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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.
Measurement stakes are carried across Sperry Glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana, during spring mass balance field work in 2019.
Measurement stakes are carried across Sperry Glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana, during spring mass balance field work in 2019.
Researchers get organized to begin mass balance field work after skiing to Sperry Glacier.
Researchers get organized to begin mass balance field work after skiing to Sperry Glacier.
Researchers get organized to begin mass balance field work after skiing to Sperry Glacier.
Researchers get organized to begin mass balance field work after skiing to Sperry Glacier.
Snow core measurements help scientists determine snow density, which is used to determine the mass balance of Sperry Glacier.
Snow core measurements help scientists determine snow density, which is used to determine the mass balance of Sperry Glacier.
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - standing on bridge looking out at the flooded fields at the gage location
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - standing on bridge looking out at the flooded fields at the gage location
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding at site
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded
Time-averaged image, or “timex,” created by averaging the intensity of light recorded at each spot, or “pixel,” during a 10-minute video taken at Santa Cruz, California, on May 6, 2017. Blurred white zones show where waves are breaking. Line between wet and dry sand shows the maximum height on the beach reached by the waves (“runup”).
Time-averaged image, or “timex,” created by averaging the intensity of light recorded at each spot, or “pixel,” during a 10-minute video taken at Santa Cruz, California, on May 6, 2017. Blurred white zones show where waves are breaking. Line between wet and dry sand shows the maximum height on the beach reached by the waves (“runup”).
“Variance” image produced from video shot at Cowells Beach in Santa Cruz, California, on May 6, 2017. The more the light intensity changes at a given spot, or “pixel,” during the video, the brighter the value assigned to that pixel. Motion tends to produce changes in light intensity. Note bright areas along and beyond the shore where waves were breaking.
“Variance” image produced from video shot at Cowells Beach in Santa Cruz, California, on May 6, 2017. The more the light intensity changes at a given spot, or “pixel,” during the video, the brighter the value assigned to that pixel. Motion tends to produce changes in light intensity. Note bright areas along and beyond the shore where waves were breaking.
A helicopter towing a large, cylindrical sensor will make low-level flights over parts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as part of a groundwater survey in May 2017.
A helicopter towing a large, cylindrical sensor will make low-level flights over parts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as part of a groundwater survey in May 2017.
Freshwater Sponges in the Detroit River
Freshwater Sponges in the Detroit River
Large Boulders with Dreissenid Mussels in the Detroit River
Large Boulders with Dreissenid Mussels in the Detroit River
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle was recently observed by USGS scientists and staff from The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in the Mojave Desert. Turtles of this population have rarely been seen since the late 1990s.
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle was recently observed by USGS scientists and staff from The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in the Mojave Desert. Turtles of this population have rarely been seen since the late 1990s.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a beak that has grown long and crossed
A Black-capped Chickadee with a beak that has grown long and crossed
Research Hydrologist Neil Terry (USGS) collects ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data. Using hydrogeophysical tools such as GPR enables scientists to collect images of the structure and conditions of the ice below them. (April 2017)
Research Hydrologist Neil Terry (USGS) collects ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data. Using hydrogeophysical tools such as GPR enables scientists to collect images of the structure and conditions of the ice below them. (April 2017)
A helicopter towing a large, cylindrical sensor will make low-level flights over parts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as part of a groundwater survey in May 2017.
A helicopter towing a large, cylindrical sensor will make low-level flights over parts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as part of a groundwater survey in May 2017.
A helicopter towing a large, cylindrical sensor will make low-level flights over parts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as part of a groundwater survey in May 2017.
A helicopter towing a large, cylindrical sensor will make low-level flights over parts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as part of a groundwater survey in May 2017.
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, CA
White River at Hazelton IN - gage located on the bridge
White River at Hazelton IN - gage located on the bridge