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Explore a diverse collection of engaging videos showcasing the latest research, discoveries, and educational content from the U.S. Geological Survey. Dive into the fascinating world of geology, hydrology, ecology, and natural hazards as we bring science to life. Stay informed and inspired by our visual storytelling that highlights the vital work of USGS scientists and their impact on the planet.

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Satellite image of a white mass of clouds with circular dark spots with a title Satellite image of a white mass of clouds with circular dark spots with a title
Von Karman Vortices in the Atlantic (Image of the Week)
Von Karman Vortices in the Atlantic (Image of the Week)

On March 3rd, near South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Landsat 9 captured this dream-like image. This natural color view shows a weather pattern known as a “Von Karman vortex street," caused by prevailing winds from the southeast.

On March 3rd, near South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Landsat 9 captured this dream-like image. This natural color view shows a weather pattern known as a “Von Karman vortex street," caused by prevailing winds from the southeast.

The 1964 Tsunami in Valdez, Alaska

This is a remarkable film of the underwater landslide and tsunami at Valdez, Alaska, taken during the 1964 Great Alaska earthquake. 

It has never been seen before in its correct sequence. There is no other film that we are aware of that shows the formation of a large submarine landslide.

This is a remarkable film of the underwater landslide and tsunami at Valdez, Alaska, taken during the 1964 Great Alaska earthquake. 

It has never been seen before in its correct sequence. There is no other film that we are aware of that shows the formation of a large submarine landslide.

A model of a ship on blue background strewn with small, flat white shapes and text A model of a ship on blue background strewn with small, flat white shapes and text
Image of the Week: Ice Routes in Finland Revealed by Landsat
Image of the Week: Ice Routes in Finland Revealed by Landsat

Cloud-free satellite views of Lake Saimaa in Finland are rare in January. But this Landsat 9 scene, captured on January 4th, reveals over 200 miles of winter shipping lanes. The water vapor from 3 large wood pulp factories can be seen on this shoreline. One is located in Lappeenranta, where the ice route begins.

Cloud-free satellite views of Lake Saimaa in Finland are rare in January. But this Landsat 9 scene, captured on January 4th, reveals over 200 miles of winter shipping lanes. The water vapor from 3 large wood pulp factories can be seen on this shoreline. One is located in Lappeenranta, where the ice route begins.

Satellite image of land and coastline with text and logo on top Satellite image of land and coastline with text and logo on top
Image of the Week: Fire in Northern Australia: a 2023 Timelapse
Image of the Week: Fire in Northern Australia: a 2023 Timelapse

The bushfire season in northern Australia generally runs from May to October. 2023 was an especially intense year in the north. Select infrared imagery from the Landsat archive was used here to produce a rolling mosaic timelapse of the landscape in eight-day segments.

The bushfire season in northern Australia generally runs from May to October. 2023 was an especially intense year in the north. Select infrared imagery from the Landsat archive was used here to produce a rolling mosaic timelapse of the landscape in eight-day segments.

Image of the Week: Landsat Views of Africa's Largest Hydro Dam

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is set to become the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa.

Located near the Sudan border in Ethiopia, the promising and controversial project impacts communities up and down the Blue Nile.

Landsat sensors capture the region in false color infrared, emphasizing the reservoir's boundary.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is set to become the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa.

Located near the Sudan border in Ethiopia, the promising and controversial project impacts communities up and down the Blue Nile.

Landsat sensors capture the region in false color infrared, emphasizing the reservoir's boundary.

Guided by science. Join us live @usinterior Guided by science. Join us live @usinterior
Instagram Live - DOI Secretary Haaland and USGS Director Applegate
Instagram Live - DOI Secretary Haaland and USGS Director Applegate

An Instagram Live even hosted by Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland with special guest USGS Director Dr. David Applegate. The even took place on January 5, 2024.

An Instagram Live even hosted by Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland with special guest USGS Director Dr. David Applegate. The even took place on January 5, 2024.

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory - Top 5 Updates of 2023 Yellowstone Volcano Observatory - Top 5 Updates of 2023
Top 5 Updates of 2023 — Yellowstone Volcano Update for January 2024
Top 5 Updates of 2023 — Yellowstone Volcano Update for January 2024

In this monthly update of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, we present our take on the top five headlines for 2023.

0:12 - Earthquakes, Deformation

1:20 - Steamboat Geyser Eruptions

2:30 - New Monitoring for Hydrothermal

3:24 - Volcanic Eruptions at Yellowstone

4:34 - Magma Chamber below Yellowstone

 

In this monthly update of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, we present our take on the top five headlines for 2023.

0:12 - Earthquakes, Deformation

1:20 - Steamboat Geyser Eruptions

2:30 - New Monitoring for Hydrothermal

3:24 - Volcanic Eruptions at Yellowstone

4:34 - Magma Chamber below Yellowstone

 

Image of the Week: Aerial Photos of an Image Archive

The home of the Landsat satellite archive is surrounded by corn and soybean fields. The archive is kept at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS) located near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. EROS is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The home of the Landsat satellite archive is surrounded by corn and soybean fields. The archive is kept at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS) located near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. EROS is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Text title over a satellite image of river and land Text title over a satellite image of river and land
Image of the Week - Drought in Brazil
Image of the Week - Drought in Brazil

The Amazon Rainforest in South America typically experiences its drier season between the months of July and October. Satellite imagery from Landsats 9 and 8 show severe drought conditions in 2023 in comparison to 2022 when the area received average rainfall.

