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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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Thick gas plume and fresh tire tracks in Kilauea tephra 12/21/20
Thick gas plume and fresh tire tracks in Kilauea tephra 12/21/20
Thick gas plume and fresh tire tracks in Kilauea tephra 12/21/20
Thick gas plume and fresh tire tracks in Kilauea tephra 12/21/20

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews captured this photo of the thick gas plume, produced by the Kīlauea summit eruption, obscuring the intensity of the sun.

Color images and graphics of volcanic plume
2D and 3D radar visualization of December 20, 2020, Kīlauea plume
2D and 3D radar visualization of December 20, 2020, Kīlauea plume
2D and 3D radar visualization of December 20, 2020, Kīlauea plume

Example of 2D and 3D radar visualization of the December 20, 2020, Kīlauea volcanic plume. Displayed in photo (top, USGS photo), 2D radar scan from station PHWA (middle, NOAA Weather and Climate Toolkit), and 3D radar visualization (bottom, Google Earth).

Example of 2D and 3D radar visualization of the December 20, 2020, Kīlauea volcanic plume. Displayed in photo (top, USGS photo), 2D radar scan from station PHWA (middle, NOAA Weather and Climate Toolkit), and 3D radar visualization (bottom, Google Earth).

Color map of fissure locations
An eruption commenced at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano
An eruption commenced at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano
An eruption commenced at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano

Shortly after approximately 9:30 p.m. HST, an eruption commenced at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Red spots are the approximate locations of fissure vents feeding lava flowing into the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u crater. The water lake at the base of Halema‘uma‘u crater has been replaced with a growing lava lake.

Shortly after approximately 9:30 p.m. HST, an eruption commenced at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Red spots are the approximate locations of fissure vents feeding lava flowing into the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u crater. The water lake at the base of Halema‘uma‘u crater has been replaced with a growing lava lake.

Color photo of water lake
KW webcam image taken on December 20, 2020, just before 6 p.m. HST.
KW webcam image taken on December 20, 2020, just before 6 p.m. HST.
KW webcam image taken on December 20, 2020, just before 6 p.m. HST.

Kīlauea summit KW webcam image taken on December 20, 2020, just before 6 p.m. HST. Three and a half hours later, at 9:30 p.m., an eruption began in the walls of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, vaporizing the lake.

Kīlauea summit KW webcam image taken on December 20, 2020, just before 6 p.m. HST. Three and a half hours later, at 9:30 p.m., an eruption began in the walls of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, vaporizing the lake.

Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater in Yellowstone Lake
Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater
Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater
Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater

Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater in Yellowstone Lake.  Inset shows location of the crater and the swath image (red box) within the northern part of the lake.

Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater in Yellowstone Lake.  Inset shows location of the crater and the swath image (red box) within the northern part of the lake.

​​​​​​​Ellis River New Hampshire
​​​​​​​Ellis River New Hampshire
​​​​​​​Ellis River New Hampshire
​​​​​​​Ellis River New Hampshire

Photo Contest Winner | January 2021 | Where We Work
Ellis River, New Hampshire

YouTube Host with live Sea Lamprey in a Tank
HBBS Participates in Brave Wilderness Episode Shoot
HBBS Participates in Brave Wilderness Episode Shoot
HBBS Participates in Brave Wilderness Episode Shoot

Brave Wilderness host, Coyote Peterson, holds his hands in a tank of live sea lamprey while filming the first of two sea lamprey-focused episodes for the show’s YouTube channel. GLSC communications associate, Dr. Andrea Miehls, assisted the Brave Wilderness team while filming in multiple remote locations across northeastern Michigan.

Brave Wilderness host, Coyote Peterson, holds his hands in a tank of live sea lamprey while filming the first of two sea lamprey-focused episodes for the show’s YouTube channel. GLSC communications associate, Dr. Andrea Miehls, assisted the Brave Wilderness team while filming in multiple remote locations across northeastern Michigan.

Productivity of Black Oystercatchers in Southwest Alaska
Productivity of Black Oystercatchers in Southwest Alaska
Productivity of Black Oystercatchers in Southwest Alaska
Productivity of Black Oystercatchers in Southwest Alaska

The black oystercatcher, a keystone species in nearshore ecosystems, plays an important role in structuring nearshore systems and is highly susceptible to human disturbance. Current inventory and monitoring efforts may not adequately address the information needs for estimating long-term trends for this species.

The black oystercatcher, a keystone species in nearshore ecosystems, plays an important role in structuring nearshore systems and is highly susceptible to human disturbance. Current inventory and monitoring efforts may not adequately address the information needs for estimating long-term trends for this species.

Vessels Sampling
Vessels Sampling in a River in Ohio
Vessels Sampling in a River in Ohio
Vessels Sampling in a River in Ohio

Vessels like this use various sampling methods to collect fish at all life stages, adult, larvae, and eggs.

Vessels like this use various sampling methods to collect fish at all life stages, adult, larvae, and eggs.

