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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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tanner creek after eagle creek fire
Tanner Creek after the Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon
Tanner Creek after the Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon
Tanner Creek after the Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon

View along a bluff in Tanner Creek watershed following the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon (Columbia Gorge)

vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u
vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u
vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u
vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u

On November 5, 1967, a line of vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava soon covered the entire crater floor as volcanic gases billowed skyward (aerial view). Near the center, a pool of molten lava repeatedly overflowed a levee of crusted lava, spilling flows onto the lava-covered crater floor (inset).

On November 5, 1967, a line of vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava soon covered the entire crater floor as volcanic gases billowed skyward (aerial view). Near the center, a pool of molten lava repeatedly overflowed a levee of crusted lava, spilling flows onto the lava-covered crater floor (inset).

Emma Kelsey climbing Piedras Blancas rock, CA
WERC Wildlife Biologist Climbs Offshore Islet
WERC Wildlife Biologist Climbs Offshore Islet
WERC Wildlife Biologist Climbs Offshore Islet

USGS wildlife biologist Emma Kelsey searches for potential Ashy storm-petrel nesting habitat on Piedras Blancas rock, off the California coast. Ashy storm-petrels make their home in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands, and only enter and leave nests under the cover of darkness.

USGS wildlife biologist Emma Kelsey searches for potential Ashy storm-petrel nesting habitat on Piedras Blancas rock, off the California coast. Ashy storm-petrels make their home in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands, and only enter and leave nests under the cover of darkness.

The responses of pikas and marmots to weather and snowpack dynamics have been species-specific.
Responses of pikas and marmots to weather and snowpack dynamics.
Responses of pikas and marmots to weather and snowpack dynamics.
Responses of pikas and marmots to weather and snowpack dynamics.

The responses of pikas and marmots to weather and snowpack dynamics have been species-specific.   

Common Murre colony on cliffs at Gull Island, Alaska
Common Murre colony on rock cliffs
Common Murre colony on rock cliffs
Common Murre colony on rock cliffs

Brielle Heflin noosing Common Murres off their colony at Gull Island, Alaksa.

Scientists examine endangered Least Bell's Vireo
Examining Endangered Least Bell's Vireo
Examining Endangered Least Bell's Vireo
Examining Endangered Least Bell's Vireo

Scientists examine an endangered Least Bell's Vireo in Baja California, Mexico.

Riparian habitat
Healthy Riparian Habitat
Healthy Riparian Habitat
Healthy Riparian Habitat

Healthy-looking riparian habitat in Baja California, Mexico.

Mexican colleagues handle a Least Bell's Vireo
Mexican Colleagues Hold Least Bell's Vireo
Mexican Colleagues Hold Least Bell's Vireo
Mexican Colleagues Hold Least Bell's Vireo

USGS colleagues from Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste in Baja California, Mexico hold an endangered Least Bell's Vireo.

USGS colleagues from Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste in Baja California, Mexico hold an endangered Least Bell's Vireo.

Mexican Scientist Searches for Ectoparasites, Baja CA, Mexico
Mexican Scientist Searches for Ectoparasites, Baja CA, Mexico
Mexican Scientist Searches for Ectoparasites, Baja CA, Mexico
Mexican Scientist Searches for Ectoparasites, Baja CA, Mexico

Mexican scientists examine an endangered Least Bell's Vireo for ectoparasites in Baja California, Mexico.

Riparian habitat in Baja California, MX
Riparian Habitat with Mist Net
Riparian Habitat with Mist Net
Riparian Habitat with Mist Net

Riparian habitat and a very fine-mesh "mist net" in Baja California, Mexico. Mist netting efforts are part of an ongoing study that examines migratory behaviors of the endangered Least Bell's Vireo.

Riparian habitat and a very fine-mesh "mist net" in Baja California, Mexico. Mist netting efforts are part of an ongoing study that examines migratory behaviors of the endangered Least Bell's Vireo.

Palm trees in riparian habitat
Riparian Habitat with Palms
Riparian Habitat with Palms
Riparian Habitat with Palms

Riparian habitat with palms in Baja California, Mexico.

USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico
USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico
USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico
USGS Partner Checks a Flicker in Baja CA, Mexico

Mexican scientist and USGS partner examines a flicker captured in Baja California, Mexico.

WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls
WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls
WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls
WERC Ecologist Calls in Birds with Recorded Calls

USGS ecologist Suellen Lynn calls endangered Least Bell's Vireos to a fine mesh net using recorded territorial calls.

USGS researcher holds an endangered least Bell's vireo
WERC Researcher Holding Least Bell's Vireo
WERC Researcher Holding Least Bell's Vireo
WERC Researcher Holding Least Bell's Vireo

USGS researcher holds an endangered least Bell’s vireo marked with a brightly-colored ID tag. The USGS is learning about the threats that these birds face in different parts of their range and are providing the science needed to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and international efforts to recover least Bell’s vireo populations. 

USGS researcher holds an endangered least Bell’s vireo marked with a brightly-colored ID tag. The USGS is learning about the threats that these birds face in different parts of their range and are providing the science needed to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and international efforts to recover least Bell’s vireo populations. 

Comparison maps indicating short or long times available for earthquake shaking arrival times
Earthquake Alerts: Early and Often? Or Possibly Late?
Earthquake Alerts: Early and Often? Or Possibly Late?
Earthquake Alerts: Early and Often? Or Possibly Late?

The choice when issuing earthquake warnings is to: 1) issue alerts for weak shaking and potentially provide long warning times, but risk sending alerts for the many events that do not go on to produce damaging ground shaking, or 2) issue alerts only when ground shaking is expected to be damaging, with the tradeoff that the alert will be sent much later, reducing

The choice when issuing earthquake warnings is to: 1) issue alerts for weak shaking and potentially provide long warning times, but risk sending alerts for the many events that do not go on to produce damaging ground shaking, or 2) issue alerts only when ground shaking is expected to be damaging, with the tradeoff that the alert will be sent much later, reducing

Adjustment of tension in infiltrometer to measure post-fire recovery.
Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins measuring post-fire infiltration
Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins measuring post-fire infiltration
Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins measuring post-fire infiltration

Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins adjusting tension in infiltrometer to evaluate post-fire recovery conditions in the Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA following the October 2017 Tubbs Fire to better understand how landscapes heal after wildfire. 

Research Geologist Jonathan Perkins adjusting tension in infiltrometer to evaluate post-fire recovery conditions in the Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA following the October 2017 Tubbs Fire to better understand how landscapes heal after wildfire. 

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