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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.
Hydrologic Technicians, Michael Willis and Rogelio Hernandez kayaking on the Rio Grande to collect samples prior to herbicide treatment on invasive Arundo Cane.
Hydrologic Technicians, Michael Willis and Rogelio Hernandez kayaking on the Rio Grande to collect samples prior to herbicide treatment on invasive Arundo Cane.
In this photo, USGS intern Brett Trottier (right) is learning how to prepare and deploy geophysical equipment from USGS hydrologist Eric White (left). The towed transient electromagnetic (tTEM) system is used to map the shallow subsurface to help us understand geologic and hydrogeologic conditions.
In this photo, USGS intern Brett Trottier (right) is learning how to prepare and deploy geophysical equipment from USGS hydrologist Eric White (left). The towed transient electromagnetic (tTEM) system is used to map the shallow subsurface to help us understand geologic and hydrogeologic conditions.
View of the recently cleared Boiling Pots on the Wailuku River in Hilo. The pots, each about 15 m (50 ft) in diameter, are eroded into a 10,000 year old Mauna Loa lava flow. When the water is low, the river does not flow over some of the pot rims but it continues to flow through them. USGS photo.
View of the recently cleared Boiling Pots on the Wailuku River in Hilo. The pots, each about 15 m (50 ft) in diameter, are eroded into a 10,000 year old Mauna Loa lava flow. When the water is low, the river does not flow over some of the pot rims but it continues to flow through them. USGS photo.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) electronics technician Steven Fuke stands near a solar panel system that powers a volcano-monitoring station.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) electronics technician Steven Fuke stands near a solar panel system that powers a volcano-monitoring station.
HVO geologists visited the lower East Rift Zone lava flow field this past week to make measurements and observations, to better understand and reconstruct the dynamics of the Fissure 8 lava flow. This photo shows the channel wall in the braided channel region of the flow.
HVO geologists visited the lower East Rift Zone lava flow field this past week to make measurements and observations, to better understand and reconstruct the dynamics of the Fissure 8 lava flow. This photo shows the channel wall in the braided channel region of the flow.
Rain on mountain snow caused the streamflow in Dinwoody Creek to more than quintuple in 24 hours resulting in some of the highest flows recorded in the 52 years of data collection at the site. Real-time and historical data at: http://ow.ly/DLpH50An6q6
Rain on mountain snow caused the streamflow in Dinwoody Creek to more than quintuple in 24 hours resulting in some of the highest flows recorded in the 52 years of data collection at the site. Real-time and historical data at: http://ow.ly/DLpH50An6q6
Collecting samples for sediment analysis and measuring streamflow on the Shoshone River below Willwood Dam to describe hydrology and sediment transport during high flows due to releases from Buffalo Bill Dam. Data available at: http://ow.ly/TreW50AnYML
Collecting samples for sediment analysis and measuring streamflow on the Shoshone River below Willwood Dam to describe hydrology and sediment transport during high flows due to releases from Buffalo Bill Dam. Data available at: http://ow.ly/TreW50AnYML
Collecting samples for sediment analysis and measuring streamflow on the Shoshone River below Willwood Dam to describe hydrology and sediment transport during high flows due to releases from Buffalo Bill Dam. Data available at: http://ow.ly/TreW50AnYML
Collecting samples for sediment analysis and measuring streamflow on the Shoshone River below Willwood Dam to describe hydrology and sediment transport during high flows due to releases from Buffalo Bill Dam. Data available at: http://ow.ly/TreW50AnYML
A USGS employee collecting data for the Lake Tahoe Nearshore Nutrient Source Identification Project.
Mineral elements provide the color in fireworks. Barium produces bright greens; strontium yields deep reds; copper produces blues; and sodium yields yellow. Other colors can be made by mixing elements: strontium and sodium produce brilliant orange; titanium, zirconium, and magnesium alloys make silvery white; copper and strontium make lavender.
Mineral elements provide the color in fireworks. Barium produces bright greens; strontium yields deep reds; copper produces blues; and sodium yields yellow. Other colors can be made by mixing elements: strontium and sodium produce brilliant orange; titanium, zirconium, and magnesium alloys make silvery white; copper and strontium make lavender.
Passive sediment sampling on Littlefield Creek
Passive sediment sampling on Littlefield Creek
Researchers instruct volunteers on how to collect dragonfly larvae in Glacier NP as a part of the Dragonfly Mercury Project.
Researchers instruct volunteers on how to collect dragonfly larvae in Glacier NP as a part of the Dragonfly Mercury Project.
Peter Spatz making an ADCP measurement from the cable way at streamgage 13142500 Big Wood River below Magic Dam near Richfield, ID.
Peter Spatz making an ADCP measurement from the cable way at streamgage 13142500 Big Wood River below Magic Dam near Richfield, ID.
Sugar Creek, near New Palestine, Indiana. Sugar Creek is part of a long-term USGS stream monitoring project, and was one of 72 U.S.
Sugar Creek, near New Palestine, Indiana. Sugar Creek is part of a long-term USGS stream monitoring project, and was one of 72 U.S.
White-nose syndrome has been detected in Washington. USGS scientist are helping the NPS design and evaluate bat sampling protocols for their Pacific Northwest parks.
White-nose syndrome has been detected in Washington. USGS scientist are helping the NPS design and evaluate bat sampling protocols for their Pacific Northwest parks.
Brad Huffman (SAWSC) holds the level rod during an annual set of levels at the historic Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee, NC Stream gage 03460000 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Brad Huffman (SAWSC) holds the level rod during an annual set of levels at the historic Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee, NC Stream gage 03460000 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite (a silicic igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the ground). An outcrop of this size is important because it is easier to see any structural relations along with rock composition.
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite (a silicic igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the ground). An outcrop of this size is important because it is easier to see any structural relations along with rock composition.
In the eastern portion of the lake, the dark brown zone had a slightly mottled appearance, but this pattern was transient and gone within about ten minutes.
In the eastern portion of the lake, the dark brown zone had a slightly mottled appearance, but this pattern was transient and gone within about ten minutes.
Newly identified ash flow sheets within the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain volcanic province (Y-SRP). The small inset in the center shows the track of the Yellowstone hotspot and its associated eruptive centers in light gray (M—McDermitt; OH—Owyhee-Humboldt; BJ—Bruneau-Jarbidge; TF—Twin Falls; P—Picabo; H—Heise; Y—Yellowstone).
Newly identified ash flow sheets within the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain volcanic province (Y-SRP). The small inset in the center shows the track of the Yellowstone hotspot and its associated eruptive centers in light gray (M—McDermitt; OH—Owyhee-Humboldt; BJ—Bruneau-Jarbidge; TF—Twin Falls; P—Picabo; H—Heise; Y—Yellowstone).
A field crew collects sediment samples from Hoyt Lake in Buffalo, NY
A field crew collects sediment samples from Hoyt Lake in Buffalo, NY
Mitch McAdoo prepares an acoustic televiewer for borehole geophysical logging in Monroe County, WV.
Mitch McAdoo prepares an acoustic televiewer for borehole geophysical logging in Monroe County, WV.