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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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channel looking upstream at bridge construction
Upstream Bridge Construction
Upstream Bridge Construction
Upstream Bridge Construction

Wading measurements are taken for streamflow on the Gros Ventre River near Zenith, Wyoming while bridge construction is carried out upstream.

Wading measurements are taken for streamflow on the Gros Ventre River near Zenith, Wyoming while bridge construction is carried out upstream.

Matt Patrick on Kīlauea
USGS Scienctist talks about his work monitoring the lava lake
USGS Scienctist talks about his work monitoring the lava lake
USGS Scienctist talks about his work monitoring the lava lake

For the 10th anniversary of Kīlauea Volcano's summit eruption, USGS–Hawaiian Volcano Observatory research geologist Matt Patrick talks about his work monitoring the lava lake in the Halema'uma'u Crater. Dr.

For the 10th anniversary of Kīlauea Volcano's summit eruption, USGS–Hawaiian Volcano Observatory research geologist Matt Patrick talks about his work monitoring the lava lake in the Halema'uma'u Crater. Dr.

A man is leaning over and is scooping soil from a wildfire-charred hillslope and placing the soil in a sample bag.
Collecting soil and charcoal sample after a wildfire
Collecting soil and charcoal sample after a wildfire
Collecting soil and charcoal sample after a wildfire

Brett Tipple (University of California, Santa Cruz) collects a sample of charcoal and soil adjacent to a gully forming on a hillslope above Sonoma Creek, which was burned by the Nuns wildfire in October 2017.

Brett Tipple (University of California, Santa Cruz) collects a sample of charcoal and soil adjacent to a gully forming on a hillslope above Sonoma Creek, which was burned by the Nuns wildfire in October 2017.

divers deploy acoustic devices in centoes in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
USGS in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
USGS in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
USGS in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

John Pohlman (USGS), David Brankovits (USGS/WHOI) and Jake Emmert (MG) deploy acoustic devices in open water sinkhole (or cenote) prior to a 6-month long installation in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico cave

John Pohlman (USGS), David Brankovits (USGS/WHOI) and Jake Emmert (MG) deploy acoustic devices in open water sinkhole (or cenote) prior to a 6-month long installation in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico cave

ADCP bridge measurement
ADCP Bridge Measurement
ADCP Bridge Measurement
ADCP Bridge Measurement

Measuring streamflow with ADCP on the South Fork of the Shoshone River near Valley, WYoming.

Measuring streamflow with ADCP on the South Fork of the Shoshone River near Valley, WYoming.

USGS hydrologic technicians collecting water-quality samples
USGS hydrologic technicians collecting water-quality samples
USGS hydrologic technicians collecting water-quality samples
USGS hydrologic technicians collecting water-quality samples

U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic technicians Kevin Kirlin (left) and Ryan Smith collect water-quality samples from the Coeur d'Alene River near Cataldo (USGS 12413500) as part of an ongoing monitoring program that the USGS conducts on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic technicians Kevin Kirlin (left) and Ryan Smith collect water-quality samples from the Coeur d'Alene River near Cataldo (USGS 12413500) as part of an ongoing monitoring program that the USGS conducts on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Ice Jam on White River near White River, SD (06447450)
Ice Jam on White River near White River, SD (06447450)
Ice Jam on White River near White River, SD (06447450)
Ice Jam on White River near White River, SD (06447450)

Ice jam on the White River near White River, SD (USGS streamgage 06447450) on March 15, 2018. Ice jams occur when floating ice carried with a stream’s current accumulate at any obstruction to the stream flow. These ice jams can develop near river bends, mouths of tributaries, areas of decreased river slope, and upstream of obstructions like bridges.

Ice jam on the White River near White River, SD (USGS streamgage 06447450) on March 15, 2018. Ice jams occur when floating ice carried with a stream’s current accumulate at any obstruction to the stream flow. These ice jams can develop near river bends, mouths of tributaries, areas of decreased river slope, and upstream of obstructions like bridges.

