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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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Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanne
Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanne
Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanne

An aerial view of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) overflight video on May 31, 2018. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to collect visual information on this changing eruption site.

An aerial view of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) overflight video on May 31, 2018. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to collect visual information on this changing eruption site.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m.

Map as of 2:00 p.m. HST, May 31, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Map as of 2:00 p.m. HST, May 31, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m.

Map as of 9:00 a.m. HST, May 31, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Map as of 9:00 a.m. HST, May 31, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Aerial photo of fissures
Kīlauea Volcano — Advancing Lobes from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Advancing Lobes from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Advancing Lobes from Fissure 8

Helicopter overflight shows advancing lobes from fissure 8 (fissure 8 is not pictured but located to the right, out of view). Advance rates were less than 100 yards per hour for the three lobes of the flow, as measured during the overnight hours.

Helicopter overflight shows advancing lobes from fissure 8 (fissure 8 is not pictured but located to the right, out of view). Advance rates were less than 100 yards per hour for the three lobes of the flow, as measured during the overnight hours.

Sunrise looking photo but created by lava fountaining in the early morning.
Kīlauea Volcano — Early Morning Fissure 8 Activity
Kīlauea Volcano — Early Morning Fissure 8 Activity
Kīlauea Volcano — Early Morning Fissure 8 Activity

Crews make visual observations of activity at fissure 8 around 5:30 a.m. HST. Fountain heights this morning continue to reach 70 to 80 m (230 to 260 ft) above ground level.

Aerial photo of lava flows
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 18 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 18 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 18 Lava Flow

Lava from fissure 18 travels to the southeast (lower left of photo). The flow front that had approached the ocean yesterday has stalled. This view is looking uprift, with fissure 8 in the distance (upper right of photo).

Lava from fissure 18 travels to the southeast (lower left of photo). The flow front that had approached the ocean yesterday has stalled. This view is looking uprift, with fissure 8 in the distance (upper right of photo).

Lava on a street
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava on Kahukai Street
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava on Kahukai Street
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava on Kahukai Street

Lava from fissure 8 advances on Kahukai Street. Lava in this area is as much as 3.5 yards in height.

Pele's Hair
Pele's Hair
Pele's Hair
Pele's Hair

This long thin, strand of volcanic glass is called Pele's hair. Named for Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, Pele's hair is formed from lava fountains and rapidly moving lava flows. This strand of Pele’s hair was found on Kupono Street in Leilani Estates, Hawaii, during the Kīlauea volcano eruption.

This long thin, strand of volcanic glass is called Pele's hair. Named for Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, Pele's hair is formed from lava fountains and rapidly moving lava flows. This strand of Pele’s hair was found on Kupono Street in Leilani Estates, Hawaii, during the Kīlauea volcano eruption.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 30, 3:00 p.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 30, 3:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 30, 3:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 30, 3:00 p.m.

Map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, May 30, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, May 30, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 30, 9:00 a.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 30, 9:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 30, 9:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 30, 9:00 a.m.

Map as of 9:00 a.m. HST, May 30, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted—and could have changed rapidly since that time.

Map as of 9:00 a.m. HST, May 30, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted—and could have changed rapidly since that time.

Kīlauea summit activity ...
Kīlauea summit activity
Kīlauea summit activity
Kīlauea summit activity

Views Kīlauea's summit were often obscured by fog and rain today, but a break in the weather around 2:00 p.m. HST allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of the gas and steam plume being emitted from Halema‘uma‘u.

Views Kīlauea's summit were often obscured by fog and rain today, but a break in the weather around 2:00 p.m. HST allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of the gas and steam plume being emitted from Halema‘uma‘u.

Aerial of lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano —
Kīlauea Volcano —
Kīlauea Volcano —

Lava flow erupted from fissure 8, photographed during HVO's early morning overflight today.

Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Plume

Views Kīlauea's summit were often obscured by fog and rain today, but a break in the weather around 2:00 p.m. HST allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of the gas and steam plume being emitted from Halema‘uma‘u.

Views Kīlauea's summit were often obscured by fog and rain today, but a break in the weather around 2:00 p.m. HST allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of the gas and steam plume being emitted from Halema‘uma‘u.

USGS scientist using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
USGS scientist using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
USGS scientist using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
USGS scientist using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

USGS scientist Todd Preston using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).  USGS is actively exploring the use of small unmanned aerial system (aka drones) for scientific data collection and testing whether or not they are useful in monitoring wildlife.

USGS scientist Todd Preston using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).  USGS is actively exploring the use of small unmanned aerial system (aka drones) for scientific data collection and testing whether or not they are useful in monitoring wildlife.

Weather station in sagebrush steppe
Weather station in sagebrush steppe
Weather station in sagebrush steppe
Weather station in sagebrush steppe

A weather station located in a sagebrush ecosystem in southwest Montana—a major ecosystem type managed by the Bureau of Land Management

A weather station located in a sagebrush ecosystem in southwest Montana—a major ecosystem type managed by the Bureau of Land Management

Image of well that is part of water quality monitoring network, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Well CH 10, groundwater quality monitoring network, Chester County, PA
Well CH 10, groundwater quality monitoring network, Chester County, PA
Well CH 10, groundwater quality monitoring network, Chester County, PA

Well CH 10 is part of a Pennsylvania groundwater quality monitoring network and is in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

person in yellow USGS shirt holding a pile of zebra mussels
Zebra Mussels St. Lawrence River
Zebra Mussels St. Lawrence River
Zebra Mussels St. Lawrence River

During a National Water Quality Network (NWQN) sampling trip in May to the St Lawrence River, Hydrologic Technician Dave Knauer finds a batch of Zebra mussels attached to the boat anchor. 

During a National Water Quality Network (NWQN) sampling trip in May to the St Lawrence River, Hydrologic Technician Dave Knauer finds a batch of Zebra mussels attached to the boat anchor. 

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 29, 6:00 p.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 29, 6:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 29, 6:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 29, 6:00 p.m.

Map as of 6:00 p.m. HST, May 29, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted—and could have changed rapidly since that time.

Map as of 6:00 p.m. HST, May 29, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted—and could have changed rapidly since that time.

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