Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Videos

The USGS is a science organization that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable information.

Filter Total Items: 2772
video thumbnail: Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (August 19, 2006) Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (August 19, 2006)
Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (August 19, 2006)
Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (August 19, 2006)

To document changes in the lava stream level within the Prince Kuhio Kalaniana'ole (PKK) lava tube, a time-lapse camera was placed on the brink of a lava tube skylight (an opening in the roof of the lava tube) with a view of the lava.

To document changes in the lava stream level within the Prince Kuhio Kalaniana'ole (PKK) lava tube, a time-lapse camera was placed on the brink of a lava tube skylight (an opening in the roof of the lava tube) with a view of the lava.

Dancing Grizzly
Dancing Grizzly
Dancing Grizzly

Grizzly bear vigorously rubbing on a natural marking tree in Glacier NP, Montana. Rubbing is a form of chemical communication. DNA analysis of hair collected from natural rub trees is used to identify individual bears and census the population.

Grizzly bear vigorously rubbing on a natural marking tree in Glacier NP, Montana. Rubbing is a form of chemical communication. DNA analysis of hair collected from natural rub trees is used to identify individual bears and census the population.

PubTalk 7/2006 — Uncovering Silicon Valley
PubTalk 7/2006 — Uncovering Silicon Valley
PubTalk 7/2006 — Uncovering Silicon Valley

Weaving a tale of three sedimentary basins

by Victoria E. Langenheim, Geophysicist

 

Weaving a tale of three sedimentary basins

by Victoria E. Langenheim, Geophysicist

 

Pine Marten in Glacier National Park
Pine Marten in Glacier National Park
Pine Marten in Glacier National Park

A pine marten climbs up and down a tree and onto the remote camera box. The camera is pointed at a bear rub tree.

A pine marten climbs up and down a tree and onto the remote camera box. The camera is pointed at a bear rub tree.

PubTalk 6/2006 — Geology on Conveyor Belts
PubTalk 6/2006 — Geology on Conveyor Belts
PubTalk 6/2006 — Geology on Conveyor Belts

New ideas on Bay Area evolution from a decade of geologic mapping

By Russ Graymer, Geologist

 

New ideas on Bay Area evolution from a decade of geologic mapping

By Russ Graymer, Geologist

 

video thumbnail: Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 28, 2006) Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 28, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 28, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 28, 2006)

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

Lava Breakout from PKK Lava Tube at East Lae‘apuki
Lava Breakout from PKK Lava Tube at East Lae‘apuki
Lava Breakout from PKK Lava Tube at East Lae‘apuki

(June 24, 2006, 19:00:53 to June 25, 2006, 01:00:55) After sunset on June 24, 2006, lava burst from the PKK lava tube about 50 meters inland from the older sea cliff bounding the inboard edge of the East Lae‘apuki lava delta. Lava reached the sea cliff and began cascading over it in less than a minute, and it spread quickly across the l

(June 24, 2006, 19:00:53 to June 25, 2006, 01:00:55) After sunset on June 24, 2006, lava burst from the PKK lava tube about 50 meters inland from the older sea cliff bounding the inboard edge of the East Lae‘apuki lava delta. Lava reached the sea cliff and began cascading over it in less than a minute, and it spread quickly across the l

video thumbnail: East Lae'apuki Lava Breakout (June 24, 2006) East Lae'apuki Lava Breakout (June 24, 2006)
East Lae'apuki Lava Breakout (June 24, 2006)
East Lae'apuki Lava Breakout (June 24, 2006)

After sunset on June 24, 2006, lava burst from the East Lae'apuki lava tube about 50 meters (165 feet) inland from the older sea cliff behind the East Lae'apuki lava delta. Lava reached and began cascading over the sea cliff within a minute, and quickly spread across the lava delta below.

After sunset on June 24, 2006, lava burst from the East Lae'apuki lava tube about 50 meters (165 feet) inland from the older sea cliff behind the East Lae'apuki lava delta. Lava reached and began cascading over the sea cliff within a minute, and quickly spread across the lava delta below.

video thumbnail: Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (June 11, 2006) Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (June 11, 2006)
Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (June 11, 2006)
Lava Level Change in PKK Tube Skylight (June 11, 2006)

To document changes in the lava stream level within the Prince Kuhio Kalaniana'ole (PKK) lava tube, a time-lapse camera was placed on the brink of a lava tube skylight (an opening in the roof of the lava tube) with a view of the lava.