Small rockfall and explosion at Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake...
Small rockfall and explosion at Kīlauea's summit lava lake
Small rockfall and explosion at Kīlauea's summit lava lake
Small rockfall and explosion at Kīlauea's summit lava lake

Just before noon today, HVO's summit webcam (KIcam) captured this striking image of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing summit eruption. A small rockfall on the north side of the Overlook crater triggered a small explosion in the lava lake, sending a dark-colored ash plume skyward.

Just before noon today, HVO's summit webcam (KIcam) captured this striking image of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing summit eruption. A small rockfall on the north side of the Overlook crater triggered a small explosion in the lava lake, sending a dark-colored ash plume skyward.

USGS sign on flagstone at the Utah Water Science Center
UT WSC Sign
UT WSC Sign
UT WSC Sign

USGS sign on flagstone at the Utah Water Science Center

USGS sign on flagstone at the Utah Water Science Center

snow piled on cable car
Cable Car Snow Cushions
Cable Car Snow Cushions
Cable Car Snow Cushions

Mother nature left us some cushions for a more comfortable cable car ride at Pine Creek above Fremont Lake.

Mother nature left us some cushions for a more comfortable cable car ride at Pine Creek above Fremont Lake.

A small boat sits on calm waters with trees in the distance, and a cloudy sky.
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

A small boat sits on calm waters with trees in the distance, and a cloudy sky.
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

View from the air looking down on a river where it meets the ocean, with many small channels in the sediment deposited there.
Elwha River mouth
Elwha River mouth
Elwha River mouth

Orthophoto of the mouth of the Elwha River in Washington. The orthophoto was compiled from images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals and mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation.

Orthophoto of the mouth of the Elwha River in Washington. The orthophoto was compiled from images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals and mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation.

View from the sky of a river surrounded by a heavily forested area and winding through a bare section that used to be a lake.
Former Elwha Dam and Lake Aldwell post dam removal
Former Elwha Dam and Lake Aldwell post dam removal
Former Elwha Dam and Lake Aldwell post dam removal

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Elwha Dam and former Lake Aldwell, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Elwha Dam and former Lake Aldwell, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

View from the sky of a river surrounded by a heavily forested area and winding through a bare section that used to be a lake.
Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills post dam removal
Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills post dam removal
Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills post dam removal

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Glines Canyon Dam and former Lake Mills, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Glines Canyon Dam and former Lake Mills, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

Hands hold up brown goose wearing a brown GPS collar
Greater White-fronted Goose marked with GPS collar ready for release
Greater White-fronted Goose marked with GPS collar ready for release
Greater White-fronted Goose marked with GPS collar ready for release

Greater White-fronted Goose marked with GSM/GPS collar is ready for release in the Sacramento Valley.

USGS Active Groundwater Level Network 3.12.18
USGS Active Groundwater Level Network 3.12.18
USGS Active Groundwater Level Network 3.12.18
USGS Active Groundwater Level Network 3.12.18

USGS Active Groundwater Level Network 3.12.18

drone content collage
Drone collage
Drone collage
Drone collage

Top left- Rob Thieler, Sandy Brosnahan and Alex Nichols deploying ground control targets for a UAS study on Coast Guard National Seashore in Eastham, MA.  

Top left- Rob Thieler, Sandy Brosnahan and Alex Nichols deploying ground control targets for a UAS study on Coast Guard National Seashore in Eastham, MA.  

Hot springs and hot muddy pools (Alaska) caused by geothermal activity underground.
Hot springs (Alaska) caused by geothermal activity underground.
Hot springs (Alaska) caused by geothermal activity underground.
Hot springs (Alaska) caused by geothermal activity underground.

Hot springs can occur in many parts of the world. The water is hot not due to climate, but rather due to geothermal activity underground, such as volcanic activity or active hydrothermal heating from hot material in the ground. Hot springs result from water heated by underground geothermal activity finding its way to the land surface. 

Hot springs can occur in many parts of the world. The water is hot not due to climate, but rather due to geothermal activity underground, such as volcanic activity or active hydrothermal heating from hot material in the ground. Hot springs result from water heated by underground geothermal activity finding its way to the land surface. 

Is the current summit eruption a return to Kīlauea Volcano's past? ...
Is the current summit eruption a return to Kīlauea's past?
Is the current summit eruption a return to Kīlauea's past?
Is the current summit eruption a return to Kīlauea's past?

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).