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Images

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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A small arctic grayling near the bottom of the Imelyak River
Small arctic grayling in the Imelyak River, Brooks Range
Small arctic grayling in the Imelyak River, Brooks Range
Small arctic grayling in the Imelyak River, Brooks Range

Small arctic grayling hugging the bottom in the Imelyak River in the Brooks Range. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.

Small arctic grayling hugging the bottom in the Imelyak River in the Brooks Range. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.

View of the lush green San Rafael grasslands of southern Arizona and northern Mexico, framed by a cloudy blue sky.
The Sonoran desert has grasslands, too.
The Sonoran desert has grasslands, too.
The Sonoran desert has grasslands, too.

The San Rafael grasslands are a diverse ecosystem in southern Arizona along the U.S./Mexico border region, a part of the Madrean Archipelago ecoregion.

The San Rafael grasslands are a diverse ecosystem in southern Arizona along the U.S./Mexico border region, a part of the Madrean Archipelago ecoregion.

A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
A Tufted Puffin in the sea in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
A Tufted Puffin in the sea in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
A Tufted Puffin in the sea in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska

A Tufted Puffin swimming in the sea near Gull Island in Lower Cook Inlet , Alaska

Two scientists capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes for physiology study in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes for study in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes for study in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes for study in Cook Inlet, Alaska

Brielle Heflin and Brian Robinson capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes at the base of the colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. These birds were used in adult physiology studies.

Brielle Heflin and Brian Robinson capturing Black-legged Kittiwakes at the base of the colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. These birds were used in adult physiology studies.

Collecting sample for pesticide analyses, Big Horn River near Kane, WY
Collecting sample for pesticide analyses, Big Horn River near Kane, WY
Collecting sample for pesticide analyses, Big Horn River near Kane, WY
Collecting sample for pesticide analyses, Big Horn River near Kane, WY

Sample collection from cableway above Big Horn River near Kane, Wyoming as part of project evaluating pesticides in Wyoming.

Howard Bay Bloom
Howard Bay - blooms of cyanobacteria
Howard Bay - blooms of cyanobacteria
Howard Bay - blooms of cyanobacteria

As blooms of cyanobacteria die on the water surface of Upper Klamath Lake they turn blue-green.

Underwater photo of a sandy and rocky reef environment with a tray of equipment held down on the rocky area with weights.
Reef-mounted instruments
Reef-mounted instruments
Reef-mounted instruments

Instrument package mounted to the seaward slope of a coral reef off southwestern Puerto Rico.

Phormidium
Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)
Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)
Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)

Microscopic view of blue green algae sample. Some algae produce toxins that threaten the health and safety of living things that come in direct contact. Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)

Microscopic view of blue green algae sample. Some algae produce toxins that threaten the health and safety of living things that come in direct contact. Cyanobacteria - Phormidium (blue green algae)

Mallard Duckling
Mallard Duckling from Suisun Marsh
Mallard Duckling from Suisun Marsh
Mallard Duckling from Suisun Marsh

This mallard duckling was captured in Suisun Marsh. USGS scientists are weighing, measuring and banding waterfowl to understand how they are using the marsh and for capture-recapture data. 

This mallard duckling was captured in Suisun Marsh. USGS scientists are weighing, measuring and banding waterfowl to understand how they are using the marsh and for capture-recapture data. 

Southwest view of Soda-Avawatz Fault
Soda-Avawatz Fault, eastern Avawatz Mountains
Soda-Avawatz Fault, eastern Avawatz Mountains
Soda-Avawatz Fault, eastern Avawatz Mountains

This is a view to the southwest from the top of the piedmont on the eastern side of the Avawatz Mountains, ~25 km northwest of Baker, CA.

This is a view to the southwest from the top of the piedmont on the eastern side of the Avawatz Mountains, ~25 km northwest of Baker, CA.

collecting Ducks
Two Scientists Collecting Ducks
Two Scientists Collecting Ducks
Two Scientists Collecting Ducks

Researchers use wire mesh to construct traps for collecting waterfowl in Suisun Marsh, CA.

suisun marsh
Wrapping Up the Site
Wrapping Up the Site
Wrapping Up the Site

Moving from one site to the next requires hauling needed gear along with. These three have their hands full taking things back to the truck after processing waterfowl from a maintained site. 

Moving from one site to the next requires hauling needed gear along with. These three have their hands full taking things back to the truck after processing waterfowl from a maintained site. 

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