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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.
Left: Horseshoe-shaped crater of Mount St. Helens in 1980, formed by a landslide that removed the top of the volcano. The crater is about 2 km (1.2 mi) wide and the floor is about 600 m (1,970 ft) below the crater rim. Right: Halema'uma'u nestled in the summit crater of Kīlauea Volcano on August 1, the day before the last collapse event.
Left: Horseshoe-shaped crater of Mount St. Helens in 1980, formed by a landslide that removed the top of the volcano. The crater is about 2 km (1.2 mi) wide and the floor is about 600 m (1,970 ft) below the crater rim. Right: Halema'uma'u nestled in the summit crater of Kīlauea Volcano on August 1, the day before the last collapse event.
This comparison shows satellite images of Leilani Estates subdivision before and after the May-August 2018 eruption. The image on the right, collected in early September 2018, shows that the eastern portion of the subdivision has been covered by lava. The Fissure 8 lava channel runs northeast, with the Fissure 8 cone at the start of the channel.
This comparison shows satellite images of Leilani Estates subdivision before and after the May-August 2018 eruption. The image on the right, collected in early September 2018, shows that the eastern portion of the subdivision has been covered by lava. The Fissure 8 lava channel runs northeast, with the Fissure 8 cone at the start of the channel.
A close up comparison of the Fissure 8 area in Leilani Estates subdivision. Leilani Avenue runs right-left (east-west) through the center of the images. On the right side, the crater in the Fissure 8 cone is visible, with the Fissure 8 lava channel extending north.
A close up comparison of the Fissure 8 area in Leilani Estates subdivision. Leilani Avenue runs right-left (east-west) through the center of the images. On the right side, the crater in the Fissure 8 cone is visible, with the Fissure 8 lava channel extending north.
USGS scientist Pete Dartnell processes multibeam data collected from off the Pacific Northwest coast on a research cruise aboard NOAA ship Rainier.
USGS scientist Pete Dartnell processes multibeam data collected from off the Pacific Northwest coast on a research cruise aboard NOAA ship Rainier.
Exposure of the Cape May Formation in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system.
Exposure of the Cape May Formation in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system.
Exposure of the clay-sand facies of the Cohansey Formation in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system.
Exposure of the clay-sand facies of the Cohansey Formation in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system.
A sensor data logger recovered from the floor of Yellowstone Lake in the Deep Hole area in 2018 shows signs of melting due to unexpectedly high temperatures in sediments up to ~3 ft (1 m) away from an active hydrothermal vent. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 4, 2018.
A sensor data logger recovered from the floor of Yellowstone Lake in the Deep Hole area in 2018 shows signs of melting due to unexpectedly high temperatures in sediments up to ~3 ft (1 m) away from an active hydrothermal vent. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 4, 2018.
Sensor deployed in the Deep Hole, east of Stevenson Island to monitor long-term temperature and chemical variations in an active vent. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 4, 2018.
Sensor deployed in the Deep Hole, east of Stevenson Island to monitor long-term temperature and chemical variations in an active vent. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 4, 2018.
Sensor (top), deformed battery/electronics package (bottom), and titanium sheath (left) following recovery from vent location A in teh Deep Hole area on the floor of Yellowstone Lake.
Sensor (top), deformed battery/electronics package (bottom), and titanium sheath (left) following recovery from vent location A in teh Deep Hole area on the floor of Yellowstone Lake.
Early morning photo of Halema‘uma‘u, taken from the northeastern caldera rim.
Early morning photo of Halema‘uma‘u, taken from the northeastern caldera rim.
New thermal feature beneath the boardwalk on Geyser Hill, Upper Geyser Basin. Bo
New thermal feature beneath the boardwalk on Geyser Hill, Upper Geyser Basin. Bo
The Scanning Electron Microscopy lab at Menlo Park.
The Scanning Electron Microscopy lab at Menlo Park.
A USGS gas geochemist and colleagues from the United Kingdom carry multi-gas sensors as they approach the degassing fissure 8 cone during Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 eruption.
A USGS gas geochemist and colleagues from the United Kingdom carry multi-gas sensors as they approach the degassing fissure 8 cone during Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 eruption.
Display of human-derived items ejected during the Ear Spring water eruption, Sep
Display of human-derived items ejected during the Ear Spring water eruption, Sep
Ear Spring in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park on June 17, 2018
Ear Spring in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park on June 17, 2018
Ear Spring located on Geyser Hill, Yellowstone National Park, July 12, 2008.
Ear Spring located on Geyser Hill, Yellowstone National Park, July 12, 2008.
Map highlighting sampling locations of 339 Northern Spotted Owls used in Miller, et al, 2018
Map highlighting sampling locations of 339 Northern Spotted Owls used in Miller, et al, 2018
Sensors that monitor volcanic gas emissions at a station in Long Valley.
Sensors that monitor volcanic gas emissions at a station in Long Valley.
USGS scientists examining landslides in the Tuolumne watershed, California, caused by an extreme rain event in 2018.
USGS scientists examining landslides in the Tuolumne watershed, California, caused by an extreme rain event in 2018.
Sensor (left) and battery/electronics package (right) at vent location A in the Deep Hole area of Yellowstone Lake. Photo was taken immediately before recovery from the lake floor. Notice the battery/electronics package slightly submerged in sediment.
Sensor (left) and battery/electronics package (right) at vent location A in the Deep Hole area of Yellowstone Lake. Photo was taken immediately before recovery from the lake floor. Notice the battery/electronics package slightly submerged in sediment.