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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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banding of Panum pumice and obsidian
Flow banding of Panum pumice and obsidian
Flow banding of Panum pumice and obsidian
Flow banding of Panum pumice and obsidian

Flow banding of Panum pumice and obsidian of the same composition.

Flowmeter cooperator
Flowmeter cooperator
Flowmeter cooperator
Flowmeter cooperator

Inline water-use flow meter being installed by Lower Mississippi-Gulf and Arkansas Natural Resources Commission staff

Inline water-use flow meter being installed by Lower Mississippi-Gulf and Arkansas Natural Resources Commission staff

Frosted flatwoods salamander
Frosted flatwoods salamander
Frosted flatwoods salamander
Frosted flatwoods salamander

Frosted flatwoods salamander in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Frosted flatwoods salamander in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Frosted flatwoods salamander
Frosted flatwoods salamander
Frosted flatwoods salamander
Frosted flatwoods salamander

Frosted flatwoods salamander, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Frosted flatwoods salamander, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Group of students and scientists stand in semi circle with mountain in the background.
GeoGirls hike onto the Pumice Plain and learn about Mount St. Helens
GeoGirls hike onto the Pumice Plain and learn about Mount St. Helens
GeoGirls hike onto the Pumice Plain and learn about Mount St. Helens

GeoGirls hike onto the Pumice Plain to learn more about Mount St. Helens’ historical

eruptions.

Girls points to a location on a map laying on the ground.
GeoGirls learn about the eruption of Mount St. Helens
GeoGirls learn about the eruption of Mount St. Helens
GeoGirls learn about the eruption of Mount St. Helens

GeoGirls learn about how the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens impacted the ecology of the area.

Three girls sit on rocks and look at a computer screen.
Geogirls use computers in the field to track locations
Geogirls use computers in the field to track locations
Geogirls use computers in the field to track locations

Geogirls use computers in the field to track locations and annotate field photos.

Map showing the location of geophysical and sediment core data collected between 2009 and 2013, and used in the MsCIP project.
Geophysical and sediment core data collected between 2009
Geophysical and sediment core data collected between 2009
Geophysical and sediment core data collected between 2009

Location of geophysical and sediment core data collected between 2009 and 2013, and used in the Mississippi Coastal Improvement Project (MsCIP) project.

Location of geophysical and sediment core data collected between 2009 and 2013, and used in the Mississippi Coastal Improvement Project (MsCIP) project.

Golden Eagle
Golden eagle fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) backpack
Golden eagle fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) backpack
Golden eagle fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) backpack

Reports of golden eagle mortality linked to wind energy facilities are cause for concern especially when coupled with the knowledge that golden eagles move great distances between breeding and wintering areas. Mortalities at a particular wind energy facility can consequently affect breeding populations of golden eagles at local and continent-wide scales.

Reports of golden eagle mortality linked to wind energy facilities are cause for concern especially when coupled with the knowledge that golden eagles move great distances between breeding and wintering areas. Mortalities at a particular wind energy facility can consequently affect breeding populations of golden eagles at local and continent-wide scales.

Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park - 2016
Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park - 2016
Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park - 2016
Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park - 2016

Grinnell Glacier (J Scurlock, 09/15/16) has retreated to the mostly shaded, upper confines of the basin.   

Grinnell Glacier (J Scurlock, 09/15/16) has retreated to the mostly shaded, upper confines of the basin.   

Grinnell Glacier, GNP - 2016 (terminus)
Grinnell Glacier, GNP - 2016 (terminus)
Grinnell Glacier, GNP - 2016 (terminus)
Grinnell Glacier, GNP - 2016 (terminus)

Grinnell Glacier, GNP - 2016 (terminus)

Hikers in Glacier National Park use the new USGS ScienceCache geocaching mobile application.
Hikers using ScienceCache
Hikers using ScienceCache
Hikers using ScienceCache

Hikers in Glacier National Park use the new USGS ScienceCache geocaching mobile application. This scientific geocaching mobile application framework consists of a website and app to help engage geo-cachers, youth, and scientists in citizen science.

