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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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USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey at False Klamath Rock
USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey at False Klamath Rock
USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey at False Klamath Rock
USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey at False Klamath Rock

USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey at False Klamath Rock doing seabird monitoring research. 

USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey at False Klamath Rock doing seabird monitoring research. 

Seabird monitoring research. USGS WERC scientist Jonathan Felis at False Klamath Rock
USGS WERC scientist Jonathan Felis at False Klamath Rock
USGS WERC scientist Jonathan Felis at False Klamath Rock
USGS WERC scientist Jonathan Felis at False Klamath Rock

USGS WERC scientist Jonathan Felis on False Klamath Rock doing seabird monitoring research. 

USGS WERC scientist Jonathan Felis on False Klamath Rock doing seabird monitoring research. 

Color photo of boat on the Kootenai River
Boat on Kootenai River
Boat on Kootenai River
Boat on Kootenai River

A boat moves off the banks of the Kootenai River in northern Idaho. Researchers from USGS EROS conducted topobathymetry surveys of the river in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.

A boat moves off the banks of the Kootenai River in northern Idaho. Researchers from USGS EROS conducted topobathymetry surveys of the river in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.

Photo of a GPS device on the banks of the Kootenai River
GPS device on Kootenai River
GPS device on Kootenai River
GPS device on Kootenai River

A GPS device on the banks of the Kootenai River of northern Idaho, where USGS EROS researchers conducted topobathymetry surveys in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.A GPS device on the banks of the Kootenai River of northern Idaho, where USGS EROS researchers conducted topobathymetry surveys in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.

A GPS device on the banks of the Kootenai River of northern Idaho, where USGS EROS researchers conducted topobathymetry surveys in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.A GPS device on the banks of the Kootenai River of northern Idaho, where USGS EROS researchers conducted topobathymetry surveys in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.

USGS scientist sitting outside at plastic tubing setup collecting gw samples
NYWSC scientist collecting groundwater samples
NYWSC scientist collecting groundwater samples
NYWSC scientist collecting groundwater samples

NYWSC scientist collecting groundwater samples

Color photo of Kootenai River, from a boat
Kootenai River from boat
Kootenai River from boat
Kootenai River from boat

A view of the Kootenai River in northern Idaho from a boat. USGS EROS researchers conducted topobathymetry surveys of the river in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.

A view of the Kootenai River in northern Idaho from a boat. USGS EROS researchers conducted topobathymetry surveys of the river in 2017 using LiDAR and sonar equipment.

Satellite image showing the devastation to Puerto Rico after Maria.
Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

This pair of Landsat 8 images shows the large-scale damage done to Puerto Rico. The lush green landscape in the 2016 image is replaced by a faded green. The strong winds stripped the leaves off trees to cause the degraded landscape. The forest is expected to recover.

This pair of Landsat 8 images shows the large-scale damage done to Puerto Rico. The lush green landscape in the 2016 image is replaced by a faded green. The strong winds stripped the leaves off trees to cause the degraded landscape. The forest is expected to recover.

Pelicans sit on and fly near a large rock in the ocean
Pelicans on a rock
Pelicans on a rock
Pelicans on a rock

Pelicans on a rock, observed by the USGS Western Ecological Center Seabird Studies team.

Pelicans on a rock, observed by the USGS Western Ecological Center Seabird Studies team.

Sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn

Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.

Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.

Colonies of the Bacteria Bacillus Globigii on a Petri Dish
Colonies of the Bacteria Bacillus Globigii on a Petri Dish
Colonies of the Bacteria Bacillus Globigii on a Petri Dish
Colonies of the Bacteria Bacillus Globigii on a Petri Dish

Scientists optimized existing methods to collect and identify microorganisms including Bacillus anthracis, a pathogenic microorganism, in 4,800 soil samples across the United States, and developed a

Scientists optimized existing methods to collect and identify microorganisms including Bacillus anthracis, a pathogenic microorganism, in 4,800 soil samples across the United States, and developed a

R/V Arcticus at Sturgeon Bay
R/V Arcticus at Sturgeon Bay
R/V Arcticus at Sturgeon Bay
R/V Arcticus at Sturgeon Bay

Fog surrounds the USGS Research Vessel Arcticus as it comes into port at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Fog surrounds the USGS Research Vessel Arcticus as it comes into port at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

boom & pulley w/ long slender equipment hanging over side of ship w/ 3 people in hard hats & life preservers standing at rail
Collecting a piston core of seafloor sediment off British Columbia
Collecting a piston core of seafloor sediment off British Columbia
Collecting a piston core of seafloor sediment off British Columbia

Scientists prepare to lower a piston corer off Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, to sample seafloor sediment near the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault. Expedition scientists are studying layers of sediment in the cores they collected to identify and determine ages of past earthquakes along the fault.

Scientists prepare to lower a piston corer off Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, to sample seafloor sediment near the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault. Expedition scientists are studying layers of sediment in the cores they collected to identify and determine ages of past earthquakes along the fault.

Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm motility parameters
Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm m
Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm m
Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm m

Photomicroscopy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory — Lafayette, Louisiana. Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm motility parameters

Photomicroscopy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory — Lafayette, Louisiana. Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm motility parameters

Seismic swarm at Mount Rainier September 11-13, 2017....
Seismic swarm at Mount Rainier Sep. 11-13, 2017.
Seismic swarm at Mount Rainier Sep. 11-13, 2017.
Seismic swarm at Mount Rainier Sep. 11-13, 2017.

Top: Map view of well recorded historical seismicity at Mount Rainier since 2007 (gray circles) with seismicity since September 11 plotted as filled red circles. Location of seismic stations indicated by arrows. Bottom: Cross-sectional view looking north shows earthquake depths. Black outline is a west-east elevation profile of Mount Rainier.

Top: Map view of well recorded historical seismicity at Mount Rainier since 2007 (gray circles) with seismicity since September 11 plotted as filled red circles. Location of seismic stations indicated by arrows. Bottom: Cross-sectional view looking north shows earthquake depths. Black outline is a west-east elevation profile of Mount Rainier.

Surveying water surface along with other methods to describe scour
Surveying water surface along with other methods to describe scour
Surveying water surface along with other methods to describe scour
Surveying water surface along with other methods to describe scour

Surveying water surface to tie into bathymetry measurments on Bitterroot River near Hamilton, MT to describe scour near the bridge.

Surveying water surface to tie into bathymetry measurments on Bitterroot River near Hamilton, MT to describe scour near the bridge.

Hydro techs from the New Mexico Water Science Center perform a well integrity test
Hydro Techs Perform Well Integrity Test
Hydro Techs Perform Well Integrity Test
Hydro Techs Perform Well Integrity Test

On September 19th, 2017 staff from the USGS NM WSC Albuquerque and Las Cruces offices visited a Climate Response Network (CRN) well just on the east side of the Organ Mountains outside of Las Cruces to receive training on integrity testing groundwater wells.

On September 19th, 2017 staff from the USGS NM WSC Albuquerque and Las Cruces offices visited a Climate Response Network (CRN) well just on the east side of the Organ Mountains outside of Las Cruces to receive training on integrity testing groundwater wells.

A USGS specialist installs a storm-tide sensor in Massachusetts before Hurricane Jose's arrival.
USGS Storm-Tide Sensor installed for Hurricane Jose
USGS Storm-Tide Sensor installed for Hurricane Jose
USGS Storm-Tide Sensor installed for Hurricane Jose

A USGS specialist installs a storm-tide sensor in Massachusetts before Hurricane Jose's arrival.  

A USGS specialist installs a storm-tide sensor in Massachusetts before Hurricane Jose's arrival.  

Two women stand at plywood table on which rest three long plastic tubes full of dark seafloor sediment.
Sampling core fluid from sediment cores collected off southeast Alaska
Sampling core fluid from sediment cores collected off southeast Alaska
Sampling core fluid from sediment cores collected off southeast Alaska

Mary McGann (left, USGS) and Rachel Lauer (University of Calgary) sample pore fluids from sediment cores collected aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship John P. Tully along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault offshore of southeast Alaska.

Mary McGann (left, USGS) and Rachel Lauer (University of Calgary) sample pore fluids from sediment cores collected aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship John P. Tully along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault offshore of southeast Alaska.

clouds over mountains and ocean with forest in the foreground
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu

A panoramic view as seen from Honouliuli Preserve shows some of the diverse landscapes and ecosystems found on Oʻahu.

A panoramic view as seen from Honouliuli Preserve shows some of the diverse landscapes and ecosystems found on Oʻahu.

clouds over mountains and ocean with forest in the foreground
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu.
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu.
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu.

A panoramic view as seen from Honouliuli Preserve in the Waiʻanae mountains shows some of the diverse landscapes and ecosystems found on Oʻahu.

A panoramic view as seen from Honouliuli Preserve in the Waiʻanae mountains shows some of the diverse landscapes and ecosystems found on Oʻahu.

clouds over fields,mountains, and ocean with forest in the foreground
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu.
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu.
Landscape view from Honouliuli Preserve, Oʻahu.

A view across the Waiʻanae mountains of West Oʻahu shows some of the diverse landscapes and ecosystems found in Hawaiʻi.

A view across the Waiʻanae mountains of West Oʻahu shows some of the diverse landscapes and ecosystems found in Hawaiʻi.