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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.
USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of a lateral spread near a stream in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of a lateral spread near a stream in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of a lateral spread near a stream in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of a lateral spread near a stream in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Meet the team of USGS scientists who were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020.
Meet the team of USGS scientists who were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020.
USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of rockfall material in the yard of a house in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
USGS scientists were deployed to assess land deformation and movement after a large M6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico on January 7, 2020. Here is an example of rockfall material in the yard of a house in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Terremotos detectados entre diciembre 28, 2019 hasta enero 16, 2020. Sujeto a actualizaciones.
>300 M3+ terremotos* registrados
desde dic 28, 2019 (dentro de 40km) suficientemente fuerte como para ser sentido
10 M5+ terremotos* registrados
Terremotos detectados entre diciembre 28, 2019 hasta enero 16, 2020. Sujeto a actualizaciones.
>300 M3+ terremotos* registrados
desde dic 28, 2019 (dentro de 40km) suficientemente fuerte como para ser sentido
10 M5+ terremotos* registrados
Comparison of the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u on November 20, 2019, and March 1, 2020. Camera and lens same for both photos. Since November 20, 2019, the pond deepened 10 m (33 ft) and widened more than 50 m (164 ft) east-west and 30 m (98 ft) north-south. Circled clusters of rocks did not move between photos, evidence of slope stability.
Comparison of the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u on November 20, 2019, and March 1, 2020. Camera and lens same for both photos. Since November 20, 2019, the pond deepened 10 m (33 ft) and widened more than 50 m (164 ft) east-west and 30 m (98 ft) north-south. Circled clusters of rocks did not move between photos, evidence of slope stability.
Photo Contest Winner | Jan. 2020 | Where We Work
John Wernly and Andrew Kowalczk after HABS platform pull on Skaneateles Lake
Photo Contest Winner | Jan. 2020 | Where We Work
John Wernly and Andrew Kowalczk after HABS platform pull on Skaneateles Lake
This image shows a false color (bands 7,6,5) nighttime Landsat 8 image of the Taal Volcano overlaid on a daytime Landsat panchromatic black and white image (band 8). The nighttime image from path 220/row194 was acquired on January 15, 2020, a few days after the volcano's eruption.
This image shows a false color (bands 7,6,5) nighttime Landsat 8 image of the Taal Volcano overlaid on a daytime Landsat panchromatic black and white image (band 8). The nighttime image from path 220/row194 was acquired on January 15, 2020, a few days after the volcano's eruption.
USGS team with Wanda Vazquez-Garced, governor of Puerto Rico. From left to right: Lindsay Davis, Wanda Vazquez, Dianne Lopez-Trujillo, Jonathan Godt, Donyelle Davis, Alex Grant
USGS team with Wanda Vazquez-Garced, governor of Puerto Rico. From left to right: Lindsay Davis, Wanda Vazquez, Dianne Lopez-Trujillo, Jonathan Godt, Donyelle Davis, Alex Grant
Travis Gibson services the SonTek SW prior to making a discharge measurement on a chilly morning on the Great Salt Lake at USGS gage 410401112134801 Great Salt Lake Farmington Bay Outflow, UT.
Travis Gibson services the SonTek SW prior to making a discharge measurement on a chilly morning on the Great Salt Lake at USGS gage 410401112134801 Great Salt Lake Farmington Bay Outflow, UT.
USGS scientists Thomas L. Pratt and Alena L. Leads, along with Dr. Elizabeth Vanacore, associate research professor at University of Puerto Rico, analyze data in earthquake monitoring and recording equipment amid aftershocks across the island's southern coast.
USGS scientists Thomas L. Pratt and Alena L. Leads, along with Dr. Elizabeth Vanacore, associate research professor at University of Puerto Rico, analyze data in earthquake monitoring and recording equipment amid aftershocks across the island's southern coast.
Stream stage is still accurately measured by equip under ice, and fluctuates a fair amount due to ice damming and accumulation. Streamflow, however, during most of the winter is typically quite stable.
Stream stage is still accurately measured by equip under ice, and fluctuates a fair amount due to ice damming and accumulation. Streamflow, however, during most of the winter is typically quite stable.
An HVO scientist tests a colorimeter instrument on the water lake within Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit. Colorimetry is the measurement of the wavelength and intensity of light. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
An HVO scientist tests a colorimeter instrument on the water lake within Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit. Colorimetry is the measurement of the wavelength and intensity of light. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Stream stage is still accurately measured by equip under ice, and fluctuates a fair amount due to ice damming and accumulation. Streamflow, however, during most of the winter is typically quite stable.
Stream stage is still accurately measured by equip under ice, and fluctuates a fair amount due to ice damming and accumulation. Streamflow, however, during most of the winter is typically quite stable.
A pack string crossing the Yellowstone River in the remote Thorofare region. National Park Service photo courtesy of Sherrie and Ron White, August 21, 2016.
A pack string crossing the Yellowstone River in the remote Thorofare region. National Park Service photo courtesy of Sherrie and Ron White, August 21, 2016.
Landsat 8 image of Phoenix, Arizona, acquired on January 13, 2020 (Path 37 Row 36). This false color image uses the short-wave infrared, near infrared, and red bands (bands 6, 5, 4) to display the data.
For more information about Landsat, please visit www.usgs.gov/Landsat
Landsat 8 image of Phoenix, Arizona, acquired on January 13, 2020 (Path 37 Row 36). This false color image uses the short-wave infrared, near infrared, and red bands (bands 6, 5, 4) to display the data.
For more information about Landsat, please visit www.usgs.gov/Landsat
Photo (L-R) Jose Cancel of Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN), Alena Leeds of USGS and Javier Santiago of PRSN install a temporary seismometer at Sabana Yeguas in southwestern Puerto Rico on Jan. 10, 2020.
Photo (L-R) Jose Cancel of Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN), Alena Leeds of USGS and Javier Santiago of PRSN install a temporary seismometer at Sabana Yeguas in southwestern Puerto Rico on Jan. 10, 2020.
Imperial Geyser hot spring pool in Yellowstone National Park is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.
Imperial Geyser hot spring pool in Yellowstone National Park is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.
Large microscope used for counting microplastics found in water samples
Large microscope used for counting microplastics found in water samples
The SQUID-5, or a Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras is a towed surface vehicle with an onboard Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and 5 downward-looking cameras with overlapping views of the seafloor.
The SQUID-5, or a Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras is a towed surface vehicle with an onboard Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and 5 downward-looking cameras with overlapping views of the seafloor.
Visitors in the busy Old Faithful area. National Park Service photo by Neal Herbert, May 27, 2017.
Visitors in the busy Old Faithful area. National Park Service photo by Neal Herbert, May 27, 2017.