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Images

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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Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding

Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded

Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding

Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding

Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding at site
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding at site
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding at site
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding at site

Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - flooding at site

Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded
Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded

Maumee River at Antwerp, OH - gage house flooded

Distant view of the shore from a flat rooftop that is visible at bottom of image.
Time-averaged image from video of beach in Santa Cruz, California
Time-averaged image from video of beach in Santa Cruz, California
Time-averaged image from video of beach in Santa Cruz, California

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”).

Image in mostly black and white tones, showing distant view of beach stretching from bottom left to upper right.
Variance image from video of beach in Santa Cruz, California
Variance image from video of beach in Santa Cruz, California
Variance image from video of beach in Santa Cruz, California

“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.

Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey

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
Freshwater Sponges in the Detroit River
Freshwater Sponges in the Detroit River

Freshwater Sponges in the Detroit River

Large Boulders Detroit
Large Boulders with Dreissenid Mussels in the Detroit River
Large Boulders with Dreissenid Mussels 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 in the Mojave Desert.
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle

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
Black-capped Chickadee with a deformed crossed beak
Black-capped Chickadee with a deformed crossed beak
Black-capped Chickadee with a deformed crossed beak

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

Scientist operates equipment console while towing GPR on ice
Pulling GPR
Pulling GPR
Pulling GPR

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)

Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor

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.

Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor 2
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor 2
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor 2
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Helicopter and Sensor 2

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
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, CA

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, CA

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

White River at Hazelton IN - gage located on the bridge

White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment install
White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment install
White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment install
White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment install

White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment install

White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment on bridge pier
White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment on bridge pier
White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment on bridge pier
White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment on bridge pier

White River at Hazelton IN - water quality equipment on bridge pier

White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge at site location
White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge at site location
White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge at site location
White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge at site location

White River at Hazelton, IN - bridge at site location

Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Team with Sensor
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Team with Sensor
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Team with Sensor
Cedar Rapids Geophysical Survey - Team with Sensor

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.

bat with left wing spread open
Examining a bat's wing for white-nose syndrome in Washington
Examining a bat's wing for white-nose syndrome in Washington
Examining a bat's wing for white-nose syndrome in Washington

Researchers examine a bat (Myotis sp.) to test for the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome.