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
PubTalk 1/2004 — Roving Around Mars
PubTalk 1/2004 — Roving Around Mars
PubTalk 1/2004 — Roving Around Mars

Adventures in Exploring the Red Planet

By Devon M. Burr & Michael H. Carr, Planetary Geologists

 

Adventures in Exploring the Red Planet

By Devon M. Burr & Michael H. Carr, Planetary Geologists

 

video thumbnail: Outstanding In the Field Outstanding In the Field
Outstanding In the Field
Outstanding In the Field

Video narrated by Amy Macleod, USGS Wildlife Biologist Research Assistant at the West Glacier Field Station in Montana, on the making of the scent lures for the Northern Divide Bear Project. Scent lures are concoctions made from decomposing fish and cows blood. The scent lure is wretchedly stinky and making it is one of the dirtiest jobs in the USGS.

Video narrated by Amy Macleod, USGS Wildlife Biologist Research Assistant at the West Glacier Field Station in Montana, on the making of the scent lures for the Northern Divide Bear Project. Scent lures are concoctions made from decomposing fish and cows blood. The scent lure is wretchedly stinky and making it is one of the dirtiest jobs in the USGS.

Propagation of Seismic Waves in Atwood Building, Top View

Animation of the recorded displacements of Atwood Building, Anchorage, Alaska during the M=3.7 Point MacKenzie, Alaska earthquake of 15 Dec. 2003. Displacements are color coded in order to see the propagation of seismic waves in the building during the earthquake. View from top.

Animation of the recorded displacements of Atwood Building, Anchorage, Alaska during the M=3.7 Point MacKenzie, Alaska earthquake of 15 Dec. 2003. Displacements are color coded in order to see the propagation of seismic waves in the building during the earthquake. View from top.

Propagation of Seismic Waves, Atwood Building, Oblique View

Animation of the recorded displacements of Atwood Building, Anchorage, Alaska during the M=3.7 Point MacKenzie, Alaska earthquake of 15 Dec. 2003. Displacements are color coded in order to see the propagation of seismic waves in the building during the earthquake. Oblique view.

Animation of the recorded displacements of Atwood Building, Anchorage, Alaska during the M=3.7 Point MacKenzie, Alaska earthquake of 15 Dec. 2003. Displacements are color coded in order to see the propagation of seismic waves in the building during the earthquake. Oblique view.

PubTalk 12/2003 — What's Happening to Alaska's Glaciers?
PubTalk 12/2003 — What's Happening to Alaska's Glaciers?
PubTalk 12/2003 — What's Happening to Alaska's Glaciers?

Their Dynamic Response to Changing Climate and Other Factors

by Bruce F. Molnia, Research Geologist 

 

Their Dynamic Response to Changing Climate and Other Factors

by Bruce F. Molnia, Research Geologist 

 

PubTalk 11/2003 — Clean Power from the Earth's Heat
PubTalk 11/2003 — Clean Power from the Earth's Heat
PubTalk 11/2003 — Clean Power from the Earth's Heat

The Present and Future of Geothermal Energy

by John Sass, Geophysicist

 

Gila Monster

Gila monsters are one of only two venomous lizard species in the world. They live in the southwestern U.S. and in Mexico. This video short features USGS Emeritus Research Ecologist, Cecil Schwalbe describing details of Gila monster biology and ecology and how he survived a very painful Gila monster bite.

Gila monsters are one of only two venomous lizard species in the world. They live in the southwestern U.S. and in Mexico. This video short features USGS Emeritus Research Ecologist, Cecil Schwalbe describing details of Gila monster biology and ecology and how he survived a very painful Gila monster bite.

Nearly continuous spattering from west vent of West Gap Pit
Nearly continuous spattering from west vent of West Gap Pit
Nearly continuous spattering from west vent of West Gap Pit

Nearly continuous spattering from west vent of West Gap Pit, and sporadic spatter bursting from tall hornito to left. Heaving pond of lava between camera and vent. Hand-held camera, so a bit shaky. Note especially the symmetrical burst from hornito at about 15 seconds. Noise is reasonable facsimile of the real thing, emphasizing the treble.

Nearly continuous spattering from west vent of West Gap Pit, and sporadic spatter bursting from tall hornito to left. Heaving pond of lava between camera and vent. Hand-held camera, so a bit shaky. Note especially the symmetrical burst from hornito at about 15 seconds. Noise is reasonable facsimile of the real thing, emphasizing the treble.

Spattering from east vent in West Gap Pit
Spattering from east vent in West Gap Pit
Spattering from east vent in West Gap Pit

Spattering from east vent in West Gap Pit, taken from same place as other video and also hand-held. Note the spatter rampart under construction by the falling spatter. Helicopter noise for first several seconds.

