Photograph showing a high scarp cut into the large pile of stamp sands at the town of Gay, Michigan. Nearly a century of erosion by waves and currents has transported millions of cubic yards of mine tailings along the coast and spread them across the adjacent lake floor.
Images
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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Photograph showing a high scarp cut into the large pile of stamp sands
Photograph showing a high scarp cut into the large pile of stamp sands at the town of Gay, Michigan. Nearly a century of erosion by waves and currents has transported millions of cubic yards of mine tailings along the coast and spread them across the adjacent lake floor.
Water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River
Example water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River showing the difference between inflow and outflow components. Full visualization application is located at https://cida.usgs.gov/nwc-static/waterbudget-viz/
Example water budget visualization for Buck Creek-Delaware River showing the difference between inflow and outflow components. Full visualization application is located at https://cida.usgs.gov/nwc-static/waterbudget-viz/
Intern Learning Streamflow Measurement
Streamflow training at Blackrock Creek below Split Rock Creek near Moran, Wyoming. A new student intern learns how to measure streamflows upon arriving in Riverton just in time for high water.
Streamflow training at Blackrock Creek below Split Rock Creek near Moran, Wyoming. A new student intern learns how to measure streamflows upon arriving in Riverton just in time for high water.
A misty morning in the headwaters of the Akillik River, Alaska
A misty morning in the headwaters of the Akillik River, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks because they lie in a region that is rapidly warming.
A misty morning in the headwaters of the Akillik River, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks because they lie in a region that is rapidly warming.
Fire Danger Expected Number of Fires per PSA
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
Fire Potential Index (FPI) forecast
The FPI is most similar to the Energy Release Component of the National Fire Danger Rating System in that both are moisture related indexes and neither indicates the effect of wind on fire potential.
The FPI is most similar to the Energy Release Component of the National Fire Danger Rating System in that both are moisture related indexes and neither indicates the effect of wind on fire potential.
How do lava flows cool and how long does it take?
This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.
This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.
Large Fire Probability
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
USGS Fire Danger Forecast Large Fire Probability
Large Fire Probability for August 30, 2018. Percent change estimate, given a source for ignition that a fire will grow to 100+ acres.
Large Fire Probability for August 30, 2018. Percent change estimate, given a source for ignition that a fire will grow to 100+ acres.
Historic Distribution of 100+ acres Fires per Forthcoming Week
Summary of Fires by GACC Units: For the week of 08/29/2018
Summary of Fires by GACC Units: For the week of 08/29/2018
Low sulfur emissions mean a new focus on a different volcanic gas
A USGS pilot and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist prepare to conduct a test flight of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on Kīlauea Volcano in November 2018. This UAS was outfitted with a prototype miniaturized multi-gas sensor for the detection of volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.
A USGS pilot and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist prepare to conduct a test flight of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on Kīlauea Volcano in November 2018. This UAS was outfitted with a prototype miniaturized multi-gas sensor for the detection of volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Array of photovoltaic cells and a wind energy facility
Photovoltaic, or solar, cells array at the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert and a wind energy facility in the Northeastern United States.
Photovoltaic, or solar, cells array at the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert and a wind energy facility in the Northeastern United States.
Erosion has taken a toll on this Keys coral
A reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary with little living coral and extensive bioerosion. Photo taken under research permit number FKNMS-2016-085-A1. Credit: USGS, Ilsa Kuffner.
A reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary with little living coral and extensive bioerosion. Photo taken under research permit number FKNMS-2016-085-A1. Credit: USGS, Ilsa Kuffner.
Salamander sampling crew
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | October 2018 | People
Salamander sampling crew
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | October 2018 | People
Salamander sampling crew
Atlantic Spotted Dolphins
Atlantic spotted dolphins photographed near the R/V Hugh R. Sharp on August 27, 2018 by the protected species visual observers.
Atlantic spotted dolphins photographed near the R/V Hugh R. Sharp on August 27, 2018 by the protected species visual observers.
Audience at California's Premier Adaptation Gathering
Audience at California's Premier Adaptation Gathering
Audience at California's Premier Adaptation Gathering
Audience at California's Premier Adaptation Gathering
Audience at California's Premier Adaptation Gathering
Audience at California's Premier Adaptation Gathering
Burning Man's Temporary City
Burning Man is named for the wooden effigy set ablaze at the end of the weeklong celebration in the temporary metropolis of Black Rock City.
Burning Man is named for the wooden effigy set ablaze at the end of the weeklong celebration in the temporary metropolis of Black Rock City.
A fisheries technician prepares to release a tagged pallid sturgeon
A fisheries technician prepares to release a tagged pallid sturgeon into the Yellowstone River, Montana
A fisheries technician prepares to release a tagged pallid sturgeon into the Yellowstone River, Montana
50,000 tons of sulfur dioxide gas per day
In mid-July 2018, fissure 8 (shown here) on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone was emitting more than 50,000 tons of sulfur dioxide gas per day, creating high levels of vog on the island. Since early August, lower East Rift Zone SO2 emissions have dropped to less than 100 tons per day, resulting in better air quality for Hawaii.
In mid-July 2018, fissure 8 (shown here) on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone was emitting more than 50,000 tons of sulfur dioxide gas per day, creating high levels of vog on the island. Since early August, lower East Rift Zone SO2 emissions have dropped to less than 100 tons per day, resulting in better air quality for Hawaii.