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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 scientist Charles Hartmann installs a storm-tide sensor in preparation for Hurricane Harvey in Carancahua Bay, Texas. 
USGS scientist installs a storm-tide sensor
USGS scientist installs a storm-tide sensor
USGS scientist installs a storm-tide sensor

USGS scientist Charles Hartmann installs a storm-tide sensor in preparation for Hurricane Harvey in Carancahua Bay, Texas. 

USGS scientist Charles Hartmann installs a storm-tide sensor in preparation for Hurricane Harvey in Carancahua Bay, Texas. 

USGS scientists installs storm-tide sensor in preparation for Hurricane Harvey
USGS scientists installs storm-tide sensor
USGS scientists installs storm-tide sensor
USGS scientists installs storm-tide sensor

USGS scientist Darwin Ockerman installs a storm-tide sensor at Packery Channel near Corpus Christi, Texas. 

USGS scientist Darwin Ockerman installs a storm-tide sensor at Packery Channel near Corpus Christi, Texas. 

USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey near Matagorda, Texas.
USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey
USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey
USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey

USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey near Matagorda, Texas.

PAMF’s monitoring protocol on a patch near Schoolcraft, Michigan.
PAMF’s monitoring protocol on a patch near Schoolcraft, Michigan.
PAMF’s monitoring protocol on a patch near Schoolcraft, Michigan.
PAMF’s monitoring protocol on a patch near Schoolcraft, Michigan.

A scientist performing PAMF’s monitoring protocol on a Phragmites patch near Schoolcraft, Michigan.

A scientist performing PAMF’s monitoring protocol on a Phragmites patch near Schoolcraft, Michigan.

Scientists preparing SEABoss for deployment
SEABoss Deployment on Stellwagen Bank
SEABoss Deployment on Stellwagen Bank
SEABoss Deployment on Stellwagen Bank

Page Valentine works with NOAA staff from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to ready the SEABoss for deployment off the fantail of the NOAA R/V Auk. 

Page Valentine works with NOAA staff from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to ready the SEABoss for deployment off the fantail of the NOAA R/V Auk. 

Photograph of USGS scientists on the fantail of a research vessel
SeaBOSS on the fantail of the R/V Auk
SeaBOSS on the fantail of the R/V Auk
SeaBOSS on the fantail of the R/V Auk

Page Valentine and Dann Blackwood on the fantail of the NOAA R/V Auk.  Dann is photographing a sediment sample collected on the seabed.  

Page Valentine and Dann Blackwood on the fantail of the NOAA R/V Auk.  Dann is photographing a sediment sample collected on the seabed.  

USGS real-time water quality monitoring platform on Lake Houston
USGS real-time water quality monitoring platform on Lake Houston
USGS real-time water quality monitoring platform on Lake Houston
USGS real-time water quality monitoring platform on Lake Houston

Photo of a USGS real-time water quality monitoring platform on Lake Houston. 

A small stream meanders through ice-rich polygonal ground in the Cutler River Basin, Alaska
A stream runs through ice-rich polygonal ground, Cutler River Basin
A stream runs through ice-rich polygonal ground, Cutler River Basin
A stream runs through ice-rich polygonal ground, Cutler River Basin

A small stream meanders through ice-rich polygonal ground in the Cutler River Basin, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks because they lie in a region that

A small stream meanders through ice-rich polygonal ground in the Cutler River Basin, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks because they lie in a region that

Temporary seismometers deployed at Mount St. Helens....
Temporary seismometers deployed at Mount St. Helens.
Temporary seismometers deployed at Mount St. Helens.
Temporary seismometers deployed at Mount St. Helens.

Between August 19-22, 2017, 140 seismometers were deployed around Mount St. Helens. Instruments were placed on top of the 2004-2008 lava dome, the 1980-86 lava dome, the 1980 crater floor, and around the volcanic cone.

Between August 19-22, 2017, 140 seismometers were deployed around Mount St. Helens. Instruments were placed on top of the 2004-2008 lava dome, the 1980-86 lava dome, the 1980 crater floor, and around the volcanic cone.

