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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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Setting up to measure streamflow, Muddy Creek near Dad
Setting up to measure streamflow, Muddy Creek near Dad
Setting up to measure streamflow, Muddy Creek near Dad
Setting up to measure streamflow, Muddy Creek near Dad

Setting up to measure streamflow, Muddy Creek near Dad

White River at Hazelton IN - gage on the bridge
White River at Hazelton IN - gage on the bridge
White River at Hazelton IN - gage on the bridge
White River at Hazelton IN - gage on the bridge

White River at Hazelton IN - gage on the bridge

White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge located at the gage
White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge located at the gage
White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge located at the gage
White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge located at the gage

White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge located at the gage

Animated GIF of lava bubbling up from a volcano in Hawaiʻi
Lava Bubbling in Kīlauea Hawaiʻi
Lava Bubbling in Kīlauea Hawaiʻi
Lava Bubbling in Kīlauea Hawaiʻi

Animated GIF of lava bubbling up from Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The source of the GIF comes from footage found within the USGS video: Kīlauea Summit Eruption | Lava Returns to Halemaʻumaʻu.

Animated GIF of lava bubbling up from Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The source of the GIF comes from footage found within the USGS video: Kīlauea Summit Eruption | Lava Returns to Halemaʻumaʻu.

Animated GIF of a scientist looking back and forth with a range finder.
Looking Back and Forth
Looking Back and Forth
Looking Back and Forth

Animated GIF of a scientist at Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park looking back and forth using a range finder. Footage found in the USGS video: Kīlauea Summit Eruption | Lava Returns to Halemaʻumaʻu.

Animated GIF of a scientist at Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park looking back and forth using a range finder. Footage found in the USGS video: Kīlauea Summit Eruption | Lava Returns to Halemaʻumaʻu.

A series of images showing a steep cliff along the coast from two different dates and the change between them.
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 1
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 1
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 1

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

A series of images showing a steep cliff along the coast from two different dates and the change between them.
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 2
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 2
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 2

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

A series of images showing a steep cliff along the coast from two different dates and the change between them.
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 3
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 3
Mud Creek Topo Change June 13-October 12 2017 View 3

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

Yellow Creek at Knox, IN looking downstream of gage
Yellow Creek at Knox, IN - downstream view
Yellow Creek at Knox, IN - downstream view
Yellow Creek at Knox, IN - downstream view

Yellow Creek at Knox, IN - looking downstream of gage and bridge

Yellow Creek at Knox, IN - looking downstream of gage and bridge

Channel measurement section locations for Ruby River above Reservoir
Channel measurement section locations for Ruby River above Reservoir
Channel measurement section locations for Ruby River above Reservoir
Channel measurement section locations for Ruby River above Reservoir

Channel measurement section locations for Ruby River above Reservoir.

A man wearing a hard hat navigates a drone toward a landing target with GPS equipment in the background.
Drone operations on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017
Drone operations on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017
Drone operations on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017

Josh Logan, a physical scientist at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, operates an unmanned aerial system, or UAS, often called a "drone", that is equipped with a video camera.

Josh Logan, a physical scientist at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, operates an unmanned aerial system, or UAS, often called a "drone", that is equipped with a video camera.

View looking downhill towards the ocean and heavy equipment is driving around on dirt roads.
Earth movers on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017
Earth movers on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017
Earth movers on Big Sur landslide, October 12, 2017

View of the huge landslide at Mud Creek on the Big Sur coast, October 12, 2017. USGS is studying the landslide, collecting data and imagery that can be used to monitor changes. USGS provides the data to Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, whose heavy equipment and earth movers are shown here.

View of the huge landslide at Mud Creek on the Big Sur coast, October 12, 2017. USGS is studying the landslide, collecting data and imagery that can be used to monitor changes. USGS provides the data to Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, whose heavy equipment and earth movers are shown here.

