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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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Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flows and fissures, June 2, 1:30 ...
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 2, 1:30 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 2, 1:30 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 2, 1:30 p.m.

Map as of 1:30 p.m. HST, June 2, 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 1:30 p.m. HST, June 2, 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.

lava flow on road way
Kīlauea Volcano — `A`ā Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — `A`ā Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — `A`ā Flow

East side of the fissure 8 flow on the "lighthouse road" (east of the Four Corners intersection). The ‘a‘ā flow was about 5 m (16 ft) thick when this photo was taken around 2:00 p.m. HST. 

East side of the fissure 8 flow on the "lighthouse road" (east of the Four Corners intersection). The ‘a‘ā flow was about 5 m (16 ft) thick when this photo was taken around 2:00 p.m. HST. 

A scientist looking at lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Documenting Flows
Kīlauea Volcano — Documenting Flows
Kīlauea Volcano — Documenting Flows

An HVO geologist documents the fissure 8 flow southeast of Four Corners (the intersection of Highways 132 and 137).

An HVO geologist documents the fissure 8 flow southeast of Four Corners (the intersection of Highways 132 and 137).

Plume from lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flowing into Green Lake
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flowing into Green Lake
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flowing into Green Lake

As fissure 8 lava flowed into Green Lake, the lake water boiled away, sending a white plumehigh into the sky—visible from afar between around 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. HST.

As fissure 8 lava flowed into Green Lake, the lake water boiled away, sending a white plumehigh into the sky—visible from afar between around 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. HST.

Lava flowing
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Near Four Corners
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Near Four Corners
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Near Four Corners

Northern edge of the fissure 8 flow front on the night of June 1, as it approached the intersection of Highways 132 and 137, known as "Four Corners."

Northern edge of the fissure 8 flow front on the night of June 1, as it approached the intersection of Highways 132 and 137, known as "Four Corners."

Lava fountaining at night time.
Kīlauea Volcano — Night Fountains (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Night Fountains (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Night Fountains (Fissure 8)

Overnight (June 1-2), fissure 8 lava fountains decreased to heights of about 50 m (164 feet). The moon can be seen in the upper left.

Overnight (June 1-2), fissure 8 lava fountains decreased to heights of about 50 m (164 feet). The moon can be seen in the upper left.

Aerial of lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Fissure 8 Advancement
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Fissure 8 Advancement
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Fissure 8 Advancement

USGS scientists on HVO's overflight this morning (June 2) captured this image of the fissure 8 flow front as it advanced west along Highway 132. Around the time of this photo, 7:15 a.m.

USGS scientists on HVO's overflight this morning (June 2) captured this image of the fissure 8 flow front as it advanced west along Highway 132. Around the time of this photo, 7:15 a.m.

A boat operated by USGS staff tows an instrument that collects geophysical data in in the shallow shoreface near the beach.
USGS vessels and staff collecting geophysical data in the nearshore
USGS vessels and staff collecting geophysical data in the nearshore
USGS vessels and staff collecting geophysical data in the nearshore

USGS vessels and staff acquiring geophysical data in the nearshore. Collecting shoreface data in the water as close to the beach as possible is difficult with breaking waves. The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center adapted existing equipment for data collection in shallow water.

USGS vessels and staff acquiring geophysical data in the nearshore. Collecting shoreface data in the water as close to the beach as possible is difficult with breaking waves. The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center adapted existing equipment for data collection in shallow water.

A boat operated by USGS staff tows an instrument that collects geophysical data in in the shallow shoreface near the beach
USGS vessels and staff collecting geophysical data in the nearshore
USGS vessels and staff collecting geophysical data in the nearshore
USGS vessels and staff collecting geophysical data in the nearshore

USGS vessels and staff acquiring geophysical data in the nearshore. Collecting shoreface data in the water as close to the beach as possible is difficult with breaking waves. The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center adapted existing equipment for data collection in shallow water.

USGS vessels and staff acquiring geophysical data in the nearshore. Collecting shoreface data in the water as close to the beach as possible is difficult with breaking waves. The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center adapted existing equipment for data collection in shallow water.

