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.
Three researchers on the summit of Dancing Lady Mountain set up tapes and grids to complete a Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments network (GLORIA) vegetation survey.
Three researchers on the summit of Dancing Lady Mountain set up tapes and grids to complete a Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments network (GLORIA) vegetation survey.
Aerial photo showing fracture line of avalanche along a snow ridge line.
Aerial photo showing fracture line of avalanche along a snow ridge line.
Researchers evaluate vegetation during a Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine (GLORIA) alpine plant survey near the summit of Seward Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Researchers evaluate vegetation during a Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine (GLORIA) alpine plant survey near the summit of Seward Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Photo of surf zone offshore of Fort Stevens State Park taken from the Columbia River South Jetty observation deck.
Photo of surf zone offshore of Fort Stevens State Park taken from the Columbia River South Jetty observation deck.
USGS gage 04159130 St. Clair River at Port Huron, MI
USGS gage 04159130 St. Clair River at Port Huron, MIJosh Loewel, Hydrologic Technician for the Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Lansing Office, servicing the ADVM at St. Clair River at Port Huron, MI (USGS Station Number 04159130). Photograph was taken looking southeast, with the city of Sarnia, Ontario on the opposite bank of the river.
USGS gage 04159130 St. Clair River at Port Huron, MI
USGS gage 04159130 St. Clair River at Port Huron, MIJosh Loewel, Hydrologic Technician for the Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Lansing Office, servicing the ADVM at St. Clair River at Port Huron, MI (USGS Station Number 04159130). Photograph was taken looking southeast, with the city of Sarnia, Ontario on the opposite bank of the river.
No significant changes at Kīlauea's summit water lake
No significant changes at Kīlauea's summit water lakeAn HVO geologist collects GPS data on the western rim of Kīlauea's summit caldera. The geologist is standing upon a thick sequence of tephra deposits formed during explosive eruptions at Kīlauea's summit between about 1500 CE and the early 19th century.
No significant changes at Kīlauea's summit water lake
No significant changes at Kīlauea's summit water lakeAn HVO geologist collects GPS data on the western rim of Kīlauea's summit caldera. The geologist is standing upon a thick sequence of tephra deposits formed during explosive eruptions at Kīlauea's summit between about 1500 CE and the early 19th century.
USGS employee collects data for Lake Tahoe Nutrient Project
USGS employee collects data for Lake Tahoe Nutrient ProjectA USGS employee collecting data for the Lake Tahoe Nearshore Nutrient Source Identification Project.
USGS employee collects water quality samples alongside boat
USGS employee collects water quality samples alongside boatA USGS employee collecting data for the Lake Tahoe Nearshore Nutrient Source Identification Project.
Hydrographers Bradley Bjorklund and Jonathan Cohl splitting a sample collected at Spruce Run Reservoir into sample containers for laboratory analysis.
Hydrographers Bradley Bjorklund and Jonathan Cohl splitting a sample collected at Spruce Run Reservoir into sample containers for laboratory analysis.
David O'Leary setting up the RTK GPS base station.
David O'Leary setting up the RTK GPS base station.David O'Leary is setting up the RTK GPS base station to establish a base elevation on a point above the Colorado River downstream of the rapids of Cataract Canyon.
David O'Leary setting up the RTK GPS base station.
David O'Leary setting up the RTK GPS base station.David O'Leary is setting up the RTK GPS base station to establish a base elevation on a point above the Colorado River downstream of the rapids of Cataract Canyon.
Panorama of Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park
Panorama of Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National ParkPanoramic photo of Hayden Valley looking east toward the Yellowstone River from the Mary Mountain trail.
Panorama of Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park
Panorama of Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National ParkPanoramic photo of Hayden Valley looking east toward the Yellowstone River from the Mary Mountain trail.
Streamgage datum surveying for Snake River abv reservoir nr Alpine, WY
Streamgage datum surveying for Snake River abv reservoir nr Alpine, WYUSGS employee surveys streamgage datum for the Snake River near Alpine, Wyoming to ensure real-time stage and streamflow data on the web are accurate.
Streamgage datum surveying for Snake River abv reservoir nr Alpine, WY
Streamgage datum surveying for Snake River abv reservoir nr Alpine, WYUSGS employee surveys streamgage datum for the Snake River near Alpine, Wyoming to ensure real-time stage and streamflow data on the web are accurate.
Violet Creek in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park
Violet Creek in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National ParkA small stream, Violet Creek, winds its way through Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park.
Violet Creek in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park
Violet Creek in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National ParkA small stream, Violet Creek, winds its way through Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park.
Rim Fire in Yosemite National Park.
Another view of the Fissure 8 channel, looking upstream. On the right, a lower
Another view of the Fissure 8 channel, looking upstream. On the right, a lowerAnother view of the Fissure 8 channel, looking upstream. On the right, a lower ledge along the channel wall represents the level of lava in the channel during the later stages of the flow. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Another view of the Fissure 8 channel, looking upstream. On the right, a lower
Another view of the Fissure 8 channel, looking upstream. On the right, a lowerAnother view of the Fissure 8 channel, looking upstream. On the right, a lower ledge along the channel wall represents the level of lava in the channel during the later stages of the flow. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Absaroka Mountains in northeastern Yellowstone National Park
Absaroka Mountains in northeastern Yellowstone National ParkA view into the Absaroka Mountains in northeastern Yellowstone National Park. While the Absarokas of today look a little different due to glacial activity, these are the same mountains that existed over the last 53 million years, well before the arrival of the Yellowstone hot spot.
Absaroka Mountains in northeastern Yellowstone National Park
Absaroka Mountains in northeastern Yellowstone National ParkA view into the Absaroka Mountains in northeastern Yellowstone National Park. While the Absarokas of today look a little different due to glacial activity, these are the same mountains that existed over the last 53 million years, well before the arrival of the Yellowstone hot spot.
Seamline Appearance Before and After Applying a DEM Fusion Algorithm
Seamline Appearance Before and After Applying a DEM Fusion AlgorithmA map series showing a subset of the Puerto Rico bathymetric study area. Panels compare a “simple mosaic” formed by overlaying the most recent dataset on top of the older dataset (left panel) with the same dataset processed with the DEM fusion method (right panel).
Seamline Appearance Before and After Applying a DEM Fusion Algorithm
Seamline Appearance Before and After Applying a DEM Fusion AlgorithmA map series showing a subset of the Puerto Rico bathymetric study area. Panels compare a “simple mosaic” formed by overlaying the most recent dataset on top of the older dataset (left panel) with the same dataset processed with the DEM fusion method (right panel).
Photo of mountains from Crested Butte, CO.
Photo of mountains from Crested Butte, CO.