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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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Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

A channel-like feature is visible on the lava lake surface within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. This feature originates from the influx of lava from the western fissure, just out of view on the bottom of the photograph. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

A channel-like feature is visible on the lava lake surface within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. This feature originates from the influx of lava from the western fissure, just out of view on the bottom of the photograph. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

The view from Kīlauea Volcano's western caldera rim shows the eastern portion of the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The main island is visible in the bottom of the photograph, and smaller islands can be seen above it (to the east). USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

The view from Kīlauea Volcano's western caldera rim shows the eastern portion of the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The main island is visible in the bottom of the photograph, and smaller islands can be seen above it (to the east). USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of volcanic vent
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

The western fissure in Halemaʻumaʻu wall remains active. Glowing vents and a prominent spatter cone are visible in this photo. This view looks steeply down from Kīlauea's west caldera rim, and the lava lake surface is visible in the background. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

The western fissure in Halemaʻumaʻu wall remains active. Glowing vents and a prominent spatter cone are visible in this photo. This view looks steeply down from Kīlauea's west caldera rim, and the lava lake surface is visible in the background. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color map of volcano
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map

This map of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea shows 20 m (66 ft) contour lines (dark gray) that mark locations of equal elevation above sea level (asl).

This map of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea shows 20 m (66 ft) contour lines (dark gray) that mark locations of equal elevation above sea level (asl).

Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry
Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry
Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry
Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry

Yellowstone rangers -- and tourists, too! -- can determine the height of a geyser eruption with some simple trigonometry.

Devin McGinty collecting measurements in the field

Devin McGinty collecting measurements in the field including surveying and installing a new staff gage. 

Fin whale just breaking the surface of the water, viewed from above
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) breaking the surface
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) breaking the surface
Two images show the same cliff region, one has fewer data points by eliminating the frothy beach waves.
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point clouds
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point clouds
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point clouds

As part of the Remote Sensing of Coastal Change and Florence Supplemental projects we have been developing novel workflows for repeat-mapping of ­­­coastal environments at order decimeter resolution over up to hundreds of kilometers in a single day, using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry or SfM, from crewed aerial platforms.

As part of the Remote Sensing of Coastal Change and Florence Supplemental projects we have been developing novel workflows for repeat-mapping of ­­­coastal environments at order decimeter resolution over up to hundreds of kilometers in a single day, using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry or SfM, from crewed aerial platforms.

Geologic Map and Borehole Stratigraphy of Hinkley Valley and Vicinity, San Bernardino County, California
Geologic Map and Borehole Stratigraphy of Hinkley Valley and Vicinity,
Geologic Map and Borehole Stratigraphy of Hinkley Valley and Vicinity,
Geologic Map and Borehole Stratigraphy of Hinkley Valley and Vicinity,

Hinkley Valley, in the central to western Mojave Desert of southeastern California, has a long historical record owing to its position as a crossroads for rail and road traffic and its position adjacent to the Mojave River.

Hinkley Valley, in the central to western Mojave Desert of southeastern California, has a long historical record owing to its position as a crossroads for rail and road traffic and its position adjacent to the Mojave River.

Humpback whale viewed from above, just breaking the surface, with seabirds in flight nearby
Humpback Whale and shearwaters feeding in southern California
Humpback Whale and shearwaters feeding in southern California
Humpback Whale and shearwaters feeding in southern California

Zoomed image of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and a group of shearwaters feeding in southern California.

Hydrologic Technician Matt Bach measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek near Little Rapids, WI
Hydrologic Technician measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek, WI
Hydrologic Technician measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek, WI
Hydrologic Technician measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek, WI

Hydrologic Technician Matt Bach measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek near Little Rapids, WI (NWIS site: 04085068) on May 21, 2020, as part of a cooperative project with NEWWater (Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District) utilizing an adaptive management approach to meet phosp

Hydrologic Technician Matt Bach measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek near Little Rapids, WI (NWIS site: 04085068) on May 21, 2020, as part of a cooperative project with NEWWater (Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District) utilizing an adaptive management approach to meet phosp

Hydrologic Technician Matt Bach measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek near Little Rapids, WI
Hydrologic Technician measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek, WI (2)
Hydrologic Technician measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek, WI (2)
Hydrologic Technician measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek, WI (2)

Hydrologic Technician Matt Bach measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek near Little Rapids, WI (NWIS site: 04085068) on May 21, 2020, as part of a cooperative project with NEWWater (Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District) utilizing an adaptive management approach to meet phosp

Hydrologic Technician Matt Bach measures discharge in Ashwaubenon Creek near Little Rapids, WI (NWIS site: 04085068) on May 21, 2020, as part of a cooperative project with NEWWater (Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District) utilizing an adaptive management approach to meet phosp

Hydrologist downloading water-level sensor deployed for summer as part of an ecohydro study
Hydrologist downloading water-level sensor deployed for summer
Hydrologist downloading water-level sensor deployed for summer
Hydrologist downloading water-level sensor deployed for summer

Hydrologist downloading water-level sensor deployed for summer as part of an ecohydro study in *H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. *USGS Integrated Ecohydrological Science - USFS & Oregon State University *Patrick Haluska

Hydrologist downloading water-level sensor deployed for summer as part of an ecohydro study in *H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. *USGS Integrated Ecohydrological Science - USFS & Oregon State University *Patrick Haluska

Color and gray scale images of tephra
Images of tephra from Kīlauea’s newest eruption, collected 12/21/2020
Images of tephra from Kīlauea’s newest eruption, collected 12/21/2020
Images of tephra from Kīlauea’s newest eruption, collected 12/21/2020

Left: magnified view of erupted material, including Pele’s hair and tears, as seen under a microscope (USGS Photo by K. Lynn on 12/26/2020). Middle: Zoomed in electron image of the tephra, where greyscale indicates the relative abundance of iron (Fe).

Left: magnified view of erupted material, including Pele’s hair and tears, as seen under a microscope (USGS Photo by K. Lynn on 12/26/2020). Middle: Zoomed in electron image of the tephra, where greyscale indicates the relative abundance of iron (Fe).

Jeniffer Soto Perez (left) and Emily Richardson (Right) prepare water quality sample bottles onboard the RV Landsteiner
Jeniffer Soto Perez(left) and Emily Richardson (Right) prepare samples
Jeniffer Soto Perez(left) and Emily Richardson (Right) prepare samples
Jeniffer Soto Perez(left) and Emily Richardson (Right) prepare samples

Jeniffer Soto Perez (left) and Emily Richardson (Right) prepare water quality sample bottles onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey.

Jeniffer Soto Perez (left) and Emily Richardson (Right) prepare water quality sample bottles onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey.

Katy O’Donnell monitors readings from different instruments of the flow system during a high-resolution water quality survey
Katy O’Donnell monitors readings from water quality instrument
Katy O’Donnell monitors readings from water quality instrument
Katy O’Donnell monitors readings from water quality instrument

Katy O’Donnell monitors readings from different instruments of the flow-through system during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey onboard the RV Landsteiner along the Sacramento River in West Sacramento, CA.

Katy O’Donnell monitors readings from different instruments of the flow-through system during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey onboard the RV Landsteiner along the Sacramento River in West Sacramento, CA.

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