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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.
Low streamflow in late September, 2020 at USGS streamgage Young Womans Creek near Renovo, Pennsylvania (01545600).
Low streamflow in late September, 2020 at USGS streamgage Young Womans Creek near Renovo, Pennsylvania (01545600).
Low streamflow in late September, 2020 at USGS streamgage Young Womans Creek near Renovo, Pennsylvania (01545600).
Low streamflow in late September, 2020 at USGS streamgage Young Womans Creek near Renovo, Pennsylvania (01545600).
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew over the Sulphur Banks area and Ha‘akulamanu trail within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on September 23, 2020. Fumaroles in the Sulphur Banks area are sampled approximately every three months by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemists to track long-term changes in volcanic gas chemistry at Kīlauea.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew over the Sulphur Banks area and Ha‘akulamanu trail within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on September 23, 2020. Fumaroles in the Sulphur Banks area are sampled approximately every three months by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemists to track long-term changes in volcanic gas chemistry at Kīlauea.
The weather was overcast during an overflight of Kīlauea's summit on September 23, 2020. This view shows Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) and the Steam Vents area within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Extensive cracks in the area allow heated groundwater to escape from underground.
The weather was overcast during an overflight of Kīlauea's summit on September 23, 2020. This view shows Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) and the Steam Vents area within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Extensive cracks in the area allow heated groundwater to escape from underground.
Photomicrographs from the lung of an eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) found dead in Wisconsin, U.S.A. (A) A bronchiole (arrow) contains numerous neutrophils. H&E stain. Inset: Bronchiolar epithelium is overlain by Gram-negative bacteria. Brown and Hopps stain. Bar = 20 µm.
Photomicrographs from the lung of an eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) found dead in Wisconsin, U.S.A. (A) A bronchiole (arrow) contains numerous neutrophils. H&E stain. Inset: Bronchiolar epithelium is overlain by Gram-negative bacteria. Brown and Hopps stain. Bar = 20 µm.
Justin Birchler, Physical Scientist with the USGS Coastal Change Hazards team conducts a beach profile survey at our field site on Madeira Beach. During these surveys, Justin wears a backpack with GPS equipment to collect elevation data that will be used to create a topographic map of the beach.
Justin Birchler, Physical Scientist with the USGS Coastal Change Hazards team conducts a beach profile survey at our field site on Madeira Beach. During these surveys, Justin wears a backpack with GPS equipment to collect elevation data that will be used to create a topographic map of the beach.
This photo is the results of processing a time series of images, which are a combination of all image frames collected during a 10 to 17-minute video. These images are incredibly useful for studying coastal change remotely, but the usefulness of the image depends on how they are processed.
This photo is the results of processing a time series of images, which are a combination of all image frames collected during a 10 to 17-minute video. These images are incredibly useful for studying coastal change remotely, but the usefulness of the image depends on how they are processed.
Pole Bridge Creek is one of the sites investigated in the USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessment, during which water quality and ecological condition were sampled.
Pole Bridge Creek is one of the sites investigated in the USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessment, during which water quality and ecological condition were sampled.
The USGS Coastal Change Hazards team collects data to monitor coastal change – including how storms and waves shape and reshape our beaches. It’s important to keep track of how beaches change over time because they provide habitat for many creatures including birds and sea turtles, and they are beautiful locations where people love to live and vacation.
The USGS Coastal Change Hazards team collects data to monitor coastal change – including how storms and waves shape and reshape our beaches. It’s important to keep track of how beaches change over time because they provide habitat for many creatures including birds and sea turtles, and they are beautiful locations where people love to live and vacation.
In September 2020, field crews in the USGS Nevada Water Science Center measured spring flow and collected water-quality samples at locations around the Soldier Meadows Spring Complex in Nevada. The spring complex is the only home of a small fish called the desert dace.
In September 2020, field crews in the USGS Nevada Water Science Center measured spring flow and collected water-quality samples at locations around the Soldier Meadows Spring Complex in Nevada. The spring complex is the only home of a small fish called the desert dace.
Shields River above Smith Creek near Wilsall, MT (06192980)
Shields River above Smith Creek near Wilsall, MT (06192980)
The USGS Landsat Archive added its 9 millionth scene to the archive on September 18, 2020. The scene was acquired by Landsat 8 over Northern Paraguay and is shown using bands 6,5,4.
The USGS Landsat Archive added its 9 millionth scene to the archive on September 18, 2020. The scene was acquired by Landsat 8 over Northern Paraguay and is shown using bands 6,5,4.
We conduct fieldwork in a variety of barrier island settings to understand the relative importance of these factors, including Fire Island, NY; Rockaway, NY; Seven Mile Island, NJ; and Cedar Island, VA.
We conduct fieldwork in a variety of barrier island settings to understand the relative importance of these factors, including Fire Island, NY; Rockaway, NY; Seven Mile Island, NJ; and Cedar Island, VA.
Color variations are common at Kīlauea's summit water lake, and are usually dominated by tan and brown hues. Today, the interaction between different color zones produced a large swirl in the center of the lake.
Color variations are common at Kīlauea's summit water lake, and are usually dominated by tan and brown hues. Today, the interaction between different color zones produced a large swirl in the center of the lake.
Throughout the historically active 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season,USGS hydrologists have been working quickly to collect vital flood and streamflow information in impacted areas.
Throughout the historically active 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season,USGS hydrologists have been working quickly to collect vital flood and streamflow information in impacted areas.
Using a portable flume to measure streamflow, Dugout Creek MT
Using a portable flume to measure streamflow, Dugout Creek MT
Cableway (foreground) and stream gage (background) on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon (Site number 14162200)
Cableway (foreground) and stream gage (background) on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon (Site number 14162200)
Map of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s current camera network coverage. Lava-flow hazard zone 1 is outlined in yellow. Color-shaded areas are visible to at least one camera in the current network. We would like to expand the network so that it covers the grey-shaded areas in zone 1 as well. If your property has a good view
Map of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s current camera network coverage. Lava-flow hazard zone 1 is outlined in yellow. Color-shaded areas are visible to at least one camera in the current network. We would like to expand the network so that it covers the grey-shaded areas in zone 1 as well. If your property has a good view
USGS Hydrologic Technician assisting with collection of downwelling porewater samples in a PFAS-impacted lake on Cape Cod.
USGS Hydrologic Technician assisting with collection of downwelling porewater samples in a PFAS-impacted lake on Cape Cod.
Cableway on North Santiam River at Niagara, Oregon (Site number 14181500)
Cableway on North Santiam River at Niagara, Oregon (Site number 14181500)
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and Bureau of Land Management have partnered to conduct airborne geophysical and 3DEP lidar surveys over parts of Nevada and California to collect information on undiscovered geothermal, criti
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and Bureau of Land Management have partnered to conduct airborne geophysical and 3DEP lidar surveys over parts of Nevada and California to collect information on undiscovered geothermal, criti