Multimedia Gallery

Yellowstone’s semi-permanent GPS sensors head home for the winter.

Mike Poland, the Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides the October update from the warehouse at the Cascades Volcano Observatory, where the YVO field team is getting ready to head out to Yellowstone to pick up instruments that have been collecting data on ground surface

Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series, a whiteboard animation video series highlighting USGS careers. The concept is to show "what society (or my mom) thinks I do" compared with "what I really do." One image captures a more whimsical representation of a "scientist" and the second demonstrates a more accurate representation of what we really look like. This video is about a

Landsat 9 is a partnership between NASA and USGS. The satellite will continue the Landsat program’s mission to capture repeat snapshots of Earth to monitor, understand and manage natural resources.

[Audio Descriptions]
A short look back at the the history of Landsat launches through the historic articles of the Lompoc Record publication.

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A short look back at the the history of Landsat launches through the historic articles of the Lompoc Record publication.

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Social scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Collins Science Center – in collaboration with the USGS National Land Imaging Program – conduct Earth observation user case studies using qualitative research methods. Using standard scientific methods, they are better able to understand the variety of Earth observation users, including how they use and value

On October 1, 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey Colorado River streamflow gaging site (USGS 09380000) at Lees Ferry will mark its 100-year anniversary of recording continuous streamflow data. As the gage of record for the apportionment of the Colorado River between the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins, the Lees Ferry site is arguably one of the most important

Landsat satellites acquire useful data on wildfires around the world. Their near infrared and shortwave infrared imaging allows for detection and mapping of fire, smoke, and burn scars often in remote areas.

In California: the Dixie Fire near Lake Almanor and the Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe.

In Israel: over 6,000 acres in the Jerusalem Hills just west of

The remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped several inches of rain on eastern Pennsylvania.

These Landsat images show the Schuylkill River west of Philadelphia where muddied waters rose in several communities.

This image from August 26th shows typical river levels in the Phoenixville area.

A USGS stream gauge in Philadelphia exceeded flood stage levels by

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge Mike Poland tells the story behind the color change of Morning Glory Pool and shows how to recognize seasonal changes in ground deformation data in this September 1, 2021 video update of volcano and earthquake activity at Yellowstone Volcano.

Morning Glory has a cautionary tale to tell about how humans can impact

The Caldor fire in California started on August 14, 2021 and quickly spread in high winds.

The fire continues to expand toward the Lake Tahoe area as residents evacuate.

This image was captured on August 21, the 8th day.

Landsat 8's near infrared and shortwave infrared bands reveal active fire, burn scars, and smoke.

Landsat's thermal and

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The increasing risk of flooding along our coasts is driven by climate change, development and habitat loss.

Powerful climate-fueled hurricanes such as Irma and Maria in 2017 caused significant damage to coastal communities in Florida and Puerto Rico, not

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The increasing risk of flooding along our coasts is driven by climate change, development and habitat loss.

Powerful climate-fueled hurricanes such as Irma and Maria in 2017 caused significant damage to coastal communities in Florida and Puerto Rico, not

Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) data are here!

The LP DAAC and the HLS Science Team are pleased to announce the release of Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) version 2.0 surface reflectance products. HLS data are composed of observations from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 and provide a set of seamless data products that can be utilized as if all observations

Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) data are here!

The LP DAAC and the HLS Science Team are pleased to announce the release of Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) version 2.0 surface reflectance products. HLS data are composed of observations from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 and provide a set of seamless data products that can be utilized as if all

Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) data are here!

The LP DAAC and the HLS Science Team are pleased to announce the release of Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) version 2.0 surface reflectance products. HLS data are composed of observations from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 and provide a set of seamless data products that can be utilized as if all observations

Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) version 2 data are here!

The LP DAAC and the HLS Science Team are pleased to announce the release of Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) version 2.0 surface reflectance products. HLS data are composed of observations from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 and provide a set of seamless data products that can be utilized as if all

The Dixie Fire has become the largest single fire in California's recorded history. State fire officials don't list it at the top, however. The record is held by the massive August Complex fire of 2020 which burned over one million acres. The term "complex" is used when multiple fires in the same area ignite separately. Designating the fires as a complex allows them to be

The Earth As Art project began in the early 2000s, and its original intent remains the same: to produce images that do not look like satellite images at first glance. Earth As Art shows not only what satellites capture in the visible wavelengths of light you and I can see, but also what’s hiding in the invisible wavelengths that Landsat sensors can detect in the infrared

The Earth As Art project began in the early 2000s, and its original intent remains the same: to produce images that do not look like satellite images at first glance. Earth As Art shows not only what satellites capture in the visible wavelengths of light you and I can see, but also what’s hiding in the invisible wavelengths that Landsat sensors can detect in the infrared

Meet GEDI! The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation sensor aboard the ISS!

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) is a full-waveform lidar instrument that produces detailed observations of the 3-dimensional structure of the Earth’s surface. GEDI precisely measures forest canopy height, canopy vertical structure, and surface elevation which enhances

A prolonged dry spell has sparked woes over water availability and wildfire in the western United States.

