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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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cableway view of river looking downstream
Lamar River Downstream View
Lamar River Downstream View
Lamar River Downstream View

This photo was taken within Yellowstone National Park and shows a cableway view of Lamar River near Tower Ranger Station. Less than half a mile downstream, the Lamar River flows into the more well-known Yellowstone River. When this photo was taken, flows were just a bit above average at the streamgage.

This photo was taken within Yellowstone National Park and shows a cableway view of Lamar River near Tower Ranger Station. Less than half a mile downstream, the Lamar River flows into the more well-known Yellowstone River. When this photo was taken, flows were just a bit above average at the streamgage.

Photo of scientist at loading gel
Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for the detection of Rs
Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for the detection of Rs
Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for the detection of Rs

Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for the detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum. Agarose gel electrophoresis is used for size separation and visualization of amplified DNA sequences.

Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for the detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum. Agarose gel electrophoresis is used for size separation and visualization of amplified DNA sequences.

Color photograph of plume from lava entering ocean
Ocean entry plume rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park
Ocean entry plume rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park
Ocean entry plume rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park

In this aerial view looking to the north, a robust ocean entry plume can be seen rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park, which was inundated with lava yesterday.

standing on the bridge near streamgage
Dropping the Wire Weight
Dropping the Wire Weight
Dropping the Wire Weight

The wire weight was dropped from this bridge to measure the stream stage of the Blacks Fork River near Lyman, Wyoming. Even with an early start, it is a struggle to get work done before an afternoon storm rolls in.

The wire weight was dropped from this bridge to measure the stream stage of the Blacks Fork River near Lyman, Wyoming. Even with an early start, it is a struggle to get work done before an afternoon storm rolls in.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone

Taken from the July 31 morning overflight, this photo shows the west side of the fissure 8 lava channel with Kapoho Crater in the foreground. Fissure 8 and its gas plume are visible in the distance.

Taken from the July 31 morning overflight, this photo shows the west side of the fissure 8 lava channel with Kapoho Crater in the foreground. Fissure 8 and its gas plume are visible in the distance.

During an overflight this morning, the Hawaii County Fire Department captured this image looking east toward Kapoho Crater. A br
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow

During an overflight this morning, the Hawaii County Fire Department captured this image looking east toward Kapoho Crater.

During an overflight this morning, the Hawaii County Fire Department captured this image looking east toward Kapoho Crater.

Staudinger holding a Atlantic puffin chick on Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Atlantic puffin chick
Atlantic puffin chick
Atlantic puffin chick

Staudinger holding a Atlantic puffin chick on Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

Staudinger holding a Atlantic puffin chick on Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

image related to volcanoes. See description
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit

This aerial view of Kīlauea's summit (taken early yesterday morning, looking south) shows some well-known features and some that are now more obvious as a result of ongoing collapse of Halema‘uma‘u and parts of the summit caldera floor.

This aerial view of Kīlauea's summit (taken early yesterday morning, looking south) shows some well-known features and some that are now more obvious as a result of ongoing collapse of Halema‘uma‘u and parts of the summit caldera floor.

Aerial view of Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial View of Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial View of Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial View of Kapoho Crater

Aerial view of Kapoho Crater looking toward the south-southeast. Part of the lava channelbecame blocked just upstream of Kapoho Crater yesterday, diverting flows to the west and then south around the crater (center right). Lava exiting a crusted section of the channel continued flowing in the channel pathway (lower center to left).

Aerial view of Kapoho Crater looking toward the south-southeast. Part of the lava channelbecame blocked just upstream of Kapoho Crater yesterday, diverting flows to the west and then south around the crater (center right). Lava exiting a crusted section of the channel continued flowing in the channel pathway (lower center to left).

View of fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Lava Channel

Fissure 8 and a full lava channel as seen during HVO's early morning overflight. The visible road is Nohea Street in the Leilani Estates subdivision.

Aerial of lava channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Landscape Differences
Kīlauea Volcano — Landscape Differences
Kīlauea Volcano — Landscape Differences

During HVO's morning overflight today, the dramatic difference in landscapes on the northern and southern sides of the fissure 8 lava channel was readily apparent.

During HVO's morning overflight today, the dramatic difference in landscapes on the northern and southern sides of the fissure 8 lava channel was readily apparent.

Night time view of Halekamahina
Kīlauea Volcano — Looking Uprift Past Halekamahina
Kīlauea Volcano — Looking Uprift Past Halekamahina
Kīlauea Volcano — Looking Uprift Past Halekamahina

View from Bryson's quarry around 11:45 p.m. HST last night looking uprift past Halekamahina (an older ash cone) to fissure 8, which is creating the glow behind the cone.

 Deadly Mudslides in Japan
Deadly Mudslides in Japan
Deadly Mudslides in Japan
Deadly Mudslides in Japan

Torrential rainfall swamped western Japan in July of 2018. The rain caused mudslides that flooded cities, damaged buildings and rattled the nation’s infrastructure.

Torrential rainfall swamped western Japan in July of 2018. The rain caused mudslides that flooded cities, damaged buildings and rattled the nation’s infrastructure.

Dr. Meagan Gonneea (Cape Cod, MA) retrieves a core from an infilling salt marsh pond in the Great Barnstable Marsh
Core retrieval
Core retrieval
Core retrieval

Dr. Meagan Gonneea (Cape Cod, MA) retrieves a core from an infilling salt marsh pond in the Great Barnstable Marsh.

Dr. Meagan Gonneea (Cape Cod, MA) retrieves a core from an infilling salt marsh pond in the Great Barnstable Marsh.

Lava running past a residential area
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Leilani Estates
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Leilani Estates
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Leilani Estates

Fissure 8 and Leilani Estates viewed from the south. Houses in the foreground are located in the southern portion of Leilani Estates.

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