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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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Invasive Aquatic Vegetation
Invasive water primrose
Invasive water primrose
Invasive water primrose

Invasive water primrose (Ludwigia species) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) line the marsh edge in Mandeville Cut near the Port of Stockton, California’s third largest port.  Invasive aquatic vegetation – dominated by Brazilian waterweed, water hyacinth, and water primrose – has increased exponentially in recent years, cloggi

Invasive water primrose (Ludwigia species) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) line the marsh edge in Mandeville Cut near the Port of Stockton, California’s third largest port.  Invasive aquatic vegetation – dominated by Brazilian waterweed, water hyacinth, and water primrose – has increased exponentially in recent years, cloggi

Clearing snow from solar panels
Clearing snow from solar panels
Clearing snow from solar panels
Clearing snow from solar panels

Clearing snow from solar panels which provide power to an instream Passive Integrated Transponder tag detection system in the Wind River, WA. The system detects tagged juvenile and adult Steelhead for population assessment and migratory data.

Clearing snow from solar panels which provide power to an instream Passive Integrated Transponder tag detection system in the Wind River, WA. The system detects tagged juvenile and adult Steelhead for population assessment and migratory data.

A man walks on the beach wearing a yellow backpack with an antenna sticking up from it, holding a small machine
USGS researcher uses GPS-equipped backpack to measure sand elevations
USGS researcher uses GPS-equipped backpack to measure sand elevations
USGS researcher uses GPS-equipped backpack to measure sand elevations

USGS oceanographer Dan Hoover uses a GPS-equipped backpack to measure sand elevations near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, California, January 12, 2017. Surveys like this make long-term studies of coastal change possible.

USGS oceanographer Dan Hoover uses a GPS-equipped backpack to measure sand elevations near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, California, January 12, 2017. Surveys like this make long-term studies of coastal change possible.

Annotated aerial photo of crescent shaped island surrounded by open ocean.
Annotated photo of Bogoslof Island showing effects of eruption
Annotated photo of Bogoslof Island showing effects of eruption
Annotated photo of Bogoslof Island showing effects of eruption

Annotated photograph of Bogoslof Island showing the cumulative effects of 2016-17 eruptive activity. A layer of fine muddy appearing ash drapes most of the landscape and covers pre-existing vegetation. The dashed line indicates the area excavated by explosive eruptive activity so far.

Annotated photograph of Bogoslof Island showing the cumulative effects of 2016-17 eruptive activity. A layer of fine muddy appearing ash drapes most of the landscape and covers pre-existing vegetation. The dashed line indicates the area excavated by explosive eruptive activity so far.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

A U.S. Geological Survey field crew uses an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler to measure water velocity on the Truckee River in Reno, Nevada.

A U.S. Geological Survey field crew uses an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler to measure water velocity on the Truckee River in Reno, Nevada.

Photographic panorama showing the San Lorenzo river flowing wide and muddy into the ocean, past the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Atmospheric River Fills California Rivers with Water and Sediment
Atmospheric River Fills California Rivers with Water and Sediment
Atmospheric River Fills California Rivers with Water and Sediment

An atmospheric river, or narrow band of moisture moving from the tropics to the higher latitudes, hit California in early January and brought the first heavy rains of 2017. While these storms help a drought-stricken state, the onslaught of rain triggers floods and mudslides, and fills rising rivers with sediment and debris.

An atmospheric river, or narrow band of moisture moving from the tropics to the higher latitudes, hit California in early January and brought the first heavy rains of 2017. While these storms help a drought-stricken state, the onslaught of rain triggers floods and mudslides, and fills rising rivers with sediment and debris.

Coastal LA Chenier
LA_Chenier Plain QL2 Lidar
LA_Chenier Plain QL2 Lidar
LA_Chenier Plain QL2 Lidar

High-resolution lidar task in coastal Louisiana in partnership with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to support a current elevation dataset in a rapidly changing coastal deltaic environment.

High-resolution lidar task in coastal Louisiana in partnership with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to support a current elevation dataset in a rapidly changing coastal deltaic environment.

Satellite image showing burn scares from fires in the Pampas region of Argentina.
Wildfires Scorch Pampas Region of Argentina
Wildfires Scorch Pampas Region of Argentina
Wildfires Scorch Pampas Region of Argentina

Since mid-December 2016, roughly two dozen wildfires in the Pampas region of Argentina have consumed almost 2.5 million acres while unleashing giant plumes of dense smoke above the rural landscapes.

Since mid-December 2016, roughly two dozen wildfires in the Pampas region of Argentina have consumed almost 2.5 million acres while unleashing giant plumes of dense smoke above the rural landscapes.

Cumulative impacts of oil and gas production on watersheds in North Dakota between January 2008 and June 2015
Cumulative impacts of oil and gas production on watersheds in ND
Cumulative impacts of oil and gas production on watersheds in ND
Cumulative impacts of oil and gas production on watersheds in ND

Cumulative impacts of oil and gas production on watersheds in North Dakota between January 2008 and June 2015. Watershed volumes were calculated by combining reported values of oil, brine, and unidentified liquid waste accidentally released during drilling operations.