 Standard Fish Sampling Techniques and Environmental DNA for Characterizing Fish Relative Abundance,
Standard Fish Sampling Techniques
Standard Fish Sampling Techniques
Standard Fish Sampling Techniques

Examining environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) in water samples has demonstrated promise for identifying fish species present in water bodies. However, whether or not this same approach can be used to assess relative abundance, biomass, and species composition in large (greater than [>] 200-hectare) waterbodies is unclear.

Examining environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) in water samples has demonstrated promise for identifying fish species present in water bodies. However, whether or not this same approach can be used to assess relative abundance, biomass, and species composition in large (greater than [>] 200-hectare) waterbodies is unclear.

Coral on a cinderblock and a scuba diver on a coral reef
USGS scuba diver on a coral reef in Dry Tortugas National Park
USGS scuba diver on a coral reef in Dry Tortugas National Park
USGS scuba diver on a coral reef in Dry Tortugas National Park

The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.

Мектептерге арналған су айналымы - The Water Cycle for Schools, Kazakh
Мектептерге арналған су айналымы - The Water Cycle for Schools, Kazakh
Мектептерге арналған су айналымы - The Water Cycle for Schools, Kazakh
Мектептерге арналған су айналымы - The Water Cycle for Schools, Kazakh

АҚШ Геологиялық қызметі мен БҰҰ Азық-түлік және ауылшаруашылық ұйымы (ФАО) мектептер үшін су айналымының сызбасын жасады.

Аудармасы: nis.edu.kz

Табиғи су айналымы - The Natural Water Cycle, Kazakh
Табиғи су айналымы - The Natural Water Cycle, Kazakh
Табиғи су айналымы - The Natural Water Cycle, Kazakh
Табиғи су айналымы - The Natural Water Cycle, Kazakh

Жер шарындағы су әрдайым қозғалыста болады. Гидрологиялық цикл ретінде белгілі табиғи су айналымы судың Жер бетіндегі және астындағы үздіксіз қозғалысын сипаттайды. Табиғатта су сұйық, мұз және бу күйінде кездеседі. Ол үнемі бір күйден екінші күйге ауысып отырады және бұл үдеріс миллиондаған жылдар бойы жүріп келеді.

Жер шарындағы су әрдайым қозғалыста болады. Гидрологиялық цикл ретінде белгілі табиғи су айналымы судың Жер бетіндегі және астындағы үздіксіз қозғалысын сипаттайды. Табиғатта су сұйық, мұз және бу күйінде кездеседі. Ол үнемі бір күйден екінші күйге ауысып отырады және бұл үдеріс миллиондаған жылдар бойы жүріп келеді.

Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park
Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park
Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park
Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park

Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park.  (A) is an image from Fenner (1936) of the drilling setup in the Upper Geyser Basin during the 1929 field season. (B) is an image from White et al. (1975) of the USGS drill rig set up in the Norris Geyser Basin in 1967-68 during a steam eruption.

Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park.  (A) is an image from Fenner (1936) of the drilling setup in the Upper Geyser Basin during the 1929 field season. (B) is an image from White et al. (1975) of the USGS drill rig set up in the Norris Geyser Basin in 1967-68 during a steam eruption.

Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core
Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core
Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core
Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core

The right side of the figure is an image of a small piece of the Y-9 core from the USGS 1967-68 drilling expedition to Yellowstone National Park. The black area was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the University of Wyoming to determine mineralogy and dispersion of elements.

The right side of the figure is an image of a small piece of the Y-9 core from the USGS 1967-68 drilling expedition to Yellowstone National Park. The black area was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the University of Wyoming to determine mineralogy and dispersion of elements.

Color photograph of instrument and mountain
How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa
How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa
How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa

A gravimeter measuring the force of gravity on Mauna Kea. These measurements are used to calibrate the instruments so they can precisely monitor changes in gravity from magma accumulation at Mauna Loa (background). USGS photograph taken on December 10, 2020.

A gravimeter measuring the force of gravity on Mauna Kea. These measurements are used to calibrate the instruments so they can precisely monitor changes in gravity from magma accumulation at Mauna Loa (background). USGS photograph taken on December 10, 2020.

Nicole King Holding A Grass Carp
Tracking the Movement of Grass Carp in the Sandusky River, 2016
Tracking the Movement of Grass Carp in the Sandusky River, 2016
Tracking the Movement of Grass Carp in the Sandusky River, 2016

Nicole King (University of Toledo graduate student) holding a Grass Carp. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University responded to a report from a commercial fisherman that grass carp were being captured in the Sandusky River. Researchers captured, tagged, and released grass carp to track their movements.

Nicole King (University of Toledo graduate student) holding a Grass Carp. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University responded to a report from a commercial fisherman that grass carp were being captured in the Sandusky River. Researchers captured, tagged, and released grass carp to track their movements.

Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020
Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020
Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020
Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020

Map of earthquakes that occurred beneath Yellowstone Lake as parts of seismic swarms in 2008-2009 (green) and 2020 (red).  Orange line is the boundary of Yellowstone Caldera, which formed 631,000 years ago.

Map of earthquakes that occurred beneath Yellowstone Lake as parts of seismic swarms in 2008-2009 (green) and 2020 (red).  Orange line is the boundary of Yellowstone Caldera, which formed 631,000 years ago.

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