Vehicles cross over a amphibian passage on a forest road via an elevated road segment
Vehicles Using An Elevated Road Segment Over Wildlife Passage
Vehicles Using An Elevated Road Segment Over Wildlife Passage
Vehicles Using An Elevated Road Segment Over Wildlife Passage

Vehicles drive on an elevated road segment that allows amphibians and reptiles to pass safely beneath and cross the road.

Vehicles drive on an elevated road segment that allows amphibians and reptiles to pass safely beneath and cross the road.

A false-color aerial photo illuminates the stark contrast between irrigated center pivot cropland and dryland agriculture in eas
A false-color aerial photo
A false-color aerial photo
A false-color aerial photo

A false-color aerial photo illuminates the stark contrast between irrigated center pivot cropland and dryland agriculture in eastern Washington

A false-color aerial photo illuminates the stark contrast between irrigated center pivot cropland and dryland agriculture in eastern Washington

Blue Vane trap in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field
Blue Vane trap in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field
Blue Vane trap in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field
Blue Vane trap in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field

Blue Vane trap in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field

Container of mud from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
Container of mud from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
Container of mud from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
Container of mud from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

Container of mud from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an expanse of the deep Pacific seafloor rich in manganese nodules. Amy Gartman (USGS) and Phoebe Lam (University of California, Santa Cruz) will study chemical interactions between the mud and metals in seawater.

Container of mud from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an expanse of the deep Pacific seafloor rich in manganese nodules. Amy Gartman (USGS) and Phoebe Lam (University of California, Santa Cruz) will study chemical interactions between the mud and metals in seawater.

4 people in boat on water body on a sunny warm day
Field Photo Friday January 2019
Field Photo Friday January 2019
Field Photo Friday January 2019

A team of biologists, Barry Baldigo, Luis Rodriguez, Mike DeMoulpied, and Abbey Holsopple (from left to right), prepare to conduct a survey for invasive round goby on the New York State Canal system near Rome, NY in 2018. Photo by Scott George

A team of biologists, Barry Baldigo, Luis Rodriguez, Mike DeMoulpied, and Abbey Holsopple (from left to right), prepare to conduct a survey for invasive round goby on the New York State Canal system near Rome, NY in 2018. Photo by Scott George

fissure 8 on Kīlauea
fissure 8 on Kīlauea
fissure 8 on Kīlauea
fissure 8 on Kīlauea

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.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m.

Map as of 6:00 p.m. HST, June 1, 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 6:00 p.m. HST, June 1, 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 Volcano — Caldera Changes (May 23 - 31)
Kīlauea Volcano — Caldera Changes (May 23 - 31)
Kīlauea Volcano — Caldera Changes (May 23 - 31)

This animated GIF shows a pair of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The images illustrate changes to the calderaarea of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred between May 23 at 6:00 p.m. HST and May 31 at 6:00 p.m. HST.

This animated GIF shows a pair of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The images illustrate changes to the calderaarea of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred between May 23 at 6:00 p.m. HST and May 31 at 6:00 p.m. HST.

View of fissure 8 fountaining
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8

Viewed from the intersection of Nohea and Leilani Streets at 10:15AM HST on June 1, the Fissure 8 lava fountain (to the right) appears to have decreased in height from previous sustained heights of 260 feet.

Viewed from the intersection of Nohea and Leilani Streets at 10:15AM HST on June 1, the Fissure 8 lava fountain (to the right) appears to have decreased in height from previous sustained heights of 260 feet.

Aerial photo of vog
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Flow

Fissure 8 continues to feed lava into multiple flow lobes. One lobe is advancing through agricultural lands toward the northeast, as shown in this image taken from a helicopter overflight on June 1, 2018, at 6:21 AM.

Fissure 8 continues to feed lava into multiple flow lobes. One lobe is advancing through agricultural lands toward the northeast, as shown in this image taken from a helicopter overflight on June 1, 2018, at 6:21 AM.

Aerial photo of plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Near Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Near Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Near Kapoho Crater

Photo of the easternmost Fissure 8 lava flow in the vicinity of Kapoho Crater at 6:00 AM HST on June 1.

Kīlauea Volcano: What's new and what's not...
Kīlauea: What's new and what's not
Kīlauea: What's new and what's not
Kīlauea: What's new and what's not

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.

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