3D map of Mud Creek slide derived from video footage collected by drone on October 12, 2017.
Mud Creek – 3D Point Cloud – Oblique Perspective
Mud Creek – 3D Point Cloud – Oblique Perspective
Mud Creek – 3D Point Cloud – Oblique Perspective

Video shot from drones yields details about changing landslide on California’s Big Sur coast

Four photos looking from the sky at a coastal cliff area on different dates to show a landslide and work to clear it.
Mud Creek from June 13 to October 12, 2017
Mud Creek from June 13 to October 12, 2017
Mud Creek from June 13 to October 12, 2017

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

In 2017, the massive Mud Creek landslide buried a quarter-mile of the famous coastal route, California’s Highway 1, with rocks and dirt more than 65 feet deep. USGS monitors erosion along the landslide-prone cliffs of Big Sur, collecting aerial photos frequently throughout the year.

Wayne Baldwin, USGS, deploys a sound velocity profiler off the R/V Stephens in Lake Powell, UT-AZ.
Deploying equipment from small boat
Deploying equipment from small boat
Deploying equipment from small boat

Wayne Baldwin, USGS, deploys a sound velocity profiler off the stern of the R/V Stephens in Lake Powell, UT-AZ as part of a collaborative program with the Utah Water Science Center to map the depth and sediments within Lake Powell, UT-AZ.

Wayne Baldwin, USGS, deploys a sound velocity profiler off the stern of the R/V Stephens in Lake Powell, UT-AZ as part of a collaborative program with the Utah Water Science Center to map the depth and sediments within Lake Powell, UT-AZ.

Scientist preparing samples in a laboratory
USGS Scientist Preparing Samples in a Laboratory
USGS Scientist Preparing Samples in a Laboratory
USGS Scientist Preparing Samples in a Laboratory

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist preparing samples for analysis of protein levels to normalize results from oxidative stress bioassays.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist preparing samples for analysis of protein levels to normalize results from oxidative stress bioassays.

Satellite image that shows the fires in California wine country.
Wildfires Devastate California Wine Country
Wildfires Devastate California Wine Country
Wildfires Devastate California Wine Country

Residents had little warning when wildfires that ignited late Sunday night, October 8, 2017, were fanned by wind gusts of 50 miles per hour and blasted across California's wine country. More than 100,000 acres have burned as of October 11, with less than 6 percent of the fires contained.

Residents had little warning when wildfires that ignited late Sunday night, October 8, 2017, were fanned by wind gusts of 50 miles per hour and blasted across California's wine country. More than 100,000 acres have burned as of October 11, with less than 6 percent of the fires contained.

A boat sits along a dock on Paradox Lake. The autumn colored trees are reflected in the placid lake.
Autumn colors reflected on Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains
Autumn colors reflected on Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains
Autumn colors reflected on Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains

The Northeast Bedrock Mapping Project consists of scientists conducting geologic mapping and scientific research of complexly deformed crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks in the Northeastern United States. Current mapping activities are focused in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York.

The Northeast Bedrock Mapping Project consists of scientists conducting geologic mapping and scientific research of complexly deformed crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks in the Northeastern United States. Current mapping activities are focused in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York.

Kanakee River at Davis, IN - downstream of bridge
Kanakee River at Davis, IN - downstream of bridge
Kanakee River at Davis, IN - downstream of bridge
Kanakee River at Davis, IN - downstream of bridge

Kanakee River at Davis, IN - downstream of bridge

Kankakee River at Davis, IN - downstream from bridge
Kankakee River at Davis, IN - downstream from bridge
Kankakee River at Davis, IN - downstream from bridge
Kankakee River at Davis, IN - downstream from bridge

Kankakee River at Davis, IN - downstream from bridge

Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes
Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes
Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes
Assessing the effects of Stocked Rainbow Trout on Native Fishes

Rainbow trout are native only to the western United States but are stocked widely throughout the country to increase fishing opportunities for anglers. Competitive interactions have been shown to be condition specific (for example, water temperature) and, thus, may only occur seasonally or under certain environmental conditions.

Rainbow trout are native only to the western United States but are stocked widely throughout the country to increase fishing opportunities for anglers. Competitive interactions have been shown to be condition specific (for example, water temperature) and, thus, may only occur seasonally or under certain environmental conditions.