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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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Dead Run, an urban creek
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (photo 2)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (photo 2)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (photo 2)

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

Dead Run, a typical urban creek, and precipitation station
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 3)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 3)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 3)

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

Downcutting in Dead Run, an urbanized creek
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 4)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 4)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 4)

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

Dead Run, a typical urban creek
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 5)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 5)
Dead Run is a typical urban creek in the Baltimore area (Photo 5)

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

Dead Run is an urban creek in Catonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore. Research has found that about half of the bed sediment originates as particulate matter on pavement that then is washed into the creek via storm drains.

man standing next to tripod in front of a large watertower reading an instrument
Groundwater - Surveying - GNSS Suffolk County, Long Island, NY
Groundwater - Surveying - GNSS Suffolk County, Long Island, NY
Groundwater - Surveying - GNSS Suffolk County, Long Island, NY

Groundwater - Surveying - Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Suffolk County, Long Island, NY

Groundwater - Surveying - Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Suffolk County, Long Island, NY

3DR Solo quadcopter in flight
Quadcopter in flight
Quadcopter in flight
Quadcopter in flight

The 3DR Solo quadcopter in flight, with a Ricoh GRII camera mounted, taking pictures to be used in photogrammetric techniques to produce 3D surface models.

The 3DR Solo quadcopter in flight, with a Ricoh GRII camera mounted, taking pictures to be used in photogrammetric techniques to produce 3D surface models.

Satellite image showing the growth of Las Vegas.
Urban Growth in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Urban Growth in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Urban Growth in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Decades of consistent data from Landsat help scientists monitor the growth of urban areas in a world where more than half of the population lives in cities.

Decades of consistent data from Landsat help scientists monitor the growth of urban areas in a world where more than half of the population lives in cities.

Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan
Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan
Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan
Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan

Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan

Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan
Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan
Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan
Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan

Fish on the lake-bottom at South Manitou Island Lake Micigan

Image showing MTL contour, marsh edge, and example of calculating the marsh edge
Marsh edge browse graphhic
Marsh edge browse graphhic
Marsh edge browse graphhic

Image showing MTL contour, marsh edge, and example of calculating the marsh edge

Black River at Elyria, OH - high water
Black River at Elyria, OH - high water
Black River at Elyria, OH - high water
Black River at Elyria, OH - high water

Black River at Elyria, OH - high water

Black River at Elyria, OH - view from bank , fast moving water
Black River at Elyria, OH - view from bank , fast moving water
Black River at Elyria, OH - view from bank , fast moving water
Black River at Elyria, OH - view from bank , fast moving water

Black River at Elyria, OH - view from bank , fast moving water

April 1868 Mauna Loa eruption can be seen in this aerial photo
April 1868 Mauna Loa eruption can be seen in this aerial photo
April 1868 Mauna Loa eruption can be seen in this aerial photo
April 1868 Mauna Loa eruption can be seen in this aerial photo

Most of the lava flow (dark black) produced by the April 1868 Mauna Loa eruption can be seen in this aerial photo on the west (left) side of the prominent fault scarp, known informally as the Kahuku pali (formal names are Pali o Mamalu for the upper half and Pali‘okūlani for the lower half of the scarp).

Most of the lava flow (dark black) produced by the April 1868 Mauna Loa eruption can be seen in this aerial photo on the west (left) side of the prominent fault scarp, known informally as the Kahuku pali (formal names are Pali o Mamalu for the upper half and Pali‘okūlani for the lower half of the scarp).

Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS) used for pesticide analysis
Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS) used for pesticide analysis
Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS) used for pesticide analysis
Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS) used for pesticide analysis

Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory — Sacramento, California. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer - GCMS

USGS scientist examining human breast cancer cells under a microscope
USGS scientist examining human breast cancer cells under a microscope
USGS scientist examining human breast cancer cells under a microscope
USGS scientist examining human breast cancer cells under a microscope

USGS scientist examining human breast cancer cells under a microscope in the cell bioassay laboratory at Columbia Environmental Research Center. Behind the scientist is an automated liquid handling system for dispensing reagents into multi-well micropates for bioassay experiments.

USGS scientist examining human breast cancer cells under a microscope in the cell bioassay laboratory at Columbia Environmental Research Center. Behind the scientist is an automated liquid handling system for dispensing reagents into multi-well micropates for bioassay experiments.

Video of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake...
Video of Kīlauea's summit lava lake
Video of Kīlauea's summit lava lake
Video of Kīlauea's summit lava lake

Video: Clear skies and sunshine provided a spectacular view of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake this morning. Spattering on the north side and center of the lake surface—a departure from its more common location on the southeast side of the lake—occasionally happens when the surface flow direction reverses.

Video: Clear skies and sunshine provided a spectacular view of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake this morning. Spattering on the north side and center of the lake surface—a departure from its more common location on the southeast side of the lake—occasionally happens when the surface flow direction reverses.

Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory -- Boulder, Colorado
Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory -- Boulder, Colorado
Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory -- Boulder, Colorado
Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory -- Boulder, Colorado

Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory -- Boulder, Colorado. Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an expermental aquaium

Bioactive Chemicals Research Laboratory -- Boulder, Colorado. Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an expermental aquaium

USGS scientists setting up equipment to collect information about rock properties from a groundwater well
Collecting information about rock properties from a groundwater well
Collecting information about rock properties from a groundwater well
Collecting information about rock properties from a groundwater well

USGS scientists setting up the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) geophyiscal logging cable to collect information about rock properties from a groundwater well borehole in the Texas southern highplains.

USGS scientists setting up the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) geophyiscal logging cable to collect information about rock properties from a groundwater well borehole in the Texas southern highplains.

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an experimental aquarium
Fathead minnows swimming in an experimental aquarium
Fathead minnows swimming in an experimental aquarium
Fathead minnows swimming in an experimental aquarium

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an expermental aquaium. The aquarium is part of an experiment to assess endocrine disruption in fish.

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) swimming in an expermental aquaium. The aquarium is part of an experiment to assess endocrine disruption in fish.

Marshmallow-like Formations on Cannonball River at Regent, ND
Marshmallow-like Formations on Cannonball River at Regent, ND
Marshmallow-like Formations on Cannonball River at Regent, ND
Marshmallow-like Formations on Cannonball River at Regent, ND

Marshmallow-like formations were photographed on the Cannonball River at Regent, North Dakota (USGS streamgage 06350000) on April 3, 2018. Foam is produced naturally from organic material in the water in combination with turbulence resulting from water flowing over the weir.

Marshmallow-like formations were photographed on the Cannonball River at Regent, North Dakota (USGS streamgage 06350000) on April 3, 2018. Foam is produced naturally from organic material in the water in combination with turbulence resulting from water flowing over the weir.

Map of California showing the sections of the coast where the USGS has generated computer models of storm impacts.
CoSMoS Implementation versions
CoSMoS Implementation versions
CoSMoS Implementation versions

The Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS) makes detailed predictions (meter-scale) over large geographic scales (100s of kilometers) of storm-induced coastal flooding and erosion for both current and future SLR scenarios, as well as long-term shoreline change and cliff retreat.  Resulting projections for future climate scenarios (sea-level rise and s

The Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS) makes detailed predictions (meter-scale) over large geographic scales (100s of kilometers) of storm-induced coastal flooding and erosion for both current and future SLR scenarios, as well as long-term shoreline change and cliff retreat.  Resulting projections for future climate scenarios (sea-level rise and s