This stretch of northern California is heavily reliant on man-made reservoirs. The recent history of a single Landsat scene can serve to illustrate the ripple effects of those severely parched conditions. Water levels have dropped in Folsom Lake, Indian Valley

Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series. This is the ninth video in a series of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers. The concept is to show "what society (or my mom) thinks I do" compared with "what I really do." One image captures a more whimsical representation of a "scientist" and the second demonstrates a more accurate representation of what we really

During July, Yellowstone caught everyone’s attention with 1,000+ earthquakes located in seven distinct earthquake swarms. The largest swarm occurred beneath Yellowstone Lake and had 764 earthquakes, the largest of which was a Magnitude 3.6. While this seems like a lot of earthquakes, it is not the most Yellowstone has experienced in any given month and the volcano alert

During a recent dive on the New England Seamount chain off the North Atlantic coast, researchers aboard the NOAA Ocean Exploration Expedition, North Atlantic Stepping Stones, discovered a marine geological feature known as a ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodule field in the saddle between two peaks of Gosnold Seamount. These seamount-hosted nodules were an exciting find, since Fe

During a recent dive on the New England Seamount chain off the North Atlantic coast, researchers aboard the NOAA Ocean Exploration Expedition, North Atlantic Stepping Stones, discovered a marine geological feature known as a ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodule field in the saddle between two peaks of Gosnold Seamount. These seamount-hosted nodules were an exciting find, since Fe

One of the most cratered landscapes on Earth is part of the Nevada Desert called Yucca Flat. Landsat 8's near-infrared and short wave infrared imaging shows the pockmarked surface perhaps more reminiscent of other planetary bodies than Earth.

The craters are relics from decades of nuclear tests conducted by the U.S. government since the early Cold War. An aerial

Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.

The 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts expedition runs from June 30 to July 29. At-sea and shore-based science teams will study deep-water habitats in the high seas,

Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.

The 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts expedition runs from June 30 to July 29. At-sea and shore-based science teams will study deep-water habitats in the high seas,

The Earth As Art project began in the early 2000s, and its original intent remains the same: to produce images that do not look like satellite images at first glance. Earth As Art shows not only what satellites capture in the visible wavelengths of light you and I can see, but also what’s hiding in the invisible wavelengths that Landsat sensors can detect in the infrared

The Earth As Art project began in the early 2000s, and its original intent remains the same: to produce images that do not look like satellite images at first glance. Earth As Art shows not only what satellites capture in the visible wavelengths of light you and I can see, but also what’s hiding in the invisible wavelengths that Landsat sensors can detect in the infrared

From the boardwalk near Echinus Geyser (the largest acid geyser in the world), Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland provides an update on activity in Yellowstone during the month of June. The Yellowstone Seismic Network located 445 earthquakes in the Yellowstone National Park region. Subsidence of Yellowstone Caldera, which has been ongoing since

A 1.1 mile long 509 foot tall concrete dam spanning the Blue Nile River is set to become the largest hydropower plant in Africa. Under construction since 2011, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to produce around 16,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually when fully complete in 2023 providing power to 60% of Ethiopia's estimated 115 million people.

Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series. This is the eighth video in a series of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers. The concept is to show "what society (or my mom) thinks I do" compared with "what I really do." One image captures a more whimsical representation of a "scientist" and the second demonstrates a more accurate representation of what we really

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge Mike Poland provides the YVO monthly update from the rim of Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. The V-shaped gorge tells an amazing geologic story. About half a million years ago, a large rhyolite lava flow erupted. Over time, hot water and gases heated by the magma chamber rose through faults in the lava flow. And as it rose, it

If you're watching this video, you're probably using a lithium battery. Smartphones, tablets and laptops all rely on lithium metal to store energy. It comes from surface mines or brine ponds, found in places like Australia, China and the United States. One of the leading sources for this increasingly valuable resource is the South American nation of Chile.

On the

The LANDFIRE (LF) program is working to increase the frequency of product releases and to reduce the latency of the LF products by producing annual version releases that reflect data less than one year behind current conditions and represent data conditions homologous to the growth that one would expect in areas of change/disturbances up to the year when the products are

Why storm drains are essential to watershed management.
 

The USGS Coastal Change Hazards team works to identify and address the Nation’s coastal change hazards problems.  By integrating research, technical capabilities and applications, and stakeholder engagement and communications, the Coastal Change Hazards team develops robust and accessible coastal change assessments, forecasts, and tools that help improve the lives,

The USGS Coastal Change Hazards team works to identify and address the Nation’s coastal change hazards problems.  By integrating research, technical capabilities and applications, and stakeholder engagement and communications, the Coastal Change Hazards team develops robust and accessible coastal change assessments, forecasts, and tools that help improve the lives,

Hydrologic Technician Sara Weaver is making a discharge measurement on Lamprey River below Wiswall Dam.
 

In late March of 2021, just four miles from the edge of South Dakota's second-largest city, two wildfires sparked by human activity burned through a section of the Black Hills.

The Schroeder fire began on March 29. It was fueled by high winds and dry conditions, spreading rapidly across more than 2000 acres, forcing the evacuation of neighborhoods and businesses.

In the past, users spent 80% of their time downloading and preparing Landsat data to be processed. With Landsat in the cloud, you can get direct access to stream the Landsat archive without the need to download large amounts of files, by leveraging the Cloud Optimized Geotiff, or "COG". COGs are just like the Geotiff that you're used to only unpackaged and internally tiled

The US Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, or "EROS" archive’s data from the LandSat satellites which have been in operation from 1972 to the present day. EarthShots presents environmental changes using Landsat images. 
 

The USGS New England Water Science Center features Alexander Bissell in their Center Stage Video Series. He talks about a special project he worked on and his work in water quality. Alexander also discusses his experience in the

The USGS New England Water Science Center features Alexander Bissell in their Center Stage Video Series. He talks about a special project he worked on and his work in water quality. Alexander also discusses his experience in the

This video shows a California tiger salamander finding its way to an underpass designed to help amphibians and reptiles cross the road safely, with the help of a "turn-around" that helps guide the salamander back in the right direction as it travels away from the underpass. The salamander was caught on wildlife cameras at various points between the turn-around and the