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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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People sit in a small boat floating the water, preparing a sampling device to collect sediment from the bottom of the water.
Preparing the GOMEX on Grizzly Bay
Preparing the GOMEX on Grizzly Bay
Preparing the GOMEX on Grizzly Bay

From left to right, USGS scientists Sam McGill, Lucas WinklerPrins, David Hart, Selina Davila Olivera, and Pete Dal Ferro work on Grizzly Bay on the vessel Jewell, to collect sediment samples using the GOMEX box corer.

From left to right, USGS scientists Sam McGill, Lucas WinklerPrins, David Hart, Selina Davila Olivera, and Pete Dal Ferro work on Grizzly Bay on the vessel Jewell, to collect sediment samples using the GOMEX box corer.

A boat floats on calm waters with some people sitting in it.
Sampling on Grizzly Bay
Sampling on Grizzly Bay
Sampling on Grizzly Bay

On PCMSC vessel Jewell, a team of USGS scientists sit in Grizzly Bay, a baylet of San Francisco Bay in Solano County, California. USGS collects sediment samples to study how sediment moves through sensitive coastal environments like this.

On PCMSC vessel Jewell, a team of USGS scientists sit in Grizzly Bay, a baylet of San Francisco Bay in Solano County, California. USGS collects sediment samples to study how sediment moves through sensitive coastal environments like this.

Five people on a small boat in calm water work on a sampling device being retrieved from the water.
Sediment collected in a GOMEX box corer
Sediment collected in a GOMEX box corer
Sediment collected in a GOMEX box corer

USGS science crew works to free the muddy sediment from a GOMEX box corer. They are on board the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's vessel Jewell on Grizzly Bay in the San Francisco Bay area.

USGS science crew works to free the muddy sediment from a GOMEX box corer. They are on board the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's vessel Jewell on Grizzly Bay in the San Francisco Bay area.

A nondescript white instrument box sits up high atop piers in the water with cables and a small solar panel.
Weather station power supply and modem
Weather station power supply and modem
Weather station power supply and modem

A weather station, installed in the middle of Grizzly Bay east of San Pablo Bay (near San Francisco), gets its power from a small solar panel. Data collected from the station is transmitted via a wireless modem. Far in the background is the city of Benicia, and the plume rising into the sky is water vapor emitted from the Benicia oil refinery.

A weather station, installed in the middle of Grizzly Bay east of San Pablo Bay (near San Francisco), gets its power from a small solar panel. Data collected from the station is transmitted via a wireless modem. Far in the background is the city of Benicia, and the plume rising into the sky is water vapor emitted from the Benicia oil refinery.

Yellowstone wildlife
Yellowstone Wildlife
Yellowstone Wildlife
Yellowstone Wildlife

Wildlife out in force in Yellowstone as streamgagers headed into streamgages on Firehole and Gibbon Rivers. The thermal activity of the area means that the Firehole River is almost always ice free.

Wildlife out in force in Yellowstone as streamgagers headed into streamgages on Firehole and Gibbon Rivers. The thermal activity of the area means that the Firehole River is almost always ice free.

Yellowstone wildlife
Yellowstone Wildlife
Yellowstone Wildlife
Yellowstone Wildlife

Wildlife out in force in Yellowstone as streamgagers headed into streamgages on Firehole and Gibbon Rivers. The thermal activity of the area means that the Firehole River is almost always ice free.

Wildlife out in force in Yellowstone as streamgagers headed into streamgages on Firehole and Gibbon Rivers. The thermal activity of the area means that the Firehole River is almost always ice free.

Semipalmated Sandpipers with leg bands or leg bands plus flag
Semipalmated Sandpipers with leg bands or leg bands plus flag
Semipalmated Sandpipers with leg bands or leg bands plus flag
Semipalmated Sandpipers with leg bands or leg bands plus flag

Semipalmated Sandpipers with A) Leg bands only (no flag), or B) leg bands plus flag From: Leg flags do not affect shorebird nests: https://doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12264

Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico

Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico held on Jan. 20, 2020. Dr. Jonathan Godt (USGS) and Dr. Elizabeth A. Vanacore (Red Sismica Puerto Rico) answered questions to congressmen: Yauco's major, Bill Posey, Jenniffer González Colón, Stephanie Murphy, Donna Shalala

Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico held on Jan. 20, 2020. Dr. Jonathan Godt (USGS) and Dr. Elizabeth A. Vanacore (Red Sismica Puerto Rico) answered questions to congressmen: Yauco's major, Bill Posey, Jenniffer González Colón, Stephanie Murphy, Donna Shalala

Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico
Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico

Overview of the Congressional event following the 6.4 earthquake in Puerto Rico. Bottom of picture: congressmen. Center: Dianne Lopez, Lindsay Davis, Donyelle Davis

Brown pond
A close-up view of the Kilauea pond
A close-up view of the Kilauea pond
A close-up view of the Kilauea pond

A close-up view of the Kilauea pond shows the color variations across the surface, and sharp boundaries among zones of different color.

