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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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Bloater Otolith Used to Determine Fish Age
Otolith from a Bloater Chub used for age analysis
Otolith from a Bloater Chub used for age analysis
Otolith from a Bloater Chub used for age analysis

An otolith, sometimes called “earstone,” of a bloater, a small prey fish in the Great Lakes. Fishery scientists interpret the age of bloater and other fishes by counting annual growth rings on their otoliths.

An otolith, sometimes called “earstone,” of a bloater, a small prey fish in the Great Lakes. Fishery scientists interpret the age of bloater and other fishes by counting annual growth rings on their otoliths.

A hydrographer marks a high water mark on the eaves of a church
A high water mark above the eaves of a Spring Hill, NC house
A high water mark above the eaves of a Spring Hill, NC house
A high water mark above the eaves of a Spring Hill, NC house

USGS hydrologic technician Rob Forde flags a high water mark above the eaves at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 118 Manchester Road, Spring Hill, North Carolina on Sept. 21, 2018, in the wake of flooding brought on by Hurricane Florence.

USGS hydrologic technician Rob Forde flags a high water mark above the eaves at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 118 Manchester Road, Spring Hill, North Carolina on Sept. 21, 2018, in the wake of flooding brought on by Hurricane Florence.

3 men in waders in grassy stream with fish nets
Biologists from the USGS and Nature Conservancy identify a small fish
Biologists from the USGS and Nature Conservancy identify a small fish
Biologists from the USGS and Nature Conservancy identify a small fish

Biologists from the USGS and Nature Conservancy identify a small fish captured during a September electrofishing survey on a tributary to Follensby Pond, Adirondack Mountains, New York

Biologists from the USGS and Nature Conservancy identify a small fish captured during a September electrofishing survey on a tributary to Follensby Pond, Adirondack Mountains, New York

Field of Phragmites
Field of Phragmites
Field of Phragmites
Field of Phragmites

Field of Phragmites near Cedar Point, Ohio.

Field of Phragmites near Cedar Point, Ohio.

Collage of USGS staff in the field
Collage of USGS staff in the field
Collage of USGS staff in the field
Collage of USGS staff in the field

Upper Left:  Dann Blackwood operating the SEABOSS winch during a sampling cruise; Lower left: Bill Schwab, Laura Brothers and Emile Bergeron on the deck of a research vessel; Center Left: Tom O'Brien carrying equipment during a research cruise; Center: USGS staff deploying a seismic system from a research vessel; left: Chuck Worley ready to deploy a multibeam e

Upper Left:  Dann Blackwood operating the SEABOSS winch during a sampling cruise; Lower left: Bill Schwab, Laura Brothers and Emile Bergeron on the deck of a research vessel; Center Left: Tom O'Brien carrying equipment during a research cruise; Center: USGS staff deploying a seismic system from a research vessel; left: Chuck Worley ready to deploy a multibeam e

Alewife Indicating Otolith Location
Location of Otolith Inside Alewife
Location of Otolith Inside Alewife
Location of Otolith Inside Alewife

Otoliths are located directly behind the brain of bony fishes. On the young alewife shown here, the approximate location of the otoliths is noted with a yellow arrow.

Otoliths are located directly behind the brain of bony fishes. On the young alewife shown here, the approximate location of the otoliths is noted with a yellow arrow.

image related to volcanoes. See description
New outcrops make good geology
New outcrops make good geology
New outcrops make good geology

This aerial view of the western part of Kīlauea Volcano's caldera was taken on August 6, 2018. The down-dropped block is faulted about 120 m (400 feet) below the caldera floor. Many 19th-century lava flows are exposed in the fault scarps. Halema‘uma‘u (not visible) is to the left of this photo. USGS photo by D.Swanson.

This aerial view of the western part of Kīlauea Volcano's caldera was taken on August 6, 2018. The down-dropped block is faulted about 120 m (400 feet) below the caldera floor. Many 19th-century lava flows are exposed in the fault scarps. Halema‘uma‘u (not visible) is to the left of this photo. USGS photo by D.Swanson.

