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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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Photograph of a drone flying over the water at the 2018 Woods Hole Science Stroll
Drone Demos at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Drone Demos at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Photograph of a USGS drone flying over the water at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Drone Demos at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Drone Demos at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
Photograph of children and USGS drone pilot at the 2018 Woods Hole Science Stroll
Future Pilots!
Future Pilots!
Future Pilots!

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

Satellite image showing the lake size from 1972 until present.
Lake Thompson, South Dakota
Lake Thompson, South Dakota
Lake Thompson, South Dakota

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.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Map of earthquakes in the Yellowstone area in 2017
Map of earthquakes in the Yellowstone area in 2017
Map of earthquakes in the Yellowstone area in 2017

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.

Satellite image of fire destruction.
Mendocino Complex Fire Scorches Northern California
Mendocino Complex Fire Scorches Northern California
Mendocino Complex Fire Scorches Northern California

Landsat 8 captured satellite views of California's largest wildfire on record in the summer of 2018. The Mendocino Complex fire in northern California is a combination of two fires: the Ranch Fire and the River Fire.

Landsat 8 captured satellite views of California's largest wildfire on record in the summer of 2018. The Mendocino Complex fire in northern California is a combination of two fires: the Ranch Fire and the River Fire.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Overview_Images_VAM2019
Overview_Images_VAM2019
Overview_Images_VAM2019

Volcano Awareness Month 2019 Overview images

Volcano Awareness Month 2019 Overview images

color photograph of sand bar and boat ramp
Pohoiki boat ramp and sand bar
Pohoiki boat ramp and sand bar
Pohoiki boat ramp and sand bar

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.

Photograph of people waving to a drone camera at the 2018 Woods Hole Science Stroll
Say Cheese!
Say Cheese!
Say Cheese!

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) demonstration at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) demonstration at 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll

Photograph of USGS personnel talking to Science Stroll participants
Sharing Science
Sharing Science
Sharing Science

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. Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Skinny Common Murre (in foreground) with keel protruding
Skinny Common Murre (in foreground) with keel protruding
Skinny Common Murre (in foreground) with keel protruding

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.

Photograph of 2018 Woods Hole Science Stroll participants viewing a USGS display
USGS display at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
USGS display at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll
USGS display at the 2018 Woods Hole, MA Science Stroll

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

Photograph of Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center staff at 2018 Woods Hole Science Stroll
Woods Hole Science Stroll 2018
Woods Hole Science Stroll 2018
Woods Hole Science Stroll 2018

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

View from the top deck of a ship on water, looking down on the bow with three people standing, with a bridge in the background.
Heading back to port, Newport Harbor
Heading back to port, Newport Harbor
Heading back to port, Newport Harbor

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 at low stage
Low Stage Streamflow Measurement
Low Stage Streamflow Measurement
Low Stage Streamflow Measurement

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.

drone
Methane drone hovering above permafrost
Methane drone hovering above permafrost
Methane drone hovering above permafrost

Looking up at a drone hovering near an open-path methane analyzer mounted on a flux tower. Instruments mounted on both the towers and on the drones are measuring gases emitted from the soil.

Looking up at a drone hovering near an open-path methane analyzer mounted on a flux tower. Instruments mounted on both the towers and on the drones are measuring gases emitted from the soil.

Photograph of a sonobuoy launch
Sonobuoy launch
Sonobuoy launch
Sonobuoy launch

Engineering technician Jenny McKee from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California watches as an expendable sonobuoy leaves the launcher during the 2018 MATRIX cruise on research vessel Hugh R.

Engineering technician Jenny McKee from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California watches as an expendable sonobuoy leaves the launcher during the 2018 MATRIX cruise on research vessel Hugh R.

image related to volcanoes. See description
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory adapts to recent changes
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory adapts to recent changes
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory adapts to recent changes

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor volcanoes and earthquakes on the Island of Hawai‘i. On this map, which shows earthquakes that occurred beneath the island between August 6, 2018, and November 14, 2018, the size of each circle depicts earthquake magnitude and color indicates earthquake depth, relative to mean sea level. USGS map.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor volcanoes and earthquakes on the Island of Hawai‘i. On this map, which shows earthquakes that occurred beneath the island between August 6, 2018, and November 14, 2018, the size of each circle depicts earthquake magnitude and color indicates earthquake depth, relative to mean sea level. USGS map.

woman kneeling on boat putting yellow USGS buoy in lake
Water quality monitoring buoy deployed on Skaneateles Lake
Water quality monitoring buoy deployed on Skaneateles Lake
Water quality monitoring buoy deployed on Skaneateles Lake

USGS Hydrologist deploys water quality monitoring buoy on Skaneateles Lake