Cumulative impacts of oil and gas production on watersheds in North Dakota between January 2008 and June 2015. Watershed volumes were calculated by combining reported values of oil, brine, and unidentified liquid waste accidentally released during drilling operations.

USGS Leetown Science Center building surrounded by snow.
USGS Leetown Science Center Administration Building
USGS Leetown Science Center Administration Building
USGS Leetown Science Center Administration Building

Morning snowfall at the Leetown Science Center's Administration building.

person standing up riding a personal watercraft across small ocean swells, with buildings and a long pier in the background
Sonar-equipped personal watercraft mapping bathymetry.
Sonar-equipped personal watercraft mapping bathymetry.
Flood in 2017 along Carson River, Nevada
Flood in 2017 along Carson River, Nevada
Flood in 2017 along Carson River, Nevada
Flood in 2017 along Carson River, Nevada

Flood in 2017 along Carson River, Nevada. 

Home Zip Codes of Hunters Harvesting Deer in 4 WI Counties 2016-17
Home Zip Codes of Hunters Harvesting Deer in 4 WI Counties 2016-17
Home Zip Codes of Hunters Harvesting Deer in 4 WI Counties 2016-17
Home Zip Codes of Hunters Harvesting Deer in 4 WI Counties 2016-17

Home Zip Codes of Hunters Harvesting Deer in Dane, Iowa, Richland, and Sauk Counties in Wisconsin from 2016-2017

Home Zip Codes of Hunters Harvesting Deer in Dane, Iowa, Richland, and Sauk Counties in Wisconsin from 2016-2017

Person processing a sample using the "Lab in a Suitcase"
Lab in a Suitcase to test for pathogen causing Rapid Ohia Death
Lab in a Suitcase to test for pathogen causing Rapid Ohia Death
Lab in a Suitcase to test for pathogen causing Rapid Ohia Death

"Lab in a Suitcase" set up in the field to test samples for the fungus (Ceratocystis fimbriata) responsible for Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death.

"Lab in a Suitcase" set up in the field to test samples for the fungus (Ceratocystis fimbriata) responsible for Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Many forms of sulfur are found on Kīlauea Volcano
Many forms of sulfur are found on Kīlauea Volcano
Many forms of sulfur are found on Kīlauea Volcano

Continued degassing from fumaroles at fissures on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone produce native sulfur crystals when sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases react and cool upon reaching the surface. The delicate sulfur crystals are 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. USGS photos by A. Lerner, 2018.

Continued degassing from fumaroles at fissures on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone produce native sulfur crystals when sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases react and cool upon reaching the surface. The delicate sulfur crystals are 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. USGS photos by A. Lerner, 2018.

man walking along wet sand on beach wearing a backpack with an antenna sticking pout of it
Mapping the beach with a GPS-equipped backpack unit.
Mapping the beach with a GPS-equipped backpack unit.
panoramic view of the 1935 Humu‘ula flow
panoramic view of the 1935 Humu‘ula flow
panoramic view of the 1935 Humu‘ula flow
panoramic view of the 1935 Humu‘ula flow

This panoramic view of the 1935 Humu‘ula flow (black lava) on both sides of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, which runs east to west in the saddle between Mauna Loa (snow-capped shield volcano at far left) and Mauna Kea (distant right), was taken from the top of Pu‘uhuluhulu. View is to the northwest. The top of Hualālai is visible in far distance (center).

This panoramic view of the 1935 Humu‘ula flow (black lava) on both sides of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, which runs east to west in the saddle between Mauna Loa (snow-capped shield volcano at far left) and Mauna Kea (distant right), was taken from the top of Pu‘uhuluhulu. View is to the northwest. The top of Hualālai is visible in far distance (center).

two men standing in a boat tied up to a dock
Readying a sonar-equipped boat for mapping
Readying a sonar-equipped boat for mapping
Readying a sonar-equipped boat for mapping

USGS scientists readying a sonar-equipped boat to map the ocean bottom near Santa Cruz, Calif.

two young men standing on a pier with a large tripod, looking down at camera, and holding equipment.
Setting up a lidar scanner to map the beach.
Setting up a lidar scanner to map the beach.
Setting up a lidar scanner to map the beach.

 USGS scientists setting up a lidar scanner on the pier to map the beach near Capitola, California.

USGS and USBR workers discuss important issues
USGS and USBR workers discuss important issues
USGS and USBR workers discuss important issues
USGS and USBR workers discuss important issues

USGS and USBR workers discuss important issues.

image related to volcanoes. See description
White laze plumes mark locations where lava enters the ocean over a broad area.
White laze plumes mark locations where lava enters the ocean over a broad area.
White laze plumes mark locations where lava enters the ocean over a broad area.

White laze plumes mark locations where lava enters the ocean over a broad area. An open lava channel flows into the ocean at the southern-most plume (middle) near the southern flow margin. The boat ramp at Pohoiki is about 940 m (0.58 mi) farther south of the flow margin. View is toward the west-southwest.

White laze plumes mark locations where lava enters the ocean over a broad area. An open lava channel flows into the ocean at the southern-most plume (middle) near the southern flow margin. The boat ramp at Pohoiki is about 940 m (0.58 mi) farther south of the flow margin. View is toward the west-southwest.

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