Spattering from east vent in West Gap Pit, taken from same place as other video and also hand-held. Note the spatter rampart under construction by the falling spatter. Helicopter noise for first several seconds.

PubTalk 9/2003 — Beneath Crater Lake
PubTalk 9/2003 — Beneath Crater Lake
PubTalk 9/2003 — Beneath Crater Lake

An underwater volcanic landscape tells a complex tale

by Charles R. Bacon, Geologist

Visualizations presented by David W. Ramsey, Geologist

 

An underwater volcanic landscape tells a complex tale

by Charles R. Bacon, Geologist

Visualizations presented by David W. Ramsey, Geologist

 

PubTalk 8/2003 — Human Footprints on the Web of Life
PubTalk 8/2003 — Human Footprints on the Web of Life
PubTalk 8/2003 — Human Footprints on the Web of Life

Biodiversity and Increasing Population and Development in California

by Robert N.Fisher, Research Zoologist

Biodiversity and Increasing Population and Development in California

by Robert N.Fisher, Research Zoologist

PubTalk 7/2003 — Molten Paradise
PubTalk 7/2003 — Molten Paradise
PubTalk 7/2003 — Molten Paradise

Video Presentation and Discussion

Featuring the award-winning USGS video Molten Paradise-Kilaea Volcano by Stephen Wessells, introduced and discussed by Robert I. Tilling, Volcanologist

See-

Video Presentation and Discussion

Featuring the award-winning USGS video Molten Paradise-Kilaea Volcano by Stephen Wessells, introduced and discussed by Robert I. Tilling, Volcanologist

See-

Lava appears from under crust and drops into depression
Lava appears from under crust and drops into depression
Lava appears from under crust and drops into depression

Lava appears from under crust and drops into depression at front of advancing breakout. Width of blob of lava that appears is about 30 cm.

Lava appears from under crust and drops into depression at front of advancing breakout. Width of blob of lava that appears is about 30 cm.

Lava emerges from under crust
Lava emerges from under crust
Lava emerges from under crust

Lava emerges from under crust along side of breakout on steep slope. Listen to creaking sounds, about halfway through video, as crust flexes and breaks. See still taken at 0610:15 today.

Lava emerges from under crust along side of breakout on steep slope. Listen to creaking sounds, about halfway through video, as crust flexes and breaks. See still taken at 0610:15 today.

Lava flow
Lava flow
Lava flow

This clip lasts 30 seconds and so is a large file, but it shows such notable dynamics at flow front that it might be worth it to some of you patient ones. The active stream is 50-75 cm wide. Note, early on, how sliding crust plows into lava.

This clip lasts 30 seconds and so is a large file, but it shows such notable dynamics at flow front that it might be worth it to some of you patient ones. The active stream is 50-75 cm wide. Note, early on, how sliding crust plows into lava.

Lava pours out from under crust
Lava pours out from under crust
Lava pours out from under crust

Lava pours out from under crust at front of advancing breakout. See still taken at 0607:33 today.

Lava pours out from under crust at front of advancing breakout. See still taken at 0607:33 today.

Lava cascade
Lava cascade
Lava cascade

Same cascade as in first clip, but viewed more from side to see lava falling down cliff and spreading across surface of lava delta. Similar view to still image taken at 0548 today.

Same cascade as in first clip, but viewed more from side to see lava falling down cliff and spreading across surface of lava delta. Similar view to still image taken at 0548 today.

Lava issues from breached tube
Lava issues from breached tube
Lava issues from breached tube

Lava issues from breached tube and quickly disappears over old sea cliff. Note that center of stream stands above margins. See still taken at 0545 today.

Lava issues from breached tube and quickly disappears over old sea cliff. Note that center of stream stands above margins. See still taken at 0545 today.

PubTalk 6/2003 — The Quakes, They Are A-comin'
PubTalk 6/2003 — The Quakes, They Are A-comin'
PubTalk 6/2003 — The Quakes, They Are A-comin'

New Estimates of Earthquake Hazard and Risk Across the Bay Region

By Michael Blanpied, Geophysicist

 

Surging cascade on steep cliff face
Surging cascade on steep cliff face
Surging cascade on steep cliff face

Surging cascade on steep cliff face. Note that surges override part of cascade next to cliff, which is slowed by friction with the cliff.

Surging cascade on steep cliff face. Note that surges override part of cascade next to cliff, which is slowed by friction with the cliff.

Lava in channeled breakout
Lava in channeled breakout
Lava in channeled breakout

Lava in channeled breakout from nearby tumulus flowing rapidly down steep slope before spreading out on flat ground. Same channel as shown in last two stills for today. Width of channel, about 2 m.

Lava in channeled breakout from nearby tumulus flowing rapidly down steep slope before spreading out on flat ground. Same channel as shown in last two stills for today. Width of channel, about 2 m.