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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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Beached boats and bare trees in Hurricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole

Boat owners sought protection for their vessels in sheltered Hurricane Hole, but Hurricane Irma sunk and beached many boats, likely damaging corals. Photo: Caroline Rogers, USGS, 2017

Boat owners sought protection for their vessels in sheltered Hurricane Hole, but Hurricane Irma sunk and beached many boats, likely damaging corals. Photo: Caroline Rogers, USGS, 2017

Scientist in Lab running tests on water
OGRL Scientist in Lab
OGRL Scientist in Lab
OGRL Scientist in Lab

OGRL scientist running tests on samples of water in the lab at Kansas Water Science Center.

OGRL scientist running tests on samples of water in the lab at Kansas Water Science Center.

A room full of glassware, tubing, tanks, and other lab equipment, jam-packed into a small space.
Radiocarbon lab at WHOI
Radiocarbon lab at WHOI
Radiocarbon lab at WHOI

During the symposium, participants could tour the facilities at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, such as this radiocarbon lab. Here scientists analyze the amount of radiocarbon in such material as coral or wood to help determine their age. Photo credit: Amy West, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

During the symposium, participants could tour the facilities at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, such as this radiocarbon lab. Here scientists analyze the amount of radiocarbon in such material as coral or wood to help determine their age. Photo credit: Amy West, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Roosevelt National Forest carousel
Roosevelt National Forest Pano
Roosevelt National Forest Pano
Roosevelt National Forest Pano

Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Red Feather Lakes off of Deadman Road. 

Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Red Feather Lakes off of Deadman Road. 

Sampling crew arriving at a groundwater well
Sampling crew arriving at a groundwater well in the Hueco Bolson area
Sampling crew arriving at a groundwater well in the Hueco Bolson area
Sampling crew arriving at a groundwater well in the Hueco Bolson area

U.S. Geological Survey field sampling crew arriving at a groundwater well that was sampled in the Hueco Bolson study area near El Paso, Texas, September 2016. Photograph by Chris Braun, U.S. Geological Survey.

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5056

U.S. Geological Survey field sampling crew arriving at a groundwater well that was sampled in the Hueco Bolson study area near El Paso, Texas, September 2016. Photograph by Chris Braun, U.S. Geological Survey.

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5056

A Researcher Assesses Wood Condition at an Ice Patch
A Researcher Assesses Wood Condition at an Ice Patch
A Researcher Assesses Wood Condition at an Ice Patch
A Researcher Assesses Wood Condition at an Ice Patch

Danny Stahle assesses the preservation of Whitebark Pine melting out of an ice patch.

Danny Stahle assesses the preservation of Whitebark Pine melting out of an ice patch.

A Researcher Sampling Ancient Trees Emerging from an Ice Patch
A Researcher Sampling Ancient Trees Emerging from an Ice Patch
A Researcher Sampling Ancient Trees Emerging from an Ice Patch
A Researcher Sampling Ancient Trees Emerging from an Ice Patch

Danny Stahle catalogs a sample taken from a Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicalus) that died ~5,300 years before present as conditions cooled and the ice patch expanded. 

Danny Stahle catalogs a sample taken from a Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicalus) that died ~5,300 years before present as conditions cooled and the ice patch expanded. 

A Researcher Sampling Trees at an Ice Patch
A Researcher Sampling Trees at an Ice Patch
A Researcher Sampling Trees at an Ice Patch
A Researcher Sampling Trees at an Ice Patch

Lucas watches Danny Stahle catalog a sample taken froma long frozen Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicalus).

Lucas watches Danny Stahle catalog a sample taken froma long frozen Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicalus).

A man stands near a pole with cameras mounted on it, the pole is bent over.
Camera mount as scratching pole - the aftermath
Camera mount as scratching pole - the aftermath
Camera mount as scratching pole - the aftermath

Time-lapse cameras on Barter Island, North Slope of Alaska, incurred damage from polar bears who used the camera pole as a scratching post.

Time-lapse cameras on Barter Island, North Slope of Alaska, incurred damage from polar bears who used the camera pole as a scratching post.

Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - downstream of gage
Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - downstream of gage
Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - downstream of gage
Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - downstream of gage

Cuyahoga River at Independence OH - downstream of gage

Before and after photos of Fourmile Creek near Ankeny, Iowa, showing a wastewater outfall from a wastewater treatment facility
Before and after photos of Fourmile Creek near Ankeny, Iowa
Before and after photos of Fourmile Creek near Ankeny, Iowa
Before and after photos of Fourmile Creek near Ankeny, Iowa

Before and after photos of Fourmile Creek near Ankeny, Iowa, showing a wastewater outfall from a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF). The top photo is the creek before the WWTFwas closed, and the bottom photo is after the WWTF was shutdown. After the shutdown flow in the creek decreased significantly. Photo credits: Laura E.

Before and after photos of Fourmile Creek near Ankeny, Iowa, showing a wastewater outfall from a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF). The top photo is the creek before the WWTFwas closed, and the bottom photo is after the WWTF was shutdown. After the shutdown flow in the creek decreased significantly. Photo credits: Laura E.

Prepping the Drilling Location in an Ice Patch
Prepping the Drilling Location in an Ice Patch
Prepping the Drilling Location in an Ice Patch
Prepping the Drilling Location in an Ice Patch

Field assistants prepare the trail and drilling location.

Researchers Break Near the Ice Patch
Researchers Break Near the Ice Patch
Researchers Break Near the Ice Patch
Researchers Break Near the Ice Patch

Craig Lee and a group of archeologist take a break and enjoy the scenery while standing over the coolers (white boxes) containing the ice core samples.

Craig Lee and a group of archeologist take a break and enjoy the scenery while standing over the coolers (white boxes) containing the ice core samples.

Researchers Prepping the Drilling Location on the Ice Patch
Researchers Prepping the Drilling Location on the Ice Patch
Researchers Prepping the Drilling Location on the Ice Patch
Researchers Prepping the Drilling Location on the Ice Patch

Danny Stahle, Rachel Reckin, and Sari Dersam prepare the trail and drilling location.

Danny Stahle, Rachel Reckin, and Sari Dersam prepare the trail and drilling location.

Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment

Mike Jayred, Nathan Challman, Rachel Reckin, and Danny Stahle work to lift an section of ice core from several meters deep in the ice patch.

Mike Jayred, Nathan Challman, Rachel Reckin, and Danny Stahle work to lift an section of ice core from several meters deep in the ice patch.

Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment

Mike Jayred, Nathan Challman, Rachel Reckin, and Danny Stahle work to lift an section of ice core from several meters deep in the ice patch.

Mike Jayred, Nathan Challman, Rachel Reckin, and Danny Stahle work to lift an section of ice core from several meters deep in the ice patch.

Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment
Researchers Pulling a Deep Ice Core Segment

Mike Jayred, Nathan Challman, Rachel Reckin, and Danny Stahle work to lift an section of ice core from several meters deep in the ice patch.

Mike Jayred, Nathan Challman, Rachel Reckin, and Danny Stahle work to lift an section of ice core from several meters deep in the ice patch.

Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch
Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch
Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch
Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch

Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch located on the Beartooth Plateau, Wyoming.

Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch located on the Beartooth Plateau, Wyoming.

Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch
Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch
Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch
Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch

Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch located on the Beartooth Plateau, Wyoming. 

Researchers retrieving ice cores from an ice patch located on the Beartooth Plateau, Wyoming. 

Bottom of the Ice Core
Bottom of the Ice Core
Bottom of the Ice Core
Bottom of the Ice Core

Craig Lee holds the ice drill with the end of the first ice core segment exposed.  The sample will next be measured, logged, and processed in the field. 

Craig Lee holds the ice drill with the end of the first ice core segment exposed.  The sample will next be measured, logged, and processed in the field. 

Eagle Creek above Findlay OH - downstream of gage
Eagle Creek above Findlay OH - downstream of gage
Eagle Creek above Findlay OH - downstream of gage
Eagle Creek above Findlay OH - downstream of gage

Eagle Creek above Findlay OH - downstream of gage