Skinny Common Murre flying over water with keel protruding. lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Skinny Common Murre with keel protruding
Skinny Common Murre with keel protruding
Skinny Common Murre with keel protruding

Skinny Common Murre with keel protruding. Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska

ECCC Robot Assisted Vision Slide Two
ECCC Robot Assisted Vision Slide 1
ECCC Robot Assisted Vision Slide 1
Treating Phragmites in the Laboratory
Treating Phragmites in the Laboratory
Treating Phragmites in the Laboratory
Treating Phragmites in the Laboratory

The untreated non-native Phragmites plant (left) appears healthy; the organically treated plants (right) appear dead.

The untreated non-native Phragmites plant (left) appears healthy; the organically treated plants (right) appear dead.

Newly graded former lakebed in background with the river running along at the foot of the slope.
Former site of San Clemente Dam, Carmel River
Former site of San Clemente Dam, Carmel River
Former site of San Clemente Dam, Carmel River

San Clemente Dam was a 106-foot-high concrete arch dam that was located approximately 18.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the Carmel River. It was built in 1921 to create a reservoir to support the growing residential, agricultural, and tourism-related development.

San Clemente Dam was a 106-foot-high concrete arch dam that was located approximately 18.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the Carmel River. It was built in 1921 to create a reservoir to support the growing residential, agricultural, and tourism-related development.

A hydrographer kneels in water to measure a high water mark on a wall.
Measuring a high water mark as flooding recedes
Measuring a high water mark as flooding recedes
Measuring a high water mark as flooding recedes

USGS hydrographer Kyle Marchman measures a high water mark on the rear wall of a Kangaroo gas station on Highway 24 north of Fayetteville, NC on Sept. 18, 2018, after flooding caused by Hurricane Florence.

USGS hydrographer Kyle Marchman measures a high water mark on the rear wall of a Kangaroo gas station on Highway 24 north of Fayetteville, NC on Sept. 18, 2018, after flooding caused by Hurricane Florence.

USGS intern James Stonecypher measures Lumber River floodwaters
Measuring the Lumber River floodwaters
Measuring the Lumber River floodwaters
Measuring the Lumber River floodwaters

James Stonecypher measures flood waters from the Lumber River that breached a dam in Lumberton, North Carolina after the passage of Hurricane Florence, Sept. 17, 2018. 

James Stonecypher measures flood waters from the Lumber River that breached a dam in Lumberton, North Carolina after the passage of Hurricane Florence, Sept. 17, 2018. 

Mules loaded with equipment, Yellowstone
Mules loaded with sampling equipment and supplies, Yellowstone
Mules loaded with sampling equipment and supplies, Yellowstone
Mules loaded with sampling equipment and supplies, Yellowstone

Mules loaded with sampling equipment and supplies for a mission to collect gas and thermal water samples from the Bechler River area in the southwest part of Yellowstone National Park. 

Mules loaded with sampling equipment and supplies for a mission to collect gas and thermal water samples from the Bechler River area in the southwest part of Yellowstone National Park. 

Photograph of Erika Lentz in the field
Outstanding in the field
Outstanding in the field
Outstanding in the field

USGS Research Geologist Dr. Erika Lentz is conducting real-time kinematic GPS surveys on barrier island dunes, part of her research looking at how coastal landscapes respond to sea-level rise.

 

USGS Research Geologist Dr. Erika Lentz is conducting real-time kinematic GPS surveys on barrier island dunes, part of her research looking at how coastal landscapes respond to sea-level rise.

 

Thermal feature along Ferris Fork near Bechler River, Yellowstone
Thermal feature along Ferris Fork near Bechler River, Yellowstone
Thermal feature along Ferris Fork near Bechler River, Yellowstone
Thermal feature along Ferris Fork near Bechler River, Yellowstone

An unnamed but charismatic thermal feature alongside Ferris Fork, near the Bechler River. The center of the pool is roiling with gas bubbles, but not boiling! The pool is only about 180 degrees F (81 degrees C), and all the gas is bubbling up from underground.

An unnamed but charismatic thermal feature alongside Ferris Fork, near the Bechler River. The center of the pool is roiling with gas bubbles, but not boiling! The pool is only about 180 degrees F (81 degrees C), and all the gas is bubbling up from underground.

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