Hikers in Glacier National Park use the new USGS ScienceCache geocaching mobile application. This scientific geocaching mobile application framework consists of a website and app to help engage geo-cachers, youth, and scientists in citizen science.

Computer model output looking at an angle, at seismic data represented by lines and swirls, with streams of color going upward.
Hosgri fault 3-D seismic data
Hosgri fault 3-D seismic data
Hosgri fault 3-D seismic data

Three-dimensional view of the Hosgri fault 45 meters below the seafloor, revealing fault strands (black), and potential paths along the fault that fluid could follow (green/blue). The other colors represent different geologic layers.

Three-dimensional view of the Hosgri fault 45 meters below the seafloor, revealing fault strands (black), and potential paths along the fault that fluid could follow (green/blue). The other colors represent different geologic layers.

Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).
Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).
Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).
Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).

Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae). USGS is working on development of tools for the detection and capture of invasive reptiles in Florida.

Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae). USGS is working on development of tools for the detection and capture of invasive reptiles in Florida.

Reston Microbiology Laboratory Roll Bottle
Iron Reducing Bacteria
Iron Reducing Bacteria
Iron Reducing Bacteria

Iron Reducing Bacteria
FeRB isolated using a roll bottle technique from the former Uranium Mine near Ronneburg, Germany, Photo credit: Denise Akob, USGS

Iron Reducing Bacteria
FeRB isolated using a roll bottle technique from the former Uranium Mine near Ronneburg, Germany, Photo credit: Denise Akob, USGS

scientists sampling water
Keeley Creek Sampling and Measurement
Keeley Creek Sampling and Measurement
Keeley Creek Sampling and Measurement

Scientists sampling water and measuring streamflow in Keeley Creek, a stream in northern Minnesota that is in the vicinity of copper-nickel-platinum group element deposits. 

Scientists sampling water and measuring streamflow in Keeley Creek, a stream in northern Minnesota that is in the vicinity of copper-nickel-platinum group element deposits. 

Kentucky Water Science Center Sediment Laboratory
Kentucky Water Science Center Sediment Laboratory
Kentucky Water Science Center Sediment Laboratory
Kentucky Water Science Center Sediment Laboratory

Kentucky Water Science Center Sediment Laboratory

Kings Canyon view
Kings Canyon landscape
Kings Canyon landscape
Kings Canyon landscape

Grass/shrub landscape with mountains in background. Taken as part of the Land-cover Trends Project field verification process.

Grass/shrub landscape with mountains in background. Taken as part of the Land-cover Trends Project field verification process.

American Alligator
Largest American Alligator Satellite Telemetry-Tracking Study
Largest American Alligator Satellite Telemetry-Tracking Study
Largest American Alligator Satellite Telemetry-Tracking Study

South Carolina alligators occupy a patchwork of diverse habitats, including rivers, lakes, wooded swamps, tidal marshes, and impounded freshwater wetlands. As a mobile, opportunistic predator, alligators seasonally adjust their habitat use for feeding.

South Carolina alligators occupy a patchwork of diverse habitats, including rivers, lakes, wooded swamps, tidal marshes, and impounded freshwater wetlands. As a mobile, opportunistic predator, alligators seasonally adjust their habitat use for feeding.

Image shows coal being loaded into trucks at a coal mine
Loading Coal in the Trapper Mine
Loading Coal in the Trapper Mine
core mineral photomicrograph
Local Boy Drill Core - 10089 (microscope image)
Local Boy Drill Core - 10089 (microscope image)
Local Boy Drill Core - 10089 (microscope image)

Cross-polarized light photomicrograph of minerals in drill core samples from the Local Boy deposit, Duluth Complex, Minnesota. The number in the upper right hand corner is the drill core number.

Cross-polarized light photomicrograph of minerals in drill core samples from the Local Boy deposit, Duluth Complex, Minnesota. The number in the upper right hand corner is the drill core number.

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