Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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.

Filter Total Items: 21345
People wearing safety gear standing on a ship and setting up gear.
Streamer depth control device, or bird
Streamer depth control device, or bird
Streamer depth control device, or bird

The Geospace Navigator bird is a streamer depth control device, used with a high-resolution seismic system to regulate and record the depth of the streamer.

The Geospace Navigator bird is a streamer depth control device, used with a high-resolution seismic system to regulate and record the depth of the streamer.

People wearing safety gear standing on a ship and setting up gear.
Streamer depth control device, or bird
Streamer depth control device, or bird
Streamer depth control device, or bird

The Geospace Navigator bird is a streamer depth control device, used with a high-resolution seismic system to regulate and record the depth of the streamer.

The Geospace Navigator bird is a streamer depth control device, used with a high-resolution seismic system to regulate and record the depth of the streamer.

Making a discharge measurement below the Eagle Nest Dam near Cimarron, New Mexico
Eagle Nest Dam overlooking the Cimarron River
Eagle Nest Dam overlooking the Cimarron River
Eagle Nest Dam overlooking the Cimarron River

Hydrologic technician Chris Peskuski snapped this picture from Eagle Nest Dam overlooking the Cimarron River where streamflow measurements are made to measure outflow from the dam. Eagle Nest Dam sits at 8,300 feet elevation and is surrounded by two of the highest peaks in New Mexico; Wheeler Peak and Baldy Mountain.

Hydrologic technician Chris Peskuski snapped this picture from Eagle Nest Dam overlooking the Cimarron River where streamflow measurements are made to measure outflow from the dam. Eagle Nest Dam sits at 8,300 feet elevation and is surrounded by two of the highest peaks in New Mexico; Wheeler Peak and Baldy Mountain.

chart of vegetation change in the bird's foot delta
Changing vegetation in the Delta 2016-2017
Changing vegetation in the Delta 2016-2017
Changing vegetation in the Delta 2016-2017

Chart showing changes in vegetation density in the Mississippi River delta in Louisiana, May 2015-May 2016. From a USGS Open File Report published in July 2017 by co-authors Elijah Ramsey III and Amina Rangoonwala,

Chart showing changes in vegetation density in the Mississippi River delta in Louisiana, May 2015-May 2016. From a USGS Open File Report published in July 2017 by co-authors Elijah Ramsey III and Amina Rangoonwala,

Many people on a boat putting a cable in the water
Seismic survey of the Queen Charlotte Fault
Seismic survey of the Queen Charlotte Fault
Seismic survey of the Queen Charlotte Fault

USGS scientists deploy a seismic streamer aboard the R/V David Starr offshore of southeast Alaska to study the Queen Charlotte Fault.

USGS scientists deploy a seismic streamer aboard the R/V David Starr offshore of southeast Alaska to study the Queen Charlotte Fault.

Photo of USGS biological science tech Shannon Waters holding a salmon for release
Shannon Waters Releases Chinook Salmon, Alaska
Shannon Waters Releases Chinook Salmon, Alaska
Shannon Waters Releases Chinook Salmon, Alaska

USGS biological science technician Shannon Waters releases a Chinook Salmon into an Alaskan river.

Shawn Meyer flying a Unmanned Aircraft System
Shawn Meyer flying a Unmanned Aircraft System
Shawn Meyer flying a Unmanned Aircraft System
Shawn Meyer flying a Unmanned Aircraft System

Photograph of USGS Hydrologic technician, Shawn Meyer, preparing the UAS for a flight,

WERC Coastal ecosystem
WERC Coastal Ecosystem Studies
WERC Coastal Ecosystem Studies
WERC Coastal Ecosystem Studies

Coastal ecosystem studies at Trinidad coast, California. 

WERC researcher conducting elevation surveys in San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
WERC Elevation surveys in San Pablo Bay NWR
WERC Elevation surveys in San Pablo Bay NWR
WERC Elevation surveys in San Pablo Bay NWR

WERC researcher conducting elevation surveys in San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge

View of mountain and creek from Yellowstone National Park northeast entrance road.
Amphitheater Mountain and Soda Butte Creek Yellowstone
Amphitheater Mountain and Soda Butte Creek Yellowstone
Amphitheater Mountain and Soda Butte Creek Yellowstone

Amphitheater Mountain and Soda Butte Creek viewed from the Yellowstone National Park northeast entrance road. 

Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth firewor...
Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth fireworks
Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth fireworks
Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth fireworks

On the evening of June 30, 2008, littoral explosions at Kīlauea Volcano's Waikupanaha ocean entry created a fireworks-like display as incandescent fragments of lava flew through the air. When molten lava entered the sea, the water flashed to steam, triggering explosions that hurled spatter and other lava fragments up to heights of 50 m (164 ft).

On the evening of June 30, 2008, littoral explosions at Kīlauea Volcano's Waikupanaha ocean entry created a fireworks-like display as incandescent fragments of lava flew through the air. When molten lava entered the sea, the water flashed to steam, triggering explosions that hurled spatter and other lava fragments up to heights of 50 m (164 ft).

Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth firewor...
Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth fireworks
Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth fireworks
Kīlauea eruptive events rival the excitement of July Fourth fireworks

This spectacular lava fountain, erupting from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on June 30, 1984, lasted just over 7 hours and reached a height of 318 m (1043 ft). It was one of 44 high lava fountains erupted during the first 3.5 years of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing East Rift Zone eruption, which began in January 1983.

This spectacular lava fountain, erupting from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on June 30, 1984, lasted just over 7 hours and reached a height of 318 m (1043 ft). It was one of 44 high lava fountains erupted during the first 3.5 years of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing East Rift Zone eruption, which began in January 1983.

This video clip shows Kīlauea Volcano's Kamokuna ocean entry, with ...
Kīlauea's Kamokuna ocean entry, with the steam plume rising from th...
Kīlauea's Kamokuna ocean entry, with the steam plume rising from th...
Kīlauea's Kamokuna ocean entry, with the steam plume rising from th...

This video clip shows Kīlauea Volcano's Kamokuna ocean entry, with the steam plume rising from the front of the lava delta. Recent flows have covered the surface of the delta with fresh lava.

geologist in front of spewing lava
Lava spewing from fissure
Lava spewing from fissure
Lava spewing from fissure

On March 6, 2011, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were stationed along Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone to monitor the progression of erupting fissures that had opened west of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō the day before. Lava spewing from this fissure (background) reached heights up to 30 m (100 ft) and produced a massive lava flow, visible behind the HVO scientist.

On March 6, 2011, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were stationed along Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone to monitor the progression of erupting fissures that had opened west of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō the day before. Lava spewing from this fissure (background) reached heights up to 30 m (100 ft) and produced a massive lava flow, visible behind the HVO scientist.

A technician sits at a computer while running a sediment core through the Geotek.
FBGC Lab - Core Scanning
FBGC Lab - Core Scanning
FBGC Lab - Core Scanning

A technician sits at a computer while running a sediment core through the Geotek.

A technician sits at a computer while running a sediment core through the Geotek.

A team of scientists prepares to board their core collecting platform
Nomini Bay, VA
Nomini Bay, VA
Nomini Bay, VA

A team of scientists prepare to collect cores from the Nomini Bay, VA.

A team of scientists prepare to collect cores from the Nomini Bay, VA.

King Creek in York County, Virginia
King Creek in York County, Virginia
King Creek in York County, Virginia
King Creek in York County, Virginia

A panoramic photo of King Creek near the Colonial Parkway in York County, Virginia.

Was this page helpful?