater observation wells year-round to measure water levels and maintain equipment.
Groundwater science doesn't take a winter vacation! In this photo, USGS hdyrologic technician Jeremiah Pomerleau has snowshoed to a USGS groundwater monitoring site in Eustis, Maine. USGS scientists visit USGS groundwater observation wells year-round to measure water levels and maintain equipment.
You may know that groundwater serves many purposes worldwide. Of course, drinking water and domestic uses of water are major components of those uses. The ways of getting at groundwater differ depending on the local underground conditions.
You may know that groundwater serves many purposes worldwide. Of course, drinking water and domestic uses of water are major components of those uses. The ways of getting at groundwater differ depending on the local underground conditions.
Clearing the ice and snow to measure streamflow in South Fork Spread Creek.
Clearing the ice and snow to measure streamflow in South Fork Spread Creek.
Map of thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park. Most of Yellowstone's more than 10,000 thermal features are clustered together into about 120 distinct thermal areas (shown in red). Lakes are blue. The Yellowstone Caldera is solid black and the resurgent domes are dotted black. Roads are yellow.
Map of thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park. Most of Yellowstone's more than 10,000 thermal features are clustered together into about 120 distinct thermal areas (shown in red). Lakes are blue. The Yellowstone Caldera is solid black and the resurgent domes are dotted black. Roads are yellow.
Native sulfur crystals precipitate at Sulphur Banks via a chemical reaction between different sulfur-bearing volcanic gases. USGS image by P. Nadeau.
Native sulfur crystals precipitate at Sulphur Banks via a chemical reaction between different sulfur-bearing volcanic gases. USGS image by P. Nadeau.
An HVO geologist removes the sampling tube following the gas collection. Inserting the tube down into the degassing source limits contamination of the volcanic gas sample by atmospheric gases. USGS image by P. Nadeau.
An HVO geologist removes the sampling tube following the gas collection. Inserting the tube down into the degassing source limits contamination of the volcanic gas sample by atmospheric gases. USGS image by P. Nadeau.
HVO gas geochemists periodically collect gas samples at Sulphur Banks, near the Kīlauea Visitor Center, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Samples are analyzed for bulk chemistry and for helium isotopes. The results are compared to previous measurements to evaluate potential changes in activity at the volcano.
HVO gas geochemists periodically collect gas samples at Sulphur Banks, near the Kīlauea Visitor Center, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Samples are analyzed for bulk chemistry and for helium isotopes. The results are compared to previous measurements to evaluate potential changes in activity at the volcano.
Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Photo of the Deleware River near Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA.
Photo of the Deleware River near Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA.
USGS Dakota Water Science Center hydrologic technician Mark Brazones is using a handheld acoustic meter to measure the road overflow at the James River near Forestburg, SD.
USGS Dakota Water Science Center hydrologic technician Mark Brazones is using a handheld acoustic meter to measure the road overflow at the James River near Forestburg, SD.
After record flooding in the Midwest, USGS crews mobilized to take important water measurements.
After record flooding in the Midwest, USGS crews mobilized to take important water measurements.
USGS technician Chris Broz helps take water measurements on the Big Sioux River during record flooding in March, 2019.
USGS technician Chris Broz helps take water measurements on the Big Sioux River during record flooding in March, 2019.
USGS scientists and technicians took water measurements during flooding on the Big Sioux River near Hawarden, Iowa in March 2019.
USGS scientists and technicians took water measurements during flooding on the Big Sioux River near Hawarden, Iowa in March 2019.
Diagram of Channel Cross Section With Subsections.
Diagram of Channel Cross Section With Subsections.
COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) Interferogram for the period from April 6 to June 2, 2019, covering Kīlauea Volcano's summit region. Each color fringe represents 1.65 centimeters (0.65 inches) of ground displacement.
COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) Interferogram for the period from April 6 to June 2, 2019, covering Kīlauea Volcano's summit region. Each color fringe represents 1.65 centimeters (0.65 inches) of ground displacement.