To document changes in the lava stream level within the Prince Kuhio Kalaniana'ole (PKK) lava tube, a time-lapse camera was placed on the brink of a lava tube skylight (an opening in the roof of the lava tube) with a view of the lava.

video thumbnail: WRF Model Output: Cloud-top Temperature Simulation WRF Model Output: Cloud-top Temperature Simulation
WRF Model Output: Cloud-top Temperature Simulation
WRF Model Output: Cloud-top Temperature Simulation

Cloud-top temperature simulation for Arctic Alaska

video thumbnail: WRF Model Output: Surface Air Temperature Simulation WRF Model Output: Surface Air Temperature Simulation
WRF Model Output: Surface Air Temperature Simulation
WRF Model Output: Surface Air Temperature Simulation

Surface air temperature simulation for Arctic Alaska

video thumbnail: WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation
WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation
WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation

Total precipitation simulation for Arctic Alaska

video thumbnail: WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation
WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation
WRF Model Output: Total Precipitation Simulation

Total precipitation simulation for Arctic Alaska

Gas Pistons Within Drainhole Vent at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
Gas Pistons Within Drainhole Vent at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
Gas Pistons Within Drainhole Vent at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

(June 2, 2006, 18:30:02 to June 3, 2006, 02:00:03) Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kīlauea and some other basalticvolcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas near the top of the lava column within a volcanic vent (Swanson and others, 1979).

(June 2, 2006, 18:30:02 to June 3, 2006, 02:00:03) Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kīlauea and some other basalticvolcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas near the top of the lava column within a volcanic vent (Swanson and others, 1979).

video thumbnail: Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006) Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006)

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

video thumbnail: Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006) Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 3, 2006)

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

video thumbnail: Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 2-3, 2006) Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 2-3, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 2-3, 2006)
Gas-Pistoning at Drainhole Vent in Pu'u 'O'o Crater (June 2-3, 2006)

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

Gas-pistoning is an interesting phenomenon seen at Kilauea and other volcanoes. It is caused by the accumulation of gas within, or the rise of a gas slug through, a column of lava. In either case, the gas pushes up the overlying lava (the "piston"). Eventually, the gas breaches the surface and escapes, sometimes as a forceful jet of fume and spatter.

Mount St. Helens: Instrumentation and Dome Growth, April-May 2006
Mount St. Helens: Instrumentation and Dome Growth, April-May 2006
Mount St. Helens: Instrumentation and Dome Growth, April-May 2006

The first priority of any eruption is to assess current status and what might happen next. To accomplish this, Mount St. Helens became one of most heavily monitored volcanoes. At the start of the 2004–08 eruption, 13 permanent seismic stations operated within about 12 miles of Mount St. Helens.

The first priority of any eruption is to assess current status and what might happen next. To accomplish this, Mount St. Helens became one of most heavily monitored volcanoes. At the start of the 2004–08 eruption, 13 permanent seismic stations operated within about 12 miles of Mount St. Helens.

Mount St. Helens: Instrumentation and Dome Growth, May-Sept 2006
Mount St. Helens: Instrumentation and Dome Growth, May-Sept 2006
Mount St. Helens: Instrumentation and Dome Growth, May-Sept 2006

Throughout the eruption, scientists installed monitoring stations to track volcanic activity, deployed temporary monitoring ""spiders"", monitored the temperature of lava spines and created time-lapse of dome growth. During the 3+ years of the eruption, lava piled up to form a new dome 460 m (1,500 ft) high.

Throughout the eruption, scientists installed monitoring stations to track volcanic activity, deployed temporary monitoring ""spiders"", monitored the temperature of lava spines and created time-lapse of dome growth. During the 3+ years of the eruption, lava piled up to form a new dome 460 m (1,500 ft) high.

Lava Tube Bubble Bursts on the East Lae‘apuki Lava Delta
Lava Tube Bubble Bursts on the East Lae‘apuki Lava Delta
Lava Tube Bubble Bursts on the East Lae‘apuki Lava Delta

(May 29, 2006, 10:45:46 to 19:30:49) The interaction of sea water and lava creates a volatile situation (Mattox and Mangan, 1997). When this happens inside the confined space of a lava tube, or a narrow, water-filled crack, the results can be impressive.

(May 29, 2006, 10:45:46 to 19:30:49) The interaction of sea water and lava creates a volatile situation (Mattox and Mangan, 1997). When this happens inside the confined space of a lava tube, or a narrow, water-filled crack, the results can be impressive.

video thumbnail: Bubble Bursts at East Lae'apuki Ocean Entry (May 29, 2006) Bubble Bursts at East Lae'apuki Ocean Entry (May 29, 2006)
Bubble Bursts at East Lae'apuki Ocean Entry (May 29, 2006)
Bubble Bursts at East Lae'apuki Ocean Entry (May 29, 2006)

The interaction of sea water and lava creates a volatile situation. When this happens inside the confined space of a lava tube, or a narrow, water-filled crack, the results can be impressive. In this video, which was made from time-lapse images cropped to focus on the activity, bursting lava bubbles put on quite a show for several hours.

The interaction of sea water and lava creates a volatile situation. When this happens inside the confined space of a lava tube, or a narrow, water-filled crack, the results can be impressive. In this video, which was made from time-lapse images cropped to focus on the activity, bursting lava bubbles put on quite a show for several hours.