Black-legged Kittiwakes sitting on the side of a rock wall in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska

Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. One bird on a nest.

Black-legged Kittiwakes in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. One bird on a nest.

Chatooga River Middle Gorge
Chattooga River, Middle Gorge, Wild and Scenic River, Jackson County,
Chattooga River, Middle Gorge, Wild and Scenic River, Jackson County,
Chattooga River, Middle Gorge, Wild and Scenic River, Jackson County,

Chattooga River, Middle Gorge, Wild and Scenic River, Jackson County, North Carolina

Common Murres in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska in 2017
Common Murres in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska in 2017
Common Murres in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska in 2017
Common Murres in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska in 2017

Common Murres in a colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska in 2017

Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Adult touching bill to chick.
Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska

Common Murres in their colony in Cook Inlet, Alaska

Aerial view of coastal bluffs, marine terrace with farmland, beach in distance with lagoon, highway runs along coast.
Scott Creek area of California coast
Scott Creek area of California coast
Scott Creek area of California coast

Aerial photograph looking north, Scott Creek Beach in distance, along the California coast near Davenport.

Aerial photograph looking north, Scott Creek Beach in distance, along the California coast near Davenport.

Cross-section of rock with distinct layers of sand grains at core then mostly black, each layer dated back millions of years.
Seafloor crust, Marshall Islands
Seafloor crust, Marshall Islands
Seafloor crust, Marshall Islands

Cross section of a seafloor crust (AKA, ferromanganese or cobalt-rich crusts) from the Marshall Islands collected at almost 2,000 meters depth. 

Cross section of a seafloor crust (AKA, ferromanganese or cobalt-rich crusts) from the Marshall Islands collected at almost 2,000 meters depth. 

Woman stands near and prepares to open the doors of large apparatus; her smiling face is reflected in the glass of the doors.
X-ray diffractometer
X-ray diffractometer
X-ray diffractometer

USGS research oceanographer Amy Gartman waits for an X-ray diffractometer to analyze samples of hydrothermal sulfide minerals.

USGS research oceanographer Amy Gartman waits for an X-ray diffractometer to analyze samples of hydrothermal sulfide minerals.

Floating the mighty Rio Grande
Floating the mighty Rio Grande
Floating the mighty Rio Grande
Floating the mighty Rio Grande

Staff float down the Rio Grande in New Mexico as part of their Swiftwater Awareness training. 

Staff float down the Rio Grande in New Mexico as part of their Swiftwater Awareness training. 

Photo of USGS researchers collecting data along a tidal inlet in the back-barrier environment at Fire Island, NY
USGS collects data in the back-barrier at Fire Island
USGS collects data in the back-barrier at Fire Island
USGS collects data in the back-barrier at Fire Island

The USGS uses observations and data collection in the back-barrier environment at Fire Island, NY to inform numerical models.

The USGS uses observations and data collection in the back-barrier environment at Fire Island, NY to inform numerical models.

Photo of a small concrete block; a disk attached to the top holds a small growing coral.
USGS monitors growth rates of Elkhorn Coral
USGS monitors growth rates of Elkhorn Coral
USGS monitors growth rates of Elkhorn Coral

 

USGS monitors the growth rates of the threatened Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) at Dry Tortugas National Park (pictured) and throughout the Florida Keys, U.S.A.

 

USGS monitors the growth rates of the threatened Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) at Dry Tortugas National Park (pictured) and throughout the Florida Keys, U.S.A.

USGS scientist Lisa McKeon sets up a repeat photo shot on Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park.
USGS scientist Lisa McKeon sets up a repeat photo shot in Glacier NP.
USGS scientist Lisa McKeon sets up a repeat photo shot in Glacier NP.
USGS scientist Lisa McKeon sets up a repeat photo shot in Glacier NP.

USGS scientist Lisa McKeon sets up a repeat photo shot on Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park.

USGS scientist Lisa McKeon sets up a repeat photo shot on Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Lake Huron near Alpena
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Lake Huron near Alpena
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Lake Huron near Alpena
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Lake Huron near Alpena

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in Lake Huron near Alpena preparing to dive on a transect.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in Lake Huron near Alpena preparing to dive on a transect.