Illustration of a bay and delta region with different colors to depict varying depths of water.
Bathymetric map of the northern portion of San Francisco Bay (MLLW)
Bathymetric map of the northern portion of San Francisco Bay (MLLW)
Bathymetric map of the northern portion of San Francisco Bay (MLLW)

Digital elevation model (DEM) of northern San Francisco Bay, California, created using bathymetry data collected between 1999 and 2016 (MLLW)

the entrance to the Buzzards Bay entrance to the Cape Cod Canal.
Buzzards Bay Entrance to the Cape Cod Canal
Buzzards Bay Entrance to the Cape Cod Canal
Buzzards Bay Entrance to the Cape Cod Canal

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the entrance to the Buzzards Bay entrance to the Cape Cod Canal.

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the entrance to the Buzzards Bay entrance to the Cape Cod Canal.

the three-dimensional perspective view of the Elizabeth Islands in the center of the image. Buzzards Bay is to the left (north)
Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts
Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts
Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the three-dimensional perspective view of the Elizabeth Islands in the center of the image. Buzzards Bay is to the left (north) of the Elizabeth Islands, and Vineyard Sound is to the right (south).

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the three-dimensional perspective view of the Elizabeth Islands in the center of the image. Buzzards Bay is to the left (north) of the Elizabeth Islands, and Vineyard Sound is to the right (south).

three-dimensional perspective view of Nantucket Island, MA looking from the Southeast to the Northwest.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket, Massachusetts

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the three-dimensional perspective view of Nantucket Island, MA looking from the Southeast to the Northwest.

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the three-dimensional perspective view of Nantucket Island, MA looking from the Southeast to the Northwest.

Color photograph showing summit of Kīlauea Volcano
Photograph of Kīlauea summit water
Photograph of Kīlauea summit water
Photograph of Kīlauea summit water

After days of rain, a window of clear weather allowed HVO geologists to make observations and take measurements of the water pond at Kīlauea's summit on January 17, 2020. No major changes were observed, and the water level continues to slowly rise. 

After days of rain, a window of clear weather allowed HVO geologists to make observations and take measurements of the water pond at Kīlauea's summit on January 17, 2020. No major changes were observed, and the water level continues to slowly rise. 

Salem and Marblehead in the middle of the image and Rocky Neck in the upper middle.
Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts
Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts
Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows Salem and Marblehead in the middle of the image and Rocky Neck in the upper middle.

This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows Salem and Marblehead in the middle of the image and Rocky Neck in the upper middle.

Four scientists work on samples at a volcano
Scientists process volcano lake water samples
Scientists process volcano lake water samples
Scientists process volcano lake water samples

After a sample was collected, HVO team members transferred water from the sampling device to plastic bottles. Team members took notes, measured water pH and evaluated water temperature data for each sample collected.   

After a sample was collected, HVO team members transferred water from the sampling device to plastic bottles. Team members took notes, measured water pH and evaluated water temperature data for each sample collected.   

Part of the USGS Earthquake Response Team visiting areas affected by the 6.4 earthquake.
USGS visits areas affected by the 6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake
USGS visits areas affected by the 6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake
USGS visits areas affected by the 6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake

Part of the USGS Earthquake Response Team visiting areas affected by the 6.4 earthquake. Place: Guánica Boardwalk. From left to right: Donyelle Davis, Dianne López, Jonathan Godt, Alex Grant

click on image for full description
2020 Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence (as of Jan. 16, 2020)
2020 Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence (as of Jan. 16, 2020)
2020 Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence (as of Jan. 16, 2020)

Earthquakes detected between December 28, 2019 as of January 16, 2020. Subject to updates.

>300 M3+earthquakes recorded*
since Dec. 28, 2019 (within 40km) strong enough to be felt

10 M5+ earthquakes recorded*
since Dec. 28, 2019 (including M6.4) large enough to do damage

Earthquakes detected between December 28, 2019 as of January 16, 2020. Subject to updates.

>300 M3+earthquakes recorded*
since Dec. 28, 2019 (within 40km) strong enough to be felt

10 M5+ earthquakes recorded*
since Dec. 28, 2019 (including M6.4) large enough to do damage

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