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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.
USGS scientists continue to monitor some of the cracks in the lower East Rift Zone to check for any significant changes. This scientist is using an Infrared thermometer to record the temperature within the ground cracks.
USGS scientists continue to monitor some of the cracks in the lower East Rift Zone to check for any significant changes. This scientist is using an Infrared thermometer to record the temperature within the ground cracks.
The nighttime Oakland city skyline as seen from San Francisco with the Bay Bridge in the foreground
The nighttime Oakland city skyline as seen from San Francisco with the Bay Bridge in the foreground
Herring (top) and juvenile Chinook salmon (bottom) flushed from the stomach of a resident Chinook salmon in Puget Sound.
Herring (top) and juvenile Chinook salmon (bottom) flushed from the stomach of a resident Chinook salmon in Puget Sound.
The Land Treatment Planning Tool provides a practical resource for managers who are planning restoration and rehabilitation actions on public lands. The Planning Tool is a user friendly, web-based interface to Geographic Information System (GIS) maps and tools, and requires little to no GIS experience to generate a variety of spatial products.
The Land Treatment Planning Tool provides a practical resource for managers who are planning restoration and rehabilitation actions on public lands. The Planning Tool is a user friendly, web-based interface to Geographic Information System (GIS) maps and tools, and requires little to no GIS experience to generate a variety of spatial products.
View into fissure 8 cone in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone, after lava drained away. USGS webcam image from November 4, 2018.
View into fissure 8 cone in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone, after lava drained away. USGS webcam image from November 4, 2018.
USGS drone demonstration at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
USGS drone demonstration at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll USGS drone demonstration
2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll USGS drone demonstration
USGS drone demonstration at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
USGS drone demonstration at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Sandy Brosnahan, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's Aerial Imaging and Mapping project lead, shares the display screen of a drone in flight
Sandy Brosnahan, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's Aerial Imaging and Mapping project lead, shares the display screen of a drone in flight
Many lakes in South Dakota's Prairie Pothole Region are expanding. Lake Thompson in eastern South Dakota is one that has displayed remarkable change in recent decades.
Many lakes in South Dakota's Prairie Pothole Region are expanding. Lake Thompson in eastern South Dakota is one that has displayed remarkable change in recent decades.
Map of earthquakes in the Yellowstone area in 2017 that were individually located using traditional methods by University of Utah Seismograph Stations. The Maple Creek earthquake swarm, northwest of the caldera (red outline), is the second-longest-lasting ever recorded in the region. Black line shows Park boundary, and white lines are roads.
Map of earthquakes in the Yellowstone area in 2017 that were individually located using traditional methods by University of Utah Seismograph Stations. The Maple Creek earthquake swarm, northwest of the caldera (red outline), is the second-longest-lasting ever recorded in the region. Black line shows Park boundary, and white lines are roads.
Volcano Awareness Month 2019 Overview images
Volcano Awareness Month 2019 Overview images
Close view of the Pohoiki boat ramp during this morning's overflight. The southern-most flow margin has not advanced significantly toward the Pohoiki boat ramp, but black sand and larger fragments from the entry areas have washed ashore to create a sand bar and beach at this site.
Close view of the Pohoiki boat ramp during this morning's overflight. The southern-most flow margin has not advanced significantly toward the Pohoiki boat ramp, but black sand and larger fragments from the entry areas have washed ashore to create a sand bar and beach at this site.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) demonstration at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) demonstration at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Sandy Baldwin, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, shares video from the kilauea volcano with Science Stroll participants.
Sandy Baldwin, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, shares video from the kilauea volcano with Science Stroll participants.
Skinny Common Murre (in foreground) with keel protruding in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Skinny Common Murre (in foreground) with keel protruding in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Sandy Brosnahan, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, discusses Kilauea Volcano drone footage with Science Stroll participants
Sandy Brosnahan, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, discusses Kilauea Volcano drone footage with Science Stroll participants
USGS display table at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
USGS display table at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center staff, Tarandeep Kalra (pointing in light blue shirt) and Zafer Defne (orange USGS shirt) discuss oceanographic models with Science Stroll attendees
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center staff, Tarandeep Kalra (pointing in light blue shirt) and Zafer Defne (orange USGS shirt) discuss oceanographic models with Science Stroll attendees
Entering Yaquina Bay, Oregon aboard the NOAA ship Rainier, approaching the Yaquina Bay Bridge with Newport Marina off to the right in the distance.
Entering Yaquina Bay, Oregon aboard the NOAA ship Rainier, approaching the Yaquina Bay Bridge with Newport Marina off to the right in the distance.
Measuring streamflow in Little Snake River near Dixon, Wyoming. Streamflows were quite a bit lower than the 75-year average.
Measuring streamflow in Little Snake River near Dixon, Wyoming. Streamflows were quite a bit lower than the 75-year average.