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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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image related to volcanoes. See description
Students use science for the benefit of their communities
Students use science for the benefit of their communities
Students use science for the benefit of their communities

Teaching Through Technology (T3) Alliance students in the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Upward Bound summer program install a large display showing measurements from their air-quality monitoring station outside the Pāhoa Community Center, which was used as a temporary shelter for displaced residents from Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 eruption.

Teaching Through Technology (T3) Alliance students in the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Upward Bound summer program install a large display showing measurements from their air-quality monitoring station outside the Pāhoa Community Center, which was used as a temporary shelter for displaced residents from Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 eruption.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Students use science for the benefit of their communities
Students use science for the benefit of their communities
Students use science for the benefit of their communities

Students from the Teaching Through Technology (T3) Alliance, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Upward Bound summer program, install an air-quality monitoring station outside the Dragon's Eye Learning Center on Papaya Farms Road. Photo courtesy of Adam Low, T3 Alliance.

Students from the Teaching Through Technology (T3) Alliance, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Upward Bound summer program, install an air-quality monitoring station outside the Dragon's Eye Learning Center on Papaya Farms Road. Photo courtesy of Adam Low, T3 Alliance.

HVO geologist Matthew Patrick being interviewed on the Kīlauea lava...
Geologist Matthew Patrick being interviewed on the Kīlauea lava-flo...
Geologist Matthew Patrick being interviewed on the Kīlauea lava-flo...
Geologist Matthew Patrick being interviewed on the Kīlauea lava-flo...

HVO geologist Matthew Patrick being interviewed on the Kīlauea lava-flow field for a documentary about Hawaiian volcanism. Growing lava delta (left background) steaming at the point of ocean entry.

HVO geologist Matthew Patrick being interviewed on the Kīlauea lava-flow field for a documentary about Hawaiian volcanism. Growing lava delta (left background) steaming at the point of ocean entry.

Scientist writing on clipboard, with small seismometer on the ground and mountains in the background
Collecting geophysics data at Pinnacles National Park
Collecting geophysics data at Pinnacles National Park
Collecting geophysics data at Pinnacles National Park

Research Hydrologist Paul Hsieh collects seismic data during a groundwater study at Pinnacles National Park in California. The red seismometer on the ground measures ambient seismic noise, which includes microtremors induced by wind, ocean waves, and human activity.

Research Hydrologist Paul Hsieh collects seismic data during a groundwater study at Pinnacles National Park in California. The red seismometer on the ground measures ambient seismic noise, which includes microtremors induced by wind, ocean waves, and human activity.

GPS data plots from station NRWY in Yellowstone
GPS time series data station NRWY Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin
GPS time series data station NRWY Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin
GPS time series data station NRWY Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin

GPS time series from station NRWY, near Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. The three plots show how the station is moving in a north-south direction (top), east-west direction (middle), and up-down direction (bottom).

GPS time series from station NRWY, near Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. The three plots show how the station is moving in a north-south direction (top), east-west direction (middle), and up-down direction (bottom).

USGS scientists collect sediment cores from Lake Powell
USGS scientists collect sediment cores from Lake Powell
USGS scientists collect sediment cores from Lake Powell
USGS scientists collect sediment cores from Lake Powell

USGS scientists collect sediment cores to examine the amount and distribution of metals within Lake Powell.  

USGS scientists collect sediment cores to examine the amount and distribution of metals within Lake Powell.  

image related to volcanoes. See description
William Clark's 1814 map, indicating the route of John Colter during the winter
William Clark's 1814 map, indicating the route of John Colter during the winter
William Clark's 1814 map, indicating the route of John Colter during the winter

William Clark's 1814 map, indicating the route of John Colter during the winter of 1807-1808. (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Washington, D.C.)

William Clark's 1814 map, indicating the route of John Colter during the winter of 1807-1808. (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Washington, D.C.)

