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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.
Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey. The boat is equipped with a flow-through system that pumps water onto the boat while underway and directs sample water to a multiparameter water quality sonde, thermosalinograph, fluorometers, nitrate and ammonium analyzers.
Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey. The boat is equipped with a flow-through system that pumps water onto the boat while underway and directs sample water to a multiparameter water quality sonde, thermosalinograph, fluorometers, nitrate and ammonium analyzers.
The western fissure in Halemaʻumaʻu wall remains active. Glowing vents and a prominent spatter cone are visible in this photo, which shows some spattering at the vent. This view looks steeply down from Kīlauea's west caldera rim, and the lava lake surface is visible in the background. USGS photo by B. Carr on 12/31/2020.
The western fissure in Halemaʻumaʻu wall remains active. Glowing vents and a prominent spatter cone are visible in this photo, which shows some spattering at the vent. This view looks steeply down from Kīlauea's west caldera rim, and the lava lake surface is visible in the background. USGS photo by B. Carr on 12/31/2020.
Rebecca Steinberg making her first discharge measurement as a new hydrologic technician while lake-effect snow creates a winter wonderland at the Cuyahoga River, Hiram Ohio gage station 04202000. An American flag is peaking out in the background.
Rebecca Steinberg making her first discharge measurement as a new hydrologic technician while lake-effect snow creates a winter wonderland at the Cuyahoga River, Hiram Ohio gage station 04202000. An American flag is peaking out in the background.
Zoomed image of small terns in flight.
Zoomed image of small terns in flight.
Diagram of the SQUID-5 towed surface vehicle and the waterproof camera housings with labeled components. The camera mounting mechanism aligns the camera axially with the dome and allows the camera to be adjusted fore and aft to accommodate various lens types and enable alignment with the glass port radius of curvature for minimal distortion.
Diagram of the SQUID-5 towed surface vehicle and the waterproof camera housings with labeled components. The camera mounting mechanism aligns the camera axially with the dome and allows the camera to be adjusted fore and aft to accommodate various lens types and enable alignment with the glass port radius of curvature for minimal distortion.
USGS employee taking surface water measurement at gage 11453500 Putah Creek near Guenoc, CA
USGS employee taking surface water measurement at gage 11453500 Putah Creek near Guenoc, CA
USGS staff Dave Brower and Jeff Klein collecting water samples from the catwalk on Conowingo Dam. Streamgage 01578310 Susquehanna River at Conowingo, MD
USGS staff Dave Brower and Jeff Klein collecting water samples from the catwalk on Conowingo Dam. Streamgage 01578310 Susquehanna River at Conowingo, MD
Zoomed image of a Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) below the surface, with contrast increased for clarity.
Zoomed image of a Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) below the surface, with contrast increased for clarity.
Annotated eruption photograph taken at 5 p.m. HST on December 30, 2020, from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea Volcano summit. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Annotated eruption photograph taken at 5 p.m. HST on December 30, 2020, from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea Volcano summit. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Photo Contest Winner | January 2021 | People
Jon Cohl ADCP at 01457400 Musconetcong Riegelsville
Photo Contest Winner | January 2021 | People
Jon Cohl ADCP at 01457400 Musconetcong Riegelsville
HVO field crews observed activity within Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea Volcano's summit, overnight from within a closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The area remains closed to the public for safety reasons and HVO field crews are equipped with a range of specialized safety gear and personal protective equipment.
HVO field crews observed activity within Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea Volcano's summit, overnight from within a closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The area remains closed to the public for safety reasons and HVO field crews are equipped with a range of specialized safety gear and personal protective equipment.
Incense cedar in the Sierra Nevada
This photo, taken at approximately 5:30 a.m. December 29, 2020, shows Kīlauea's ongoing summit eruption. The western vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u continued to erupt overnight, and the northern/eastern vent remained inactive. At approximately 3:45 a.m. HST today (Dec.
This photo, taken at approximately 5:30 a.m. December 29, 2020, shows Kīlauea's ongoing summit eruption. The western vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u continued to erupt overnight, and the northern/eastern vent remained inactive. At approximately 3:45 a.m. HST today (Dec.
HVO scientists monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons. They are equipped with a range of specialized safety gear and personal protective equipment such as gas masks, helmets, gloves, and eye protection.
HVO scientists monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons. They are equipped with a range of specialized safety gear and personal protective equipment such as gas masks, helmets, gloves, and eye protection.
This graphic depicts the changes to Kīlauea Volcano's summit resulting from the eruption that began on December 20, 2020. Pre-eruption topography of Halema'uma'u crater, collected in 2019, is shown on the left and compared to the topography at the summit on December 26, 2020.
This graphic depicts the changes to Kīlauea Volcano's summit resulting from the eruption that began on December 20, 2020. Pre-eruption topography of Halema'uma'u crater, collected in 2019, is shown on the left and compared to the topography at the summit on December 26, 2020.
Sunrise at the summit of Kīlauea, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, on the morning of December 28, 2020. Portions of Crater Rim Drive that down-dropped during Kīlauea's 2018 collapse events, are visible in the lower left. This area remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions. USGS photo by C. Parcheta.
Sunrise at the summit of Kīlauea, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, on the morning of December 28, 2020. Portions of Crater Rim Drive that down-dropped during Kīlauea's 2018 collapse events, are visible in the lower left. This area remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions. USGS photo by C. Parcheta.
A helicopter overflight yesterday (Dec. 28, 2020) at approximately 10:30 AM HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the new eruption within Halema'uma'u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. This preliminary thermal map shows that the lake area has not changed significantly since the thermal map that was made on December 26.
A helicopter overflight yesterday (Dec. 28, 2020) at approximately 10:30 AM HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the new eruption within Halema'uma'u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. This preliminary thermal map shows that the lake area has not changed significantly since the thermal map that was made on December 26.
HVO scientists use a laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the lava lake surface at Kīlauea's summit.
HVO scientists use a laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the lava lake surface at Kīlauea's summit.
HVO field crews observed the continuing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit early this morning. Overnight, the western vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u continued to erupt, and the northern/eastern vent remained inactive. At approximately 4:30 a.m. HST today (Dec. 28), HVO field crews measured the lava lake as 179 m (586 ft) deep.
HVO field crews observed the continuing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit early this morning. Overnight, the western vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u continued to erupt, and the northern/eastern vent remained inactive. At approximately 4:30 a.m. HST today (Dec. 28), HVO field crews measured the lava lake as 179 m (586 ft) deep.
The eruption with Halema‘uma‘u continues on the evening of December 28, 2020. This photo shows an HVO scientist making observations of Kīlauea's summit lava lake, with Mauna Loa in the background. HVO scientists have been monitoring the eruption from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons.
The eruption with Halema‘uma‘u continues on the evening of December 28, 2020. This photo shows an HVO scientist making observations of Kīlauea's summit lava lake, with Mauna Loa in the background. HVO scientists have been monitoring the eruption from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons.