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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.
This series of maps compares aerial imagery collected prior to Kīlauea's 2018 summit collapse and the "Geologic Map of the Summit Region of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii" (Dutton and others, 2007; Neal and others, 2003)—created before Kīlauea's 2018 summit collapse—with aerial imagery collected after the 2018 summit collapse and a preliminary update to Kīlauea's summit ge
This series of maps compares aerial imagery collected prior to Kīlauea's 2018 summit collapse and the "Geologic Map of the Summit Region of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii" (Dutton and others, 2007; Neal and others, 2003)—created before Kīlauea's 2018 summit collapse—with aerial imagery collected after the 2018 summit collapse and a preliminary update to Kīlauea's summit ge
A USGS hydrologic technician finishes installation of a rapid-deployment streamgage at Gordonville Road on the Tittabawassee River in Midland, Michigan.
A USGS hydrologic technician finishes installation of a rapid-deployment streamgage at Gordonville Road on the Tittabawassee River in Midland, Michigan.
USGS and Department of Interior UAS pilots plan a flight near Canyonland, Utah.
USGS and Department of Interior UAS pilots plan a flight near Canyonland, Utah.
East Canyon Creek near Morgan, UT (10134500) gage house and sharp crested weir control taken on May 19, 2020. This gage has cooperator funding by the Utah Department of Natural Resources - Division of Water Rights.
East Canyon Creek near Morgan, UT (10134500) gage house and sharp crested weir control taken on May 19, 2020. This gage has cooperator funding by the Utah Department of Natural Resources - Division of Water Rights.
This image shows a GLRI nutrient sampler submerged during major flooding on the Rifle River, Michigan, in May 2020. This site is near the Rifle River Near Sterling USGS streamgage.
This image shows a GLRI nutrient sampler submerged during major flooding on the Rifle River, Michigan, in May 2020. This site is near the Rifle River Near Sterling USGS streamgage.
Upstream view of the Middle Fork Fortymile River near U.S. Geological Survey streamgage 15331000, Middle Fork Fortymile River near mouth near Chicken, Alaska
Upstream view of the Middle Fork Fortymile River near U.S. Geological Survey streamgage 15331000, Middle Fork Fortymile River near mouth near Chicken, Alaska
PVC pipe of science! We installed these samplers in four locations, and they will sit in Littlefield Creek for a month to collect suspended sediment as the water flows through the pipe. More info on the project at: http://ow.ly/pRbV50zJH6Z
PVC pipe of science! We installed these samplers in four locations, and they will sit in Littlefield Creek for a month to collect suspended sediment as the water flows through the pipe. More info on the project at: http://ow.ly/pRbV50zJH6Z
Map of gas hydrate locations, known and inferred. Browse graphic for ScienceBase data release, Preliminary global database of known and inferred gas hydrate locations.
Map of gas hydrate locations, known and inferred. Browse graphic for ScienceBase data release, Preliminary global database of known and inferred gas hydrate locations.
Barry Arm of Harriman Fjord, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Included is Barry Glacier and Cascade Glacier.
Barry Arm of Harriman Fjord, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Included is Barry Glacier and Cascade Glacier.
Black Fork near Millburne streamgage site. Real-time data at: http://ow.ly/Kbps50zHJsz
Black Fork near Millburne streamgage site. Real-time data at: http://ow.ly/Kbps50zHJsz
Photographic proof for the boss as to why it took extra time on your field run. Heading to the Blacks Fork near Millburne streamgage. Real-time data at: http://ow.ly/Kbps50zHJsz
Photographic proof for the boss as to why it took extra time on your field run. Heading to the Blacks Fork near Millburne streamgage. Real-time data at: http://ow.ly/Kbps50zHJsz
Map of the portion of the southwest coast of Puerto Rico affected by an earthquake sequence that began in December 2019, along with portions of the seafloor where faults involved in the earthquake sequence were suspected to exist.
Map of the portion of the southwest coast of Puerto Rico affected by an earthquake sequence that began in December 2019, along with portions of the seafloor where faults involved in the earthquake sequence were suspected to exist.
HVO scientist measures the episode 12 lava fountain height at Mauna Ulu from Pu‘u Huluhulu on Dec 30, 1969. The Mauna Ulu eruption marks its 51st anniversary on May 24, 1969. Photo by Hans-Ulrich Schmincke.
HVO scientist measures the episode 12 lava fountain height at Mauna Ulu from Pu‘u Huluhulu on Dec 30, 1969. The Mauna Ulu eruption marks its 51st anniversary on May 24, 1969. Photo by Hans-Ulrich Schmincke.
Right tool for the job! Which ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) is used at a site depends on how deep, fast, and turbid the stream is. Ensuring the most accurate data collected.
Right tool for the job! Which ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) is used at a site depends on how deep, fast, and turbid the stream is. Ensuring the most accurate data collected.
Right tool for the job! Which ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) is used at a site depends on how deep, fast, and turbid the stream is. Ensuring the most accurate data collected.
Right tool for the job! Which ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) is used at a site depends on how deep, fast, and turbid the stream is. Ensuring the most accurate data collected.
May 2020 earthquake swarm at Lōʻihi seamount
Depth-averaged velocity and primary and secondary velocities (Rozovskii definition) in the confluence of the White and Wabash Rivers along the Illinois and Indiana border, January 12, 2008. Produced in VMT using data from a TRDI 1200 KHz Rio Grande ADCP and additional formatting using Adobe Illustrator.
Depth-averaged velocity and primary and secondary velocities (Rozovskii definition) in the confluence of the White and Wabash Rivers along the Illinois and Indiana border, January 12, 2008. Produced in VMT using data from a TRDI 1200 KHz Rio Grande ADCP and additional formatting using Adobe Illustrator.
Depth-averaged currents and distribution of near-surface specific conductance in coastal Lake Erie in the vicinity of Villa Angela Beach and Euclid Creek, Ohio on September 11, 2012 Produced in VMT using data from a TRDI 600 KHz Rio Grande ADCP and supplementary specific conductance data from an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that completed a simulataeous three
Depth-averaged currents and distribution of near-surface specific conductance in coastal Lake Erie in the vicinity of Villa Angela Beach and Euclid Creek, Ohio on September 11, 2012 Produced in VMT using data from a TRDI 600 KHz Rio Grande ADCP and supplementary specific conductance data from an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that completed a simulataeous three
Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 that occurred between March 1 and May 12, 2020, in the Intermountain West. The main shock-aftershock sequences in central Idaho and near Salt Lake City are labeled. Orange dots are earthquakes that occurred within 24 hours, and yellow 1 week, of the map being generated (May 12, 2020)
Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 that occurred between March 1 and May 12, 2020, in the Intermountain West. The main shock-aftershock sequences in central Idaho and near Salt Lake City are labeled. Orange dots are earthquakes that occurred within 24 hours, and yellow 1 week, of the map being generated (May 12, 2020)
Schematic diagram illustrating the difference between a main shock with aftershocks (top), a sequences of foreshocks, main shock, and aftershocks (middle), and a seismic swarm (bottom). Adapted from manuscript by Farrell and others, 2009.
Schematic diagram illustrating the difference between a main shock with aftershocks (top), a sequences of foreshocks, main shock, and aftershocks (middle), and a seismic swarm (bottom). Adapted from manuscript by Farrell and others, 2009.