Ion Chromatograph
Ion Chromatograph
Ion Chromatograph
Ion Chromatograph

 Major ions such as Sulfate and Chloride are measured with an Ion Chromatograph

 Major ions such as Sulfate and Chloride are measured with an Ion Chromatograph

Kelvey Merill ADCP measurement at Perdanales River near Fredricksburg
Kelvey Merill ADCP measurement at Perdanales River near Fredricksburg
Kelvey Merill ADCP measurement at Perdanales River near Fredricksburg
Kelvey Merill ADCP measurement at Perdanales River near Fredricksburg

Kelvey Merill ADCP measurement at Perdanales River near Fredricksburg - Lynne Fahlquist USGS. 

Kelvey Merill ADCP measurement at Perdanales River near Fredricksburg - Lynne Fahlquist USGS. 

Moffett Award Presented to Yu-Chun Kao
Moffett Award Presented to Yu-Chun Kao
Moffett Award Presented to Yu-Chun Kao
Moffett Award Presented to Yu-Chun Kao

GLSC Director Russ Strach presents the 2018 GLSC Moffett Award to lead author Yu-Chun Kao for his 2017 paper, Evaluating Stocking Efficacy in an Ecosystem Undergoing Oligotrophication, with GLSC coauthors Mark Rogers and David “Bo” Bunnell.

GLSC Director Russ Strach presents the 2018 GLSC Moffett Award to lead author Yu-Chun Kao for his 2017 paper, Evaluating Stocking Efficacy in an Ecosystem Undergoing Oligotrophication, with GLSC coauthors Mark Rogers and David “Bo” Bunnell.

Image from an application that navigates users through USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment Provinces
National Oil and Gas Assessment Provinces
National Oil and Gas Assessment Provinces
National Oil and Gas Assessment Provinces

This is a graphic from the USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment Explorer application, which allows user to drill into 70 oil and gas assessment provinces throughout the United States.

This is a graphic from the USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment Explorer application, which allows user to drill into 70 oil and gas assessment provinces throughout the United States.

USGS Columbus, Ohio office
USGS Columbus, Ohio office
USGS Columbus, Ohio office
USGS Columbus, Ohio office

The USGS Ohio Water Science Center located in Colubumbus, Ohio. The OH WSC is part of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana WSC.

The USGS Ohio Water Science Center located in Colubumbus, Ohio. The OH WSC is part of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana WSC.

Drill rig to collect sediment samples on Lake Powell.
Drill rig to collect sediment samples on Lake Powell.
Drill rig to collect sediment samples on Lake Powell.
Drill rig to collect sediment samples on Lake Powell.

Drill rig to collect sediment samples on Lake Powell.

Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.
Isla Verde Video Camera 1 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 1 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 1 Bright Image

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.
Isla Verde Video Camera 2 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 2 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 2 Bright Image

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Time exposure image shows a curving beach and the water is smooth where waves were breaking over a 10-minute period.
Isla Verde Video Camera 2 Timex
Isla Verde Video Camera 2 Timex
Isla Verde Video Camera 2 Timex

Time-exposure image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is time-averaged over 10 minutes of video.

Time-exposure image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is time-averaged over 10 minutes of video.

Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.
Isla Verde Video Camera 3 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 3 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 3 Bright Image

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Time exposure image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image represents a time-ave
Isla Verde Video Camera 3 Timex
Isla Verde Video Camera 3 Timex
Isla Verde Video Camera 3 Timex

Time-exposure image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is time-averaged over 10 minutes of video.

Time-exposure image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is time-averaged over 10 minutes of video.

Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.
Isla Verde Video Camera 4 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 4 Bright Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 4 Bright Image

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Bright image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and tracks the brightest pixels through 10 minutes of motion.

Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.
Isla Verde Video Camera 4 Variance Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 4 Variance Image
Isla Verde Video Camera 4 Variance Image

Variance image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and shows areas of more movement as brighter colors.

Variance image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image is compiled from 10 minutes of video and shows areas of more movement as brighter colors.

USGS scientists work with heavy machinery to collect sediment through the full thickness of San Juan and Colorado River deltas.
USGS scientists collect sediment cores on Lake Powell
USGS scientists collect sediment cores on Lake Powell
USGS scientists collect sediment cores on Lake Powell

USGS scientists work with heavy machinery to collect sediment through the full thickness of the San Juan and Colorado River deltas. 

USGS scientists work with heavy machinery to collect sediment through the full thickness of the San Juan and Colorado River deltas.