The Amazon Rainforest in South America typically experiences its drier season between the months of July and October. Satellite imagery from Landsats 9 and 8 show severe drought conditions in 2023 in comparison to 2022 when the area received average rainfall.

Steamboat. Losing Steam? Steamboat. Losing Steam?
Steamboat: Losing steam?
Steamboat: Losing steam?

Steamboat Geyser is the tallest geyser in the world. It has been putting on a show the last few years for visitors at Yellowstone National Park with a record number of water eruptions, 48 eruptions each in 2019 and 2020. But it's only had eight eruptions in 2023. Is Steamboat losing steam? 

Steamboat Geyser is the tallest geyser in the world. It has been putting on a show the last few years for visitors at Yellowstone National Park with a record number of water eruptions, 48 eruptions each in 2019 and 2020. But it's only had eight eruptions in 2023. Is Steamboat losing steam? 

November PL 2023 - Thumbnail November PL 2023 - Thumbnail
PubTalk-11/2023: Six Eruptions at Two Volcanoes Over the Past Three Years
PubTalk-11/2023: Six Eruptions at Two Volcanoes Over the Past Three Years

Six Eruptions at Two Volcanoes Over the Past Three Years

How the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors some of Earth’s most active volcanoes

by Katie Mulliken, Geologist, Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Six Eruptions at Two Volcanoes Over the Past Three Years

How the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors some of Earth’s most active volcanoes

by Katie Mulliken, Geologist, Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Color photograph of volcano Color photograph of volcano
Mauna Loa 2022 Eruption Anniversary
Mauna Loa 2022 Eruption Anniversary

Mauna Loa 2022 eruption anniversary video. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano and covers just over half of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It erupted most recently in November-December 2022, and it will erupt again.

Mauna Loa 2022 eruption anniversary video. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano and covers just over half of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It erupted most recently in November-December 2022, and it will erupt again.

View of steep lava mountain with title text and description. View of steep lava mountain with title text and description.
Lava Onion? Lava flows - peeling back the layers (Yellowstone Volcano Update - November 2023)
The disruption of two planets in a giant impact

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a disruptive giant impact. Disruptive collisions are not expected to be common in Solar System formation and due to numerical effects, the amount of disruption shown here is likely overestimated. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a disruptive giant impact. Disruptive collisions are not expected to be common in Solar System formation and due to numerical effects, the amount of disruption shown here is likely overestimated. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

Two planets merging by giant impact

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a giant impact that results in a merger (accretion). The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target. The planets are colliding at 1.08 times their mutual escape velocity, which equates to 3.63 km/s.

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a giant impact that results in a merger (accretion). The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target. The planets are colliding at 1.08 times their mutual escape velocity, which equates to 3.63 km/s.

Two planets undergoing a hit-and-run impact

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a hit-and-run giant impact. This style of collision comprises around half of the giant impacts expected to occur during the latter stages of Solar System formation. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a hit-and-run giant impact. This style of collision comprises around half of the giant impacts expected to occur during the latter stages of Solar System formation. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

A rocky cap on a mountain, with text overlay reading "Tuff Time: Mystery of disappearing deposits" A rocky cap on a mountain, with text overlay reading "Tuff Time: Mystery of disappearing deposits"
TUFF TIME: Mystery of disappearing deposits (Yellowstone Volcano Update - October 2023)
TUFF TIME: Mystery of disappearing deposits (Yellowstone Volcano Update - October 2023)

Yellowstone is a geologic wonderland with over 2 billion years of Earth's history recorded in the rocks. But some of that history is missing. Where did it go? We’ll look into that mystery in the October 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

Yellowstone is a geologic wonderland with over 2 billion years of Earth's history recorded in the rocks. But some of that history is missing. Where did it go? We’ll look into that mystery in the October 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

Image of the Week: No Place for Flamingos on Fuente de Piedra

No Place for Flamingos on Fuente de Piedra.

Fuente de Piedra, a saltwater lagoon in southern Spain, is an important breeding site for thousands of flamingos. In 2023, the shallow wetland nearly completely dried up, leaving little space for the birds. Only a few dozen birds were seen on the lagoon this year, a situation that could impact tourism.

No Place for Flamingos on Fuente de Piedra.

Fuente de Piedra, a saltwater lagoon in southern Spain, is an important breeding site for thousands of flamingos. In 2023, the shallow wetland nearly completely dried up, leaving little space for the birds. Only a few dozen birds were seen on the lagoon this year, a situation that could impact tourism.

Color photograph of eruptive vents Color photograph of eruptive vents
Kīlauea summit eruptive activity decreases — September 16, 2023
Kīlauea summit eruptive activity decreases — September 16, 2023

Eruptive activity was shutting down at Kīlauea summit on Saturday, September 16, with only weak spattering at one vent in the morning. By midday, the eruptive activity had effectively ended.

Eruptive activity was shutting down at Kīlauea summit on Saturday, September 16, with only weak spattering at one vent in the morning. By midday, the eruptive activity had effectively ended.

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